People who don’t know Durham sometimes knock it for being totally dead. Well, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Durham and the surrounding Research Triangle Area offer tons of opportunities for fun and relaxation when you manage to pull yourself away from your case books. What follows in this section is an attempt to give you a small taste of the fun times that await you in Durham, North Carolina. Don’t let the motto “City of Medicine” fool you; Durham could just as easily be called, “The City of Fun.”
Restaurants
Best Mexican
Blue Corn Café, 716 Ninth St., Durham, 286-9600
Runner up: Cosmic Cantina, across from 9th St. on Perry St., Durham, 286-1875
Honorable mention: El Rodeo, Several locations, including Brighleaf Square, Durham, 682-4197
If there is one thing that there is plenty of in Durham, it is good Mexican food. The Blue Corn Café offers high quality fare and a nice low key atmosphere. Whether it is lunch time or midnight, Cosmic Cantina will satisfy whatever food cravings you might have. Finally, a local chain with restaurants in Durham and Chapel Hill, El Rodeo offers delicious margaritas and out of this world cheese dip - a great place to grab dinner and drinks with friends after class.
Best Chinese
Shanghai, Festival Centre, Hillsborough Rd., Durham, near Kroger, 383-7581, http://www.shanghai.citysearch.com/
Runner-up: Neo China, 4015 University Dr., Durham, 489-2828, http://www.neo-china.com/Durham/Durham_Front.htm
Pao Lim, 2505 Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham, 419-1771 http://www.paolimasianbistro.com/contactdirection/
Honorable mention: China Buffet, 3720 Mayfair St., Durham, near the Kroger by South Square, 403-7878
Friendly staff and delicious sesame chicken make for an excellent meal. Also, Neo China offers among the best lunch deals in town: $6.95 for one of several entrees, soup and an egg roll. Every good list of Chinese food has to include at least one buffet: When you have that craving to really get your money’s worth, stop by China Buffet and prepare to gorge yourself.
Best Indian
Tandoor Indian Restaurant, 1301 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 967-6622, http://www.tandoorindian.com/
Runner-up: Dale’s, 811 Ninth St., Durham, 286-1760
Honorable mention: Sitar, 3117 Shannon Rd., Durham, 490-1326
Okay, so there are probably not too many Indian restaurants in the area, but these are great choices. At Tandoor, choose from a menu of great selections or a buffet that offers several great items and is surprisingly friendly to vegetarians (though there are still several meat entrees). Buffet at Tandoor is available for lunch or for Friday or Saturday dinner. Dale’s provides an equally tempting option and Sitar offers a great lunch buffet for $8.95.
Best wings
Charlie’s, 758 Ninth Street, Durham
Runner up: Varsity Ale House, 3019 Auto Dr., Durham, near the Kroger near South Square, 489-5800
Charlie’s has the best wings that I’ve ever had. In fact, I make everyone who visits me (obviously vegetarians are exempt from this requirement) try Charlie’s teriyaki wings. Charlie’s has a nice open bar area with outdoor seating and a back room with pool tables that makes for a fun night out. Varsity Ale House offers several tempting and unique flavor combinations of wings and they are all delicious.
Best Sports Bar
Bailey’s, 151 Rams Plaza, Chapel Hill, 918-1005
Runner up: Varsity Ale House, 3019 Auto Dr., Durham, near the Kroger near South Square, 489-5800
Bailey’s is renowned for being THE place to be on game night. Good food, good crowd and lots of excitement make for can’t miss night out. Varsity Ale House offers an option for sports fans that is a little closer to home – you cannot beat the crowd excitement and the several large television screens that you will find at Varsity Ale House.
Best Sushi
Akai Hana, 206 W. Main St., Carrboro, 942-6848, http://akaihana.com/
Runner up: China Buffet, 3720 Mayfair St., Durham, near the Kroger by South Square, 403-7878
Good sushi is hard to come by, but Akai Hana fits the bill. While going to Chinese buffet for good sushi might seem contradictory, give it a shot and be pleasantly surprised.
Best pub food
James Joyce, 912 West Main St., Durham, 683-3022, http://www.jamesjoyceirishpub.com/
Runner up: The Carolina Brewery, 460 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 942-1800, http://www.carolinabrewery.com/
Many discover James Joyce late in the year and hopefully you will not make the same mistake. In addition to being a great place to have a beer, James Joyce offers a menu that is stuffed with delicious selections at reasonable prices. And who knows - perhaps the namesake will encourage you to discuss something other than law school. Look for Tuesday trivia night where you can compete with your classmates to see who knows the most useless information. With a beer selection that alone makes it a worthwhile destination, The Carolina Brewery has good food – make sure you try the sweet potato fries.
Best breakfast/brunch
Mad Hatter’s, Main St. and Broad St., Durham, 286-1987, http://madhattersbakeshop.com/index.mgi
Runner up: Elmo’s Diner, 776 Ninth St. Durham, 416-3823, http://elmosdiner.com
Vin Rouge, 2010 Hillsborough Rd. Durham
Honorable mention: Breadman’s
Mad Hatter’s offers one of my favorite culinary experiences for any meal, but breakfast is especially good. Great place to study and satisfy early morning cravings. Elmo’s Diner offers the classic but good diner breakfast. Vin Rouge has an actual brunch menu that is worth checking out. Also, though not a breakfast item, make sure to try the broccoli casserole and free lemonade refills at Elmo’s.
Best desserts
Mad Hatter’s, Main St. and Broad St., Durham, 286-1987, http://madhattersbakeshop.com/index.mgi
Runner up: Guglhupf, 2706 Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham, 401-2600, http://www.guglhupf.com/
Francesca’s Dessert, Ninth St., Durham, 286-4177
As a self-proclaimed dessert devotee, I take my sweet and fatty foods very seriously. A detour to either of these venues for a well timed sugar high is always a worthy study break.
Best place to get a hoity-toity sandwich from a place that begins with “Fo” and ends with “er’s”
(tied) Fowler’s, 112 S. Duke St. Durham, 683-2555 http://www.fowlersfoodandwine.com
Foster’s 2694 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. Durham 489-3944, http://www.fostersmarket.com
Runner up: Saladelia, 4201 University Dr Durham, 489-5776
After several rounds of balloting and a Supreme Court sanctioned recount, the tie between Foster’s and Fowler’s was not able to be broken. Let it be said that they both have great sandwiches. Also Fowler’s features a great wine selection for that special meal at home. Although Saladelia’s did not fulfill the criteria for this category, it has pretty good sandwiches as well.
Best down home style Southern cooking
Mama Dip’s, 408 W. Rosemary Street Chapel Hill, 942-5837, http://www.mamadips.com
Runner up: Shrimp Boat, 2637 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd Durham, 489-6591
When in Rome, do as the—¦if your living in the South for the first time, make sure to check out these two establishments that give home style cooking a good name.
Best vegetarian: Sage café, Timberlyne Shopping Center, 1129 Weaver Dairy Rd. Chapel Hill, 968-9266
Best Mostly vegetarian: The Spotted Dog Restaurant and Bar, 111 E. Main St. Carrboro, 933- 1117, http://www.novicetech.com/spotteddog/Index2.html
Honorable mention: The salad bar at Weaver Street Market, 101 East Weaver St., Carrboro, 929-0010, http://www.weaverstreetmarket.com/
or The Wellspring Café at Whole Foods, 621 Broad St, Durham
A little out of the way, the Sage Café is one of the few, if not the only purely vegetarian options in town. Even if you are a meat lover, this is a worthwhile experience. Straddling the border between Chapel Hill and Carrboro and located on an oddly shaped triangular piece of land, the Spotted Dog Café offers great food at decent prices.
Best Ice Cream
Maple View Farms, 3109 Dairyland Rd., Hillsborough, 960-5535, http://www.mapleviewfarm.com
Runner up: Cold Stone, 131 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 933-2323
Honorable Mention: Scoops Ice Cream Cafe
Located just outside of Chapel Hill, Maple View Farms offers fresh milk, ice cream and dairy spread. On a nice day, you can sit on the porch outside the store and relax in their comfortable rocking chairs. If you have never been to Cold Stone Creamery, you are missing out. You pick the ingredients and they mash it together on the counter in front of you. Fun to watch and even more fun to eat.
Best Pizza
Randy’s Pizza, Martin Luther King Blvd. near the Harris Teeter, Durham, 490-6850, another Randy’s Pizza on Broad St. just pass Englewood.
Runner up: Cinelli’s, 4015 University Dr. Durham 401-2265
Amante’s, 135 Martin Luther King Blvd, Durham, 572-2345
During my three year furlough from the Big Apple, these three restaurants have made my transition easier. Randy’s Pizza also has great calzones and garlic knots.
Best BBQ
Allen & Son, Hwy 86, between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, one mile north of I-40 "if you've gone to the railroad tracks you've gone too far. " 942-7576
Runner up: The Q Shack 2514 University Rd., Durham
Bullocks, 3330 Quebec Dr. Durham, 383-3211
A Southern tradition that should not be missed. Make sure you check out at least one these restaurants this year.
Best Italian
411 West, 411 Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 967-2782, http://www.411west.com/
Runner up: Pop’s, across Gregson St. from Brightleaf Square, Durham, 956-7677, http://www.pops-durham.com/
411 West offers traditional Italian in a nice setting while Pop’s has a menu full of interesting new twists on old favorites. Both are great.
Best value
The Loop, 1800 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 969-7112
Runner up: Cosmic Cantina, across from 9th St. on Perry St., Durham, 286-1875
The Loop offers delicious salads, pizzas, sandwiches and entrees. If you cannot decide what you want to eat but want a variety of great options at good prices to choose from, this is the place for you. Everything on the menu is delicious.
Best Restaurant
AnotherThyme, 109 N. Gregson St. Durham, 682-5225, http://www.anotherthyme.com/
Runner up: Nana’s, 2514 University Dr., Durham, 493-8545, http://www.nanas.citysearch.com/
Four Square, 2701 Chapel Hill Rd., Durham, 401-9877, http://www.foursquarerestaurant.com/
Three of the best restaurants that I have ever been to, treat yourself to a nice meal here when you have something to celebrate. The service is great, the bread is delicious and the menu is full of mouth watering options. Also, Four Square is in a restored Victorian house that provides for a relaxing but sophisticated atmosphere.
Best all you can eat
Crazy Fire Mongolian Grill, 1270 Buck Jones Rd., Raleigh (one of several locations in Raleigh – the others are listed at http://www.crazyfire.com/directions/), 481-2222
This local chain offers quite the dining experience. Select the meats and vegetables and sauces you want and watch the cooks cook it in front of you. First timers get to bang the gong that hangs near the cooking area; it is a gimmick that people really seem to enjoy.
Best way to clog your arteries
The Melting Pot, 3100 Wake Forest Rd., Raleigh, 878-0477, http://www.meltingpot.com/
A pot full of cheese sits in front of you and awaits your consumption. If you are going to consume alarming numbers of calories, this is the way to do it.
Fun
Best Pool Hall
The Green Room, 1108 Broad St., Durham, 286-2359
Runner up: Doyle’s, 3219 Old Chapel Hill Rd., Durham
The Green Room is everything that a pool hall should be. Lots of pool tables, lots of locals, cheap beer, a good jukebox and too much smoke. Doyle’s has an overwhelmingly expansive juke box, cheap drinks, darts, video games and an underutilized outdoor seating area. If that is not enough to grab you, show up on Saturday night for karaoke and a chance to see whether you have a potential career if this whole law school thing doesn’t work out.
Best place to see law students (besides the library)
Satisfaction’s, Brightleaf Square, Durham, 682-7397
Runner up: George’s Garage, 737 Ninth St, Durham, 286-4131
Top of the Hill, 100 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 929-8676, http://www.topofthehillrestaurant.com/
It takes a while to realize where everyone was going when they were going to “Satie’s.” A frequent watering hole for law students and a great place to watch “the game,” look out for great beer specials on Thursday night. Top of the Hill has beer that is brewed in house and gargoyles that overlook Franklin Street. What more could one ask for?
Best place to NOT see law students
Hell, 157 1/2 E Rosemary St Chapel Hill, 929-9666
Runner up: The Cave, 452 1/2 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, 968-9308 http://www.caverntavern.com/
So the true story goes, a friend of mine was asked if she had been to Hell. She said “there and back, my friend, there and back” to which our friend replied: “Um, it’s a bar.” Perhaps the vivid name has scared patrons away, but for whatever reason, Hell remains the best undiscovered secret in Chapel Hill. Cheap drinks, plenty of seating, a pool table, air hockey, a great jukebox and Pac Man – if that does not equal a good time, what does? However, beware of the tow-happy frat that is housed next door to Hell or find out the hard way that retrieving a towed car at 2 AM costs $200. At the bottom of a narrow set of stairs, The Cave provides a “cozy kind of sketch” as one patron describes it. If you like dinghy but wonderful dive bars, and have a dog that you like to take out drinking, this is the place for you. Be warned though, the patrons of the Cave seem to single handedly keep North Carolina tobacco farmers in business. Also, bring cash as credit cards are not accepted.
Best day trip
Pittsboro, North Carolina
If you can take a weekend and break free from the gravitational pull of the library but do not have time to make it the mountains or the beach (that the Admissions office famously reminds us is only two hours away), Pittsboro is a great place to spend an afternoon. Have lunch at the General Store and enjoy an afternoon feeling that you are in another time. Lots of window shopping and be sure to stop by the large thrift store on Hillsboro St. right near the center traffic circle, which is perhaps the most wonderfully strange store you will ever visit. If you are stuck for a costume idea for the DBA Halloween party, this store has plenty of bizarre clothing options that will make you the talk of the party. Make sure you check out the driftwood artist and Stone’s Crowe Pottery on 15-501 on the way to Pittsboro.
Best place to pretend that you are already a fancy lawyer
West End Wine Bar, 450 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 967-7599, http://www.westendwinebar.com/
If you went to a university that offered an Introduction to Wines course, you can frequent this drinking establishment to impress your classmates with your knowledge of the finer differences between wines. And when you need to remind yourself that you are not a law student, not yet a lawyer, head downstairs to the more down to earth part of this establishment that has pool tables and good music.
Best 80’s dance party
Cat’s Cradle, 300 East Main St., Carrboro, 967-9053, http://catscradle.arcticon.com/
Known as a concert venue, Cat’s Cradle offers a monthly 80’s dance party that you need not be embarrassed to attend. Yes, you will probably hear A-Ha’s “Take on Me” but you will also hear songs that you actually really like. Look for the video game room in the back that has several classics from the 80’s.
Best Dancing
Player’s Club
If your legs are beginning to atrophy from sitting in the library all week, get ready to shake what your mama gave you. Player’s is a favorite for dancing to the latest hip hop music and is a great place to show off just how bad you are at dancing.
Best bar to chill at and unwind
Joe & Jo’s, 427 W Main St Durham, 688-3322
Runner up: The Federal, 914 W. Main St., Durham, 680-8611
Low key atmosphere makes for a good place to get to know your classmates away from the confines of the law school. Joe & Jo’s features a good stock of board games and a full set of Uno card. And The Federal is owned by the same folks who own The James Joyce and features good food and a nice beer selection.
Best book store
The Regulator, 720 Ninth St., Durham, 286-2700, http://www.regbook.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp
Runner-up: Internationalist Book & Magazine Cooperative, 405 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 942-1740, http://www.internationalistbooks.org
Honorable Mention for Best place to buy textbooks: The Book Exchange, 868-1297, http://www.durhambook.com/
We all know about the Book Exchange because it is among our first Durham experiences. If you manage to pull yourself from you casebooks and you long for days of pleasure reading, either of these bookstores has a relaxing atmosphere and offers a wide and cutting edge selection of books and magazines that will help to remind you that yes, reading can be fun.
Best Used Book Store
The Skylight Exchange-Nightlife, 405 W. Rosemary St, Chapel Hill, 933-5550
Runner up: Books do Furnish a Room, 1809 W. Markham Ave., Durham, 286-1076, http://www.booksdofurnisharoom.com/
Nice Price Books http://www.nicepricebooks.biz/
Located along a hard to find alley, The Skylight/Nightlife is a great place to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon. With coffee strong enough to keep you twitching for hours (and to keep you from falling asleep while reading civil procedure) and a truly enormous selection of sandwiches, this laid back restaurant/coffee shop/used book store/performance space offers an excellent used book and records selection to keep you busy for hours. Books do Furnish a Room and Nice Price Books offer a great selection a bit closer to home.
Best Coffee shop
Caffe Driade, 1215-A E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 942-2333, http://www.caffedriade.com/
Runner up: Ooh La Latte, 1116 Broad St., Durham, 286-0650, http://www.oohlalatte.com/
Blue Coffee Company, 714 9th St., Durham, 416-3133 and 202 N. Corcoran St., Durham, 683-5282
Caffe Driade and Ooh La Latte are little known Durham gems that provide nice alternatives to studying in the library. Drink copious amounts of coffee, enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and contemplate the finer points of tort law.
Best music venue
Cat’s Cradle, 300 East Main St., Carrboro, 967-9053, http://catscradle.arcticon.com/
Runner up: Go! Room 4, 100-F Brewer Lane, Carrboro, 969-1400, http://www.catscradle.com/go.html
Local 506, 506 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 942-5506, http://www.local506.net/
Carolina Theatre, 309 Morgan St., Durham, 560-3060, http://www.carolinatheatre.org
Chapel Hill and Carrboro has an incredible local indie rock music scene and attracts some big name acts as well as big talent acts. If you are looking to get out and hear some good music, any concert at either of these venues will generally do.
Outdoors
Eno River State Park |
6101 Cole Mill Rd. |
This state park covers over 2,600 acres and offers fishing, hiking, camping and picnicking. |
Rollingview State Recreation Area |
13304 Creedmoor Rd.; |
This recreation area is at the edge of a peninsula that extends into Falls Lake and offers camping, swimming, playgrounds, fishing, hiking and picnicking. |
Lake Miche Recreation Area |
101 City Hall Plaza; |
Great fishing at this scenic lake. Also has primitive camping areas as well as campsites with grills and picnic tables. Boat rentals are available. |
Frog Hollow Outdoors |
949-4315 |
Kayaking and canoe rentals are a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon |
Public Golf Courses
|
Washington Duke Inn (681-2288) Hillandale (286-4211) |
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Miscellaneous
Miniature Golf |
Funwerks |
Don’t be ashamed if you cannot play real golf. Mini-golf is more fun anyway. |
Indoor Rock Climbing |
Vertical Edge Climbing Center |
Channel your frustration with the law into something positive |
Bowling |
AMF Durham |
Bowling is a great idea for section bonding time. |
Farmer’s Market (Durham) |
400 block of Morris St.; http://www.durhamfarmersmarket.com/index.htmlSaturday 8am – Noon, April to November |
Right in Durham, check out this farmer’s market for fresh vegetables. Definitely one of the highlights of downtown Durham |
Farmer’s Market (Carrboro) |
Carrboro Farmers' Market |
Yes, it is early in the morning, but this little known local market is a great way to start off your weekend. You can find locally grown vegetables and homemade items such as soap, jam, and cakes. |
Farmer’s Market (Raleigh) |
1201 Agriculture St. |
A little bit of a drive, but a huge selection of great items that makes it worthwhile. |
Durham Bulls |
Durham Bulls Athletic Park |
The AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Durham Bulls are a true local tradition that everyone should check out at least once. |
Duke University Primate Center |
3705 Erwin Rd. |
Definitely among the more unique ways to spend a day, the primate center offers everything you need to know about lemurs, our little primate friends from Madagascar. Tours are available and call ahead to check times and availability. |
Your kids are tired of watching you read law books and you are tired of reading your law books. Treat them to a day of fun at one of these family friendly outings:
Best place to take your toddler on a Sunday morning
Fowlers, Durham
Best low-cost, low-effort reward for your toddler
The Merry-Go-Round in the Northgate Mall, Durham
The following information is provided by Parents Attending Law School (PALS)
Parks and Recreation: Some favorite parks include Indian Trails, north of town (off Indian Trail St, next to Hillandale Golf Course) and Piney Woods Park (south of town, near the Parkside at Woodlake Apartment complex off of Fayetteville and Woodcroft Parkway). Solite Park is a nice little playground at Fayetteville and Barbee. Near Shoreham and University is a huge, updated, shaded park/playground. Not far from there, Forest Hills Park on University, east of South Square by about a mile, has water squirting from the ground and pumping out onto sand-bedded rivers! There are also many playgrounds and some pools in subdivisions and apartment complexes, many of which are widely used by non-residents or guests of residents... so make some friends and enjoy. Dogs are frequent visitors to most of the more wooded, open parks; I am not sure if Durham has a dog park per se. Walking the trails of Duke Forest is dog-friendly, too.
In Chapel Hill, Umstead Park is a nice place to spend an hour, and if you want to gear up for a trip to Raleigh, you can visit Pullen Park. Your children will marvel at the beautiful old-fashioned merry-go-round, and beg you for another adventure in the paddle boats. Finally, all students will enjoy walks in the Duke Gardens and hikes along the trails at Duke Forest (very near school, on 751) and at Eno River State Park or Jordan Lake (south on 751/Hope Valley Road about 40 minutes, complete with Bald Eagle sightings, beaches, and boat ramps).
I should also note that we have not checked out the exercise and swimming possibilities at the Duke pool near the law school, but others have enjoyed swim and Kindermusik classes for kids 6 months and up at the downtown and Lakewood YMCAs. While on the subject of lessons, our oldest daughter had a great time at 9th Street Dance Studio, and some like The Little Gym on University Drive. There are highly-recommended children’s dance and karate classes available right near the post office on Shannon Road, across from the Southwest Branch public library. All this stuff and more is advertised in “Carolina Parent.”
Last, but by no means least, a Durham Bulls baseball game makes for a really nice and fairly inexpensive family outing (tickets at 956-2855, or www.durhambulls.com). Besides the joy of introducing your child to junk food like funnel cakes, there is playground equipment at the stadium if the game doesn’t captivate as expected. Most Friday games during the season end with a wonderful fireworks show (always a thrill for kids!) The Admissions office will typically organize a Bulls game in the summer and the fall, and tickets are usually sold in blocks through their office. Watch for more information later! However, don’t think this is the only time to go! Seats are only a few dollars each and are often still available on game days – play starts around 7 PM for most games.
Toy and book stores: On Ninth Street, please check out the Playhouse. It offers a small collection of good and educational toys. Out on 15-501, in the New Hope Commons shopping center which also hosts Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, and Wal-Mart, there is a Zany Brainy with everything any child could ever want in the way of toys, art supplies, science projects and computer programs.
Ninth Street offers good bookstores. The Book Exchange, for used law textbooks and other used books, including children’s books, is well worth a visit downtown. What you can’t find elsewhere, you will certainly find at Barnes and Noble. Every week at B&N, storytellers read books for children, and musicians perform.
Libraries: Of course, for variety and budget-consciousness, Durham’s libraries also offer every book imaginable, puzzles, books on tape, tapes, CDs, videos, story times, a phone number to call for a free story over the phone, etc. We spend time at the Southwest Branch library, on Shannon Road, near South Square, for a smaller version of all of this. The main library is downtown; it offers a huge children’s room, with the puzzles for check-out, and three floors of everything else. Its AV department offers many videos, not just for kids. The yearly (or twice yearly) book sales also offer some great bargains, but people line up before the doors open.
Museums: There is an excellent museum in North Durham, called the Museum of Life and Science (follow the signs off N. Duke St. or I-85N). It offers fog and hurricane simulations, North Carolina wildlife like snakes and owls, outdoor play equipment including music-making on drums and barrels, a barnyard type children’s zoo, a train ride opportunity, and a butterfly house where several species fly free and may visit children’s fingers. And rockets like a model space shuttle capsule, and a children’s space with bubble makers and fun mirrors. And skeletal comparative biology (“bones!”) .It’s marvelous. Admission to the museum is free to Durham residents on Wednesdays, after 1:00 PM, but good membership deals are available too.
Don’t miss all of the free state museums in Raleigh, and the new Exploris museum there. There is also a great zoo in Asheboro (take I-40 West until the signs point you to the zoo, maybe 1 ½ hours away). In the mood for less erudite pursuits? Amazin’ Castles (complete with mini-golf) and Chuck E. Cheese are Durham residents, too!
Stores: At least two stores in town will receive your consignments, and provide you with a reasonable selection of used toys and clothing for your kids (best in the newborn-age 2 category). Check out Baby Bear, on University Drive, near South Square, and the even better but farther north Kangaroo Pouch, at 2913 Guess Road.
Malls include Northgate and The Streets at Southpoint and are other sources of goods —‘ and Northgate has a carousel. Durham now has the hottest (mid—‘ to up—‘scale) shopping with the addition of the Southpoint mall. The mall also includes an exciting (for kids!) food court playspace and many kid—‘enchanting sculptures (including a hand controlled fountain...sure to please bored kids for hours!!) Cary and Raleigh offer lots of other shopping options as well, like the only Targets for miles around (at least until the new one is built in South Square!), Crabtree Valley Mall, and Cameron Village for slightly upscale stores.