Photography by John Michael Simpson
The beauty of a staycation is how easy it is to transform an ordinary Tuesday into an adventure. Ditch dinner plans at home and dive into the downtown scene – savor a dish at a beloved restaurant, discover art at a gallery opening, or spend an hour or two shopping locally. If an evening doesn’t cut it, carve out a few days to indulge in favorite pastimes while mixing in new-to-you activities. A true staycation means clearing your calendar, booking a room and exploring the best of what the heart of our city has to offer. Balance is key to a backyard excursion, so schedule some relaxation, physical activity, a cultural experience or two, and plenty of great meals. By the end, you’ll see downtown through a whole new lens.
STAY
It might feel silly to book a place only a few miles from your home, but for it to truly feel like the getaway you need, it’s important to pack a bag and escape your regular life, bed and housework. 21c Museum Hotel offers a slice of culture alongside its modern amenities; open 24/7 with no admission fee, the art museum is currently showcasing the exhibition “Refuge: Needing, Seeking, Creating Shelter.” Take part in one of the free weekly guided tours, with additional tours available during the Third Friday Durham Art Walk & Gallery Crawl. Guests can also relax at the hotel’s on-site spa, with appointments available individually or through a Pampered Penguin spa package for an enhanced staycation experience.
Embrace mid-century modern vibes at The Durham Hotel while taking advantage of specials like its “Dinner Before the Show” prix fixe menu from 5-6:30 p.m. – perfect for anyone heading to a DPAC or Carolina Theatre performance (or simply looking for an early dinner) – and its varied events. A few to mark on your calendar are its Holiday Music on the Roof performance series Nov. 29, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 as well as its Holiday Market on Dec. 11.
Across the train tracks, both the charmingly appointed Morehead Manor Bed & Breakfast as well as the Aloft are convenient for walking all over downtown. (Not to mention, the latter has a second-story heated outdoor pool overlooking the American Tobacco Campus.)
SHOP
No downtown adventure is complete without a little retail therapy. Durham’s eclectic mix of shops offers everything from vintage treasures to modern finds. Start by exploring the chic, contemporary styles at Vert & Vogue and Rose & Lee Collective, or dive into retro fashion at Dolly’s Vintage and the Durham Vintage Collective. Looking for something one-of-a-kind? Browse handcrafted items at Sh*t Diana Makes and lush plants alongside thoughtful gifts at The Zen Succulent, or craft your own cozy candle at Paddywax Candle Bar.
Music lovers can dig for vinyl gems at Bull City Records and Carolina Soul, while bibliophiles peruse the latest titles alongside an impressive assortment of used books at Letters Community Bookshop. Interior design enthusiasts will love exploring the curated selection of stylish home goods at Area Modern Home and EUtopia.design. Exotique brings global flair to the heart of Durham with its array of African-inspired fashion and home decor. For jewelry lovers, Hamilton Hill Jewelry offers stunning, handcrafted pieces, and fashionistas can find designer styles at Mode Consignment Boutique. Complete your shopping spree with home decor and thoughtful gifts at Indio, Parker & Otis, Parker Paper Company, Mill & Meadow or outfit your next adventure at Yonderlust.
RELAX
There’s something so relaxing about the slow rhythm of baseball during the Durham Bulls season of April through September, but here are a few other ideas until they return to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in the spring: Stroll through the Durham Farmers Market (above) on a Saturday morning to get some vegan pastries from Bklyn Bakery, handcrafted ravioli from Melina’s Fresh Pasta and The Spicy Hermit kimchi. Treat yourself to a massage at Bella Trio Studio or drop in for an infrared light therapy session at Beem Light Sauna (and keep an eye out for the opening of Sauna House on Geer Street!). Get your hair colored and styled at Culture Hair Studio, Posh the Salon or Temple Studio. Try a yoga class at Virge Yoga. Pick up infused THC and CBD drinks, espresso, baked goods and more at cafes and shops like Redhead Hemp, Sherlocks Glass Art & Dispensary or Heal Tree CBD. Pair a honey chai Aperol spritz with a hash brown waffle during a leisurely brunch at Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails. Buy tickets to an afternoon movie at the Carolina Theatre. Head back to your hotel for an afternoon nap. You’re paying for that room. Use it!
TAKE IN A LITTLE CULTURE
Speaking of the Carolina Theatre, attend a show there, at DPAC, or at The Pinhook, Motorco Music Hall or The Blue Note Grill. Check out the Museum of Durham History’s new exhibit, “100 Years of Duke: Names to Remember,” which runs through spring 2025 and commemorates Duke University’s evolution from its origins as a small schoolhouse in Randolph County to its establishment as a world-renowned institution in 1924. Get a selfie in front of each of Durham’s murals. Join Preservation Durham for its 50th anniversary celebration, highlighting 50 years of Preservation Durham history, at The Fruit. Take in the art at 5 Points Gallery, or sip a cocktail and listen to jazz at Missy Lane’s Assembly Room. And it’s always fun to see what’s new at the Durham Arts Council and various Durham Art Guild galleries.
WORK UP A SWEAT
Start with Upside Yoga on The Roof at The Durham Hotel every Saturday and Sunday – a refreshing way to begin the day with a stunning view of the city. Grab a smoothie or the Paddle Bowl made with mango, coconut and granola at Nautical Bowls. Or pick up a new pair of running shoes at Bull City Running Co. and gently break them in with a stroll around the historic Durham Athletic Park or along the American Tobacco Trail. Take a cycling class at CycleBar Durham when it opens soon.
PLAY
Test your aim and channel your inner lumberjack while enjoying a fun, competitive environment at Urban Axes. Just next door, Boxcar Bar + Arcade offers a nostalgic experience with its extensive collection of classic arcade games, SkeeBall and outdoor pingpong tables. The recently opened High Dive bar features pool, a jukebox and foosball, and nearby State of Golf is also new to the scene – try out full-swing golf and other sports simulators and cocktails. Wednesdays at Parts & Labor are for board or card games, so grab a bite, a pint and get playing! There are plenty of trivia nights all around downtown from Sundays at Durty Bull Brewing Company and Mondays at Ponysaurus Brewing Co. to Tuesdays at Dssolvr Durham and Wednesdays at Bull McCabes Irish Pub.
Here’s where your staycation to-do list will get super long, super fast. Start by thinking of the culinary gems you’ve never experienced. The ones that make you feel ridiculous. “How come you haven’t been there?” your friends tease. Maybe it’s Rose’s, NanaSteak, Toast or King’s Sandwich Shop. Or perhaps it’s Mothers & Sons, Hutchins Garage and Cucciolo Osteria. Then, make a list of newer places you haven’t gotten around to checking out. (One thing you’ll learn when you plan a staycation is that “new” to you might mean a year old. It’s so hard to keep up!) That might lead to stops at Emmy Squared, Fonda Lupita or Cheeni. If you want to hit up one of your go-to restaurants, consider doing so during a different time of day. (For example, M Sushi has an incredible lunch menu, but many think of this as a dinner destination!)
When planning, pick one huge meal per day. Or choose one expensive meal a day and combine that with two more affordable options. (Example: Rise for breakfast, QueenBurger for lunch and Mateo for dinner!) Or maybe your group is craving wildly different things. Try the Durham Food Hall where some can get smoked salmon and scallion cream cheese from Everything Bagels while others can order a hamburger from Patty Boy. (There’s also authentic Indian fare, seafood, Mexican food, a bakery and pizza to please every palate!) For something on the sweet side, head to Sweets by Shayda for an assortment of macarons or Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream to try its new fall flavors, which include bay leaf cheesecake, sweet potato marshmallow praline, pumpkin seed and rye cookie (left) and miso butterscotch brownie.
IMBIBE
Don’t forget the drinks! Grab a coffee or tea at Foster Street Coffee, Cocoa Cinnamon, The Oak House, Gojo by Goorsha or The Can Opener to kick off your day. Maybe you’ve still not been to Pour Taproom, The Waiting Room or The Velvet Hippo. Maybe you’re in the mood for some wine – there’s The Wine Feed, Bar Brunello, West End Wine Bar, Killer Queen and LouElla Wine, Beer & Beverage. Make your way from The Daily Beer Bar to 106 Main to Bar Virgile. Or take yourself brewery hopping from Atomic Clock Brewing Co. to The Glass Jug Beer Lab to Durty Bull Brewing Company to Bull City Ciderworks. Sign up to participate in the final two classes of Alley Twenty Six’s Cocktails 101 series led by owner Shannon Healy at Night School Bar: “The Golden Age” will explore Manhattans, dry martinis and sidecars Nov. 12; and “Travel Plans” on Dec. 3 covers cocktails like boulevardiers, negronis, margaritas and daiquiris. Both events run from 7-9 p.m. in-person ($95 per ticket) or online ($35). If you want something a little more intimate, head downstairs to Kingfisher’s cozy lounge, or take your drink out to its lush patio on mild fall evenings, or visit Corpse Reviver Cocktail Bar and Lounge where you can take part in music bingo on Wednesdays, enjoy jazz on Thursdays or simply sip on a cocktail crafted with the Durham Distillery gin it produces above the basement bar. It’ll transform into a festive holiday bar Nov. 20 – Dec. 31.
