Plan a Trip for the 'Gram
Shameless selfies are encouraged here.
Pics or it didn’t happen! You don’t have to be an influencer to want that perfect shot to memorialize your trip to the Bull City. Whether you’re looking to replicate an iconic image or capture an original, Durham’s most creative and stylish settings offer the chance for a grid-worthy portrait.
Day 1 – Iconic Backdrops And Picture-perfect Sunsets
Day
No trip to Durham is complete without a visit to Major the Bull, the 2,000-lb bronze sculpture that stands in CCB Plaza. Start your day there and grab a coffee and pastry from Oak House to prepare you to explore. Then, head over to American Tobacco Campus, where you’ll find a tucked-away honeybee mural by Matt Willey around the corner of Burt’s Bees Global Headquarters. Follow the water feature past the Lucky Strike tower to snap a pic at the iconic Durham logo sign, commissioned by Discover Durham and fabricated by artists at Liberty Arts.
The Durham Sign
American Tobacco Campus | 300 Blackwell St. near Boricua Soul, Ekhaya and Parker & Otis
Stand proud and snap a photo! Commissioned to celebrate Durham’s sesquicentennial, this sign is dedicated to the city’s strength and resilience. If there's an essential shot to commemorate your visit, this is the one.
Hop in the car and head to Boxyard RTP to find a community of creative small businesses housed in an indoor/outdoor shipping container hub complex. Stop by the breathtaking Rebirth mural by Durhamite Gabriel Eng-Goetz and try Korean BBQ tacos from Bulkogi.
As you head back toward downtown, stop at Satellite Park, a collection of decommissioned satellite dishes – blank canvases for artistic expression by local artists.
Major the Bull
CCB Plaza | 201 Corcoran St.
No trip to Durham is complete without a visit to Major the Bull, the 2,000-lb bronze sculpture that stands in CCB Plaza. Named for American banker, hospital administrator and philanthropist George "Major" Watts Hill and designed, sculpted and cast by artists Michael and Leah Waller, it's a symbol of the city. Snap a pic as you rub his horns for luck.
Evening
You can’t miss a sunset pic on a Durham rooftop. But before the sun sets, make sure you get a few pics of the East Chapel Hill Street Murals. Created by artists Cornelio Campos and Cecelia Lueza, these pieces are inspired by the works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, respectively.
Then, head to The Durham Hotel to pose in front of the striking black and white tiles and geometric carpet in the lobby before you head to the roof for a drink and a sunset snap. The Patio at Unscripted, across the street, offers the chance for poolside pics and a bird’s eye view of CCB Plaza. At The Velvet Hippo, seasonal indoor installations and creative cocktails rival the rooftop views for photo cred.
Day 2 – Beautiful Businesses, Murals & Dinosaurs
Morning
Get your caffeine fix at Cocoa Cinnamon’s Geer Street location before you venture out to appreciate Durham’s natural beauty. Head up the Ellerbee Creek Trail to earn true Durhamite cred if you find Bronto, the (perhaps) life-size brontosaurus sculpture along the trail near the Museum of Life and Science.
Day
Get to know the city with a scavenger hunt to some inspiring spots off the beaten path. In the Lakewood shopping center, you’ll find El Futuro’s gorgeous community mural by Mexican American artist Cornelio Campos. Look for the roadside cow statue to find some of Durham’s best tacos at Taqueria La Vaquita.
Keep heading west to University Hill, where more than 40 murals by local and national artists make up one the largest concentrated collections of public art among local shops and eateries at UHill Walls.
UHill Walls
3806 University Dr.
Within the University Hill complex, situated between 15-501 and University Drive on the western edge of Durham, you'll find one of the largest concentrations of public art in the southeast. Among the 40+ murals, there's art by local and national artists and work inspired by some of Durham's most famous residents of the past and present, including André Leon Talley, Betty Davis, Phil Freelon and more.
A short drive east allows the chance to shoot your shot and get a great pic at Hillside Park's outdoor basketball courts and drop in to Delafia Wine Bar nearby for a glass of funky natural wine.
Hillside Park Basketball Courts
1301 S. Roxboro St.
These strikingly beautiful basketball courts feature the city’s colors and flag as well as an original design by local artist Sarahlaine Calva. The courts were renovated by the Grant Hill Foundation and FILA and are all set for you to shoot your shot and get a great pic over at Hillside Park.
Evening
Check out the third downtown boutique hotel by stopping for a cocktail or dinner at Counting House in 21c Museum Hotel. Don’t miss the lounge inside the vintage basement bank vault for a cozy pic with your date. If you’re in the mood for a glass of wine, check out East Main Street’s Killer Queen Wine Bar where you can take advantage of a photo-worthy mural on their cozy back patio.
If you’re staying in South Durham, make time to head to Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP where you can enjoy a drink at the outdoor beer garden, beautifully designed with cheerful murals.
Public Art and Inspiration Guide
If you'd like help finding a mural, or you want to get inspired by more opportunities to take in art around the Bull City, visit the Visitor Info Center at 212 W Main Street and pick up a free Public Art and Inspiration Guide. You can download a copy here.
There's plenty more to document and discover as you explore Durham. Be sure to snap those selfies, and tag @durhamnc along the way!
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