Cool North Carolina Vacation Things To Do and See

Historic Site Natural Sciences Athletic Park Gardens Dickson House

Visit North Carolina and you’ll never lack for fun things to do and unique historic sites to see. Stay at the Quality Inn & Suites Durham and you’ll be within a short drive of Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the Carolina Theatre and North Carolina Museum of Art. 

Delve deeper into these fascinating attractions along with several other places of interest in our neighborhood, which are listed below.

Bennett Place Historic Site. In 1865, Confederate General Joseph Johnston Union General William T. Sherman met at James Bennett’s simple farmhouse located between the two generals’ headquarters to sign surrender papers for southern armies in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Today, the reconstructed farmhouse, kitchen and smokehouse provide visitors with a look at the lifestyle of an ordinary Southern farmer during the Civil War. For more information, visit www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/Sections/hs/bennett/bennett.htm

Brightleaf Square. A vestige of Durham’s cigarette-producing roots, Brightleaf Square on the fringe of downtown Durham is a renovated tobacco warehouse with leftover cobblestone walks and polished hardwood floors. Daytime attracts busy professionals eager to hit the square for a light lunch and some quick special occasion shopping. Dinnertime attracts a more relaxed crowd often Duke University students seeking a gourmet meal at one of the Square’s trendy restaurants. For more information, visit www.historicbrightleaf.com  [Top]

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is located on Bicentennial Plaza in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. Since its humble beginnings in 1879, the museum’s focus has shifted from a multipurpose institution displaying agricultural and natural resources to a natural sciences museum concentrating on collecting and preserving the state’s biological diversity, promoting environmental awareness and relating the natural sciences to everyday life. For more information, visit www.naturalsciences.org

Carolina Theatre. Dance, jazz, solo performance and stand-up comedy. You’ll find all that and more at the historic Carolina Theatre’s main auditorium, Fletcher Hall. Restored to its original Beaux-Arts style, the theatre has a seating capacity of more one thousand. Because of the Carolina Theatre’s rich tradition of film, two modern cinemas were added to the arts complex during the 1992 renovation. For more information, visit www.carolinatheatre.org  [Top]

Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Home of the Triple-A Durham Bulls, Durham Bulls Athletic Park is located in downtown Durham. A 32-foot-high wall stands in left field 305 feet from home plate, resembling Fenway Park’s Green Monster, and known as the Blue Monster. The ballpark’s most distinctive feature is the replica of a bull that towers above the Blue Monster. This bull was modeled after the one used in the 1987 film, “Bull Durham.” The actual bull from the movie is hung in the concourse level of the park. For more information, visit www.dbulls.com.

Museum of Life and Science. Packed with highly interactive exhibits, the Museum of Life and Science in Durham showcases aerospace, weather, geology and Carolina wildlife. Experience the tropical Magic Wings Butterfly House and Bayer CropScience Insectarium. Plus, visit the museum’s newest exhibit, Explore the Wild a six-acre woodland wetland site featuring wild animals and state-of-the-art technology. For more information, visit www.ncmls.org  [Top]

Sara P. Duke Gardens. For soaking in solitude, beauty and horticulture, there’s no finer place than Sara P. Duke Gardens. Often referred to as the “Crown Jewel of Duke University,” the public gardens occupy 55 acres in the heart of the University’s West Campus, adjacent to Duke University Medical Center. For more information, visit www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/dukegardens.html

North Carolina Museum of Art. The North Carolina Museum of Art’s permanent collection spans more than 5,000 years and ranges from ancient Egyptian artifacts to the latest in contemporary art. Nature lovers will be drawn to the Museum Park, which consists of 164 acres of woodlands, open areas and streams filled with trails and significant works of environmental art. For more information, visit www.ncartmuseum.org  [Top]

Alexander Dickson House. The Orange County Visitors Center operates from this late-18th century Quaker-plan house located in the historic Hillsborough district. Other features include an office used by Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in April, 1865, as well as an 18th- and 19th-century medicinal and herbal garden. For more information, call 919.732.7741 or visit www.historichillsborough.org

Duke Homestead and Tobacco Museum. A beautiful 19th century estate in Durham, the Duke Homestead is home to extensive archives and exhibits about early tobacco farming in America, its popularization and manufacture. The Homestead maintains the original buildings used by the Duke family as well as a modern museum with interactive, multimedia exhibits animatronics displays. For more information, visit www.ibiblio.org/dukehome.  [Top]