Parks & Recreation

Looking for a way to get outside and get active? Durham’s got a lot of options, with over 100 city-owned parks and recreation facilities, athletic and fitness programs for all ages, and even outdoor recreation programs, like kayaking, nature hikes, cave exploration, camping, ropes courses, and more.

It’s also home to miles of scenic greenway trails, like North/South Greenway, New Hope Creek Greenway, Pearsontown-Rocky Creek Greenway, West Point Trail, and the American Tobacco Trail. It even features two city lakes for enjoying fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, water biking, and more.

Sports & Entertainment

Nightlife, pro sports, shopping and dining… there’s something for everyone in Durham. Catch the Durham Bulls in action at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, or join the enthusiastic fans at a Duke men’s basketball game. Explore Downtown Durham, from the revitalized warehouses of the American Tobacco District—now reformed into a bustling center of restaurants, entertainment venues, bars, and even hi-tech office spaces—to the shops and amazing restaurants of BrightLeaf Square. You’ll also find plenty more shopping and dining around the University along 9th Street and University Drive. And the enormous Southpointe is the Triangle’s largest mall.

Arts & Culture

Art galleries, museums, theatre, music, festivals, and more… Durham has it all! Catch a touring Broadway show at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Enjoy local and national theatre performances or concerts at the Carolina Theatre. Explore amazing works at the Nasher Museum of Art. Explore art galleries and studios in Downtown Durham, or enjoy concerts, plays, art exhibitions, live music venues, and more.

And don’t miss out on any of Durham’s amazing events and festivals, like the Durham Blues Festival, the American Dance Festival, Durham Art Walk, Durham CenterFest, or the Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival.

Top-Notch Employment

Durham is home to several major employers, like Duke University and Duke Medical Center, and hi-tech start up companies, such as Red Hat. It is also located just a few miles from the internationally-renowned Research Triangle Park, which is home to major national and international companies like IBM, GlaxoSmithKline, and RTI International.

Outstanding Education

Students in Durham have numerous options for public and private education. The city is served by Durham Public Schools, a highly-rated district home to 30 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 2 secondary schools, and 12 high schools, as well as several magnet schools, such as the Durham School of the Arts and the city of Medicine Academy.

Other schooling options include the acclaimed North Carolina SChool for Science and Mathematics, which is operated by UNC, and charter schools like the Research Triangle High School, Voyager Academy, Kestrel Heights School, and more. There are also several private schools throughout the city, like Durham Academy, Carolina Friends School, Duke School, and numerous religions schools. Post-secondary options include Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and Durham Technical Community College.