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Probably more famous because of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, and the Medical Center, this staid North Carolina city is neither short of landmarks or attractions. The huge North Carolina Botanical Gardens is here and is one of the finest in the world. The Morehead Planetarium is usually a great attraction for kids of all ages. (Kids and senior citizens get in at a hefty discount but the full fare is less than $5; hey, it’s well worth
it.)
Visitors' Center
- From I-40 take exit 270. If eastbound, turn right; if westbound, turn left. Follow US-15 to the Franklin Street turnoff (NC-54) and follow Franklin Street to the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau at 501 West Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill.
Visitors' Center open Monday through Friday from 8:30a to 5p and Saturday from 10a to 2p. (Closed on major holidays).
For more information, phone 1-888-968-2060 (toll free). Web site:
ChapelHillCVB.
North Carolina Botanical Garden
- The largest natural botanical garden in the southeast, the 600-acre North Carolina Botanical Garden features carnivorous plant collections, aquatic gardens and herb gardens plus some great nature trails.
The facility also features revolving exhibits of paintings, hand-made quilts and other and sculptures among the botanical collections.
Open year-round Mondays through Friday from 8a to 5p; Saturdays from 9a to 5p and Sundays from 1 to 5p. Admission: FREE.
For more information phone 1-919-962-0522 or visit their web site:
NCBotanical.
From I-40 eastbound, take exit 273 and turn right on NC-54; if westbound, take exit 273-B and merge with NC-54 westbound. Follow NC-54 to Finley Golf Course Road (about 2.4 miles). Turn left onto Finley Golf Course Road (there's a traffic light there). Drive about 0.6 miles and bear right onto Old Mason Farm Road. Drive another 0.7 miles and you'll see the 'North Carolina Botanical Garden' sign on your left. Turn left into parking lot.
Coker Arboretum - This 5-acre garden, created on the UNC campus a century ago, is now part of the North Carolina Botanical Garden. It contains more than 500 species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Two prominent attractions are the recently renovated 300-foot native-vine arbor and an adjacent stone gathering circle.
Open daily, dawn to dusk. Admission: FREE.
For more information phone 1-919-962-0522 or visit their web page:
CokerArboretum.
From I-40 take exit 270. If eastbound, turn right; if westbound, turn left. Follow
US-15 Bypass southbound toward Chapel Hill and take the NC-54 exit. NC-54 is also Franklin Street. Continue down E. Franklin to
Raleigh Street. (Note: on the right side of the intersection, the street is named Hillsborough Street, not Raleigh Street.)
Turn left onto Raleigh and the Arboretum is 1 block, corner of Cameron
Street, on your right.
About parking: Coker Arboretum is next to the Morehead Planetarium. Metered parking may be available in the Planetarium parking lot
(in which case you would enter from Franklin Street, not Raleigh
Street).
Niche Gardens
- A quiet, delightful commercial nursery and garden specializing in
nursery- propagated wildflowers, southeastern natives, selected garden perennials, ornamental grasses and 'underused' trees and shrubs.
Their trained staff will gladly help you learn about wildflowers, perennials, shrubs, vines, grasses, gardening for butterflies and wildlife.
They also offer experienced assistance with the design and care of your garden. Picnic facilities available. Gift shop on premises.
Open Monday through Saturday from 9a to 5p; Sundays from 10a to 5p. They also have guided tours Saturdays at 10a.
Admission: FREE.
For more information phone 1-919-967-0078 or visit their web site:
NicheGardens.
From I-40 take exit 270 and follow US-15 Bypass southbound to the intersection of NC-86 and NC-54. Drive straight through to get on NC-54 and follow it to Hwy 1005 (Jones Ferry Road). Turn left and follow it to Old Greensboro Road and turn right (you will still be on Hwy 1005). Continue following Hwy 1005 to Dawson Road (it will be the
next road on your left after Collins Mountain Road). Turn left and Niche Gardens is very noticeable at 1111 Dawson Road.
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Morehead-Patterson Memorial Bell Tower
- This 172-foot clock and bell tower (with plaza and garden) was designed by
McKim, Mead & White and donated to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1931 by John Motley Morehead III and Rufus Lenoir Patterson. Its
14-bell carillon beckons students to classes during school days and tolls appropriate tunes to the spectators following games at the adjacent Kenan football stadium. In the evenings the carillon chimes serenades enhancing the romantic appeal of this romantic old campus.
For more information, phone 1-919-962-2069.
From I-40 take exit 270. If eastbound, turn right; if westbound, turn left. Follow US-15 Bypass southbound, toward Chapel Hill, to Raleigh Road. Turn right and follow Raleigh Road to Stadium Drive on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Note: at Country Club Road, Raleigh Road becomes South Road.
The Old Well - To look at this beautiful, Greek Revival structure one would never guess that it was designed and built to replace a ramshackle well house protecting the primary source of water for the University since the 18th Century. In 1897, then UNC President Edwin A. Alderman, initiated the design of this beautiful structure. It was generally felt that it is so beautiful that it has become the (unofficial) symbol of the University.
For more information phone 1-919-962-2069.
From the Morehead-Patterson Memorial Bell Tower, (see
above) continue west on South Road to Columbia Street. Bear right and follow
Columbia to East Cameron Avenue. Turn right and the Old well (no, you'd never guess this is a 'well house'!) is about 250 yards up Cameron on your left. Or, even better, it is a very pleasant walk across the campus to the Old Well.
Charles Kuralt Learning Center
- Charles Kuralt's widow,
Suzanna, (who died in 1999) willed the entire contents of Kuralt's three-room penthouse office suite in Manhattan to the UNC School of Journalism and Mass
Comunications. The center includes his office with Oriental rugs, his desk, the floor-to-ceiling mahogany bookshelves and library. Even the paneled walls, a brick fireplace are included. Also in the inventory are his program tapes and many his awards.
Only open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4p; other times by appointment. Admission: FREE.
For more information or to make a visitation appointment phone 1-919-962-1204.
From the Morehead-Patterson Memorial Bell Tower, (see
above) continue west on South Road to Columbia Street. Bear right and follow Columbia to East Cameron Avenue. The Center is in Carroll Hall at South Columbia Street and East Cameron
Avenue.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
- a gift of John Motley Morehead III, class of 1891, this was the first such facility in the south. Since 1949, the Star Theater has been a giant classroom for students, teachers, school groups, senior citizens, youth groups, and the general public. With the
inception of the U.S. space program, the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center provided training for our astronauts from the Mercury program to the Apollo-Soyuz program.
The 68-foot, domed Star Theater with its world-class Zeiss Model VI projector, fills thousands of visitors with knowledge and wonder each year. In addition, the 24-inch Cassegrain reflecting telescope and observation decks, the Visitors' Center, the art galleries, rose gardens and the massive sundial - were designed for students of all ages with all interests. Snacks and beverages available.
Open Sunday through Wednesday, 12:30 to 5p; Thursday through Saturday, 10a to 5p and 7 to 9:30p. Closed major holidays.
Admission to the Science Center is FREE. Admission to the Star Theater shows: $4.50; students, kids and seniors, $3.50.
For more information phone 1-919-962-1236. For 24-hour, 7-days schedules of shows and times (recording) phone 1-919-549-6863.
From I-40 take exit 270. If eastbound, turn right; if westbound, turn left. Follow US-15 Bypass southbound toward Chapel Hill and take the NC-54 exit. NC-54 is also Franklin Street. Continue down E. Franklin to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center on the UNC campus. It will be on your left (250 East Franklin St) about 300
yards past Hillsborough Street. Parking is available but limited.
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