Chapel Hill, North Carolina: The Best College Town in the U.S.

The best college town in the United States is Chapel Hill North Carolina. Chapel Hill is home to the University of North Carolina and the Tar Heels. UNC Chapel Hill is also home to The Morehead Planetarium, The Old Well, Davie Poplar, Time Out, Gimghoul Castle, the Cat's Cradle, the Dean Smith Center, and Franklin Street. I hope to showcase this town by telling some of its best areas to visit, but the experience can only be understood by visiting Chapel Hill on your own.

The first thing that comes to mind about UNC Chapel Hill is our athletic program. Chapel Hill is home to the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program. Roy Williams is the current basketball coach of the Tar Heels and he was preceded by one of the best coaches of all college basketball programs, Dean Smith. Dean was the head coach for the Tar Heels for 36 years. Both he and Roy are members of the Basketball Hall of Fame. They have coached such legends as Michael Jordan, Phil Ford, and Tyler Hansbrough; all of which went on to play professional basketball. Chapel Hill also boasts one of the best women's soccer teams in the history of the sport.

UNC Chapel Hill is not only known for its athletic division, but also for their academic programs. All students enjoy the fact that they are attending one of the oldest public colleges in the United States. Students were admitted beginning in 1795. The college is highly ranked for its teaching and research studies. Some notable alumni would include Lewis Black, Andy Griffith, Tyler Hansbrough, Antawn Jamison, Bobby Jones, Roy Williams, and Michael Jordan.

When you come to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, there are of course a few places that you need to visit. To start, the Morehead Planetarium is one of only a handful of planetariums in the USA and is a very interesting day of star gazing and planet views. It is an educational and inspirational center. I remember going to it as a child during a field trip and being awestruck at the sheer size of their viewing room. It is a must see.

Most notable of all attractions is the Old Well located on campus. This may be the most photographed spot by locals and tourists alike. It stands on the original spot of the well that supplied water to this campus when it first began. The water still flows through it and is most refreshing on a hot day.

Davie Poplar is one of the best secrets of Chapel Hill. This tree which is located on campus was already an established tree when the plans were laid for the original school back in the 1700s. It still stands today, and is rumored that the person you kiss while sitting on the bench beside the tree, is the person you will marry. There are also two other trees that share this name. They are also worth taking a look at as you walk the campus.

Time Out is a restaurant located on historic Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. Time Out is a local favorite to patron after a long walk or at night when the stomachs are aching for food after bar hopping. They are most known for their Fried Chicken and Cheese Biscuits. They were even recognized on the Travel Channels Man vs. Food.

If a little off beat is more your path, then you must check out Gimghoul Castle. It is home to a collegiate secret society located in Chapel Hill. This meeting place was built in 1924 with a price tag of $50,000. This is a modest amount of money for the size and splendor of the home.

Chapel Hill is also home to the Cat's Cradle. This music venue is world known and has hosted such acts as James Taylor, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Southern Culture on the Skids, and Junior Brown to just name a few. They also host many fundraiser for local charities and are known to be a pretty cool venue by the locals. This is a great place to feel the pulse of this beautiful town.

The Dean Smith Center is a must see for any basketball fan. This legendary building has hosted many games in the ACC. They also are open for local high school programs that make it into a conference. I remember when my local high school made it to the final game of our conference and we chartered a bus to the Dean Smith Center. As I walked through the doors of that building, I felt a reverence like I was in a sacred place.

Finally, we come to Franklin Street. This is the artery to anywhere on campus in Chapel Hill. It is home to many shops to buy music, clothes, food, or drinks. Chapel Hill is best experienced by parking the car and stretching your legs along one of the most walked sidewalks in North Carolina. You will see so many things to take pictures of and so many places of history that you will have to stop and read up on. I hope that you visit Chapel Hill, the best college town in the USA!

www.wikipedia.org
www.catscradle.com