So, You're in Durham. What's to Do?
Whether you’ve made it to Durham and are preparing for PA school or you’re a prospective student visiting town, you may still be wondering, “What’s there to do?”
Well, you’ve stopped by the right place, because with this warm weather, it’s actually the perfect time to get out and see what the city has to offer. If you’re looking for ways to explore, here’s a quick guide to a few local favorites that are worth visiting.
Exploring Downtown Durham
Downtown Durham is a mix of historic landmarks and modern attractions, making it a great place to spend the day exploring. As you walk around, you can find cute matcha and coffee shops like Narrative Coffee Co. and Yonder Coffee at the Daily. You can even take a nice walk through the Durham Farmers Market, which operates year-round on Saturdays.
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are the city’s minor league baseball team that competes in the heart of Downtown Durham. It’s a wonderful space to enjoy some time with family, friends, or new classmates. What better way to enjoy a warm afternoon than cheering on the team and catching a fireworks show afterward?
American Tobacco Campus
Located right across the street from the Durham Bulls stadium, the American Tobacco Campus is a beautiful area to grab lunch or have a picnic with friends. With great lunch spots and plenty of outdoor seating, it’s a pretty ideal place to visit in between classes or even for a change of scenery while studying.
DPAC
If you enjoy plays, theatre, musicals, or concerts, the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) is worth checking out. The DPAC is the largest performing arts center in the Carolinas, hosting a variety of shows throughout the year. Popular productions like The Lion King and Hamilton, along with many other Broadway shows and performers, have taken the big stage here.
Good Eats
One thing that you’ll notice while in good ole “Durm” is that there are many local restaurants. Durham is a big foodie city, so there’s always something new for you to try out while you’re in town.
Durham Food Hall
If you’re a bit indecisive about where you want to eat (like I am), then the Durham Food Hall is your go-to spot. The Durham Food Hall has a variety of restaurants and cafés to choose from, from seafood and pizza to Indian cuisine. Even better, it’s located right downtown and a few minutes from the Duke Physician Assistant Program.
Ninth Street
Ninth Street was once tobacco farmland before becoming home to the Erwin Cotton Mill. Nowadays, you can find plenty of salons, shops and of course more restaurants.
Elmos Diner
Amongst some of the other breakfast spots on Ninth Street, Elmos is definitely another must go. Elmos serves Southern-style breakfast and brunch from scratch and features an all-day breakfast menu.
Juju Durham
Juju offers Asian-style lunch and dinner options. This is a place to wind down and enjoy an afternoon drink. Their menu has a number of small plates, allowing you to mix and match different dishes.
Monuts
Monuts is a Durham staple and a go to bakery for many locals. While it’s most known for its baked goods and uniquely flavored donuts/pastries, it also offers soups, salads, and other lunch options.
Outdoor Adventures
More of an “activity-type” explorer? The good thing about Durham is it also has a thriving outdoor scene.
Eno River State Park
The Eno is 40-mile-long waterway that passes through Durham and Orange County. It’s perfect for hiking, kayaking, swimming, and cookouts. There are multiple access points throughout the park, each with its own set of amenities, so you don’t have to be in one particular part of town to visit.
Durham Central Park
Durham Central Park hosts many events throughout the year, including food truck rodeos on the weekends. During the week, you can find free yoga in the park, as well as parades and live music events. It’s also a space to earn volunteer hours by helping maintain the gardens or assisting with community events.
Museum of Life and Science
Not only is the Museum of Life and Science filled with a butterfly house and various animals, but you can also walk the dinosaur trail with life-sized dinosaur statues. Not to mention the fossil sites where you can dig for real fossils.
Around Duke
It’d be almost a disservice not to list some things to do around our campus. Duke is known for its beautiful campus with plenty of spots worth exploring.
Duke Lemur Center
The Duke Lemur Center is a different experience than visiting a traditional zoo or aquarium. The center cares for more than 200 lemurs as part of their non-invasive research. During the tour, you’ll get a chance to meet the lemurs in their enclosures and learn more about the work being done to protect them.
Nasher Museum of Art
If you’re as artsy as I am, you’ll find a lot of fun exploring the Nasher Museum of Art on campus. The museum has free admission to all visitors and features works from a variety of artists.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Duke Gardens is 55 acres of land, located in the heart of Duke University. It is filled with blossoms and so many other beautiful plants, making it a great place for pictures or a stroll on a warm day. The Gardens are one of Duke’s most well-known attractions, bringing in over 650,000 people each year. Better yet, admission is also free!
Honestly, there’s really no shortage of things to do around Durham. Between all the restaurants, outdoor spaces, and other attractions around Duke, we like to think there’s always something new. As a current or prospective student, taking time to visit the city can help give you a better feel for what life in Durham is about.
The Duke Physician Assistant Program Admissions Blog presents information based on the experiences of Duke PA Program staff and faculty. While the information provided is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, requirements can change. Please visit the Duke PA Program website for the most up-to-date information.