Welcome To The Triangle

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a town with approximately 45,000 people. As the nation’s first state university, it is a vibrant campus rich in history and tradition. As a part of the University campus, UNC

Hospitals is surrounded by the UNC School of Medicine, the UNC Health Affairs Schools of Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Social Work, the UNC Health Care System, and the Health Sciences Library, making it one of only a few Universities in the nation to offer a full complement of health professions programs.

Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham are collectively referred to as “the Triangle.” Chapel Hill was named one of the top 10 US Best Places to Live by US News and World Report, Raleigh was named the #2 US Best Place to Live, Work and Play by Kiplinger, while Forbes ranked Raleigh as the #1 Best Place for Business and Careers.

If you are looking for an an online summary of all of the weekly goings ons in the triangle, check out Triangle On The Cheap!

Food

Over the past several years the food scene has exploded in the triangle. Southern Living named Durham the “South’s Tastiest Town,” Bon Appetit Magazine named Chapel Hill “America’s Foodiest Small Town,” and Southern Living named Raleigh among the “Top 10 Tastiest Towns in the South.” In 2015, nine of North Carolina’s chefs and bakers were among the semi-finalists for the James Beard Award. These included bakers at Scratch bakery in Durham, and La Farm Bakery in Cary. Best Chef in the Southeast semifinalists hail from Nana’s in Durham, Panciuto in Hillsborough, Vin Rouge in Durham and Mateo in Durham.

Breweries and Wineries

There are more than 125 breweries and brewpubs in North Carolina, more than any other Southern State. In October 2014 five NC breweries took home medals from the Great American Beer Festival. Check out Botanist and Barrel, Zinc House Winery (pictured), Ponysaurus, and Hi Wire for some delicious brews and/or wines.

Teahouses and Coffee Shops

Visit Honeysuckle Tea House, a neat tree house tea house about 15 minutes from campus, Caffé Driade (which is a coffee shop in the woods), Bean trader, Joe Van Gogh, Carolina Coffee, and People’s Coffee.

Farmers Markets

Visit the markets in Carrboro and Durham. If you are interested in a smaller affair, check out the one in Hillsborough. While we’re at it, two nearby farms—Spring Haven Farm and Maple View Farms—host events all year long and feature lots of goats and ice cream. There are several farms to pick fresh produce in peak season, Eno River Farm is our favorite.

Festivals

There’s something for everyone, all the time

• North Carolina State Fair – Almost a million people a year. Sights, games, rides, and fried foods.
• Durham Food Truck Rodeo – 40+ gourmet food trucks. 4 times a year. Gluttony at its finest.
• India Fest – Over a thousand performers and of course food and activities.
• Cary Diwali – Attracting a crowd of over 10,000 a year, it’s the largest Diwali fest in the South.
• Hayti Heritage Film Festival – A festival of films by and about African-Americans.
• Full Frame Documentary Film Festival – An acclaimed four-day international film fest.
• NCCU Jazz/Art of Cool Festival – A multi-night event promoting, presenting and preserving jazz.
• African American Cultural Festival – Celebrating African-American history, art, and traditions.
• OutRaleigh – A festival celebrating the Triangle’s diverse LGBTQ community.
• Ritmo Latino Festival – Showcases Latino dance, music, and arts.
• American Dance Festival – Called “The World’s Greatest Dance Festival” by the New York Post.
• Festival for the Eno – On the banks of the Eno. Crafts, entertainment, and preservation.
• Wide Open Bluegrass – One of the largest bluegrass events in the world.
• Carrboro Music Festival – A free live event with a ton of local bands and activities.
• Hopscotch Music Festival – Presented by The Indy, it brings big name performers from all over.
• Festifall – A yearly Chapel Hill event with an artist market, hands-on activities, and local food.
• World Beer Festival – Happens in both Raleigh AND Durham at separate times.
• International Festival of Raleigh – A celebration of international music, food, and culture.
• Moogfest – An annual music, art, and technology festival with focus on electronic and experimental sounds.
• Art of Cool – A growing and remarkable jazz festival every year in Durham.

Museums

For kids and kids at heart

• Morehead Planetarium and Science Center – One of America’s oldest and largest planetariums.
• Marbles Kids Museum – A children’s museum.
• Museum of Life and Sciences – A museum for all ages, but a hit for those with kids!!!
• North Carolina Museum of History – A history of NC with the NC Sports Hall of Fame.
• Carolina Tiger Rescue – Not really a museum or zoo but a rescue for wild cats.  This is awesome.
• Duke Homestead Historic Site – The beginning of the American Tobacco Company.
• Bennett Place Historic Site – The site of the largest surrender of Confederate soldiers.
• NCCU Art Museum – One of NC’s leading collections of works by African American artists.
• North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences – The Southeast’s largest natural sciences museum.

Sports

College and professional

You may have already heard of UNC’s claim to fame for its basketball, baseball, and men’s and women’s soccer. However, off campus you have the 2006 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes only twenty minutes away.

Those who prefer baseball can treat themselves to a night at the beautiful Durham Bulls Athletic Park watching the minor-league team made famous by the movie Bull Durham. A two and a half hour drive to Charlotte will take you to the homes of NASCAR, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. Golf fans can enjoy the nearby, award-winning UNC Finley Golf Course just outside of campus and numerous other golf courses throughout the state.

• UNC Basketball Game – An obvious favorite in the Dean Smith Center.  Tickets can be found, we promise. And yes, there are other ACC schools right here in the Triangle as well but you must choose your allegiance wisely.
• Carolina Hurricanes – North Carolina’s professional hockey team.
• Carolina Railhawks – North Carolina’s professional soccer team.
• Durham Bulls – A great minor league baseball stadium that also serves local NC beer.

Great Outdoors

Outside the Triangle, North Carolina’s beautiful beaches and Outer Banks are as close as a two-hour drive, and the Appalachian mountains in the western part of the state are only about an hour farther away. Warm weather features whitewater rafting, while cold weather brings snowboarding and skiing. Historic Asheville, tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers scenic, cultural and historic experiences, elegant cuisine, as well as the renowned Biltmore Estate with its garden and winery, and the famous Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa.

Between North Carolina’s 10 national parks, 29 state parks, and a number of natural areas from the mountains to the sea, NC offers a variety of recreational activities ranging from hiking, bicycling, rock climbing, and fishing.

Resident recommended!

• NC Beaches – It’s really just a few hours away, and makes for a spectacular weekend.
• Asheville –  A wonderfully quirky city in the mountains just a few hours away.  A great weekend trip!
• Chapel Hill Trails – Great for running/biking, and there are plenty to be discovered.
• Coker Arboretum – UNC’s Botanical Gardens. Great for a run, walk, or stroll
• Research Triangle Park – The “park” of the tech industry. With sports leagues and activities.
• Duke Gardens – A beautiful garden that is free and open to the public.  Worth the trip.
• North Carolina Botanical Gardens – Very close to the hospital with a great deal of serenity.
• JC Raulston Arborteum – #8 in the World’s Most Beautiful University Gardens. At NC State.
• Eno River State Park – Hike along a river and enjoy the woods.
• William Umstead State Park – One of the many parks around.
• Occaneechee Mountain Trail – One of the popular hikes in the area.
• American Tobacco Trail – There are multiple trails and hikes in the area.  This is a fave.
• Farmer’s Markets in Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh. GO!
• Tom Robinson’s Seafood – Located in Carrboro, the freshest seafood you can find.
• Southern Season – Best cooking store, with wine tastings on Fridays, and cooking classes galore.
• Paperhand Puppet Intervention – Papier-mâché puppet show.  You have to see it once.
• Wine Tours – With multiple vineyards in the area and state, it can make for a nice afternoon.
• AIA Triangle Tour – See some of the most architecturally creative homes in the area.
• Friday’s on the Front Porch – Located on UNC campus, a favorite after work event for residents.
• Weaver Street Market – A great place to for food, beer, and people watching
• UNC Finley Golf Course – One of the many golf courses in the area. This one is a challenge.
• Maple View Farms – A fresh dairy farm. One of our residents loves to bike to the farm.
• Jordan Lake and Lake Crabtree – Good for sailing, kayaking, beaching and relaxing.
• Outdoor movies at Southern Village – In the summer, come sit on the lawn and catch a flick.
• Umstead Spa – A very, very well regarded spa in Cary. With a spectacular restaurant and hotel attached.
• Taste Carolina – Go on multiple food tours to some great restaurants throughout The Triangle!
• Fearrington Village – With one of the best restaurants and small hotels in America, a great place to take the family.

Art

A sample of the vast local art culture

• North Carolina Museum of Art – Multiple collections, parks, and exhibits.  It’s really good.
• Ackland Art Museum – UNC’s very own gallery.
• The Nasher Museum of Art – Duke’s museum open year around.
• The Gregg Museum – NC State’s gallery and museum.
• Orange County Open Studio Tour – Artists in the county open their studio for your perusal!
• Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh – No permanent collections but pushing the envelope.
• Raleigh Art Walk – 1st Friday of each month!
• Chapel Hill/Carrboro Art Walk – 2nd Friday of each month!
• Durham Art Walk – 3rd Friday of each month!
• Hillsborough Art Walk – Last Friday of each month!
• Durham Art Walk and Holiday Market – About twice a year through Downtown Durham.

Shopping

Everything you could need

• Cameron’s – Quaint shop in Carrboro where you can get unique gift for special occasions.
• Southpoint Mall – The big and nice mall in the area with a movie theatre and Target nearby.  There is also a Best Buy, World Market, Pier 1, and Nordstrom Rack across the street.
• Brightleaf Square – High end shopping for clothes/gifts with nice restaurants nearby
• 9th Street in Durham – Near Duke campus with lots of cute shops that make for good gifts.
• Carr Mill Mall – In Carrboro with some shops and good restaurants in side.
• Crabtree Valley Mall – Really the high-end mall in Raleigh
• Cameron Village Shopping Center – Outdoor mall in Raleigh that they are quite proud of
• Meadowmont – Essentially a little community in Chapel Hill with stores and restaurants
• University Mall – A funky mall in Chapel Hill with some high end and obscure stores.  Also houses Southern Season which is one of the best gourmet food/cooking stores you’ll find.
• The Shops at Eastgate – You’ll find your Trader Joe’s, Performance Bike, Jos A Bank, etc.
• Lumina Clothing – Locally made men’s clothing in Raleigh
• Raleigh Denim – Locally made jeans/denim
• Vert and Vogue – Unique boutique clothing store in Brightleaf Square
• Flyleaf Books – Because sometimes you want a book store! Phenomenal Chapel Hill place.
• Brier Creek Commons – An large outdoor mall near RDU airport w/ lots of food options as well.

Music/Theatre/Events

A few of the local venues and cultural experiences

• Cat’s Cradle – Chapel Hill’s local music venue. Nationally known and brings artists far and wide.
• The ArtsCenter – Presents a diverse collection of music, paintings, and theatre.
• Haw River Ballroom – A pretty ballroom in Saxapahaw that gets a small but impressive line up.
• Durham Performing Arts Center – Also Broadway, opera, and performance. Only in Durham.
• North Carolina Symphony – The first state supported symphony in the country.
• Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts – Broadway, opera, performance.  A beautiful hall.
• Red Hat Amphitheater – An outdoor venue in downtown Raleigh bringing all sorts.
• Local 506 – A small venue in Chapel Hill bringing in some of the smaller but great acts.
• The Carolina Theatre – Located in Durham and bringing in eclectic and impressive performers.
• The Chelsea Theatre – Chapel Hill’s independent movie theatre.
• The Lumina – Located in Southern Village.  Also a great theatre showing indie and big films.
• Lincoln Theatre – One of Raleigh’s small venues that has lots of bands come through.
• Duke Performances – Duke’s remarkable collection of performances.
• Carolina Performing Arts – UNC’s equally impressive collection of performances.
• Playmakers Repertory Company – Local theatre putting on plays and interpretations.
• Motorco – Venue in Durham across from Fullsteam.
• Triangle Art Works – If you just want to see a list of all the local theatre/performance groups.
• Manbites Dog Theater – Another good local theater
• Carolina Theatre – A great place to see an independent film and music in Durham
• Koka Booth Amphitheatre – Outdoor venue in Cary with concerts, festivals, and events

As you can see, there is a lot to do in the area, and every month there are more activities to be found, restaurants opening, and events happening. We hope you can take the time to enjoy some of our favorites.