Greensboro

Don't let the ring of sprawl around Greensboro, North Carolina's third-largest city, scare you. Tucked within those miles of traffic and chain stores is a place with not only a fascinating past but a downright interesting present. Though historically famous for its textile industry and its role in the fight for civil rights (the famous lunch counter sit-ins of the mid-sixties started here, after all), Greensboro is beginning to acquire a new face. In recent decades, this unassuming city has become a relocation destination for both big business and immigrants from around the world. The blending of these new residents with the city's old-timers and students from its six college and universities has made Greensboro one of the most diverse cities in America.