Can-do. Cool. Healthy. Brainy. Young. Funny. Inventive. Optimistic. Clean. Affordable. Smart. These are just a few of the words that top national media outlets use to describe us and our region in their key yearly rankings of places across the country. Here’s how the Triangle stacks up when it comes to arts, culture, entertainment, dining, the outdoors and sports:

#10 Top City for Beer Lovers (Durham, NC) FindTheHome | April 2016

The Next Big Beer Cities (Durham, NC) Thrillist | March 2016

16 Under-the-Radar Southern Food Destinations (Chapel Hill, NC) Zagat | March 2016

#1 City for Men Who Want to be Fit and Happy (Raleigh, NC) Men’s Health | January 2016

Best Destinations to Visit in the World in 2016 (Durham, NC) Jetsetter | December 2015 

#1 Most Vegetarian City In The U.S. (Durham/Chapel Hill, NC) Huffington Post | October 2015

#4 Classiest Party City in America (Durham, NC) Thumbtack | October 2015 

#8 Best City for Photographers (Durham, NC) Thumbtack | October 2015 

Top 10 Music City Other Than Nashville (Raleigh, NC) Music from the Row | August 2015

Top 6 Great Small Cities for Food Lovers (Raleigh - Durham, NC) Wall Street Journal, March 2015

#3 American City to Visit in 2015 (Raleigh, NC) Huffington Post, February 2015

Top 7 Up-and Coming-Foodie Destination  (Durham, NC) CNN Money, December 2014 

Best Place to Travel in 2015 (Durham, NC) Travel+Lesiure, December 2014

#4 Most Stunning University Garden (Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University) Best Masters Programs, September 2014

#8 Most Stunning University Garden (JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University) Best Masters Programs, September 2014 

#10 Best Cocktail bar in the US Fox Liquor Bar Raleigh, NC September 2014 Fodors Travel

#3 Best Up-and-Coming City for Art and Culture (Raleigh, NC) Women’s Health Magazine September 2014

Top 10 Best City Art District (Raleigh, NC) USA Today, May 2014

#5 Most Hospitable City in the US (Raleigh, NC) Airbnb, July 2013

#6 U.S. Destination for a Value Vacation (Raleigh, NC) Hotwire, March 2013

For a full list of rankings in the Region or surrounding communities, use the links below:

Research Triangle Region Rankings
Durham County Rankings
Orange County Rankings
Wake County Rankings

(Durham, NC) Thumbtack | October 2015 

#1 City for Men Who Want to be Fit and Happy (Raleigh, NC) Men’s Health | January 2016