Guidebook for Durham
Food Scene
I love this secret spicy hole-in-the-wall. Pad Thai is a family run restaurant with an enthusiastic owner/server. I love to eat at the restaurant, but they make it super easy to take out with their online app. Also, if you are having trouble getting everyone to agree on a restaurant, this one is right next to Hog Heaven. Y'all can get something from both.
Pad Thai Restaurant
2425 Guess RdI love this secret spicy hole-in-the-wall. Pad Thai is a family run restaurant with an enthusiastic owner/server. I love to eat at the restaurant, but they make it super easy to take out with their online app. Also, if you are having trouble getting everyone to agree on a restaurant, this one is right next to Hog Heaven. Y'all can get something from both.
So I know you've heard that Durham has the coolest food scene, which is true. You will find all those great places on Yelp. What you might not find is this classic BBQ dive just up the street from the Cottage. This place is a long-time family owned BBQ joint. They do NC Style pulled pork along with other classic menu items such as Brunswick Stew and fried chicken.
Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q
2419 Guess RdSo I know you've heard that Durham has the coolest food scene, which is true. You will find all those great places on Yelp. What you might not find is this classic BBQ dive just up the street from the Cottage. This place is a long-time family owned BBQ joint. They do NC Style pulled pork along with other classic menu items such as Brunswick Stew and fried chicken.
After visiting the NC Museum of Life and Science, cool off with a delicious snoball at Pelican's! I am from South Louisiana and I can vouch for the authenticity of this place. The ice is right, and the flavors are plentiful. Get a wild strawberry with condensed milk. You will thank me.
Pelican's SnoBalls
3217 N Roxboro StAfter visiting the NC Museum of Life and Science, cool off with a delicious snoball at Pelican's! I am from South Louisiana and I can vouch for the authenticity of this place. The ice is right, and the flavors are plentiful. Get a wild strawberry with condensed milk. You will thank me.
The name is pretty descriptive. The menu is in both English and Spanish and order by picture. So don't fret. You can get all the delicious and authentic tacos you need.
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Super Taqueria
2842 N Roxboro StThe name is pretty descriptive. The menu is in both English and Spanish and order by picture. So don't fret. You can get all the delicious and authentic tacos you need.
DIM SUM! Hong Kong serves Dim Sum on Saturday and Sunday all day. Dim Sum is traditionally a brunch thing, and that's the only time we've ever been. Try calling ahead to mitigate the wait...but even if you do have to wait, it is well worth it. They have giant round tables with a lazy susan that can accommodate large parties. You won't think this place looks like much when you get there...but if you know what Dim Sum is and you want some, then you won't be sorry. If you've never had Dim Sum and you like taking eating adventures, you won't be sorry.
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Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant
602 Jones Ferry RdDIM SUM! Hong Kong serves Dim Sum on Saturday and Sunday all day. Dim Sum is traditionally a brunch thing, and that's the only time we've ever been. Try calling ahead to mitigate the wait...but even if you do have to wait, it is well worth it. They have giant round tables with a lazy susan that can accommodate large parties. You won't think this place looks like much when you get there...but if you know what Dim Sum is and you want some, then you won't be sorry. If you've never had Dim Sum and you like taking eating adventures, you won't be sorry.
Yes, y'all. I am recommending a cafeteria. But if you are hungry and can't wait and also can't stomach the Burger King...this place is spitting distance away from the Cottage. My kids love being able to choose foods that they can see first. Also, I am not overstating this, C&H has some of the best fried chicken anywhere. I know you don't know me, but if you did you'd know that I am kindof a fried chicken connoisseur.
C&H Cafeteria
1720 Guess RdYes, y'all. I am recommending a cafeteria. But if you are hungry and can't wait and also can't stomach the Burger King...this place is spitting distance away from the Cottage. My kids love being able to choose foods that they can see first. Also, I am not overstating this, C&H has some of the best fried chicken anywhere. I know you don't know me, but if you did you'd know that I am kindof a fried chicken connoisseur.
Delicious. Hole in the wall. Romantic. One of the best restaurants in the Triangle. Make sure you call ahead to make a reservation. Every table of this little place fills up, even on Tuesday.
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Gocciolina
3314 Guess RdDelicious. Hole in the wall. Romantic. One of the best restaurants in the Triangle. Make sure you call ahead to make a reservation. Every table of this little place fills up, even on Tuesday.
Entertainment & Activities
Because it ain't Southpoint. This is the neighborhood theater in North Durham. The seats are comfy, the staff friendly, and usually the lines are short.
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Northgate Stadium 10
1058 W Club BlvdBecause it ain't Southpoint. This is the neighborhood theater in North Durham. The seats are comfy, the staff friendly, and usually the lines are short.
There is an ever changing collection of stuff for kids in this mall, and IT NEVER RAINS. It is where Grandma takes my kids when she is in town. Sometimes there is a giant rubberband trampoline. Sometimes there are photos with the Easter Bunny and Santa. Sometimes there is glow in the dark minigolf. Sometimes a remote controlled car race track. There is always a carousel and a Dairy Queen and a Marble Slab Creamery and a movie theater.
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Northgate Mall
1058 W Club BlvdThere is an ever changing collection of stuff for kids in this mall, and IT NEVER RAINS. It is where Grandma takes my kids when she is in town. Sometimes there is a giant rubberband trampoline. Sometimes there are photos with the Easter Bunny and Santa. Sometimes there is glow in the dark minigolf. Sometimes a remote controlled car race track. There is always a carousel and a Dairy Queen and a Marble Slab Creamery and a movie theater.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
1720 Guess RdCrazy fun. Kids love it.
Essentials
As you know, the memberships travel! You can walk to this gym from the Trinity Park Cottage.
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Planet Fitness
201 S Estes DrAs you know, the memberships travel! You can walk to this gym from the Trinity Park Cottage.
Shopping
No explanation needed...'cept it is real close to the Trinity Park Cottage.
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Costco Wholesale
1510 N Pointe DrNo explanation needed...'cept it is real close to the Trinity Park Cottage.
Let's go pop some tags!! Grannie's specializes in doo dads and knick knacks more than clothes, but you never know what hidden gem you will uncover here. When you are done, drive to the back side of the parking lot to see the awesome collection of outhouses. They also have some great sculpture outside of the store.
Everything But Grannies Panties
2926 Guess RdLet's go pop some tags!! Grannie's specializes in doo dads and knick knacks more than clothes, but you never know what hidden gem you will uncover here. When you are done, drive to the back side of the parking lot to see the awesome collection of outhouses. They also have some great sculpture outside of the store.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is "the strip" for Duke students. Don't worry if you are too old for college, you can feel at home here too. There are hip eateries, shopperies, coffeeries, ice creameries, all within walking distance of each other. One of you want a falafel and the other a burrito? Come to Ninth Street to please everyone. There is also a Harris Teeter grocery store here.
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9th Street
9th StreetThis is "the strip" for Duke students. Don't worry if you are too old for college, you can feel at home here too. There are hip eateries, shopperies, coffeeries, ice creameries, all within walking distance of each other. One of you want a falafel and the other a burrito? Come to Ninth Street to please everyone. There is also a Harris Teeter grocery store here.
Parks & Nature
Must see if you are in Durham. This is not just for kids. They have wonderful indoor science exhibits and play spaces. Outside is a huge natural park featuring farm animals, native NC species, and a butterfly pavilion.
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Museum of Life + Science
433 W Murray AveMust see if you are in Durham. This is not just for kids. They have wonderful indoor science exhibits and play spaces. Outside is a huge natural park featuring farm animals, native NC species, and a butterfly pavilion.
West Point on the Eno is a great park. It has sweet hiking trails. Access to the shallow rocky river. And a working mill on site.
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West Point on the Eno
5101 N Roxboro StWest Point on the Eno is a great park. It has sweet hiking trails. Access to the shallow rocky river. And a working mill on site.
Sightseeing
This museum features a historical look at tobacco farming, production, and marketing. You will know more than you ever wanted about the origin of the ready made cigarette...but you will feel smarter for it. This place is still a working tobacco farm, so you can see what the plant looks like when growing, curing, and being processed. It is very neat and family friendly. This museum explains the origins of the Duke family fortune and much of the beginning of Durham's history as a tobacco town.
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Duke Homestead
This museum features a historical look at tobacco farming, production, and marketing. You will know more than you ever wanted about the origin of the ready made cigarette...but you will feel smarter for it. This place is still a working tobacco farm, so you can see what the plant looks like when growing, curing, and being processed. It is very neat and family friendly. This museum explains the origins of the Duke family fortune and much of the beginning of Durham's history as a tobacco town.
This simple farmhouse was situated between Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's headquarters in Greensboro, and Union Gen. William T. Sherman's headquarters in Raleigh. In April 1865, the two commanders met at the Bennett Place, where they signed surrender papers for Southern armies in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. It was the largest troop surrender of the American Civil War.
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Bennett Place
4409 Bennett Memorial RdThis simple farmhouse was situated between Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's headquarters in Greensboro, and Union Gen. William T. Sherman's headquarters in Raleigh. In April 1865, the two commanders met at the Bennett Place, where they signed surrender papers for Southern armies in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. It was the largest troop surrender of the American Civil War.