Chapel Hill

Ackland Art Museum

A local art museum with art from all over the world, including a great Asian art collection, as well as a lot of space devoted to traveling exhibits, which have hosted some surprisingly big names in art.

Wed Fri Sat 10AM-5PM, Thu 10AM-8PM, Sun 1-5PM, Mon Tue closed·Free

All Day Records

Vinyl and cassette-only shop in Carrboro (save a small collection of used CDs), with a great selection of collector-aimed gems.

Mon-Thu noon-6PM, Fri Sat noon-8PM, Sun 2-6PM

Battle Park

A local park which preserves a natural wooded canyon and a small creek east of campus that makes for a lovely retreat from the town. Walking trails run along the creek at the bottom of the canyon and up the hills into the residential neighborhoods lining the park. There are also a couple of historic structures in the park.

Free

Buns

The perfect place to have delicious burger and fries. All the food is prepared everyday to guarantee the freshness, the portions are big, and the huge basket of large fries is one of the better (and more affordable) group meals in town. The dipping sauces are fantastic; their chipotle mayo is a favorite.

Mon-Thu 11AM-10PM, Fri Sat 11AM-3AM, Sun 11AM-9PM

Caffe Driade

Off-campus coffee shop set back in the woods. If coming by foot or by bike, take the Bolin Creek Trail.

Mon–Thu 7AM–11PM, Fri Sat 7AM–midnight, Sun 8AM–11PM

Carolina Basketball Museum

Located next to the Dean Dome, this museum chronicles the history of Tar Heel basketball. Be sure to check out Michael Jordan's letter to archrival Coach K, which informed the Duke basketball coach that young Jordan would be taking his talents to rival institution UNC Chapel Hill.

Tue-Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat 9AM-1PM·Free

Carolina Coffee Shop

Despite the name, this place is not a coffee shop, but a small restaurant/bar that has been a student hangout on Franklin Street longer than anyone can remember. Decent lunch/brunch offerings by day and a fairly calm, casual bar by night.

Tue Thu-Sat 9AM-2AM, Wed 9AM-9:30PM, Sun 9AM-2PM

Carrboro Farmers' Market

Saturday market is open every week, while Wednesday market is only open from Spring to Fall. The Chapel Hill Creamery sells brilliant cheese and dairy products.

Wed 3:30PM-6:30PM, Sat 7AM-noon

Cat's Cradle

Local indie music venue featuring regional and national artists.

Chapel Hill Sportswear

The widest selection of UNC gear and clothing you're going to find anywhere. Immediately recognizable from the shock of Carolina blue in the windows facing the street.

Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun noon-5PM

Coker Arboretum

A beautiful garden with a wonderful vine pergola along Cameron Avenue.

Cosmic Cantina

A small burrito joint that's the sister location to the original in Durham. The veggie burrito is quite affordable. The restaurant often prints discount coupons in magazines such as The Independent Weekly and also has alcoholic drink specials.

Daily 11AM-4AM

Finley Golf Course

The course, belonging to the University, was once named the 11th best collegiate course in the nation. Try to play during the week as prices can get fairly high on the weekends.

Golf shop, winter: daily 8:30AM-5PM; summer: daily 7:30AM-7PM·$45 weekdays, $73 weekends; discounts for students/alumni

Flyleaf Books

Local, independent new and used bookstore with frequent events, including local authors and musicians.

Mon-Sat 9AM-9PM, Sun 10AM-5PM

Forest Theater

A scenic little outdoor amphitheater that holds occasional performances.

Frank

An art gallery on Franklin Street. See the events page for a full list of upcoming salons.

Tue Wed Fri Sat 11AM-6PM, Thu 11AM-8PM (closes at 6PM on Thu evenings with no salon or activity), Sun 1-5PM

Gimghoul Castle

Little-known, a small stone castle in the woods at the end of Gimghoul Road which serves as the headquarters for a college secret society.

He's Not Here

This is where Michael Jordan comes when he's in town, but you'll keep coming back for the Blue Cup. Tucked away from the street, with a nice courtyard space big enough for the regular frat parties that occur here.

Sun-Thu 4PM-2AM, Fri Sat 2PM-2AM

Linda's

A bar with a relaxed atmosphere, a good selection of beers on tap, and cheap prices, although the real attraction here is the bar food, which includes fried okra and sweet potato tater tots.

Mon 11:30AM-midnight, Tue-Fri 11:30AM-2AM, Sat 5PM-2AM, Sun 5PM-midnight

Maple View Farm

Ice cream shop out in the country with a good view of the farm where the cows are milked and the ice cream is made. Has a porch full of rocking chairs and dozens of flavors of ice cream and sorbet.

Noon–8PM daily

Memorial Hall

One of the main performance spaces at the University of North Carolina. Located in the heart of campus, the remodeled hall is home to the Carolina Performing Arts productions, visiting artists, speakers and many other events.

Mint Indian Cuisine

Popular upscale Indian restaurant. Come on Sunday for the lunch buffet.

11:30AM-2:30PM, 4-9PM daily

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

One of the oldest and largest planetariums in the United States, and the first ever built on a U.S. college campus. Traditional planetarium star shows, original multimedia productions, live science demonstration shows and more. In front of the building is a large sundial surrounded by a lovely rose garden.

Tue-Sat 10AM-3:30PM, Sun 1-4:30PM·Exhibits free; planetarium shows $7.25 adults, $6 children/students/seniors

Morehead–Patterson Bell Tower

An impressive brick clock tower which chimes on the quarter-hour.

NC Botanical Garden

A set of lovely display gardens, with a great native plant collection arranged to illustrate the distinct plant habitats of North Carolina, including carnivorous plants and lovely flowers and butterflies. Also has nature trails nearby.

Tue-Sat 9AM-5PM, Sun 1-5PM·Free

North Carolina Collection Gallery

Inside the prominent reference library building on campus, the gallery is home to changing exhibits on the history of the university, showcasing artifacts from the library's collection.

Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat 9AM-1PM, Sun 1-5PM·Free

North Carolina Crafts Gallery

Friendly little shop selling a variety of North Carolina handicrafts. Particularly appealing is the large selection of ceramic and wooden dishes, but offerings also include artwork, jewelry, accessories, cards, birdhouses, soap.... A great place for authentic, high-quality local souvenirs.

Mon–Sat 10AM–6PM, Sun 1–4PM

Old Chapel Hill Cemetery

Has many gravestones from throughout the history of Chapel Hill, some of which are nearly 200 years old.

Playmakers

The residence theater company for the university, performing classic and new works.

Squid's

One of the nicest restaurants in town, serving seafood prepared in a variety of ways. There’s also a patio, an oyster bar and an oyster happy hour starting at 4PM.

Sun Mon 5-9PM, Tue-Thu 5-9:30PM, Fri Sat 5-10PM (oyster bar open at 4PM)·$5-22