The Durham (from $199) is a cool, modern hotel, also located downtown. The décor is mid-century modern, as is the style these days, but with a warm, not-airspace-y touch.

Unscripted Durham is a hip spot in the former 1960s Jack Tar Hotel building. In keeping with the time period in which it was built, rooms are midcentury modern in style and feature amenities like ...

33. Learn at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences 34. Attend an iconic Durham Bulls baseball game 35. Watch a basketball game at UNC 36. Explore Black Wall Street, Durham 37. Visit a ...

Southwest of Durham stands stately Chapel Hill and the equally hoops-crazed University of North Carolina, the nation's oldest state university (founded in 1795).