Durham, NC Guide

Durham, NC Guide
Area Information
Welcome to the city of Durham, NC, where a bustling historic Downtown district meets top-tier employment opportunities, where vibrant arts and culture offer fantastic festivals and events, where live music and local microbrews rule the nightlife scene, where miles of trails wind through scenic parks, and where top-notch schools and universities offer nationally-renowned education. This is a great city to make your home as it continues to grow. It’s only located about 25 minutes from Chapel Hill and 30 minutes from Raleigh, making commutes to either city doable.
Things to Do in Durham, NC
Restaurants
Durham has a wide variety of food options to cater to every taste. So much so that it’s even been crowned as the “Tastiest Town in the South” by Southern Living magazine. For a fusion between American Southern and South American cuisine, Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas is the perfect place. They use locally-sourced, fresh ingredients whenever possible, making their food both wholesome and delicious.
If you’ve been searching for a great pizza place to make your regular spot, look no further than Pizzeria Toro. A local favorite, their pizzas are wood fired and the ingredients are fresh, making for the perfect pizza for you and your family.
Spend your weekend afternoon on Ninth Street – grab a cold beer at Dain’s Place, or enjoy a massive burrito at Durham’s own Cosmic Cantina. Referred to by the Herald-Sun as “Durham’s Greenwich Village,” Ninth Street has something for everyone.
Located near Duke’s east campus is Juju, one of the best places for Asian cuisine in town. Not only do they have great food, but they also have hand-crafted cocktails and an extensive sake selection. It’s the perfect place for a date night, or a night out with friends.
Arts and Attractions
Art galleries, museums, theatre, music, festivals, and more, Durham has it all! If you enjoy live performances, the Durham Performing Arts Center, or DPAC, is a place you need to check out. They host events from broadway shows to concerts to comedy shows. DPAC is a great place for a date night or a night with friends.
The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is another great place to experience art. This museum opened in 2005, and focuses on showcasing artwork by diverse artists and those who have been historically underrepresented. They also work to engage students in art at Duke and beyond. Located in the heart of Duke’s campus, this is a unique find you’re sure to enjoy.
And don’t miss out on any of Durham’s amazing events and festivals, like the Durham Blues Festival, the American Dance Festival, Durham Art Walk, Durham CenterFest, or the Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival.
Parks and Recreation
Looking for a way to get outside and get active? Durham has lots of natural attractions to offer, with over 100 city-owned parks and recreation facilities, athletic and fitness programs for all ages, and even outdoor recreation programs, like kayaking, nature hikes, cave exploration, camping, ropes courses, and more. Check out some favorite outdoor spots below:
If you like sports, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park will be a hotspot in the summer. This field is the home of the Durham Bulls who play weekly baseball games in the summer months in the Triple-A International League. Sit back with some snacks to cheer on the team or to just spend the day with your friends and family. Either way, catching a ball game is a great way to spend a summer day.
If you’re looking for a unique place with history, you should check out the American Tobacco Historic District. This complex used to manufacture cigarettes for the American Tobacco Company which was once the largest in the world. Now the buildings are home to many restaurants, office spaces, and wedding/ meeting rental spaces, all with a beautiful water feature and green space in the middle. Not only is this place unique, it is also the perfect walking distance to DPAC and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Shopping
Durham has lots of cute shops and local retailers to explore as you make your way through downtown. Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, you’ll find tons of fresh, local produce, meats, cheeses, fresh cut flowers, and more at the Durham Farmers Market.
If you’re looking for a day of shopping and dining ending with a movie, The Streets at Southpoint is the place for you. They have almost too many stores to count, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, Gap, J. Crew, and more. When you’re done shopping, you can eat at places like The Cheesecake Factory, Firebirds, or Maggiano’s before heading to the movie theater to see the latest blockbuster or to a concert as a part of their summer concert series.
The Nomadic Trading Company is the place to find all kinds of antiques. They regularly import antique rugs, furniture, textiles, home decor, and more from around the world. They have tons of unique finds that will make great additions to your home.
Schools & Employment
Students in Durham have numerous options for public and private education. The city is served by Durham Public Schools, a highly-rated district home to 30 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 2 secondary schools, and 12 high schools, as well as several magnet schools, such as the Durham School of the Arts and the city of Medicine Academy.
Durham is home to several major employers, like Duke University and Duke Medical Center, and hi-tech start up companies, such as Red Hat. It is also located just a few miles from the internationally-renowned Research Triangle Park, which is home to major national and international companies like IBM, GlaxoSmithKline, and RTI International.
Durham, NC Neighborhoods
Ready to explore the Durham area? Browse these Durham neighborhoods below:
- Braggtown
- Burch Avenue Historic District
- Cleveland Street District
- Durham Cotton Mills Village Historic District
- East Durham Historic District
- Edgemont
- Forest Hills Historic District
- Foster and West Geer Streets Historic District
- Golden Belt Historic District
- Hayti
- Holloway Street District
- Hope Valley
- Lakewood Park Historic District
- Morehead Hill Historic District
- North Durham-Duke Park District
- Pearl Mill Village Historic District
- Stokesdale Historic District
- Trinity Historic District
- Walltown
- Watts–Hillandale Historic District
- West Durham Historic District
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