Duke University

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is one of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. Its 8,600-acre campus is a wonderful place to visit, featuring stunning Gothic buildings like Duke Chapel and the Williams R. Perkins Library; a sprawling, 7,000-acre private research forest; and so much more. The Duke University campus also features a variety of state-of-the-art sports venues, including the historic Cameron Indoor Stadium, Wallace Wade Stadium, and the newly-constructed Morris Williams Track and Field Stadium. In short, the Duke University campus has something for everyone to enjoy.

If you’ve got some downtime during your visit, consider venturing out and visiting some of the other fun places that can be found in Durham and the surrounding area. From world-class museums to beautiful botanical gardens and state parks, there’s no shortage of fun things to do, beautiful sights to see, and so much more.

Things to Do

Duke Lemur Center

As it turns out, you don’t even need to leave the Duke University campus to find an attraction that’s fun, unique, and sure to be one of the highlights of your stay. The Duke Lemur Center, located within the Duke Forest, is the largest sanctuary of its kind in the entire world. Founded in 1966, the Duke Lemur Center’s 85 acres are home to nearly 300 lemurs, bush babies, and lorises.

You’ll get to see many of these cute, fuzzy creatures as you take one of the many unique tours offered by the facility. These tours include Walking with Lemurs, Lemur Keeper for a Day, and even Painting with Lemurs! There’s also the standard Lemurs Live tour where visitors get the chance to learn about and meet a few different species of lemurs. All of these tours are offered by reservation only, so try to book your visit at least two weeks in advance. At the end of the tour, make sure to commemorate your visit to the Duke Lemur Center with a fun keepsake from their one of a kind Lemur Landing gift shop! 3705 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27705

American Tobacco Historic District

For phenomenal shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences less than 10 minutes from the Duke University campus, head to the American Tobacco Historic District. Once a Lucky Strike cigarette factory and the headquarters of the American Tobacco Company, this unique complex is now a central part of a large-scale urban renewal project in downtown Durham.

There you’ll find restaurants serving everything from modern takes on Japanese cuisine to classic Cuban comfort food; a wide range of boutiques and specialty shops; a 2,000-seat amphitheater; and more. Day or night, this unique entertainment district is one of the area’s most happening hotspots. 300 Blackwell St, Durham, NC 27701

Museum of Life and Science

If you’re visiting Duke University with any curious young minds, treat them to an afternoon of entertaining and educational fun at the Museum of Life and Science. With over 80 acres of world-class exhibits, even older visitors can end up learning a thing or two or three during their visit to this captivating museum.

Some of the most popular exhibits at the Museum of Life and Science include one of the largest butterfly houses on the East Coast; a trail populated by over a dozen life-size dinosaur statues; and Aerospace, an exhibit featuring many fascinating artifacts related to early NASA space programs. Since the Museum of Life and Science features both indoor and outdoor exhibits, it’s a great attraction to visit no matter the weather. Looking for the perfect souvenir or a gift for someone back home? The Elements Museum Store features a unique assortment of toys, games, gadgets, and more. 433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704

Eno River State Park

Established in 1973, Eno River State Park is one of Durham’s most scenic greenspaces. Since the park’s establishment, a group known as the Eno River Association has made concerted efforts to expand the reach of the park to protect the ecological and cultural heritage of the region. The association also works to preserve the park’s lush natural beauty so that it can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Eno River State Park is currently made up of an impressive 4,200 acres of protected land. This land is particularly remarkable because of its ecological and historic significance. Five access areas, including the Cabe Lands, Cole Mill, Few’s Ford, Pleasant Green, and the Pump Station, as well as over 24 miles of trails serve as entryways into this largely unspoiled river environment. Outdoor activities that can be enjoyed at Eno River State Park include hiking, picnicking, canoeing, and kayaking. History buffs will definitely want to keep an eye out for some of the historic mills and homesteads that dot the park during their visit. 6101 Cole Mill Rd, Durham, NC 27705

North Carolina Botanical Garden

Traveling can be stressful. If you need to take a break from the hustle and bustle during your stay in Durham, consider taking a stroll through the North Carolina Botanical Garden. As an affiliate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Botanical Garden has been dedicated to the research and cataloging of the region’s native plant species for well over half a century.

Once just a humble cluster of various trees and shrubs planted by UNC’s first professor of botany in 1903, the North Carolina Botanical Garden has grown steadily ever since. The garden now features 14 beautiful collections, including the Native Water Gardens, Mountain Habitat Garden, Carnivorous Plant Collection, and more. The garden is open Tuesday through Sunday and best of all, admission is free! 100 Old Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Carolina Basketball Museum

In the world of college sports, basketball is a big deal. That’s why it should come as no real surprise that there’s a museum in Chapel Hill dedicated entirely to chronicling the history of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. If you’re a Tar Heels fan, the Carolina Basketball Museum is one attraction you definitely can’t miss.

At the Carolina Basketball Museum you’ll find everything and anything Tar Heels. The museum’s collection includes nearly 500 authentic artifacts, hundreds of photographs, and displays that highlight the history of the Carolina basketball program. The museum also features captivating video tributes to esteemed coaches and players along with interactive presentations that highlight Carolina’s 20 Final Four appearances and 18 ACC Tournament championships.

What makes this unique museum even more worth visiting during your trip is that it holds the distinction of being the first basketball-only museum for a university in the country. Admission is also free! The museum’s 8,000 square feet of captivating exhibits can be found on the first floor of the Ernie Williamson Athletics Center on the UNC Chapel Hill campus. 450 Skipper Bowles Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

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Places to Eat

Wimpy’s Grill

No trip to Durham is complete without a stop at Wimpy’s Grill. This iconic local institution was once featured on Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, and for good reason! Wimpy’s Grill is well known far and wide for serving up big, hearty breakfasts and even bigger burgers, as well as plenty of other classic comfort food staples.

If you’re visiting Wimpy’s for the most important meal of the day, you’ve got to try one of their famous “giant” biscuits. If a tender, buttery biscuit on its own isn’t enough for you to get your fill however, you could always pair it with delicious meats like fried pork tenderloin, country ham, sausage, steak, and more. Planning to visit Wimpy’s for lunch instead? You can’t go wrong with their one of a kind Garbage Burger. Far more delicious than its name would suggest, this behemoth burger comes piled high with pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, chili, slaw, onions, ketchup, mustard, mayo, bacon, cheese, and two quarter-pound patties. 617 Hicks St, Durham, NC 27705

The Refectory Café

If you’re looking for something just a little lighter than giant biscuits and Garbage Burgers, The Refectory Café might be a more appropriate dining option. Located just over two miles from the Duke University campus, The Refectory Café is an award-winning eatery that specializes in catering to all sorts of diets, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and more.

On the menu there you’ll find a variety of light and fresh dishes, all made with as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible. Popular dishes at The Refectory Café include a succulent shrimp po’ boy sandwich, tender crab cakes, and a to-die-for Greek yogurt cheesecake. 2726 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707

Foster’s Market

Another local establishment known for serving up food that’s as healthy as it is delicious is Foster’s Market. Everything on the menu at Foster’s is made from scratch whenever possible. Does that make a big difference? You bet! The moment you try one of their warm, inviting soups, crisp salads, hearty casseroles, or one of their many other flavorful dishes, you’ll surely agree.

With so many dishes to choose from however, you might find it difficult to pick just one. If that’s the case, you can’t go wrong with the Jammin’ Turkey Breast sandwich. This signature sandwich creation features house-roasted turkey breast, house-made seven-pepper jelly, herb cream cheese, caramelized red onions, and romaine lettuce. 2694 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707

The Pit

The state of North Carolina is known all across the country for its legendary barbecue and the charming joints that know how to cook it just right. The Pit proudly continues this time-honored tradition by serving up authentic, pit-cooked barbecue in a comfortable, casual setting paired with a heaping helping of Southern hospitality.

The pigs used to make their delicious barbecue are all free-range and locally raised, and the freshest produce is featured in their selection of starters, sides, and desserts. Going far beyond traditional barbecue offerings with some contemporary twists on old favorites, The Pit also serves barbecue turkey, fried chicken, and even a can’t-miss barbecue tofu dish. If you’re looking to sink your teeth into some real-deal, down-home southern barbecue during your visit to Duke University, this is the place to go. 321 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701

In addition to being one of the most esteemed academic institutions in the country, Duke University also makes for a fantastic travel destination. With so much to see and do on the university’s beautiful campus, you can bet you’ll never be bored while you’re there. In the unlikely event that you do happen to run out of on-campus activities, the surrounding area is home to plenty more places to go as well. It really doesn’t take much to keep the fun going during a visit to Duke University and the city of Durham!