Southern Part of Heaven: A Local's Guide to Chapel Hill, NC

So, you’re coming into Chapel Hill for the weekend.

Maybe it’s a college tour or sporting event (and yes, of course UNC football and basketball games are amazing, but women’s soccer games are #squadgoals!)

Lyla and I watching a soccer game (UNC won!) at the newly-opened Dorrance Field.

Or maybe you’re in town for a wedding (hopefully here on our farm 😉), or some other special event. Whatever the reason, I’ve lived in Chapel Hill for over twenty years, and can 100% confirm it really IS the Southern Part of Heaven.

Beautiful aerial view of the Bell Tower.

Here’s my list of top things to do in Chapel Hill and Carrboro (with a few of my favorite spots in Durham and Saxapahaw thrown in for good measure). These are in no particular order, and if you don’t get to everything on the list, that’s a good thing, it just means you have to come back! ✈️

First, the Food.

Go to Merritt’s and get a BLT. Seriously. That’s all I’m gonna say about it. You can thank me later.

This is just the double; they also have a triple layer BLT! 😱

I looooooove a good breakfast. If you get a chance, hit up Acme’s Sunday brunch. Delicious. And the Bloody Marys are 🙌🙌. On the south side of town, stop into Breakaway Cafe; I usually order Amy’s Scramble. Breakaway also happens to be my #1 spot to kick back with a cup of coffee (and my computer) and get #allthethings done.

Got kids and need something quick and easy? Elmo’s has you covered, and they serve breakfast all day.

And the milkshakes are pretty good too! 😉

For plenty of outdoor seating with lots of space for the kids to run around, swing by Weaver Street Market. And if you’re over in Carrboro on a Saturday morning, don’t miss the Carrboro Farmer’s Market.

Al’s Burger Shack has three locations in Chapel Hill, and was recently declared (rightfully so) as having the tastiest burgers in the country. Try the Mookie burger with rosemary fries. And if authentic Mexican is more your speed, you’ll love Fiesta Grill.

For a date night dinner, Lantern is always a great choice. And I absolutely love Tandem. Great atmosphere and the food is just SO good.

YES! Lantern used some of our chestnuts last year in this amazing soup.

Insiders’ Tip: If you’re looking for the newest restaurant and bar openings (as well as local recommendations), check out the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Foodies Facebook page.

Now, for coffee.

I’m not going to go into too much detail here, but if you need a caffeine fix (or just a great spot to get some work done), try La Vita Dolce, Breakaway Cafe, or Grey Squirrel. And if tea is more your thing, then you should absolutely swing by the Honeysuckle Tea House.

I always get the honey ginger latte with oat milk. So good!

I also really enjoy heading to Cup 22 in Saxapahaw. And yes, I know it’s technically not in Chapel Hill, but it’s super close (and only a few miles from my flower farm). The coffee is great, and they have gorgeous views of the Haw River.

And while you’re over in Saxapahaw, have lunch at the General Store: the food is fantastic. Oh, and if you have kids, (and enjoy live music) Saturdays in Saxapahaw is a blast.

Next, take a stroll down Franklin Street and walk through campus.

Chapel Hill really is the quintessential southern college town, and Franklin Street is at the center of it all. Walk around, visit Johnny’s for some UNC gear, and wander over to the Morehead Planetarium or the Ackland Art Musuem. Maybe you’ll even spot one of Chapel Hill’s famous Carolina blue fire trucks.

On the first day of class, it’s a tradition for students to take a sip of water from the Old Well.

Get some fresh air.

If you have time, nearby Battle Park is great for hiking. Bonus points if you can find the trail that leads to Gimghoul Castle. And if you’re really lucky, you can catch a Paperhand Puppet show at the gorgeous outdoor Forest Theatre.

Y’all know I’m a flower and plant fanatic, so of course I have to highly recommend the North Carolina Botanical Gardens. And, if you’re able to get over to Durham, Duke Gardens. Both are amazing at any time of year, and spending an afternoon just wandering around is #goals.

If you’d rather stay on campus, the five acre Coker Arboretum is beautiful.

See a show.

When I was in college, I was able to land a work-study study job at Playmakers Repertory Company, and I loved every minute of it. The theater is excellent (there isn’t a bad seat in the house), and the shows are fantastic. Another on-campus option is Carolina Performing Arts; I take my daughter to Memorial Hall every year to see the Nutcracker Ballet.

If you’re willing to take a short drive into Durham, the Durham Performing Arts Center is incredible. Also, the Durham Hotel has a free jazz night every Thursday on its rooftop bar. Y’all. The live music here is really, REALLY good. Check it out if you can.

And while we’re on the topic of live music, two other excellent music venues in the area are the Hall River Ballroom and the Cat’s Cradle.

Play with flowers.

Ok, full disclosure, this one is totally a bit of self-promotion, but I can’t leave it out! 😉

Depending on the season, you can visit our flower farm (Wild Flora Farm), walk through the greenhouse or fields, and pick buckets of fresh, seasonal flowers. In spring, tulips and daffodils are the stars of the show, and in the fall, it’s all about the dahlias and sunflowers.

And even if we’re not open for u-pick while you’re in town, we can always customize a Field and Foraged Soirée (our signature, personalized workshops) for groups of six or more. Contact us and we’ll put something together just for you; creating wearable floral art or dried botanical wreaths are popular options right now.

One of our Field and Foraged Soirées in full swing; we’re using flowers cut fresh from our fields that morning!

Get your Sport on.

And finally, I can’t have a local’s guide to Chapel Hill without mentioning UNC sports again. There is usually some sort of game happening on campus, so check the schedule before you visit and grab a ticket if you can. At the very least, go check out the Carolina Basketball Museum.

Catch a game while you’re in town and cheer for the Heels!

And that’s it! Be sure to contact me if I’ve left something out. I love trying new restaurants, coffee shops, and anything fun that pops up, so don’t be shy about sending suggestions my way.

As always, be sure to follow us on social media and sign up for the newsletter; both are great ways of keeping up with what we have going on here at the farm.