Funwerks

4350 Garrett Road

Durham, NC 27701

919-401-6301

This amusement venue offers an array of activities for families to enjoy including a miniature golf course, go-carts, bumper boats, batting cages, paintball, and video games.

Magic Wings Butterfly House and Bayer Crop Science Insectarium

433 Murray Avenue

Durham, NC

919-220-5429

The Butterfly House is just beyond the State Museum of Life and Science and adjacent to the NC Museum of Life and Science.

This 3-story, tropical conservatory, largest museum butterfly house east of the Mississippi, features over 1,000 tropical butterflies in free flight including many rare species from Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Butterflies are drawn to certain plants and blooms.  This butterfly-friendly vegetation is available here  with beds of exotic flowers, tropical fruit trees and a flowering meadow in a rainforest area (that even includes a stream garden). The Insectarium presently has more than 25 live exotic and native species of insects and insect predators plus an extensive collection of mounted specimens.  

Museum of Life and Science

433 Murray Avenue just beyond the State Museum of Life and Science and adjacent to the NC Museum of Life and Science.

919-220-5429

 Family Fun magazine wrote that the NC Museum of Life and Science is among the top four family-friendly museums in the Southeast.

This 78-acre, 50,000 square foot regional science-technology campus offers user-friendly learning experiences and a sense of discovery, which enhances the learning experience.

Patterson's Mill Country Store

5109 Farrington Road

Durham, NC 2751

919-493-8149

An authentic turn-of-the-century country store and doctor's office/pharmacy that features relics from the Patterson's Mill community, as well as extensive pharmaceutical exhibits and tobacco paraphernalia.

Bennett Place State Historic Site

4409 Bennett Memorial Road.

919-383-4345

Open Monday through Friday from 9 - 5

Perhaps the official end of the Civil War was General Lee's surrender at Appomattox, but the big surrender was at the Bennett farmstead where Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union General William T. Sherman 17 days after Lee’s Appomattox surrender. Here you can view the reconstructed farmhouse and outbuildings and visit the interpretive center and museum.  

Duke University Chapel

Chapel Drive

Duke University West Campus

919-684-2572

The Chapel is normally open to tourists daily from 8a to 5p. Tourists are also invited to attend Sunday service at 11am. Durham's most popular tourist attraction, the Duke University Chapel (built in 1930) is a prime example of English-Gothic architecture and represents one of the last great collegiate Gothic projects in the United States. It features the only significant Æolian Organ built for a church. This 4-manual, 5,200 pipe instrument is being restored to its original condition and has a pleasant tone. In the 210-foot tower of the chapel is installed a 50-bell carillon; the bells range up to 5 tons in size. The beautiful, stained-glass windows accent the aesthetic impact of the chapel.

The Inter-denominational chapel serves the university community and holds Sunday morning worship at 11am to which all are welcome. During the fall and spring semesters, there are numerous recitals and concerts by the university organists and guest performers. The carillonneur gives a recital at 5pm weekdays, and before and after the Sunday worship service.   

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

418 Anderson Street

919-684-3698

Open daily from 8am to dusk.

Admission Free

55 acres of landscaped and wooded gardens featuring over 2,000 kinds of plants. Of special interest is their 20-acre Culberson Asiatic Arboretum. About 550 species and cultivars of Asian plants present a living example of the close relationship between the flora of the Eastern U.S. and the flora of eastern Asia. Five miles of pathways with landscaped bridges, courts, lawns, ponds and waterfalls help create a very enjoyable experience for the visitor. Docent-led tours are also available by advance arrangement.  

West Point on the Eno

5101 North Roxboro Road,

Durham, NC 27701

919-471-1623

Located along a two mile stretch on the scenic Eno River, this 388 acre city park offers a variety of recreational activities such as picnicking, hiking, canoeing, and rafting. An amphitheater is also inside the park, as well as many historic buildings such as a reconstructed 1778 working gristmill, the McCown-Mangum House built in the 1880s, the Hugh Manhum Museum of Photography, and a recreation of a 19th century blacksmith shop

Wheels Family Fun Park

715 North Hoover Road, Durham, NC 27701

919-598-1944

An enjoyable activity for the whole family can be expected at this full service family entertainment amusement park that features a race course for remote controlled cars, a miniature golf course, a skateboarding park, an indoor playground, an indoor roller skating rink, go-carts, and batting cages