Durham, NC

1. Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Located on Anderson Street on the campus of Duke University, Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a 55-acre public garden that features both wooded and landscaped areas. The garden is a memorial to Sarah Pearson Duke who was the wife of Benjamin N. Duke, a benefactor of Duke University.

There are five miles of trails and walks that wind their way through the garden, which is divided into four main areas. The garden offers tours and programs such as Nature Adventures Camp, Japanese Tea Gatherings, Summer Internships, and many more.

Duke University, 420 Anderson Street, Durham, North Carolina, Phone: 919-684-3698

2. Museum of Life and Science

Located on West Murray Avenue north of downtown Durham, the Museum of Life and Science is a natural science museum that features many hands-on exhibits. Formerly known as the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, the museum sits on 80 acres of land and consists of several buildings and attractions.

Some examples are the main building, a butterfly house, dinosaur trail, farmyard, and a train, and there are both indoor and outdoor exhibits. One of the best things to do in Durham, North Carolina, the museum is known for its Aerospace exhibit that displays many early NASA space program artifacts on loan from the National Air and Space Museum. The three-story glass Magic Wings Butterfly House is one of the museum’s most popular exhibits.

433 West Murray Avenue, Durham, North Carolina, Phone: 919-220-5429

3. Duke Lemur Center

Sitting on 80 acres of land, the Duke Lemur Center is the world’s largest sanctuary for rare and endangered prosimian primates. It is located on Erwin Road close to Duke University, and it is open to the public. One-hour tours are offered but require advance reservations.

The Center had its beginnings in 1966 when 90 primates were relocated from Yale University to Duke University.

Since then, the Center has housed and taken care of almost 4,000 primates including lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers. Currently, there are approximately 250 primates representing 21 species. The Center hosts events such as Lemurpalooza, when visitors bring blankets and picnics and are introduced to some of the primates. If you are wondering what to see in Durham with kids, this is a fun place to visit with the whole family.

3705 Erwin Road, Durham, North Carolina, Phone: 919-489-3364

4. Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

Located on Campus Drive, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is an art museum that contains more than 13,000 works ranging from antiquity to contemporary art. The museum’s collection includes 3,300 Pre-Columbian art objects, works on paper, medieval art, and much more. Opened in 2005, the museum is housed in a building designed by architect Rafael Vinoly.

In addition to the museum’s permanent collection, the Nasher Museum of Art hosts temporary exhibits and events such as music concerts and Free Family Day. The Nasher Museum of Art is one of the must-see Durham attractions for art lovers. Public tours are held on Thursday and Sunday, and private group tours are also available. The museum can be rented for corporate events, parties, and weddings.

2001 Campus Drive, Durham, North Carolina, Phone: 919-684-5135

5. DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center

With a capacity of 2,700, DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center is the largest performing arts center in North and South Carolina. The Center is located on Vivian Street and hosts over 200 performances per year. It is a highly praised establishment that serves as the venue for touring Broadway shows, comedy events, music concerts, the American Dance Festival, family shows, and many other kinds of performances.

The Center opened in 2008 with a sold out concert by B.B. King. If you are looking for date night ideas in Durham, watch a performance at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Owned by the City of Durham, the Center has proved to be a great success for the city, as evidenced by the new business it has generated; several new restaurants have opened in the vicinity of the Center. Public tours of the Center are held once a month.

123 Vivian Street, Durham, North Carolina, Phone: 919-680-2787

6. Stagville State Historic Site, Durham, NC

Stagville State Historic Site is a historic house museum made up of buildings from the Stagville Plantation, one of the largest plantations in the American South. The Bennehan-Cameron family originally owned the plantation, and the buildings date from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century.

The Bennehan House, built in 1878, and Horton Grove, an area that holds slave houses built in 1850, are both listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Located on Old Oxford Highway, the historic site offers guided tours three times a day. There are summer programs for school children and special events like the Harvest Festival Pie Auction.

5828 Old Oxford Highway, Durham, North Carolina, Phone: 919-620-0120

7. American Tobacco Historic District

Located on Blackwell Street, the American Tobacco Historic District is a tobacco factory area consisting of 17 historic structures. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2000, the structures were built between 1874 and the 1950s. Some of the most noteworthy buildings include the Italianate style W.T. Blackwell and Company Building, the Hill Warehouse built in the Romanesque Revival style, and several structures in the Art Moderne style including the Crowe, the Fowler, and the Strickland buildings.

The district was formerly the home of the American Tobacco Company, and the redevelopment of this historic area was a part of a large urban renewal plan to revitalize downtown Durham. Today, the district is known for its many restaurants and shops.

318 Blackwell Street, Durham, North Carolina, Phone: 919-433-1566

8. Metro 8 Steakhouse

How can you make a classic American steakhouse even better? You add an Argentinean touch to it. At Metro 8 Steakhouse, the Argentinean touch is the chef and owner Francisco Pirillo. He mixes elements like shrimp and simple filet mignon stuffed with crabs or turns your steak into a churrasco and serves it with chimichurri. For dessert, try the soufflé or the decadent crepes filled with dulce de leche.

With such amazing food, the menu does not have to be extensive and complicated. The restaurant is also as simple as it is perfect, and features soft colors, clean lines, rich hardwood floors, and a large inviting bar. There is also a nice outdoor patio if you want to enjoy the fresh air while you dine.

1116 Broad St, Durham, NC 27705, 919-416-1700

9. Durham Central Park

There’s a lot to see and do in Durham, and a great number of those things can be found at Durham Central Park. A hub for recreation, special events, and even great eats, Durham Central Park is a five-acre green space that is beloved for regularly hosting farmers' markets, movie screenings, food truck rodeos, and concerts at their 9,000-square-foot pavilion. The park is also home to an interactive play area for children called Mount Merrill, and a gorgeous grove of trees filled with species from other countries like a Japanese Higan Cherry Tree, and a Russian Red Maple. Recreational activities at the Great Lawn are absolutely enjoyable, while other features include the 10,000-square-foot skate park, the free-pick public garden, Garden of Eatin’, and several other manicured gardens to rest in.

501 Foster Street, Durham, North Carolina 27701, Phone: 919-794-8194

10. Eno River State Park

Eno River State Park consists of 4,200 acres of land and, along with the West Point on the Eno City Park, preserves more than nine miles of the Eno River. Located northwest of downtown Durham, the park is a popular place for outdoor activities such as camping, canoeing, and fishing, and there are also 24 miles of hiking trails. If you are wondering what to do in Durham with kids, this is a great park to explore.

The area was home to several Native American tribes. Once the settlers arrived, they built over 30 gristmills on the river. The park was created in 1972 to protect the area from development. The park is known for its natural beauty including its springtime wildflowers and its animals such as beavers, birds, deer, fish, and turtles, among others.