Downtown Chapel Hill / Carrboro links
I give enough tours of Chapel Hill / Carrboro, NC that it's amazing that I didn't think of doing this until now. Here's a (soon-to-be-updated) list of my favourite downtown spots and local resources. My faves are marked with an arrow (hard to narrow it down):
LOCAL PUBLICATIONS
Independent Weekly (regional arts & entertainment)
Indy Week Best of the Triangle 2016
Triangle Business Journal
The Daily Tarheel (UNC Chapel Hill)
======== CHAPEL HILL ========
DIRECTIONS / PARKING
From Raleigh-Durham International Airport: Take your best route to I-40 West.
* For UNC Chapel Hill: Take Exit 273A to NC Hwy 54 West. In just over 2 miles you'll pass an underpass. The campus is less than a mile ahead.
* For downtown Chapel Hill: Take Exit 270 to US 15-501. Turn Left onto 15-501 South to Chapel Hill. Once over I-40, start counting traffic lights. After 4th light the road forks: Bear right on to Franklin St. Stay on Franklin St. up the long hill. You'll be downtown when you've passed the Morehead Planetarium on the right.
* Chapel Hill Parking Map
Town of Chapel Hill:
Downtown Chapel Hill Website
Chapel Hill Wikipedia
Town of Chapel Hill Website
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: (oldest U.S. public university)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill website
UNC Wikipedia
==> Gimghoul Castle
==> Forest Theatre (lovely outdoor amphitheatre)
Fetzer Athletic Fields
Playmakers Repertory Company
UNC Memorial Hall / Carolina Performing Arts
Ackland Art Museum
Morehead Planetarium
The Old Well (a UNC icon)
Coker Arboretum
North Carolina Botanical Garden
Food & Drink:
Google search for best Chapel Hill restaurants
==> 411 West (upscale Italian)
==> Caffe Driade (My absolute favourite coffee shop. Website doesn't do it justice)
Carolina Brewery (mid-scale American pub food)
==> Crook's Corner (nationally rated as a "temple of Southern cuisine")
The Crunkleton (upscale cocktails / wine)
==> La Residence (a local icon of French cuisine)
Mama Dip's Kitchen (a local icon of Southern cuisine)
==> Mediterranean Deli (great food and people watching, international atmosphere)
==> Top of the Hill (upscale rooftop view at the centre of downtown, on-site brewery)
==> Vimla's Curryblossom Café (Indian)
West End Wine Bar
==> The Yogurt Pump (my favourite frozen yogurt place)
Nightlife:
IndyWeek Event Calendar - Orange County
Durham / Chapel Hill Songkick Concert Calendar
==> DSI Comedy Theater
======== CARRBORO ======== (Chapel Hill's bohemian next-door neighbour - you barely notice you've left Chapel Hill)
DIRECTIONS / PARKING
* You can get to Carrboro by heading West on Chapel Hill's main drag, Franklin Street. Carrboro begins when Franklin Street veers sharply to the left, just before it intersects with Rosemary Street. You're in the heart of "downtown" when you've crossed the railroad tracks and arrive at Weaver Street Market at Carr Mill Mall.
* Carrboro Parking Map (PDF)
* Carrboro Walking Map
The Town:
Town of Carrboro Website
Carrboro - Wikipedia
Food / Drink:
Google Search - best Carrboro Restaurants
==> Armadillo Grill (Tex Mex)
==> Elmo's Diner (best breakfast spot - at Carr Mill Mall)
==> Milltown (Belgian style beer / authentic Belgian style pub grub / outdoor seating)
==> Open Eye Café (boho / hipster coffee shop - nice atmosphere)
==> The Station (great bar / restaurant built in an old train / station / beer garden)
Nightlife:
IndyWeek Event Calendar - Orange County
Durham / Chapel Hill Songkick Concert Calendar
==> The Baxter Barcade (fabulous pub / gaming arcade)
Bowbar
Carrboro Arts Center
==> Cat's Cradle (national music landmark)
==> The Cave (great dive bar / billiards / local music)
Local 506 (alternative music)
==> The Station (great bar / restaurant built in an old train / station / beer garden)
The Night Light
Other Points of Interest:
Carr Mill Mall (great outdoor town commons / people watching)
Carrboro Farmer's Market
======== REGIONAL ========
Places Rated Almanac - Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill
.
LOCAL PUBLICATIONS
Independent Weekly (regional arts & entertainment)
Indy Week Best of the Triangle 2016
Triangle Business Journal
The Daily Tarheel (UNC Chapel Hill)
======== CHAPEL HILL ========
DIRECTIONS / PARKING
From Raleigh-Durham International Airport: Take your best route to I-40 West.
* For UNC Chapel Hill: Take Exit 273A to NC Hwy 54 West. In just over 2 miles you'll pass an underpass. The campus is less than a mile ahead.
* For downtown Chapel Hill: Take Exit 270 to US 15-501. Turn Left onto 15-501 South to Chapel Hill. Once over I-40, start counting traffic lights. After 4th light the road forks: Bear right on to Franklin St. Stay on Franklin St. up the long hill. You'll be downtown when you've passed the Morehead Planetarium on the right.
* Chapel Hill Parking Map
Town of Chapel Hill:
Downtown Chapel Hill Website
Chapel Hill Wikipedia
Town of Chapel Hill Website
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: (oldest U.S. public university)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill website
UNC Wikipedia
==> Gimghoul Castle
==> Forest Theatre (lovely outdoor amphitheatre)
Fetzer Athletic Fields
Playmakers Repertory Company
UNC Memorial Hall / Carolina Performing Arts
Ackland Art Museum
Morehead Planetarium
The Old Well (a UNC icon)
Coker Arboretum
North Carolina Botanical Garden
Food & Drink:
Google search for best Chapel Hill restaurants
==> 411 West (upscale Italian)
==> Caffe Driade (My absolute favourite coffee shop. Website doesn't do it justice)
Carolina Brewery (mid-scale American pub food)
==> Crook's Corner (nationally rated as a "temple of Southern cuisine")
The Crunkleton (upscale cocktails / wine)
==> La Residence (a local icon of French cuisine)
Mama Dip's Kitchen (a local icon of Southern cuisine)
==> Mediterranean Deli (great food and people watching, international atmosphere)
==> Top of the Hill (upscale rooftop view at the centre of downtown, on-site brewery)
==> Vimla's Curryblossom Café (Indian)
West End Wine Bar
==> The Yogurt Pump (my favourite frozen yogurt place)
Nightlife:
IndyWeek Event Calendar - Orange County
Durham / Chapel Hill Songkick Concert Calendar
==> DSI Comedy Theater
======== CARRBORO ======== (Chapel Hill's bohemian next-door neighbour - you barely notice you've left Chapel Hill)
DIRECTIONS / PARKING
* You can get to Carrboro by heading West on Chapel Hill's main drag, Franklin Street. Carrboro begins when Franklin Street veers sharply to the left, just before it intersects with Rosemary Street. You're in the heart of "downtown" when you've crossed the railroad tracks and arrive at Weaver Street Market at Carr Mill Mall.
* Carrboro Parking Map (PDF)
* Carrboro Walking Map
The Town:
Town of Carrboro Website
Carrboro - Wikipedia
Food / Drink:
Google Search - best Carrboro Restaurants
==> Armadillo Grill (Tex Mex)
==> Elmo's Diner (best breakfast spot - at Carr Mill Mall)
==> Milltown (Belgian style beer / authentic Belgian style pub grub / outdoor seating)
==> Open Eye Café (boho / hipster coffee shop - nice atmosphere)
==> The Station (great bar / restaurant built in an old train / station / beer garden)
Nightlife:
IndyWeek Event Calendar - Orange County
Durham / Chapel Hill Songkick Concert Calendar
==> The Baxter Barcade (fabulous pub / gaming arcade)
Bowbar
Carrboro Arts Center
==> Cat's Cradle (national music landmark)
==> The Cave (great dive bar / billiards / local music)
Local 506 (alternative music)
==> The Station (great bar / restaurant built in an old train / station / beer garden)
The Night Light
Other Points of Interest:
Carr Mill Mall (great outdoor town commons / people watching)
Carrboro Farmer's Market
======== REGIONAL ========
Places Rated Almanac - Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill
.