North Carolina premier neighborhoods 2004.

• Author: Burnette, Kristen
• Position: Special Advertising Section

From its enchanting beach communities to its charming mountain villages, North Carolina offers residents an array of lifestyles and localities to call home. Join us as we explore some of the state's premier neighborhoods.

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Bedford at Falls River, in north Raleigh, is rich with old-fashioned appeal and charm. Everything about this neighborhood--including the tree-lined sidewalks and the traditional architecture with its emphasis on porches--has been designed to promote community interaction.

"Bedford really isn't a typical subdivision. It has a personality all its own," says Kathy Catullo, Bedford's director of marketing. "It's a lot of neighborhoods joined together in a small-town concept that promotes a different quality and lifestyle than what you normally find. We're creating Small-town, USA."

Bedford offers classic town houses, single-family custom homes, luxurious villas and quaint bungalows at prices ranging from $130,000 to $750,000. The great variety means there's a homes style for every lifestyle. With its tree-lined streets, community greens, which offer informal gathering space, and children's playgrounds, Bedford has something for everyone.

Nearly a third of Bedford's about 600 acres is dedicated to parks and open space. It is complemented by a recreation center that includes a clubhouse, three swimming pools, tennis and volley-ball courts and a children's play area. "At Bedford, you're closer to your neighbors, closer to the streets. You can talk with people as they walk by on the sidewalk," Catullo says. "Bedford is all about life's simple pleasures--a return to family, spending time on the front porch, taking evening strolls."

There's even a farmers' market. It opened in fall 2003, selling pumpkins, specialty lettuces and seasonal vegetables and, for the holiday season, Christmas trees. The seasonal produce comes from Vollmer Farm, a fifth-generation family farm in Bunn.

Also in north Raleigh, Wake-field Plantation is an all-inclusive 2,200-acre community that show-cases its natural beauty. Residents enjoy a popular golf course. Wake-field Plantation also has tennis and swimming, playgrounds and year-round clubhouse activities. Its neighborhoods and home styles include single-family houses, town houses, villas and custom-designed estates that range from $120,000 to more than $2 million.

And while Wakefield Plantation offers a variety of social and recreational opportunities, it also provides for everyday...