2012 Accolades

  • Easiest urban area in which to get around in the U.S. (Raleigh-Durham-Cary) - Texas A&M Transportation Institute 2012 Urban Mobility Report, December 2012
  • #1 Among Best Places to Raise Kids in North Carolina (Holly Springs) - Bloomberg Businessweek, December 2012
  • America's Most Popular New Restaurants 2012 (Maru Restaurant, Cary, and Gonza Tacos y Tequila, Raleigh) - Urbanspoon, December 2012
  • OpenTable Diners' Choice 2012 Best Overall Winners - Top 100 Restaurant List (Saint Jacques French Cuisine, Raleigh) - OpenTable.com, December 2012
  • #1 Among Best Places in N.C. for Veterans (Raleigh-Cary) - United Services Automobile Association, November 2012
  • #5 Most Hindu City in America (Raleigh-Cary) - Huffington Post, November 2012
  • #10 Most Buddhist City in America (Raleigh-Cary) - Huffington Post, November 2012
  • #30 Most Christian City in America (Raleigh-Cary) - Huffington Post, November 2012 
  • 2012 New or Renovated Meeting Site Award Winner (Downtown Raleigh) - ConventionSouth magazine, November 2012
  • OpenTable Diners' Choice 2012 Best American Cuisine Winners - Top 100 Restaurant List (Heron's at The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary) - OpenTable.com, November 2012
  • 100 Best Meeting Sites in the South in 2012 Readers' Choice Awards (Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh) - ConventionSouth magazine, November 2012
  • #1 Market for Retail Job Growth (Raleigh) - American City Business Journal, September 2012
  • Best LGBT-Friendly, Locally-Owned Coffee Shop (Benelux Cafe, Raleigh) - qnotes, September/October 2012
  • Best LGBT-Friendly, Locally-Owned Retail Store (The Green Monkey, Raleigh) - qnotes, September/October 2012
  • LGBT-Friendly, Locally-Owned Restaurant with Best Brunch (Tir na nOg Irish Pub, Raleigh) - qnotes, September/October 2012
  • Best LGBT-Friendly, Locally-Owned Mexican Restaurant (Jibarra Restaurant, Raleigh) - qnotes, September/October 2012
  • Best LGBT-Friendly, Locally-Owned Soul Food (Beasley's Chicken & Honey, Raleigh) - qnotes, September/October 2012
  • Best LGBT-Friendly, Locally-Owned Deli (Remedy Diner, Raleigh) - qnotes, September/October 2012
  • Best LGBT-Friendly, Locally-Owned Restaurant, Late-Night Dining and Cheap Eat (The Borough, Raleigh) - qnotes, September/October 2012
  • #6 Among 10 American Made Denim Brands That Aren't Owned by Glenn Beck (Raleigh) - Complex Magazine, October 2012
  • #18 Among Top 40 Hotels in the South, Readers' Choice Awards (The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary) - Condé Nast Traveler, October 2012
  • Best Museum Environment, Silver Winner (Nature Research Center at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh) - Event Design Awards, October 2012
  • #10 Among America's Best Flea Markets (Raleigh Flea Market) - Travel+Leisure, October 2012
  • #56 Among Best Places to Live, America's Best Small Cities (Cary) - CNNMoney, August 2012
  • #11 Among Top Large City Hotels in the Continental U.S. (The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary) - Travel+Leisure, August 2012
  • The Best Ice Pops From Across the Country (Locopops, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill) - Vogue, August 2012
  • #1 Best Quality of Life (Raleigh) - Business Facilities Magazine, July/August 2012
  • Coolest New Airport Terminals (Terminal 2, RDU International Airport) - Travel+Leisure, July 2012
  • #8 Among Best Airport Security Checkpoints (RDU International Airport) - Travel+Leisure, July 2012
  • 10 Amazing State Capitol Buildings (North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh) - Conde Nast Traveler, July 2012
  • #2 Among Best Places for Business and Careers (Raleigh-Cary) - Forbes, June 2012
  • #8 Among 10 Cheapest U.S. Cities You'll Want to Visit (Raleigh-Cary) - Kiplinger, June 2012
  • 10 Best Beer Cities (Raleigh-Durham-Cary) - ID Cocktails blog, January 2012
  • #7 Among Cities with the Most College-Educated Residents (Raleigh-Cary, 41% in 2010) - The New York Times, May 2012
  • #6 Among Top Cities for Staying Young (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - RealAge, June 2012
  • #5 Among Best Cities for Raising a Family (Raleigh-Cary) - Forbes, April 2012
  • #2 Among 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities (Raleigh) - CNNMoney, April 2012
  • 10 Best Cities in America for Health and Happiness (Raleigh) - EcoSalon, March 2012
  • #2 Among Best Cities for Newlyweds (Raleigh) - Rent.com, March 2012
  • 101 Best Restaurants in America for 2012 (The Pit, Raleigh) - The Daily Meal, February 2012
  • #5 Among Most Frugal U.S. Cities on the 2011 Savings Index - Coupons.com, February 2012
  • 2012 Reader's Choice Award Winner (Greater Raleigh CVB) - SportsEvents Magazine, January 2012
  • Mini-Empire of the Year among "Best New Restaurants in America" (Ashley Christensen Restaurants, Raleigh) - GQ, March 2012
  • Best New Sweet Shops (Videri Chocolate Factory, Raleigh) - Travel+Leisure, February 2012
  • Six of America's 100 Best Beer Bars (Brewmasters Bar & Grill, Busy Bee Café, Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Raleigh Times Bar, Tyler's Taproom, Raleigh and World of Beer North Hills) - Draft Magazine, January/February 2012
  • #18 Among America's Most Tolerant Cities (Raleigh) - The Daily Beast, January 2012
  • #1 Among Healthiest Cities for Women (Raleigh) - Women's Health, January 2012
  • Top 10 Tastiest Towns in the South (Raleigh) - Southern Living, January 2012