Durham North Carolina is famous for
two things: Duke University and their minor league baseball team
the Durham Bulls. The former was nurtured from a small college
into a major university thanks contributions from their eponymous
tobacco magnate benefactors. The later was immortalized in the
hit Costner/Sarandon movie Bull Durham in 1988. But there’s
more to do in Durham than catch a game then hit the lively downtown
nightspots with the rowdy student and sports-fan crowds.
The whole family can enjoy themselves at West Point on the Eno,
a 388-acre park on the banks of the Eno River that’s ideal
for picnics, fishing and strolls by the water. The park also features
a working gristmill, the historic 1850’s McCown-Mangum House
and the Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography.
One way to see the Durham area is via the North Durham County
Byway, with its great views of the surrounding countryside, waterways
and historic plantations. Bird watchers will want to stop at the
thriving Hill Demonstration Forest. Another way to see the great
outdoors is biking the scenic 12-mile American Tobacco Trail,
which goes from downtown Durham to the county line. Bikers may
also enjoy a quick jaunt on the Downtown Loop (watch out for runners
(and vice versa)).
Raleigh has lots of golf courses, but there
are better private/semi-private than public ones.
Visitors can fly into the area through
the Raleigh/Durham Airport.
