With its ivy-covered buildings and great stone walls, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, earns its nickname as the “Southern part of heaven.”

Home to the country’s first state university, Chapel Hill has become an intellectual haven as well as a cultural melting pot – the ideal place for busy professionals, artists, writers, retirees and active families to reside.

Homes range from classic Victorians, mirroring the town’s past, to modern and contemporary residences that reflect its growth.

There’s always something to do, from trying a new restaurant or coffee shop to biking and hiking. The rest of the world is easily accessible via a booming regional airport and I-40, one of the nation’s major interstates.