<p>One of my Ds will be attending a wedding next month in NC and will be flying into Raleigh-Durham with her boyfriend. They’ll have the better part of two days to explore the city and I wondered if anyone had any suggestions. One thing they definitely want to do is to visit Duke’s campus. They will have a rental car so transportation isn’t a problem. Any ideas for specific places not to miss, things to do, places to eat, places to avoid, things to know, etc. would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!</p>
<p>The Sara Duke Gardens are a wonderfully beautiful and quiet spot to relax. Sit on a bench in the shade by the pond. Bring a lunch and enjoy or walk around for some low-impact exercise.</p>
<p>They may also want to visit Chapel Hill and UNC. Franklin street as many interesting places to shop and eat. The Carolina campus is very picturesque</p>
<p>If they like baseball, they should take in a Durham Bulls game. The tickets are very inexpensive. The park and atmosphere are a lot of fun.</p>
<p>Sunday service at Duke Chapel. Regardless of one’s religious affiliation (or lack thereof), it’s beautiful and the organ music is splendid!</p>
<p>There are some great restaurants in that area-- one especially well known is Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, which has a national reputation.
<a href=“http://www.crookscorner.com/[/url]”>http://www.crookscorner.com/</a> Very Southern (Bill Neal recipes–if you have his books, and outstanding food.) Other great restaurants in the area, too–a wonderful little Vietnamese place on Franklin St in Chapel Hill, called Lime & Basil. </p>
<p>So you should take a trip to Chapel Hill, too, and walk the Carolina campus and check out the town.</p>
<p>Don’t miss Duke’s Nasher Museum, within walking distance from the campus, or if driving-- it’s right on the way into campus. You can’t miss it. Really outstanding Museum–a terrific space-- and excellent exhibitions. <a href=“http://www.nasher.duke.edu/[/url]”>http://www.nasher.duke.edu/</a> They have a indoor/outdoor cafe there that also has a really good chef-- great food.</p>
<p>If you’re going to be in Chapel Hill, you can check out the Ackland Museum on Carolina’s campus, too. <a href=“http://www.ackland.org/index.php[/url]”>http://www.ackland.org/index.php</a></p>
<p>The Carolina Theatre in downtown Durham is a great old theatre that was renovated some years ago, and they often have live concerts:
<a href=“http://www.carolinatheatre.org/[/url]”>http://www.carolinatheatre.org/</a></p>
<p>Young people really love Cats Cradle in Carrboro (right next to Chapel Hill) for live music. <a href=“http://www.catscradle.com/[/url]”>http://www.catscradle.com/</a></p>
<p>Agree about catching a Durham Bulls game. <a href=“Durham Bulls | MiLB.com”>Durham Bulls | MiLB.com;
<p>If you’re interested in Museums, you can drive to Raleigh (just off I-40), and visit the NC Museum of Art: <a href=“http://www.ncartmuseum.org/[/url]”>http://www.ncartmuseum.org/</a></p>
<p>Another great restaurant in Durham is 4 Square-- in a beautiful old Victorian, wonderful atmosphere and excellent food:
<a href=“foursquarerestaurant.com”>foursquarerestaurant.com;
<p>Hope that helps. I’ll try to think of some more. They should stretch the trip out and go to the Outer Banks, or the NC mountains!</p>
<p>Thank you to all for your suggestions! I, too, had suggested that they see a Bulls game but, unfortunately, the team is out of town the weekend they’ll be there. Also, unfortunately they will not be able to extend their trip this time as both need to be back at work on the Monday. :)</p>
<p>I personally always stop in Hillsborough, a historic town ten minutes away and home to professors at various local colleges…arty, bookish, and there is a French man making real French pastries and lunch on a side street…never miss buying from him. Great date town to stroll.</p>
<p>I was just there. There is an amazing restaurant, a soul food place/barbecue, right near UNC. I cannot remember its name. I am a moron. It is the name of a woman, maybe Mama something? Oh dang. Pulled pork and green OMG so good!. S had fried chicken for the first time in his life and loved it.</p>
<p>Alumother: It’s Mama Dip’s in Chapel Hill (Rosemary St, I think), though I have to admit I prefer Crook’s Corner, which I think is more authentic (and much better) Southern cuisine! Just my opinion, though . . .</p>
<p>Check out the Morehead Planetarium at UNC: <a href=“http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/[/url]”>http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/</a></p>
<p>jack - I am sure you are right. It was my first and so far only trip to the area and I thought the food was great but hey, I’m from California so what do I know about Southern food:)?</p>
<p>Alumother: Ha. Yeah, I suspect we Southerners who grew up on those collards, pulled pork, and home-made biscuits-- can smell a biscuit that came out of a can from a mile away. 
(I actually think most people love it, though . . .)</p>
<p>If you try any Carolina BBQ, I’d avoid the vinegar sauce style. Ecch!!!</p>
<p>If it’s not vinegar based, then it’s not the real thing (Parker’s Wilbur’s, Gardner’s, yahhh for eastern NC style). Never believe otherwise but that’s a whole other discussion,lol.</p>
<p>mmm…collard greens…with a little pepper sauce. Yum! Good stuff!</p>
<p>And hey, I’m from Texas and I really LIKE the NC-style BBQ sauce. I just don’t care for their take on Tex-Mex as found the Chapel Hill La Hacienda (not to be confused with the Houston La ‘Ha’).</p>
<p>Jack, just looked at your link on Crook’s Corner–will have to try that next time in town. Hoppin’ John, jalapeno hushpuppies, ham and bean soup, catfish po’ boys!!! yummmm!</p>
<p>mkm: Definitely check it out next time you’re in town (and you’re really really hungry!). Excellent food-- and the real deal.</p>
<p>Packmom: Agree about the vinegar. That would make a great slogan, by the way . . . “if it’s not vinegar-based, then it’s not the real thing!” ;)</p>
<p>and Jack…don’t forget the corn sticks,ummm</p>
<p>Jack and Pack; sorry, I’m still going to disagree with y’all, with feeling. LOL. As I said during a post a while back [after my first Durham visit], the vinegar-based stuff, which I later discovered was “eastern Carolina style,” not only didn’t float my boat, it sank it. Give me the sweet hickory stuff [ribs] any day. As for pulled pork, now that I like HOT and peppery.</p>