Ranked 2: Raleigh, North Carolina
Population: 995,662
Median Household Income: $56,150
% of Workforce in Creative Class: 36%

This is Bob Frick of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and I’d like to show you a little of my trip to Raleigh North Carolina, one of our best cities for 2008.

Raleigh is in the first steps of a renaissance, symbolized by the rehab of Fayetteville Street in the heart of downtown. Some big projects will be finished in 2008 including a new convention center in the RBC Plaza.

The Royal Bank of Canada’s building will be the tallest in the city. The cultural epicenter of Raleigh’s move to become an urban, livable city is the Raleigh Times Bar.

Downtown Raleigh is also home to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Here’s a whale skeleton and there’s a little climate controlled area in the museum where you can see butterflies in a tropical setting. Of course, no city would be complete without a city market and some signature nut sculptor. In this case, the big acorn sculptures in Moore Square Park honoring Raleigh’s title as “The City of Oaks.” And don’t miss the Historic Oakwood Neighborhood which is block after block of fine Victorian homes.

Now, parts of the city are still a little rough but some of these are being turned into fun and funky dining and shopping areas. We stopped at the Pit for dinner which features some great pork barbeque. Here’s my dinner.

If suburb in livings more your style, check out Cary, an enormous bedroom and business community nestled next to Raleigh. Here, I’m being greeted at the train station in downtown Cary by one of the locals. What distinguishes Cary? It’s extremely well planned and zoned. Here’s a typical four land road that connects neighborhoods and business parks. Here are some of the local kids, build a bronze for consistency and durability. Actually, this is one of the many public works apart that acts with the community.

Speaking of picture perfect, don’t miss the Koka Booth Amphitheater or amphitheater as the natives call it. When we do Best Cities Packages, people are always interested in housing and housing prices. This home in Cary build around 1970 will run around $215,000.00 and a new home on a small level like this one will go for $400,000.00 to $450,000.00.

So, there’s quick trip through Raleigh, Cary, North Carolina, this has been Bob Frick of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.