Garner
The Town of Garner, situated just a few miles south of downtown Raleigh, is experiencing quite a revitalization. Led by the Garner Revitalization Association, town officials and others in this suburb of approximately 27,000 are working feverishly to revamp its downtown area, while the nearby White Oak Shopping Center is experiencing a surge in growth – recently adding such stores as Ulta and Five Below to its mix of offerings. And with Garner’s convenient access to N.C. Highway 70 and both Interstate 440 and Interstate 40, residents can get to all points of the Triangle quickly and easily.

With about a dozen schools – which are all part of the highly regarded Wake County Public School System – parents have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to educational opportunities for their kids. And the recently opened White Deer Park is a nice complement to nearby Lake Benson Park as a great area for recreation and town-wide events, including Lake Benson Park’s annual Fourth of July celebration. These two parks allow for more than four miles of walking and cycling trails in town, and the new White Deer park has an LEED-certified, family-friendly nature center that can host educational and private events. Homes in Garner are plentiful as well, making it an ideal place to raise a family. Neighborhoods in town range from modest established communities to million-dollar estates, offering something for everyone.