Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill may be the smallest city in the Triangle, but its reputation as a seat of learning looms large. This is the home of the nation's first state university, the University of North Carolina, which opened its doors in 1795. Despite the large number of students and retirees, Chapel Hill retains the feel of a quiet village. Franklin Street, with its interesting mix of trendy bars, tasty eateries, and oddball stores, has always been the heart of downtown Chapel Hill.