Chances are, at some point during your time at Carolina, you’ll have a friend from another school come visit, ready to see what exactly makes our town “The Southern Part of Heaven.”
The campus is a given — UNC, the quintessential college campus, has grassy quads, brick buildings and sports stadiums right out of a movie. Beyond those iconic views, there’s tons more to explore.
As an out-of-state student, I’ve been lucky enough to have visitors almost every semester, so by now I’ve perfected sharing the Chapel Hill highlights with friends. Whether they’re here for a day or a week, here are some places to go to make sure they get the full Carolina experience.
Chapel Hill Sign
Bring a camera (and a roommate) and have a photoshoot outside He’s Not. The Chapel Hill postcard, painted by local artist Scott Nurkin, is one of the town’s most iconic murals. Plus, the always-empty parking lot makes for a great, judgement-free photo op spot.
Source: On Franklin & Main
Fridays on the Front Porch
If the weather’s nice, the Carolina Inn is a great spot to relax, have a glass of wine and listen to local music. It’s perfect for people watching and trying out local foods via food trucks. Plus, it’s located right in the middle of campus, so you can wander over to the Pit afterward and force your friends to buy a UNC t-shirt.
Source: The Daily Tar Heel
The Baxter
Sure, TOPO is a classic, but Carrboro’s bar/arcade is unique and hipster-approved. The bar has 50 vintage and original arcade games and plenty of reasonably priced ($5 and below) beers. Bring quarters and reminisce on old times while playing the same games you used to enjoy when waiting for your parents to pick you up from the movies.
Source: The Baxter instagram
Cookout
This one caters more to the out-of-staters, but I’ve never heard a North Carolinian turn down Cookout either. The magic of more than 40 milkshake options and three meals worth of food for $5 (hello Cookout tray) never gets old, and is a must for visitors living outside the South. For a full southern immersion, make sure they order hush puppies and Cheerwine.
Source: eatcookout.com
Eno River State Park
Again, warm weather is key here, but Eno makes for a great day of exploring. You can swim in the quarry, hike through one of the many trails, or lay in the sun and have a picnic. Friends from city schools will especially appreciate the time in the great outdoors.
Source: ncparks.gov
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