While the rest of the nation may consider the “Triangle” in North Carolina one big community, its residents take pride in their individual cities and towns. The term “Research Triangle” started with the creation of Research Triangle Park in 1959. Anchored by Duke University in Durham, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University in Raleigh, the universities provided much of the brain power and research facilities for what is now the world’s largest research park.

Since the 1950s, the designation of the “Triangle” has spread to include all of the communities surrounding the cities of Durham and Raleigh. Despite being grouped together, these communities and cities have retained their own characters and flavors while the entire region is being lauded as one of the nation’s best places to live and work.

Its namesake — Research Triangle Park — is a primary driver of the region’s thriving economy. The eight-mile-long stretch of land houses 157 organizations, employing nearly 40,000 people. The park conducts research in a number of areas, including biotechnology, chemicals, public health, environmental sciences, pharmaceuticals and computers.

With one in three employees working in a health- or medical-related field, Durham has earned the nickname City of Medicine USA. Duke University and its Medical Center are top employers in Durham, followed by IBM and GlaxoSmithKline. As the capital of North Carolina, Raleigh has a strong economic base in government as well as in education and health industries.

More than just top employers, the Triangle’s many universities provide a wealth of culture, sports and tourist attractions for the region, drawing a large number of both business and leisure visitors. Duke University in Durham has its famous chapel, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, the Nasher Museum of Art and the 7,700-acre Duke Forest. The Duke homestead and tobacco museum is a national landmark and features the family’s 19th century home, tobacco barns and original factory. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill boasts the Playmakers Theatre, a botanical garden and the Coker Arboretum. North Carolina State and its Centennial Campus is the university’s vision of the future with its intertwined community of university and research facilities, plus a variety of businesses, restaurants, schools, golf courses and walking trails.

Basketball is a religion in this part of the country, and the three university teams fuel the Triangle’s fever for the sport during the season.

Whether it is a passion for a team or their community, Triangle residents have every right to be proud. The areas surrounding Raleigh and Durham have transformed themselves from sleepy farming and tobacco communities into a region on the cutting edge of development and technology. Luckily, the Triangle hasn’t lost its sweet Southern charm in the process.

LODGING

WASHINGTON DUKE INN AND GOLF CLUB

Nestled among the Carolina pines and hardwoods on the Duke University campus, this luxury hotel has come to represent the finest in North Carolina lodging. Treasures and art from the Duke family estate grace the elegant hotel lobby and public areas. Fashioned after an English country inn, the hotel has 271 omfortably appointed guestrooms with high-speed Internet, 100- percent cotton linens and views of the golf course or the hotel grounds. The award-winning Fairview Restaurant, a AAA four-diamond restaurant, is a tasty perk of staying at the inn.
3001 Cameron Blvd., Durham, tel 919 490 0999, http://www.washingtondukeinn.com $$$$

UMSTEAD HOTEL AND SPA
Opened earlier this year, the grand Umstead Hotel and Spa has raised the bar on luxury accommodations in the region. This 150-room property is situated on a lake next to the Umstead State Park in Cary, just 10 minutes from Raleigh- Durham International Airport. Guestrooms feature top-of-the-line amenities, including plasma TVs, pillow-top mattresses, Italian l inens and rich furnishings. Guests have access to the full-service spa, more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, fine dining, privileges at nearby country club, a fitness center, and 12 acres of lush grounds that include jogging and walking trails. 100 Woodland Pond, Cary, tel 919 447 4000, http://www.theumstead.com $$$$

SHERATON IMPERIAL HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER

This conveniently located hotel is geared toward the business traveler. Just minutes from the airport, it offers complimentary airport shuttle service for guests. Most of the region’s major businesses, research facilities, medical centers and universities are within 20 minutes of the Sheraton. 4700 Emperor Blvd., Durham, tel 919 941 5050, http://www.sheratonrtp.com $$$

DINING

SECOND EMPIRE RESTAURANT AND TAVERN

The historic Dodd-Hinsdale House is the elegant venue for this fine-dining establishment, exuding Southern charm and hospitality. Its eclectic restaurant menu features fish, poultry and beef dishes, deliciously prepared. The main dinner menu changes monthly. Chef Daniel Schurr also has created the Tavern menu, which offers a lighter, but still tasty alternative to the dinner selection. Completed in 1879, the house’s style is Second Empire Victorian, the last such example of this period’s influence in Raleigh. 330 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, tel 919 829 3663, http://www.second-empire.com $$$

FISHMONGER’S RESTAURANT AND OYSTER BAR

Fresh seafood is served fried, steamed, grilled, broiled and blackened at this casual eatery. For lunch, Fishmonger’s lunch menu includes a variety of fish sandwiches and baskets, including traditional British fish and chips. It is a seafood lover’s paradise at dinner with anything and everything from Gulf oysters to North Carolina clams, crabs (in season) and fresh fish. 806 W. Main St., Durham, tel 919 682 0128, http://www.fishmongers.net $$

BIG ED’S CITY MARKET RESTAURANT

This is the place for authentic North Carolina country cooking. Open for breakfast and lunch, this city favorite is big on taste, portions, fun and atmosphere. 220 Wolfe St., Raleigh, tel 919 836 9909 $

INFO TO GO

One of the fastest-growing airports in the nation, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is on the western edge of Wake County, halfway between the cities of Raleigh and Durham. Nearly 450 daily flights connect the region to 45 destinations nonstop. Nine major and 18 regional airlines serve the airport. Taxi fares to Raleigh and Durham run about $28 each. Fares to Cary and Chapel Hill cost $19 and $35, respectively.

DIVERSIONS

With 28 miles separating Raleigh and Durham, visitors should not plan on shuttling back and forth between the two on the same day lest they find themselves touring the region’s highway system rather than sites. Schedule sightseeing jaunts in one area before moving on to the next.

DURHAM

The simple farmhouse at the Bennett Place State Historic Site (4409 Bennett Memorial Road, tel 919 383 4345) belies its importance to the nation. In 1865, Union General William T. Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston met several times at the Bennitt family home (records suggest this is the original spelling)to negotiate surrender terms. On April 26, 1865, the home became the site of the largest troop surrender of the War Between the States. History buffs can tour the reconstructed farmhouse with original chimney and period furnishings. The annual reenactment of the surrender takes place the last weekend in April.

Once among one of the largest plantation holdings in the South, Historic Stagville (5828 Old Oxford Highway, tel 919 620 0120, http://www.historicstagvillefoundation.org) today has 71 acres dedicated to preserving the history of Southern plantation life, African-American culture and state history. The site contains the 18th century Bennehan House, slave houses, a visitor center and the Bennehan family cemetery. The Museum of Life and Science (433 Murray Ave., tel 919 220 5429, ,a href=“http://www.ncmls.org”>www.ncmls.org) is an interactive museum for all ages. Its Magic Wings Butterfly House is a sight t o behold with hundreds of exotic butterflies fluttering through the tropical conservatory. The 1987 movie Bull Durham gave the Triple-A Durham Bulls baseball team national recognition. Catch a game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (409 Blackwell St., tel 919 687 6500, http://www.durhambulls.com) April through September.

RALEIGH
One of the state’s most popular museums, the Museum of Natural Sciences (11 W. Jones St., tel 919 733 7450, http://www.naturalsciences.org) explores the natural world through North Carolina’s geography, geology, flora and fauna. Top exhibits include a dinosaur skeleton with a fossilized heart, whale skeletons and Mountains to the Sea, which recreates five state habitats. More than 5,000 pieces of art span 5,000 years of history at the North Carolina Museum of Art (2110 Blue Ridge Road, tel 919 839 6262, http://www.ncartmuseum.org). Best known for its extensive European collection, the museum also has galleries featuring modern, African, ancient, American, Jewish ceremonial and Pacific art. The North Carolina Executive Mansion (200 N. Blount St., tel 919 807 7950) has housed the families of 26 state governors since 1891. The residence has attractive gardens for touring. Tour the North Carolina State Capitol (1 E. Edenton St., tel 919 733 4994), one of the best preserved examples of a civic building built in the Greek Revival style. The governor, lieutenant governor and their staffs work on the first floor of the building.

At Home with Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker

Global Traveler: What are the advantages of doing business in Raleigh?
Charles Meeker: Raleigh is a very business-friendly environment.
The employees are well-educated and the government cooperates with businesses to relocate here. It’s also a great place for families to live.

GT: Describe the spirit of the city.
CM: Raleigh is very young at heart both in terms of the age of our residents and the attitude. It’s very much a family-oriented town, where recreation and faith are very important to people.

GT: Discuss economic development in the city.
CM: We’re becoming a headquarters city for companies that operate in the Southeast, both financial institutions and engineering firms. Our center city is going through a major revitalization, and we’re seeing mid-size companies relocate here because of the excitement downtown.

GT: What are some of the downtown development projects?
CM: Four condominium projects have finished. There are six more under construction and another six to eight planned. We have one office building under construction, one finished and one more planned. We have one hotel under construction and two more planned. There are a total of about 130 restaurants and clubs in the downtown and Glenwood South area that are open.

GT: What will we see in the next five to 10 years in Raleigh?
CM: We will become more urban in the sense of more of our roads being at the center city or at the interchanges of the beltline, the major thoroughfares. Secondly, we will see an increased emphasis on high-tech and educated-employee jobs. Those are very important to us, and I think we’ll see more of that. Finally, I think we’ll see just a good deal of growth. We’re having almost 4 percent per year growth. That may not sound like a lot, but that’s 12,000 to 15,000 people, and that’s each year, so it really compounds after a while.

GT: What accounts for the growth?
CM: Mainly the quality of life and the jobs that are here.
These things work together. The other is a lot of folks will come to school here either at N.C. State or one of the other colleges. Then they’ll get employed here. They’ll get married here. There will be a child. Then, the grandparents will move in. All of a sudden you have five people where you had one before.

At Home with Durham Mayor William V. “Bill” Bell

Global Traveler: What elements of Durham’s economy make it conducive to business?
William Bell: The people in the community put in extra effort to accommodate new people starting new businesses. We have a good economy when you look at the fact that the unemployment rate is typically below the state average, and the national average in a lot of cases. We have a very large student population, so there is a market for retail. We have very good restaurants. The quality of housing that we have for the price compared to other parts of the Triangle is very competitive. We have good highway access, good public transportation and the airport is very close.

GT: Describe the spirit of Durham.
WB: We’re on a high right now. The city is experiencing a renaissance both culturally and physically, especially in the downtown area. We have transitioned from a tobacco, textile, furniture, farming environment into more of a high-tech, bio-tech, pharmaceutical community.

GT: What are some of the plans for revitalizing downtown?
WB: There is a public/private partnership between the city of Durham, the county of Durham and the private sector. While we no longer manufacture tobacco or produce textiles and furniture, we recognize the heritage that those industries provided for us.

As part of the renaissance, we haven’t torn down the tobacco factories and the textile mills. Instead, we’ve gone through a renovation process that maintains the buildings but uses them for office space, living space and entertainment space. We’ve been able to do that because the private sector has been able to take advantage of the historic tax credits. The city and county have provided the public infrastructure to support that. We’re in the process of completing a $12- to $13-million restructuring of streets, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping.

GT: You are also focusing on inner-city neighborhoods. How will this build a stronger city?
WB: I view the downtowns of cities as being like the core of an apple. You make sure the core is strengthened — then it spreads out to the rest of the surrounding areas. We actually started[neighborhood redevelopment] at the same time we started the downtown revitalization piece. The concept was to try to deal with neighborhoods as a whole rather than just a house here and a house there. One of the things we did was take a two-block area that was drug infested and buy up those two blocks, buy the homes. We’ve torn them down and reconstructed single-family and condominium homes. That, in conjunction with the work that the Durham Housing Authority is doing with fixed rent, has changed the whole complexion of that community.