I'll be watching this thread as well, as we have similar plans. We've also considered the Charlotte area, having stayed there last year. Are you considering Raleigh for a specific reason, or are you open to more of NC?

Here is a link that might be useful: Charlotte vs. Raleigh

We are thinking of the WIlmington area as another place for retirement....I want to be near the beach....along with Maryland, Delaware, SC and gulf coast of Florida beach towns. We plan to go to Wilmington in October to scout it out. Looked at Myrtle Beach last year and have since learned we should have concentrated on North Myrtle Beach...Myrtle Beach itself was too touristy and ticky-tacky---mini-golf on every other corner, etc..Hilton Head was nice, but you can only see the beach if you are actually at the beach.....nice to be able to drive along and see the ocean as well. Such a tough decision!

I'm a sucker for Belted Galloways, so of course I'll suggest you look at this place. I keep it tucked in the back of my head for "someday"....

Here is a link that might be useful: Fearrington

Cary is nice. It is typical suburban area. You have your Whole Foods, upscale shopping, etc. It is a place that developed super quickly in that the schools could not really accommodate the growth, but that doesn't seem to be a concern for you if you are retirement age.

We personally would love to live in Chapel Hill if we had our choice in that area.

Regardless, there are LOTS of Northeast and Midwest transplants here.

I live in Chapel Hill and have done so for the last 25 years. (I'm a native Texan who has lived in Connecticut, DC, California, Alabama, London, and NYC before moving here.) As Sciencechick says, there are tons of Northeast and Midwest transplants here. Historically Chapel Hill and Durham have been more liberal than Raleigh, although Raleigh and Cary certainly have their liberal pockets. Both Durham and Raleigh have had dynamic growth in their restaurant and entertainment scenes in the last 10 years or so. Bon Appetit named Durham-Chapel Hill the "foodiest" small town in America in 2008; Durham was just named the South's tastiest town by Southern Living. There's an OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at Duke that is supposed to be fabulous; Chapel Hill has a great senior center. I imagine there are similar programs in Raleigh. I'd be glad to tell you more if you want to email me directly.

Wilmington is terrific, JoaniePoanie. You can easily go to the beach in Wrightsville and WIlmington itself is charming.

Beekeeperswife, Fearrington is a special place. Sometimes I go there with girlfriends just to walk around and relax. (They have chairs set up around the grounds.)

Another vote for Chapel Hill, unless you would consider the coast. Also, Winston-Salem area is wonderful, although it has been years since I was there. I went to college there and lived there for years after graduating.

I live in the area also. I recommend checking out the city-data Raleigh/Durham forum there are lots of wonderful people there with good advice and tons of moving questions. I would suggest if you can to rent for a while in the area so you can travel around and see what you like and what your budget will do for you in each town. Clayton for example is very different from Chapel Hill as others have mentioned. I have lived in CH, Durham and Raleigh and there are perks to all 3. I currently live in a small suburb and love the quieter schools and feel. Good luck! This is a beautiful place to live. Today is gorgeous!

Here is a link that might be useful: Raleigh/Durham city data

My grown children love the RDCH area. Two went to college up there and never came back!! We live in Charlotte and I love it. Born and bred.

Pinehurst or Southern Pines

I live in Morehead City - along the coast. About 80 miles to the northeast of Wilmington. If you consider living anywhere along the coast be prepared for costly home insurance - it tripled this year due to numerous hurricanes and the threat of a big one.

Cary is affectionately referred to as the containment area - Containment Area for Retired Yankees. So there will be lots of non-natives there (I'm not one either btw).

Raleigh is the closest "large" city. We go several times a year for some culture! LOVE it there.

Wilmington is growing by leaps and bounds. Traffic can be horrendous at times.

We are moving to just outside the Wilmington area in a gated community called RiverLanding. It is just off 40. So it is quick to go anywhere from there... no traffic like Wilmington and the beach areas. It is a half an hour from Wilmington so not too close to the beach but close enough and it is 90 minutes from Raleigh-Durham. So you can go either place from here and still be in a quiet sleepy town.

Here is a link that might be useful: River Landing

Asheville NC is lovely. My mother lived there for many years and I kept her home there for several years after she died. I loved that home, it was a beautiful southern colonial but we live 10 hours away and that was just too far for a weekend retreat.

Thank you to all of you for your responses. You have all given me a lot of great information. A few yrs. ago we visited the Lake Norman region which was lovely. We didn't spend any real time in Charlotte but it looked great, too. So now we have decided to look into the Raleigh area. I have family with a vacation home in Asheville and know it must be fabulous, too. Funny you mention Yankees, rosebud57, because we are from the North!

Me too! Moved south in 1978.

bee

That looks like a lovely area. I am going to keep it in mind also. We currently live right by a 1930's working farm which is a county park. We walk our dogs their everyday. This place reminds me of that.