Eno River State Park is where we tend to spend a lot of our free time! It is an amazing area of protected land spread out over Durham with multiple accesses. You can usually find us hiking, hammocking, bird-watching, plant-identifying, and/or swimming (when the weather is right) at these spots, and we'd love to share them with you! - Pump Station Trail/Access - 3998 Rivermont Rd, Durham, NC 27712 -- this used to be in our back yard and visited multiple times per week! Explore the remains of the old water pump station that supplied water to Durham! Great place for hammocking :) - Cole Mill Road /Bobbitts Hole Trail/Access - 4390 Old Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC 27712 -- very nice loop trail with a swimming hole at the end! - Fews Ford Access - 6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC 27705 -- main access with a hanging bridge and (small) areas of white water!
The Duke Gardens is a beautiful way to spend an hour or two, strolling through their multiple gardens or lounging in one of their many grassy fields and enjoying a picnic. Free to enjoy but a small cost for parking. Definitely recommend!
Whether you are looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or even just a sweet treat, Guglehuph has you covered. Also has one of the BEST outdoor spaces in Durham in our opinion. We love coming here with Banjo and friends to catch up over delicious food and drinks. Also, you should check out there German Bakery next door!
Another amazing staple for breakfast, brunch or lunch! It is always fun to peruse the inside of Foster's - they sell lots of baked goods, cooking delicacies and books. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating and delicious cakes and pies (that they do sell by the slice!).
If you are looking for something to do Saturday AM before the celebrations start, the Durham Farmer's Market is always fun to check out! Check out goods from our local farmers, gardeners, artisans and artists. There are also usually plenty of food trucks and snack options around, and the Durham Food Hall is just across the street!
Once a tobacco warehouse, now turned into a cool little area with a couple restaurants, shops, and a neat water feature that runs all through it. Burts Bees is here - see if you can find the bees!
Durham Hotel's Rooftop Bar -- we spent our second date here! Justin showed Amy the Durham skyline and then we took a tour of downtown Durham. Also, a great spot for sunset. Amy thinks it's one of the best places to get an Old Fashioned.
We had our engagement party here! Great ambiance with outdoor space for pups and kids to run around. Also a couple of yummy restaurants that will bring food TO YOU while you sip on a delicious drink!
This is a hotel, but unique in that two of the floors are covered with art that regularly changes. Always fun to wander around and check out. Also, this hotel used to be an old bank so you can tour the old vault!
Fun Irish Bar with a large outdoor space that is dog-friendly with good food.
If you've got a car, we recommend checking out downtown Hillsborough! Stroll the River Walk and check out the art sculptures along the way. There are many small art galleries in this cute little town too. Then, treat yourself by grabbing a pint and a snack at Wooden Nickel Pub! We recommend the fried banana peppers to start!