UNC Visitors’ Center

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250 East Franklin Street (Downtown)
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Directions

(919) 962-1630

Open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm.

In the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center building (West Lobby). The UNC Visitors’ Center is an appropriate gateway into the 730-acre, 30,000-student university, the first state-supported institution in the U.S., established in 1793. The visitors center provides information and assistance to all those visiting the university and its numerous departments and services, and conducts guided and self-guided tours of the historic section of the university. Above the visitors center is a small rotunda gallery of art and statuary. Parking available (ticket entry lot).

University Lake

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130 University Lake Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Directions

phone (919) 942-8007

Open from March 27 to Nov 14 during 2010 Season; Fri.-Sun., 6:30am-6pm.

This lake will reopen for boating, fishing and other recreation on Saturday, March 27, 2010.
University Lake will also be open on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, Independence Day, Sunday July 4 and Labor Day, Monday September 6.  The 213-acre lake was built by the University in 1932 as a source of drinking water for the University and the communities of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, as well as an outdoor recreation facility. Free picnic and sunbathing areas. Rowboats, canoes and motors are available for rent. Call for rates and reservations.

University Mall

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201 South Estes Dr (at Willow Dr)
Chapel Hill, NC

Directions

(919) 967-6934

Chapel Hill’s first enclosed mall (1973) and its largest, recently remodeled and upgraded. More than 60 stores, anchored by A Southern Season (see Unique Stores) and Dillard’s, Harris-Teeter, Kerr Drug and Rose’s Store. Recently remodeled and upgraded. Also home to the new Special Events Centre and Deep Dish Theater.

Upper Bolin Creek

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Off East Franklin St
Chapel Hill, NC

Directions

(919) 968-2784

Open dawn to dusk.

Starts at the Chapel Hill Community Center off South Estes Dr and runs west for 1.5 miles to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, formerly Airport Rd. A extension runs about a mile further, connecting with a trail in neighboring Carrboro.

Varsity Theatre

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123 East Franklin St (Downtown)
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Directions

phone (919) 967-8665

Call for movies and show times. All Seats $3

Two screens. All Movies $3. Recently Released and Classic Movies.

Vietri Outlet

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343 Elizabeth Brady Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278

Directions

phone (919) 245-4181

Wed-Sat 10 am - 6 pm, Sun 1-5 pm, Closed July 4

The nation’s largest importer of handcrafted Italian dinnerware, glassware, kitchenware, flatware and home décor accessories. Shop in its Outlet Store and browse for one-of-a-kind, never-before-seen Vietri pieces and retired products. Outlet features discontinued, slightly flawed, and one-of-a-kind Italian handcrafted dinnerware, glassware, flatware and decorative accessories.

Village Plaza, Gateway Commons and The Galleria

Along South Elliot Rd between E Franklin St and Fordham Blvd
Chapel Hill, NC

Directions

More than 50 businesses among the three centers (Village Plaza itself is four separate shopping centers), anchored by Staples and Whole Foods Market, inlcudes 3Cups, restaurants and more.

Village Square Auctions

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3401 Forest Ave
Efland, NC 27243

Directions

phone (919) 732-5441

Vintage Revival Shops

125 East King St (Downtown)
Hillsborough, NC 27278

Directions

phone (919) 644-8000

Open Tue-Sat, 11am-4pm.

Offers vintage and cottage items, unique gifts and fine teas.

Walk Carrboro Tour

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Directions

Self-guided walking tour of Carrboro is offered via map available at most businesses in town. Carrboro has been called many things over the years, most of them flattering. Recently, we were named one of America’s top 100 art towns. We have a few art galleries, of course, but most likely we gained this distinction because art infuses every corner of our town, from public sculpture to coffee and food to art in more-expected places like galleries, stores and a little place called, of all things, The ArtsCenter. There are also many fun things about this town: One of them is the passion of the people who live here. Some folks are passionate about politics; others, about beer. Some folks are passionate about comedy; and some folks, about chocolate. (Okay, everyone is passionate about chocolate.) More to the point—the people who have opened shops here are passionate about what they do. And many of them enjoy national and even international reputations. So, come spend a perfect day with us and see why people who live in Carrboro love and look after their town so well.