Just back from our 2nd trip to Chapel Hill, and wanted to do a quick trip report while things were still clear in my head.

We went for 2 reasons. One, we needed a break from work, and 2, we are contemplating NC for retirement.

Other than Hertz messing up and overcharging us and not giving us the neverlost I desperately wanted to try, we had a great time.

We once again stayed at the Fearrington House, and feel in love with it even more. We had one of the cheapest rooms and it was lovely. They just had redecorated it. It was our anniversary, and the Mgr. graciously sent us a huge fruit bowl and gift card to use in the Village shops. Can't say enough about the grounds, staff, room, service. All exceptional. We will never stay elsewhere. It's like a mini compound.

Fearrington is actually the top of our list so far for retirement places. We toured some more model homes, and spent alot of time driving around the village. I am still struck by how very friendly everyone is. Weather walking or in our car, everyone we saw waved and said Hi to us. Something, sadly, that would never happen where we live now.

We spent one day going to Jordan Lake and then to Raleigh and Durham. We didn't stay long in Raleigh, as a bicycle race was about to start, and we didn't want to get trapped. As big cities go, though, it seemed to have a nice vibe. We drove through Oakwood, which was really pretty - great homes.

Durham, on the other hand, I didn't care for. We didn't linger, and made our way to Duke for a walk in the Sarah Duke Gardens, and a visit to see the Chapel.

We happened on the Chapel by accident, and my husband parked in a restricted area to ask the security guard where we could park. He started out saying "I know I can't park where, I am" and the guard looked at him and said "Why not, I make the rules here. I'll make a deal with you. I'll move this orange cone, you drive to the front, and if you promise me you won't be more than 15 minutes, you've got a deal". Another testament to the friendliness of people in NC.

We had another incident in Raleigh similar to this. We parked near City Market and were trying to figure out the coin machine - foreign to us. Two guys walking through the parking lot stopped, asked if they could help, and proceeded to show us how the machine worked, and pay for us!! When I tried to repay the guy, he said, "Oh no, you go about and have a good day". Talk about Southern Hospitality! People in Boston would have looked at you and said "What are you - retarded?"

We met up with friends Sat who live in Chapel Hill, and wandered Franklin St., went to Coker Aboretum, Weaver St. Market, Southern Season, then to Meadowmont (not our taste) and then to Crooks Corner for dinner. They were a great help in learning about the area - good and bad. For the most part, they really like it. They said CH has a great foodie scene, which I never would have figured out based on the restaurants on Franklin St. They told us about the Vietri outlet in Hillsborough, and now I REALLY want to move to NC! I had no idea. Hillsborough is a really cute little town - as is Pittsboro, but a little small for us.

If we are going for small - and Fearrington IS small, we want a place with lots of amenities, like Fearrington - pool, clubs, tennis, shops, restaurants, and a rural feel. It's a bit the best of everything - close enough to CH, and far enough away to get out of the fray of activity.

We still have yet to visit the rest of the NC towns on our list - Edenton, New Bern, and Wilmington, but as I said, CH is at the top so far. The only downside is the heat, but beats 6 months of Winter! Our friends did mention Edenton is a sort of dichotomy - one nice street and alot of poverty beyond that. I'd love to hear of what people think of Edenton, New Bern and Wilmington compared to CH.

Thanks to all who have helped us along the way, and thanks to all you NC folk for being so very nice!!

What did you have to eat at Crook's?

I'm not rational about Chapel Hill. I went to part of grad school there, taught there, sent both my kids there as full pay out of state students. Loved driving down from Boston to deliver them and pick them up, fall and spring.

But, I am bothered by the traffic, though not nearly as much as the locals, who have never commuted in Boston. The problem is that you pretty much need to use a car to go anywhere unless you live right in the middle of town, which isn't that affordable. Fearrington would be a l-o-n-g way out in the country for me, but I am used to being able to walk to the public library, post office, grocery store.

It isn't hot six months of the year. There are four well-defined seasons, though winter is very mild. Spring is bad if you have allergies, but that is just about all I can say bad about the area. Oh, and they had water supply problems during droughts back in my day, but they have probably fixed that by now.

If I were moving back, I would look seriously in Hillsborough as well as in Chapel Hill, maybe a little less seriously south of town.

The only problem with Hillsborough would be the stench drifting over from Duke when the wind is right (this is an in-joke) There is a book about UNC-Duke basketball entitled "To Hate Like This is to Be Happy Forever"

Had the Carolina Sampler, which was very good. Sure was glad I put the barbeque sauce on the side, though! Yikes!!

We also had the chef's famous honeysuckle sorbet, which was quite strange. Much like sucking the nectar out of a flower when you are a kid. Very sweet, but still refreshing.

So, how long does the unGodly heat/humidity last? What month does it start? We've been warned about the allergies - not a good thing for a husband with asthma, but he says Boston air is no better....

Awww.. our heat isn't ungodly

Actually it is hot off and on from April-October but the humidity and consistent heat kicks in June-early Sept. If you were just here, you caught an early heat wave. The previous poster mentioned water restrictions - still have those and in fact are in a drought situation right now - tough on the landscaping.

BUT we don't have those horridly cold, snowy winters you might be accustomed to. I'd take heat/humidity over that any day!

If you are considering moving here - another selling point for me would be the relatively high number of cultural activities for a "small" town - with Carolina, Duke and Raleigh around, there's lots to do in one's free time. And you will be close to a good airport - not so with the other possibilities you mentioned.

Course I'm a tad biased as I'm returning to UNC for my 3rd degree this fall.

Back again!! I think you will find the speaking to everyone very much all over the South. Yes, it IS a southern thang!
I don't really know Durham, but you may not have really seen the part of Durham you would consider. It is very much a two part town.
Sorry you have given up on Davidson and charlotte scene.
As for the foodie scene in CH, if you didn't go to Southern Seasons you did miss it. Franklin ST. is the student street--I don't believe I would look for fine dining there.
I also think you will find Edenton and New Bern a long way from anything. Think about concerts and shopping.
You might do better to reconsider Southern Pines or Pinehurst.

Gretchen -
Haven't given up on Davidson yet - just not had time to fit it in! Charlotte is WAY too big for us, as are Raleigh and Durham.

Yes, we got to Southern Season - awesome - loved it!!

Pinehurst and Southern Pines, while cute, are WAY too remote for us, and too small on their own to offer what we want (small near big ala Fearrington and Chapel Hill).

Anyone care to comment on Wilmington? I'm getting really mixed comments. From our friends - old industrial city on the rebound. From books - very high crime rate. Reality??? (would love a comparison to Chapel Hill area).

I love Wilmington. As a rabid Demon Deacon there is no way I could live in Chapel Hill, but otherwise it has much appeal. I share your love for Fearrington Village, lovely spot.

I recommend you fly down to Wilmington and check out some of the small communities nearby. The city has a lovely historic area, some very new developments and gorgeous beaches close at hand. If I could convince my husband we would go that way....not that I am unhappy here in Pinnacle, NC.
Welcome to North Carolina. I love calling it home.

cmcfong:
Any specific recommendations for communities close to Wilmington?

Yes, I am sure Charlotte IS too big--I am talking about Davidson. BUT Charlotte will offer you some cultural events (as will Davidson--and Chapel Hill) that you won't find in say, New Bern. Southern Pines has the NC Symphony come fairly often.
Winston Salem would offer the same idea--ability to have cultural events from the college--and the city. There is a lovely retirement village there too.
Wilmington is now a pretty large city it seems to me. Nice old style beaches.
Medical care will be outstanding in Davidson (Charlotte), Chapel Hill, Durham, Winston Salem.

Not really, wanderer. I think you should take a trip down and see what pleases you most. There are many choices.

I think that's wise.

I just checked weather.com. Is the weather in Chapel Hill now - high 80s - low 90s typical of this time of year, or still part of the unseasonal heat wave?

If you are on weather.com for Chapel Hill, click on Averages and Records.

Yes, it gets warm/hot in spring/summer.

This is very seasonal/regular temp. I can remember a memorable May 9 as a bridesmaid for my SIL--it was 86*. To be truthful, I live in the wrong part of the country for about 4 months of the year--d___d hot.

We shall see when we go back and visit sometime in August as our friends advised!

However, I still think I'd prefer 4 months of HOT to 6 months of bitter cold and snow and ice with the boots, hats, mittens, long underwear and worrying about the driving and the shoveling.

It seems looking at weather.com that Edenton, New Bern and Wilmington heat is worse - higher temps, more months, and I would assume more humidity. Is that a true statement?

It is hot and humid in North Carolina during the summer months. I live in the Piedmont area not far from Mt. Airy. We are often 5-10 degrees cooler than Winston-Salem, but it is still hot and humid. I tend to notice the heat and humidity less when I am on the coast because of the nice breeze off the ocean. However, get more than a few hundred yards from the beach and you are hot and humid. I moved home from Boston about thirty years ago. I always found the summers there hot and humid and the winters bitter cold, windy and often very wet. The NC summmer isn't much of an improvement over Boston....but winter certainly is. Flowers grow year round, there are relatively few days when you can't enjoy outdoor activities, and snow when it comes goes quickly (however to be honest any amount no matter how small will shut down 99% of public services!)

That's a good point - Boston area has it's share of hot and humid, although not as lengthy I don't think as NC.

Yes, our friends told us about the time it snowed 2" and everything closed. Hard for us to believe up here where sometimes 2 feet is the norm!

Thanks to everyone for your insight. Good to know the coast isn't a panacea and then you have hurricanes to worry about.

There IS no perfect place, but we think the CH area has lots to offer, and alot of what we are looking for.

Wanderer, the last couple of summers have been cooler than normal in North Carolina. We barely used the Y pool last June for that reason ... But,normally, especially in July and August, you can get some real sauna weather ... many, many more days of it, than Boston, for example. But on those days, you just get your walk in early, do what you have to do by noon, and then do something air-conditioned in the afternoon OR go get into a big, cool pool. Fall through Spring is just about perfect ...

Love your comments about the friendliness here. That's really how it is ... always somebody to lend a hand!

I think you've found where you want to live. Since you are comparing every place with Fearington, I think you'll end up there.

Next trip, and I suggest late July, try your best to act like a local. Visit the grocery stores, pharmacy, libraries, etc. or other things you go to now. Watch how the traffic flows (or not) at rush hour. Most of the tv and radio traffic reports forget I-40 goes west of Davis Dr. so you can't determine traffic patterns from those. Or check out the DOT cameras along I-40 from home -- it will only tell you about the interstate and not the backups on surface streets.

I think you may be right. Now I just have to convince my husband .

Seriously though, there are a few other places we want to see and explore, but I will admit that Fearrington set the bar pretty high.