I was fortunate to call this beautiful campus home for 4 years! Photo by: Evan Berman

I am incredibly grateful for many things but one of the top items is where I went to school. I studied at Washington and Lee University, one of the best liberal arts schools in the country. On top of the academic reputation, the campus is stunningly beautiful. W&L is the 9th oldest school in the country and while there are only ruins dating back to 1749, the main buildings that form the Colonnade are recognized as National Historic Landmarks– just one of many areas in which the beauty is evidenced.

I bring this up not to brag about our campus (though I am mighty proud!), but rather to form the background for today’s article. During our time in Raleigh, we decided to head to Chapel Hill and walk around UNC’s campus. While I will discuss that, I thought it might be interesting to list off some of my favorite campuses that I’ve visited.

This article is part of the Raleigh Weekend Trip. For more information on this trip, follow these links:

Intro

Visiting Beautiful College Campuses (This Article)

Tampa Bay Lightning Game

3 Days in Raleigh

Food and Drinks in Raleigh

Conclusion

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder:

It bears mentioning that some people might have very different opinions of campuses than others. After all, there are numerous different styles of architecture. I define a beautiful campus as:

“A destination in and of itself. The campus is worth being a main attraction of a trip to the area, not just a nice thing to do.”

While it can be fun to walk around Flagler University, for example, you are unlikely to plan a trip to the area just to tour the campus. Now, if you have time while in St. Augustine…

Nevertheless, here is a list of beautiful campuses that are well worth a visit (keep in mind, this is based on my experiences– I have yet to visit Oxford, for example, so you won’t find that listed here! Am I missing any? Let me know!). One thing to note: most entrants are Southern Universities. Northern Universities are often great schools but the focus is not on captivating the attention of visitors by beautiful old buildings. Instead, you will often find modern and sterile campuses.

Virginia and Georgetown are two terrific schools that I have enjoyed visiting. Both are also quite attractive, though in the interest of space do not appear here.

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill:

Chapel Hill is known for many things– among them basketball, Carolina Blue, mild football success, and a picturesque campus. The school is a short 30 minute drive from downtown Raleigh and a must-visit for basketball fans as well as those who enjoy the beauty of a well-maintained Southern university!

We walked around the campus, checking out the football stadium, dorms, and academic buildings. UNC was facing their archrival Duke in basketball that night, so it should come as no surprise that the campus was bustling with action that day!

Harvard University (Business School):

When in Boston last month, I got the chance to explore Harvard. Harvard is located in Cambridge, either a short Uber or T ride from Boston. While it is the most visited campus in the US, the majority of the campus is unremarkable. The library, while the most well-known part of the undergraduate campus, cannot be entered by guests.

That being said, Harvard Business School is located across the river and is strikingly beautiful. This part of campus was the highlight of the visit and should be the focal point of a visit to Harvard!

University of Michigan (Law School):

The University of Michigan is an interesting case of attractive versus not. On the one hand, the undergraduate (and all graduate schools except for Law School) buildings are boring and sterile in typical Midwest fashion. However, the Law School is beautiful– the Law School Library is a spectacular design and one cannot help but be in awe!

The school is located in the town of Ann Arbor (roughly 1 hour from Detroit) and is well worth a visit!

Washington and Lee University:

My alma mater is known as one of the most beautiful schools in the country. While it is removed from most population centers (the nearest airports/cities are in Charlottesville and Roanoke, VA– both are a roughly 1 hour drive away), this adds to the allure. Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, this is a picturesque area before you even see the campus!

Since W&L is a small school with only a Law School for its graduate students, it may be easier to maintain than the others on this list. Regardless, the approach of the Colonnade in front and Lee Chapel (now University Chapel) behind you is a breathtaking view and one that I was privileged to have for 4 years.

Review:

During our time in Raleigh, we explored UNC’s campus. While I am still partial to Washington and Lee, UNC Chapel Hill has a beautiful campus and long history as well. It can be very fun to explore a university and marvel at the beauty of the well-maintained campus. After a leisurely day spent around the University of North Carolina, we headed back to Raleigh and had some great meals!

Evan