<p>DS2 will be doing a camp at UNC late July (I think it’s around 4 days). Instead of making the round trip twice to drop off and pick up, DH and I were thinking of dropping him off then spending some time in the area. Any suggestions for two mid-50s parents for a few days in the Chapel Hill area? Thanks!</p>
<p>Eat at any number of really good restaurants.
Go to the Ackland Art Museum at UNC and/or the Nasher at Duke, a 20-minute drive.
Wander all over the UNC campus; be sure to stop in at the Morehead Planetarium.
Take out a boat at University Lake or the Eno River.
Check out at Southern Season, Chapel Hill’s answer to Zabar’s.
Visit Duke Gardens and Duke Chapel, hike in Duke Forest.
Go to the renovated American Tobacco Warehouse in Durham and/or take in a Durham Bulls game.
Take a (20-minute) ride over to Fearrington Village in Pittsboro and see the cows, hang out in the bookstore and garden shops. If it’s a special occasion, eat at the Fearrington Inn, a 5-star restaurant. If you can afford it, spend a night at the Inn!
If you like to shop, The Streets at Southpoint in Durham is a decent mall.
Hear a classical music concert at UNC or Duke and/or some “bluegrass on the porch” at the Carolina Inn.
See an art film at the Chelsea Theatre.
If all else fails, drive another 2.5 hours and go to the beach (Wrightsville in Wilmington)!</p>
<p>Skie - This is exactly the kind of list I’m looking for…many thanks. I’m going to Google some of your ideas now.
Anyone else have suggestions?</p>
<p>Asheville is the other direction from the Outer banks, with Biltmore Estates and the smokey mtns. That is if you want to travel/drive more.</p>
<p>The Pit in Raleigh has great BBQ. Fun and not pricey at all. Your visit wouldn’t be complete without a quick stop at BoJangles either (chicken n biscuits fast food). Chapel Hill along franklin st. is great fun if you are looking/touring colleges…see what the area is like. Durham has so many fun, funky interesting places to eat and I’ll second a Bulls game. Chapel Hill/Carborro has great eateries, and again second the walking and visiting the campus. Absolutely gorgeous, and the friendliest people. EVER.</p>
<p>Have fun and enjoy Carolina!</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>There’s also Raleigh nearby!</p>
<p>Raleigh State Farmers Market - but don’t eat much that morning! Lots of stuff besides “farm” products.</p>
<p>North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh includes exhibits on pottery and furniture (key NC crafts) and a Sports Hall of Fame (key NC activity!!!). The museum exhibits are very well done and interesting – if you like that kind of thing.</p>
<p>Gregg Museum on NC State Campus has a very interesting Costume/Fabric exhibit going on through the summer.</p>
<p>The North Carolina Museum of Art is in a new building and has numerous pieces by well known artists including a Rodin collection.</p>
<p>Good stuff mentioned in other posts. I don’t consider my 3-4 times/year visit to that area complete without a trip to Southern Seasons in Chapel Hill. Don’t miss it! There’s a restaurant attached called the Weathervane. Great food.</p>
<p>If you like crafts you want to go over to Seagrove in the Asheboro area to visit the potters and other craft workers. [Seagrove</a> Area Potters Association NC - Official website of SAPA and Seagrove area pottery shops, stores, galleries, and studios around Moore, Montgomery, and Randolph Counties in North Carolina.](<a href=“http://www.discoverseagrove.com/]Seagrove”>http://www.discoverseagrove.com/).</p>
<p>My wife and I started collecting NC pottery in the early 1970s when we were graduate students at Chapel Hill. We have a number of dinner settings by the Cole Brothers Pottery, long since deceased, and before the recent revitalization of NC pottery making (not to be confused to Jugtown’s revitalization in the 20s and 30s).</p>