Things to Do in Durham, North Carolina

Durham offers something fun for all to enjoy, from watching an impressive Bulls game in their impressive stadium to exploring the American Tobacco Campus – once a tobacco factory turned community space offering performances, classes, tours and other activities.

Check out local shops like Regulator Bookshop or Vert & Vogue, an eco-fashion boutique. Alternatively, Durham boasts numerous breweries where you can try locally produced beer.

Go to a Bulls Game

Durham wouldn’t be complete without experiencing one of the Durham Bulls baseball games at its historic red-brick Performing Arts Center, home of their baseball team and also boasting many locally owned restaurants, bars and cafes.

Durham may be best known for its university, but this city offers much more than that! Start your day right with a fun scavenger hunt before hitting up some of Durham’s cool bars and breweries – Sarah P. Duke Gardens offers aerobic activity before relaxing over at Fullsteam or Ponysaurus Brewery with a cold beer!

Head north to Old Five Points for dinner at Little Bull, one of the city’s newest hotspots. Chef Oscar Diaz draws upon his heritage when creating this inventive Mexican-American menu featuring dishes like crudo with North Carolina tuna, aguachile and flying fish roe ($18); plantain empanadas; soft dumplings filled with goat birria served alongside rich consome ($16).

If you want to continue drinking in the neighborhood, head down Geer Street for a pour-over coffee at Cocoa Cinnamon or a craft cocktail from Boxcar. After that, explore local art galleries, Vert & Vogue high-end clothing boutique and The Scrap Exchange to gain creative inspiration.

Durham remains an intimate community despite its growth over the last decade, thanks in large part to local entrepreneurs who run shops that do more than sell trendy graphic sweaters with “DURM” printed across them. Many work closely with other small businesses and host pop-up events at athletic events as well as design logos for local restaurants like Ideal Sandwich Shop which adds broccoli rabe both into its chicken cutlet sandwiches and Philly roast pork orders.

Visit a Brewery

Durham draws brilliant minds from around the globe, where Duke and North Carolina Central universities teach and conduct research. As a result of their efforts, Durham boasts an acclaimed food culture, vibrant entertainment scene, and pedestrian-centric downtown design that puts pedestrians first.

Walking down Durham’s iconic red brick streets feels like taking a journey back in time. The district’s historical brick buildings create an inviting setting for locally owned restaurants, cafes and bars, while nearby Durham Performing Arts Center hosts musicals, comedy shows and even big-name bands.

Start relaxing while exploring at Fullsteam Brewery, one of the city’s premier brewpubs. Relax in its welcoming environment while sampling creative craft beers (such as Conniption Navy Strength Gin!) at their inventive bar where locals often gather.

Durham’s food scene is quickly growing beyond pork belly and hush puppies. Yoni and Vanessa Mazuz founded The Parlour, a mobile ice cream shop housed within an old pink school bus that travels throughout Triangle neighborhoods selling homemade gelato, as well as offering delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, delicious burgers, and unique creations made with locally-sourced ingredients.

Carolina Theatre, a beautiful 1920s beauty dating back to 1928, boasts 1000 seats for spectacular entertainment and also serves as a museum with mixologist Shannon Healy and chef Carrie Schleiffer’s food and drink experience. Be sure to try their Alley Burger (half-pound patty covered in truffle cheddar, bourbon bacon jam and chipotle aioli), or ask to have it foie’d (stuffed with French delicacies like foie gras!). Additionally, DIY Scavenger Hunts can also take place here and an old bank vault that serves as lounge.

Take a Walking Tour

Walkers will find plenty to enjoy in Durham when taking to their feet! Join a scavenger hunt, admire the architecture in Brightleaf Square area of downtown, then stop for some cold craft beer at Clouds Brewing before taking another adventure such as climbing wall OC Aerial Indoor Adventure Park & Climbing Gym (11) to test your nerves on rope courses before relaxing with some coffee and reading material from Regulator Bookshop (13th St).

If you prefer nature-inspired activities, take a stroll along Durham’s American Tobacco Trail for an immersive outdoor experience. This 22-mile rail-trail is great for walking, jogging and cycling; kids can burn off excess energy at Duke Gardens nearby!

Take an educational self-guided tour of Durham’s 26 murals! They provide an engaging glimpse of life in Durham – from history and culture, to local life. Start at the visitor’s center for your self-guided tour; pick up a pocket “Mural Finder” by Mural Durham before embarking. A popular mural honoring local activist Pauli Murray who advocated for civil rights and gender equity will surely draw your interest!

Take a guided tour of Durham’s most exciting bars and breweries before visiting one of its locally owned shops for shopping – Chet Miller offers Durham-themed throw pillows, small press travel guides, cookbooks by local chefs, EUtopia Design recently opened downtown selling Polish glassware and handmade ceramics while Ella West Gallery showcases contemporary art as well as having an amazing selection of books – Chet Miller is just one example – there are many more!

Visit Falls Lake

Are You A Baseball Fan in Durham? Attending a Durham Bulls Game Is an Experience Worth Doing

Durham’s historic Stagville plantation is an exciting part of its past; visitors can tour its original slave quarters and barn. You should also stroll around town center for some excellent street art displays. Museum of Durham History as well as North Carolina Central University are great museums and historical sites worth seeing as well as providing plenty of fascinating exhibits for exploration.

On Durham University’s east campus lies some of Durham’s best bars and restaurants, along with some amazing locally owned stores like Vert & Vogue (high-end sustainable clothing boutique) and Scrap Exchange (craft classes for kids).

Falls Lake is one of Durham’s premier summertime destinations. Perfect for picnics and offers ample water activities.

If you’re in the mood for something refreshing, check out Durham Distillery or Mystic Farm and Distillery; both offer delicious gin. To top it all off, Durham has two escape room experiences available to visitors; Bull City Escape off 9th Street and Mission X Escape located within Westgate Shopping Center are great ways to add an element of excitement!

Go to a Show

Durham’s many theaters, like the 2,000-seat Carolina Theatre and Motorco Music Hall, draw international acts to perform. Acts come from all corners of the globe to showcase their talent here – whether that means whimsical dance performances or hard-edged punk concerts; live entertainment plays a vital role in Durham culture.

City arts and cultural institutions are further enhanced by an ever-expanding selection of restaurants serving global cuisines and an active bar scene. 9th Street serves as the main hub, featuring eye-catching eateries and indie shops well situated to take in its bustling street scene – enjoy delicious artisanal donuts with coffee at Monuts; quaff a craft beer from Flying Bull; or browse vinyl records at Hunky Dory!

OC Aerial Indoor Adventure Park and Climbing Gym is one of Durham’s most exhilarating attractions, featuring thrilling rope courses and walls to get your heart racing quickly! Experience all that Durham has to offer while keeping yourself active with one or both activities here!

Durham’s Downtown District offers some of the city’s best boutiques for local shopping enthusiasts. From high-end fashion at Vert & Vogue to handmade crafts at The Scrap Exchange, there’s something here for every style and price point.

Bright Black’s mission is to embrace and celebrate Black greatness through their selection of fragrances inspired by diaspora communities, musical genres, professional sports teams and professional athletic organizations – providing you with a fantastic keepsake that will remind you of Durham long after leaving Durham behind.