# What to do in Raleigh/Durham? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216 "2005-05-10T14:20:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hawkeyejo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@hawkeyejo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawkeyejo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/1 "2005-05-10T14:20:48Z")
Moved here a couple of months ago. My cousin’s visiting this weekend, so anyone know what places we should visit? Anything goes from movies to national parks. I have no idea what’s good here (and I am going crazy sitting at home). Also, if anyone can recommend a good GP in the Durham area - I need to see a doctor before my cold turns into full blown pneumonia - would help a lot. Regards Hawk ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/2 "2005-05-10T16:53:11Z")
Well, Raleigh has the NC Museum of Art. It’s worth a trip if you’re in town for an extended period. \<1\> Are you into live music? If you are, there are dozens of bars and clubs with all kinds of bands playing. I’m most familiar with the Cat’s Cradle \<2\>, but there are tons of options. If you really have no idea where to go, this web site \<3\> should provide you a few options. I used to live in Durham, I left a few years back. I can’t help you on the GP question, sorry. \<1\> [http://ncartmuseum.org/](http://ncartmuseum.org/) \<2\> [http://www.catscradle.com/schedule.html](http://www.catscradle.com/schedule.html) \<3\> [http://www.visitraleigh.com/visit/thingstodo.html](http://www.visitraleigh.com/visit/thingstodo.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/3 "2005-05-10T17:22:28Z")
It sounds like you’re in Durham (Raleigh/Durham is the airport, not the region). You could check out a Bull Game. NC Opera Company is in Durham Alternately, Raleigh Little Theatre is showing **As You Like It** in the ampitheater. This is always a nice little outing. If you head out early, you can bring a nice picnic. You cannot bring in beer, but you can buy it there. Make sure to carry a lawn chair. The stone benches are uncomfortable. Unstead Park has some nice trails. You are also only an hour or so away from the NC Zoo, which is world class. Downtown Raleigh has some fine bars and clubs. I was partial to Tir Na Nog, myself. Check out the Spectator or Independent Weekly rags. They usually make up for bad journalism by writing good reviews of what’s going on around town. My wife really liked her GP in Raleigh. If you email me I’ll pass on her name. Make sure you put “SDMB” in the subject line, so my spam filter doesn’t knock you out. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/4 "2005-05-10T18:10:53Z")
Duke Gardens --absolutely the perfect time of year to visit, though they are beautiful all the time [http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/dukegardens.html](http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/dukegardens.html) Duke Chapel , rather like a gothic cathedral [http://www.chapel.duke.edu/chapel/home/](http://www.chapel.duke.edu/chapel/home/) Francesca’s Dessert Cafe on Ninth St. in Durham [http://www.ninthst.com/index.html](http://www.ninthst.com/index.html) Eno River State Park [http://www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/enri/home.html](http://www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/enri/home.html), just went there this weekend. Guglhupf’s Bakery and Patisserie [http://www.guglhupf.com/](http://www.guglhupf.com/) The Carolina Theatre–live performances and art house movies [http://www.carolinatheatre.org/](http://www.carolinatheatre.org/) The Durham Bulls, the real minor league baseball team from “Bull Durham” the movie. [http://www.dbulls.com/](http://www.dbulls.com/) Let us know what you end up doing! And hey! Go to the doctor! They don’t call this the “City of Medicine” for nothing. You can’t swing a cat without hitting a doctor. I go to Triangle Family Practice. their phone menu sucks, but once you get in the door they’re fine. [http://dukehealth1.org/facilities\_locations/duap\_triangle.asp](http://dukehealth1.org/facilities_locations/duap_triangle.asp) ---
**Author:** ![EarthStone777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@EarthStone777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EarthStone777)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/5 "2005-05-10T19:30:19Z")
**hawkeyejo** You beat me to it! 🙂 I’m moving to Durham in June and was already planning on posting that same OP. (Thanks everyone for answering!) \ What brought you to move there, and where did you move from? \ ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/6 "2005-05-10T19:33:59Z")
Just drive out to Chapel Hill instead 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/7 "2005-05-10T19:37:59Z")
Just a take a walk on the Duke campus and go to the chapel. It’s quite impressive and lovely. I think they may even have tours to explain the architecture. ---
**Author:** ![hawkeyejo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@hawkeyejo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawkeyejo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/8 "2005-05-10T20:09:25Z")
Thanks everyone for replying. I’ll check out the links once I am off work. > [@EarthStone777](#): > > **hawkeyejo** You beat me to it! 🙂 > > I’m moving to Durham in June and was already planning on posting that same OP. (Thanks everyone for answering!) > > \ > What brought you to move there, and where did you move from? > \ Graduated from Colorado State U (GO RAMS!!!) and started a new job in RTP. > [@carlotta](#): > > I go to Triangle Family Practice. their phone menu sucks, but once you get in the door they’re fine. > [http://dukehealth1.org/facilities\_l...ap\_triangle.asp](http://dukehealth1.org/facilities_l...ap_triangle.asp) They don’t seem to be accepting new patients :(…and yes, their phone menu sucks. > [@Maus Magill](#): > > It sounds like you’re in Durham (Raleigh/Durham is the airport, not the region). You could check out a Bull Game. My bad. Meant the general area - the Triangle as it is referred to. All my friends keep asking me why Raleigh is supposed to be such a cool place and I keep telling them I haven’t been anyplace except work and Walmart. And I really don’t like baseball, so a Bull game is probably out of the question. It’s a pity I won’t be able to watch too many Broncos games from this season…makes me sad. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/9 "2005-05-10T20:14:09Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Just drive out to Chapel Hill instead 🙂 Good gravy, why would he want to do that? The only two things Chapel Hill has going for it are Helena’s and Ben & Jerry’s. There’s pleny of good things to do in Durham (where I believe the OP is) without having to subject him to proximity of the UNC campus. 😃 Oh, and **hawkeyejo** , you are only about ten minutes away from the best barbecue in the world - Alan and Son on Hwy 86 north of I 40. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/10 "2005-05-10T20:19:29Z")
> [@hawkeyejo](#): > > It’s a pity I won’t be able to watch too many Broncos games from this season…makes me sad. If you are in Raleigh, go to Sammy’s off Western Blvd and Avent Ferry. Tell Sammy that Renee’s Brother-in-law told you this was a good place to watch the Broncos. Sammy will hook you up. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/11 "2005-05-10T20:33:39Z")
We’ve had a few thread asking the same question recently, if you’re interested… ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/12 "2005-05-11T01:51:28Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > Good gravy, why would he want to do that? The only two things Chapel Hill has going for it are Helena’s and Ben & Jerry’s. And ME!!! We just did a thread on what to do in Raleigh not too long ago, with a bunch of stuff in it. I’ll try to find it and post a link. The Independent has lists of everything that’s going on–music, movies, and more. Don’t miss: Maple View Dairy, out in the country between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. The Double Chocolate is worth a trip. There’s a new MVD store in Carrboro across from Weaver Street Market, but it’s more fun to drive out to the one in the country on a lovely Sunday afternoon. Festival for the Eno in Durham, July 4th weekend. Bynum General Store Front Porch Music Series, Friday nights at 7. Sounds like we have lots of new folks moving here–welcome! ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-raleigh-durham/303216/13 "2005-05-11T03:48:47Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > Good gravy, why would he want to do that? The only two things Chapel Hill has going for it are Helena’s and Ben & Jerry’s. There’s a Ben and Jerry’s in Durham.