Orange County, North Carolina has often been referred to as a cultural oasis, the crown-jewel of the south. Home to three distinctly different towns: Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough, Orange County has got everything: rolling hills and pasture, a cutting-edge arts scene, and some of the best food youre going to get anywhere in the country. The nations first public university is here, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, which is the centerpiece of this historic town. Human rights and inclusion is a hallmark of Chapel Hill, a bell-weather for the country as a whole. Neighboring Carrboro was the first city to recognize domestic partnerships between same sex couples. And up the road is Hillsborough, once the capital of North Carolina, this quaint town remains a leading voice in the county and the state. Its the model of a modern village which has been able to maintain its historical roots.