Health/Sports

Carolina Adventures/Outdoor Recreation Center

UNC Campus.

Comments:  Tennis Courts, Disc Golf, Mountain Biking, Ropes Courses, etc., again all included in your student fees! 

Chapel Hill/Carrboro Tae Kwon Do

Brewer Lane, Carrboro.

Comments: Formal training in nice facilities. Great workout! 

Chapel Hill Community Center

Chapel Hill.

Comments:  Indoor climbing, basketball

Student Recreation Center/Fetzer and Woolen Gym

UNC Campus.

Comments:  Aerobics, Swimming, Basketball, Weight Training, etc., and all included in your student fees (except in the summer, when there is an extra $30 fee)

Triangle Yoga

Chapel Hill.

Comments:  Best Yoga school around!

Arts

The Arts Center

Carrboro.

Comments:  You can take all sorts of cool classes in things like belly dancing, art, photography, drama and ceramics.

The Carolina Theatre of Durham

Durham.

Durham Arts Council

Durham. Private nonprofit dedicated to supporting the arts in Durham and the Triangle Region.

Manbites Dog Theater

Durham. Professional non-profit theater, produces new and challenging theatrical events.

Comments: Facility is pretty plain, but the plays are good and very cheap, ca. $10 per ticket. Dress casually.

NC Bach Festival

Raleigh.

Comments:  Classical performances for voice and instruments… usually free.

Playmaker’s Theater

UNC Campus.

Comments:  Student discounts available on season ticket packages.

Raleigh Civic Center

Raleigh.

Comments:  Great plays!

Museums

Ackland Art Museum

UNC Campus, on Columbia Ave, close to Franklin St.

Comments:  One of the few places on the Hill for a little culture.

Morehead Planetarium

UNC Campus, on Franklin Street.

Comments:  Laser light shows and regularly scheduled astronomy-related programs. Students get in for only $2 with I.D.!

Museum of Life and Science

Durham.

Comments:  General science museum.  Good for kids.  Recently entered a new facility.

NC Museum of Art

Raleigh.

Comments:  In addition to the museum, there are ‘movies on the lawn’ on Thursday and Saturday nights… bring a blanket and dinner and enjoy the movie.  Regular art plus movies on Friday and special musical events.

Raleigh Museum of Natural History

Raleigh.

Comedy

Charlie Goodnight’s

Raleigh.

Comments:  Stand-up comedy.

Comedy Sportz at Franklin Center

Chapel Hill.

Comments:  Comedy improvisation competition that is great for a laugh!

Sports (outside UNC)

Durham Bulls Athletic Park

Durham.

Comments:  Triple A baseball for only $4-5 in a great stadium.  The fireworks on July 4th make the perfect end to a night of baseball.

Historic Durham Athletic Park

Durham.

Comments:  Home of the Durham Dragons… women’s professional fastpitch softball.

Triangle Sportsplex

Hillsborough.

Comments:  Swimming and ice-skating… a mild distraction that is close and inexpensive.

Outdoors

Bolin Creek Forest Trails

Chapel Hill.

Comments:  Great running and biking trails in the woods.

Carrboro Community Park

Carrboro.

Comments:  A good place for exercises… baseball, tennis, volleyball, etc… cookout parties or just a quiet weekend picnic.

Crabtree Lake

Cary.

Comments:  Mountain bike trails on one side with a greenway for walking, jogging, and rollerblading on the other.  Good for catfish fishing!  Hiking and mountain biking trails, picnicking boat rentals, playgrounds, etc.

Duke Chapel

Durham.

Comments:  Cool building, organ recitals on Sunday.  You've never seen a 'chapel' like this before (think cathedral).

Duke Gardens

Durham.

Comments:  Outdoor gardens. A beautiful place for spring, summer or fall to relax during the semester.  A nice place to hide out for a couple of hours.

Eno River State Park

Durham.

Comments:  Nice state park with a lot of trails for hiking and a gentle river for paddling. Lots to see if you like hiking and not too far away.  Annual festival held in July.  It’s excellent for family activities.

Haw River

15-501 near Pittsboro.

Comments:  Big river, lots of water.  Great canoeing, kayaking, or meditation.

Fantasy Lake

North Raleigh/Wake Forest.

Comments:  Skin and scuba diving in old Rock Quarry.

Jordan Lake

Triangle.

Comments:  Outdoor recreation… huge lake… swimming, hiking, picnicking, fishing, boating… water is good!

Mason Farms

Chapel Hill.

Comments:  Great trails for bird watching.

Merchant’s Mill Pond

Gatesville.

Comments: It’s a drive but it’s a nice getaway… canoe rental, campground and hiking/biking.

NC Botanical Garden

Chapel Hill

Comments:  Botanical garden and hiking area.  Garden divided into ecosystems of NC.  Short but pleasant hiking trails.

NC Zoo

Asheboro.

Comments:  Large variety of animals in a very natural appearing environment.  

Umstead State Park

Raleigh/Cary.

Comments:  Fairly good hiking trails along creeks and through woods.

University Lake

Chapel Hill.

Comments:  Natural lake where you can rent a canoe.  Rowing, wild life, fishing… and free entrance.

Bowling

AMC Bowing Alley

Durham.

Mardi Gras Bowling Alley

Chapel Hill.

Comments:  Glow-in-the-dark bowling… cool!

Nightlife

Cat’s Cradle

Carrboro.

Comments:  Good live music and atmosphere.  The go to spot for big name rising indie-rock bands, hip-hop acts, and a multitude of local talent.  The place to see bands before they blow up!

The Cave

Chapel Hill.

Comments:  Beer, music, ambiance - the name says it ALL.

He’s Not Here

Chapel Hill, Franklin street.

Comments:  32 oz. Blue cups of beer for under 5 dollars, don’t plan on sobriety. Make sure to come on Tuesday nights for beer specials and a fun beer scene.

Legends

Raleigh.

Comments:  Great bar and dance club for the area's gay community.  

Linda’s

Franklin St., Chapel Hill

Comments:  Once you head down the stairs, you may never make it back up.

Lucy’s

Corner of Henderson Street and Rosemary, Chapel Hill

Comments: The place to be in Chapel Hill, outdoor dining, upscale bar, but not expensive.

Mansion 462

462 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill

Comments: The newest club/lounge in Chapel Hill.  Expect great dance music, upscale décor, and monthly international nights with latin, worldbeat, and dance-hall music. 

Top of the Hill

100 East Franklin St, Chapel Hill.

Comments:  It has both dining and bar areas with an outdoor section providing a great view of the downtown Chapel Hill area.   The indoor area is smoke-free.
Any of the multitudes of bars and restaurants on Franklin Street… just watch out for the undergrads!

Extra Places to Visit

Altell Pavilion

Raleigh.

Comments:  The local music amphitheatre for major tours

Carrboro Farmer’s Market

Carrboro.

Comments:  Saturday morning, 7 – noon. Organic food and fresh fruits & veggies.

Farrington Village

South of Chapel Hill.

Comments:  Best bookstore in the area; excellent restaurant; art gallery and cool looking cows.

RDU International Airport

Research Triangle Park.

Comments:  Observation Deck and restaurant. Free admission to UNC students.  Airplanes land and take off every day on a published schedule.