Will be in Chapel Hill for a long weekend in February with my husband. Already have a place to stay. What I'm looking for: any advice on sites, good restaurants (don't want chains, just good food, price isn't really a problem, but don't want anything with a dress code), places to hear live music (any kind of music). We're in our early 30s, if that helps.

And although I'm sure I'll incur the rath of those who want me to look on the web myself for this info, what's weather like down there in Feb.?

Ahhh, Chapel Hill in February, could be in the 60's, could have an ice storm. You be here in the middle of basketball season and we love our basketball.

Wral-tv.com and NBC17.com are two of the local tv station websites that might have weather history. Also try citysearch (?triangle.citysearch.com)

For music, try Cat's Cradle in Carrboro (the two towns are merged together, CH is like a PAC-Man gobbling up Carrboro) or see what's playing on campus.

CH is not dressy. For food try Aurora (Italian) on Highway 54, Charlie's Chinese (Charlie Two-Shoes & family run the place, he has a facinating history with the Marines and was imprissoned in China for many years before coming to US), Vespa (Italian) on Franklin Street downtown, Mamma Dip's (southern), Rathskeller (if you're into daring college student food with a l-o-n-g tradition in town), Bandido's (Mexican), Breadman's (breakfast all day). If you want something fancy, try Il Palio in the Siena hotel. I think Crook's Corner is overrated (yuppie southern food with an attitude).

Stroll down Franklin street and the campus and enjoy it.

Not to miss on campus are the Old Well, Bell Tower and Morehead Planetarium. Morehead also has and art gallery and is the home of the UNC visitor's center.

If you have a car, go to Hillsborough (about 10 miles NW), Duke Gardens in Durham (East of CH), and Fearrington Village (South). The Fearrington Inn and restaurant are NC's on AAA 5 diamond award winners.

Enjoy your trip.

Lisa,
Yup, there are cold days in February, and every now and then a storm, but usually it's in the high 50's in the daytime, with the beginning of spring in the air (sorry folks in Chicago and Buffalo!).

For restaurants, Vespa and the Grill at Glen Lennox are two of the best -- the food is excellent and beautifully prepared, the atmosphere warm and romantic, and you can dress up or down. Fearrington Inn would be the place for a major splurge, but worth it. It's a nice
village to visit anyway, whether you eat there or not. UNC's Ackland Art Museum is small and lovely, and the UNC Music
Department (next door) has lots of really good concerts. The Carrboro Arts Center has great jazz and folk concerts. And there's always interesting theatre going on on the UNC campus. Don't miss
the Moorehead Planetarium and a walk down Franklin Street.

Have fun!

I currently live near Chapel Hill, attended school there a dozen years ago, and have lived in the area on and off for close to ten years. As for sites in the area, the UNC campus would be tops I think. Along with the specific sites on campus mentioned above, I would suggest starting at Franklin Street (at the Confederate monument) and walking straight through the campus from there to the bell tower and football stadium. It is best in spring, but anytime it is one of the most beautiful campuses anywhere. Duke Gardens is also best in spring and summer, but it is still a good place for a walk. I go there often. Duke Chapel is also worth a stop. Along with Ackland Art Museum, the NC Museum of Art is out on Highway 40 (15-20 minutes) at Blue Ridge Road. It has some pretty good exhibits (I can't remember if the Ansel Adams exhibit is still running then - I think it will have ended). A little more out of the way is Raleigh (25 minutes). There you could visit the new science museum, the North Carolina Museum of History, and have a Krispy Kreme doughnut at the Peace Street location.
If you or your husband are into college basketball, there is a small memorabilia collection at the Smith Center (also known as the Dean Dome). Michael Jordan also has a restaurant downtown ("23"), but I have not yet eaten there.

As far as other food goes, I would definitely hit Mama Dip's for local, country cuisine. Charlies, as mentioned above, is good for Chinese (good to see there are other devotees), as is Neo-China just down 15-501 near South Square Mall. Believe it or not, I have not eaten at Crooks Corner yet, but it is one of the few mentioned in most travel guides for the area. If you want a fancy meal from a chef who recently won a major award, there is Magnolia Grill on 9th Street in Durham. Aurora is also good for Italian (call ahead).

Can't help you with the music, since we don't get out for those things much anymore, but www.citysearch.com is fantastic for that type of information.

Thanks for all of the great and detailed advice.

Is there any chance in hell of getting tickets for a UNC game? (assuming they're playing at home while we're there)

Try the ticket office for any returned tickets. 1-800-722-4334. Scalpers at the front door for men's basketball, tickets available for women's games. Ticket scalping is illegal in CH so be careful if you decide to go this route.

There is a new "museum" of Tar Heel basketball in a shopping center near the intersection of I-40 and Airport Road (a/k/a Highway 86). It's about $5 to tour. It's is operated by a former team manager of the Michael Jordan/Matt Doherty era.

Sorry about forgetting the Carrboro ArtsCenter. They are in the same shopping center at Cat's Cradle.

Tickets may be difficult, since February has only ACC conference games on the schedule. I think, however, if you get there early you might see someone selling them outside the door. It is worth the effort.