Activities in the Area


Our wedding may not be the ONLY event you want to enjoy while you're in the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina since it will occur on a long weekend (Memorial Day Weekend, 2005). Here is a list of a few of the attractions in the area.

This list is by no means comprehensive. To find more activities,
you can use CitySearch or Triangle.Com.



Museums

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

The exhibits of the new North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences look at the natural world through the distinct lens of North Carolina's diverse geography, geology, plants and animals.

This spring, the Special Exhibits include "Treasures Unearthed: North Carolina's Spectacular Gems & Minerals."  Experience the largest, most comprehensive collection of North Carolina´s gems and minerals ever displayed.*

The North Carolina Museum of Art

The state's art collection spans more than 5,000 years, from ancient Egypt to the present. The ancient collection includes Egyptian funerary art and important examples of sculpture and vase painting from the Greek and Roman worlds. The collection of European paintings and sculpture from the Renaissance through impressionism is internationally celebrated with important works by Giotto, Sandro Botticelli, Raphael, Anthony van Dyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Antonio Canova and Claude Monet. American art of the 18th and 19th centuries features paintings by John Singleton Copley, Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins and William Merritt Chase. Modern art includes major works by such American artists as Marsden Hartley, Georgia O'Keeffe, Franz Kline, Frank Stella, Jacob Lawrence, Elizabeth Murray and Joel Shapiro. Modern European masters include Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Paul Delvaux, Henry Moore, Anselm Kiefer and Gerhard Richter. Galleries are also devoted to African, Ancient American and Oceanic Art, as well as Jewish ceremonial art.*

The North Carolina Museum of History

Since its founding in 1902, the North Carolina Museum of History has been an exciting place to explore North Carolina history. The museum encourages visitors to discover the past; to reflect on their own lives and their place in history; and to preserve state, regional, and local history for future generations.*

The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

At Morehead Planetarium and Science Center you can experience dazzling multimedia star shows, varied exhibits, year-round programming for all ages and stellar shopping at the Infinity Gift Shop.*

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Gardens

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Duke Gardens provides a place where people of all backgrounds and ages come for beauty, education, horticulture, solitude, discovery, study, renewal and inspiration.

The Sarah P. Duke Gardens, often spoken of as the "Crown Jewel of Duke University," occupies 55 acres in the heart of the University's West Campus, adjacent to Duke University Medical Center.

It is recognized as one of the premier public gardens in the United States, renowned both for landscape design and the quality of horticulture, each year attracting more than 300,000 visitors from all over the world.*

North Carolina Botanical Garden

The Scene
The carnivorous plant collection in the Coastal Plains--especially the rare Venus' flytrap that actually eats its food. For unusual plants look for the frog's-bit, pickerelweed, water iris and arrowleaf plants in the aquatic collection. Visit the Native American herb garden for the serenity of a babbling brook, the shade of a well-placed bench, and simple beauty. Go on the boardwalk and tour the different habitats found in the Old North State. Notice the change in air and temperature as you move from the coastal plain to the mountain habitats.

The Highlights
Head to the herb and flower garden. It's got a landscaped area for the home gardener to view native North Carolina plants at their best. Clearly labeled plants offer information on growth, use and environmental needs.*

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Sports

The RBC Center

Home of the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State Basketball.

Durham Bulls Athletic Park

From the first base line seats you can wolf down big beers, corn dogs and barbecue and take in a perfect view of the Durham skyline. A smoke-breathing toro that the producers of "Bull Durham" built to spice up the old park proudly perches above the high left-field wall. A huge scoreboard draws the eye to the grassy hill where young fans sit with their gloves, hoping to catch the next three-run dinger.*

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Fine Dining

Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern

Located in the elegantly restored Dodd-Hinsdale house (circa 1879), Second Empire combines history, atmosphere, and gourmet cuisine for an unforgettable dining experience.*

The Angus Barn

The Scene
A giant red barn outside and a cozy upscale eatery inside, the Angus Barn is one of Raleigh's favorite landmarks. It's no wonder diners flock here--the soft lighting and cozy tables create a warm, comfortable atmosphere. The in-house store adds a touch of country quirkiness, but the Wild Turkey Lounge and lauded Wine Cellar contribute a sophisticated element.

The Food
Steak-and-tater fans should expect the ultimate meal. Dinner begins with a delightful touch: a complimentary relish tray with crackers, cheese, olives and other fresh goodies. The crab cake appetizers are sweet, meaty and perfect. The steaks, from rib eye to prime rib, satisfy the appetite. If there's anything to ballyhoo, it's the service--truly the best in the Triangle.*

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Buildings of Interest

Duke Chapel

Features
As one of the most recognizable buildings at Duke University, the chapel remains a beloved part of campus. Each year, a variety of musical performances amaze audiences--particularly Handel's Messiah--but the chapel also holds regular worship services on Sunday mornings.

The Experience
Check out all four of the chapel's organs--especially the Flentrop, which is visible as soon as you enter. Known as Bach's organ, it pumps out intense harmonies that reverberate throughout. Sweet carillon: Hear the tolling of 50 bells ranging four octaves by the chapel carillonneur each day at 5pm. Since tours are only offered to groups with reservations, your best bet is to pick up a self-guided tour sheet at the front of the chapel; they're free, and you can take your time looking around.*

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Golf Courses

UNC Finley Golf Course

Finley Golf Course Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
Phone: (919) 962-2349

Tom Fazio didn't just remodel the course. He basically created a new one.

The Course In recent years, Finley has become a popular tract. The original course, designed by George Cobb, wasn't built to accommodate the nearly 50,000 rounds being played there annually. Thanks to Tom Fazio's redesign, holes 12 through 18 present some incredible challenges. The course includes ponds and lakes, as well as rolling mounds and strategically placed bunkers that make Finley not only look different, but play different.

The Experience The first 11 holes of Finley Golf Course, all east of Finley Golf Course Road (the site of the course's original front nine), offer the best birdie and par opportunities. Be ready to step up your game a notch once you cross the road to play holes 12 through 18. Especially challenging are the long par-4 15th and 16th holes. Avoid water and wetlands to score well on these monsters.*

Vital Stats
Number of holes: 18
Par: 72
Yardage and Slope/Rating
Championship Tees: 7187 yards 141/75.0
Middle Tees: 6702 yards 134/72.5
Forward Tees: 6141 yards 125/69.9

The Crossings Golf Club

4023 Wake Forest Rd
Durham, NC 27703
Phone: (919) 598-8686
Fax: (919) 596-0417
Price: Call Pro Shop for seasonal rates

Great course that is always in great condition. The greens are hard and fast. The fairways require good management. Challenging but very fun to play. Not fun to play if you can't hit straight.*

The Preserve at Jordan Lake

840 The Preserve Trl
Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Designer: Davis Love III
Season: Year Round
Region: Raleigh - Durham, NC

Golfers looking to play on a piece of property that is flat and featureless pastureland need not make a tee time. The course features streams, hardwood forests, rock outcroppings and elevation changes that make you feel like you.re in the western part of the state.*

Duke University GC(NC)

3001 Cameron Blvd
Durham, NC 27706

Designer: RT/Reese Jones
Season: Year Round
Region: Raleigh - Durham, NC

Robert Trent Jones routed the course by cutting it out of Duke Forest; thus, just about every hole is bordered by wonderfully pretty woods replete with towering trees. Reese Jones must have kept the original routing; however, he blew up the tee boxes and green complexes, and the result is nothing short of stunning. The targets are wonderfully defined, and some of the holes are breathtaking.*

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* Many of the descriptions used on this page are direct quotes from CitySearch, Triangle.com, or from the websites of the locations, groups, or persons being described. CitySearch, Triangle.com, or the locations, groups, or persons described are the owners of the copyrite for this information.