Durham, North Carolina
There is great history and charm in this town that hosts North Carolina Central University. Beautiful trees adorn this town that is warm, has low property taxes and continues to grow its food options. The Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) is liberal and votes Democratic, while much of the state is more conservative. But that has no bearing on the calm feel of the old neighborhoods that are warm and homey.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
The Atlantic Ocean is beautiful, and the boardwalk offers an opportunity for nice walks into a cool breeze. There are myriad high-rise apartment buildings that provide breath-taking views of the massive ocean. Virginia Beach offers the best restaurants in the Hampton Roads area, and the Town Center has a cornucopia of food and social options. And it’s just three hours from Washington, D.C., should you want to visit the monuments or take in professional sports.
Destin, Florida
Once an under-visited respite for those in Georgia and Florida, this coastal town on the Gulf of Mexico — replete with first-rate restaurants, spectacular golf courses and, of course, an ocean with pristine beaches — has become a haven for the young and not-so-young. That mix makes for an interesting place of depth and diversity, along with peaceful evenings.
