Hey everyone! Thanks for looking at this. I am in RTP on business for a few months - just arrived last week - and a friend from IL is coming to visit me this coming weekend. I have no idea what I am going to do to entertain her! I have a car, so transport is not an issue. I have an apartment in Durham but have yet to find out where the good attractions are. I don't want to take her shopping (she lives in downtown Chicago where shopping is extraordinary) and she's not very outdoors-y. I realize this limits my options!

If anyone has ANY suggestions, websites to visit, places to go, things to do, etc, please please please reply!

Thank you so much
Cheers

The NC Museum of Art is very good as is the NC Museum of History, both in Raleigh. The campuses of Duke and Chapel Hill are quite pretty and make for a nice stroll. I know you don't want to shop but Replacements, east of Greensboro, has a great showroom and museum of china and is a real curiosity. Also the pottery area of Seagrove, about an hour southwest of RTP has over 70 pottery workshops scattered around two counties. Start in Seagrove at the museum and you can pick up a map and guide to the area. It is a fun day exploring the different styles and talking to some families that have made pottery for many generations. A great slice of NC life.

Wow! Thanks so much. Do you know anything more about these pottery places and if they will let people take a short class or make something of their own? Interactive things are always great.

Still open for more suggestions! If anyone has any (or links), please reply! Thanks a lot!

The museum in Seagrove is called the NC Pottery Center. Their website is http://www.ncpotterycenter.com/. Most of the potters do not offer impromptu classes, but you can usually watch them working and they might share some clay or give hints. We've found Phil Morgan, Ben Owens, Jugtown, Owens, New Salem, and Westmoore to be especially good for watching and chatting. Replacements is http://www.replacements.com/

Hi Sunshower,

Plan to spend one day in/around Chapel Hill. It's a lovely campus, cute restaurants and shops, check the schedule for a music or theatre event.

Have breakfast or lunch at the Carolina Inn, a beautiful and traditional hotel/restaurant right on the campus:

http://www.southernseason.com/

Definately plan on a shopping stop at the Southern Season. She won't find this store in Chicago, and I promise you will both enjoy it. Marvelous food, candies, gourmet treats, house gifts, etc. This is a place where you just wander around because it's so interesting, and along the way you "graze" from their sample trays of different food items" -

www.southernseason.com

For dinner in/near Chapel Hill, I think you can't beat Crooks Corner, delicious and inventive southern flavors from chef Bill Smith.

www.crookscorner.com

While in Durham, visit the Duke Chapel, check before you visit for services or music. A look at it's website will tell you why it's not to be missed:

http://www.chapel.duke.edu/home/

I agree with sprin2 that a trip to the potters in Seagrove is an easy one day trip, and you can be home in time to eat dinner in Durham at the very typical NC barbecue restaurant "Bullocks"

http://www.bullocksbbq.com/

One last idea - It's only a 2 1/2 hour drive from Durham to Wilmington - you can do it in a day (long though). Great historical city, wonderful waterfront dining and shopping on the Cape Fear River, and a chance to dip your toes in the Atlantic Ocean.

Hope this give you a few ideas and have fun! SusanEva

I also agree with the suggestion for the Museum - it is excellent, and the restaurant there is very nice also.

Hurricanes Hockey game or concert at RBC center. I think there's a bull ride this weekend. THAT would be different.

If she DOES decide she wants to go shopping, save time by hitting the three best places, Streets at Southpoint or Triangle Town Center malls - new malls with stores like Saks and Nordstroms - and Cameron Village - downtown with unusual Southern boutique shops.

For a funky local experience, the Flea Market at State Fairgrounds - Indoor and outdoor flea market every weekend at fairgrounds. Lots of antiques interspersed with junk. Try the roasted corn on the cob.