A Car-Free Summer Weekend Guide for Chapel Hill, NC

A $30 hotel stay brought us to Chapel Hill…

…but it was the charm that kept Michael and me occupied during our recent weekend visit.

Prior to this visit, we had driven through Chapel Hill exactly once, on our way out to Maple View Farm back in 2019. So it’s safe to say that when in the Triangle, we’ve spent the bulk of our time in Raleigh and Durham.

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That changed when Graduate Hotels offered a rare $30-per-night deal, and the Chapel Hill location miraculously had a room available over Memorial Day weekend. The university town is just over two hours away from Charlotte, making it a great option for a weekend getaway. And best of all, because most of the town’s sights and restaurants are concentrated on one street, once you arrive you can completely ditch your car for the weekend.

[The U.S. is a notoriously car-reliant nation; even though we had to drive to reach the city, it was such a relief to get around on foot. If you can do the same, I highly recommend it. We miss so much when speeding past the places we say we want to explore!].

Cooler weather may beckon you to venture further than this guide—perhaps all the way to Chapel Hill’s close neighbor, Carrboro. But with summer’s oppressive heat, we opted to narrow our radius. Thankfully, there are plenty of places worth your time if you need to do the same:

THINGS TO DO IN CHAPEL HILL

Explore the UNC-Chapel Hill Campus

I suspect that most visitors to Chapel Hill are attending sporting events or visiting friends and relatives who are attending the University (but I could be wrong!). Even if you’re not in town for either of these reasons, taking a walk around the United States’ oldest public university is worth your time.

Wandering aimlessly on the shaded paths that snake throughout the old brick buildings is a treat in itself, but if you need a little more direction, you might make one of the next two items your destination. Need to quench your thirst during your walk? Rumor has it the Old Well brings good luck in the form of high marks (note: the fountain’s bubbler was not present during our visit, rendering it inoperative, so I suppose it’s a good thing we’re not enrolled!).

→UNC-Chapel Hill // Chapel Hill, NC

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Tour the Ackland Art Museum

Admission to this beautiful museum is free (my favorite price!), and even if the collections aren’t of interest to you, the blast of A/C is pleasant enough to warrant a visit in the summer.

Ackland Art Museum offers viewers a range of exhibitions, from the ancient times to the modern day—and more than half of the museum is dedicated to rotating exhibits, which means you can return to discover a whole new museum on your next visit to Chapel Hill. Budget at least an hour for your visit!

→Ackland Art Museum // 101 S Columbia St, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

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Visit the Coker Arboretum

Another free opportunity on the university campus is the Coker Arboretum. Adjacent to the planetarium and set back just a block or two from Franklin Street, the arboretum is a beautiful five-acre space in the heart of campus.

With lush plants and greenery, I would certainly recommend meandering through. Even though not much was blooming, we were lucky enough to spot wildlife like bunnies, birds, chipmunks, and field mice. It’s a sweet spot to connect with nature while right in the heart of town.

→Coker Arboretum // 399 E Cameron Ave, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

CHAPEL HILL SHOPS & BOUTIQUES

Epilogue Books

Independent bookstores are a treat in their own right, but Epilogue Books takes it one step further by incorporating a cafe with a chocolate-focused menu. Their selection of books is carefully curated to feature a diverse range of topics and authors (maybe you’ll just find your new favorite!).

Before your visit to Chapel Hill, be sure to scroll Epilogue’s calendar, because it’s filled with engaging events and performances.

→Epilogue Books // 109 E Franklin St #100, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

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Rumors

Shopping at Rumors reminded me of thrift shopping in my old hometown (which, coincidentally, was also a college town!).

The racks are jam-packed with a hodge-podge of clothing, shoes, and accessories spanning decades all at a reasonable price. This is a great place to stop if you’re a fan of the thrill of the hunt, but thankfully the shop is a reasonable size so you won’t be there all day.

→Rumors // 106 N Graham St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

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Shrunken Head Boutique

Shrunken Head Boutique is the classic spot to shop for everything UNC, from clothing to car decals to gifts. Even if you’re not really in the school spirit, it would be a fun place to pick up a souvenir!

→Shrunken Head Boutique // 155 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN CHAPEL HILL

Time-Out Restaurant

Funnily enough, Time-Out Restaurant never takes a time-out. The restaurant dishes up Southern comfort food 24/7 (and if I were a younger and more energetic person, I’d love to see what it looks like after the bars and clubs close!).

The meal to order is the “Man vs. Food” Combo Special, consisting of a chicken ‘n cheddar biscuit, mac & cheese, and a beverage (a sweet tea, if you’re asking me). But if you’re in the mood for something else, they have all the usual suspects: barbecue, burgers, southern sides, and breakfast all day.

→Time-Out Restaurant // 201 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

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Talullas

I keep a map on my phone with the addresses of restaurants I want to visit, in case I’m in the area. As usual, I consulted this list before our trip and found that I had pinned Talullas in Chapel Hill (also as usual, I have no memory of adding it to my list – which is to be expected as that list is very long!).

By the end of our meal at Talullas (which has been serving classic Turkish cuisine since 2004), I was very grateful to my past self. The Hünkar Beğendi, Yoğurtlu Kebablar, and homemade baklava were absolutely phenomenal.

→Talullas // 456 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

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Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe

The courtyard of Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe is like a little oasis – but you’d never even know it was there if it weren’t for the heavenly spices scenting the air. The menu is quite extensive, and we heavily debated what to order before finally landing on sharing the chicken curry and an extra portion of daal. I’m quite glad we did, or we might not have had room for the gulab jamun (a dessert I can never resist ordering!).

Any other time of year I would have loved to sit out in the courtyard, but the heat kept us indoors. If you happen to visit in the fall or spring, have a seat outside for us, will you?

→Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe // 431 W Franklin St Ste 415, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

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Perennial

We wound up visiting Perennial twice: once for (delicious) coffee, and later for two (also delicious) cold specialty drinks: the London Sky and the Year of the Tiger. I think it’s a good thing we don’t live nearby because we would certainly spend way too much money at Perennial. It’s bad enough that our hotel was practically next door…

→Perennial // 401 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

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1922 by Carolina Coffee Shop

We didn’t have the chance to visit North Carolina’s oldest restaurant, but we did visit their newest concept. 1922 is right next door to Carolina Coffee Shop and offers a variety of grab-and-go snacks and coffee drinks. On a hot summer day, there’s nothing quite like an iced oat milk latte, but chances are your favorite is on the menu too.

→1922 by Carolina Coffee Shop // 140 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

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The Baxter Arcade

Because Michael is a big fan of video games, and I am a big fan of beating him at video games, we often visit arcade bars when traveling (see: Columbia, Mexico City, Raleigh and Durham, Nashville, Denver, and Memphis). So we were delighted to find that The Baxter Arcade was only a ten-minute walk from our hotel.

Though busy, the spacious bar never felt crowded, and we rarely had to wait to play a game. Local beer flows from the bar’s taps, but they also offer wine and liquor. Before you go, check their website to see if they’re offering free play – you might just luck out and not need to bring your coins!

→The Baxter Arcade // 108 N Graham St, Carrboro, NC 27510

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Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery

Top of the Hill (or as the locals affectionately call it, TOPO) is a restaurant and brewery that has been overlooking Franklin Street since 1994. Despite the heat, it’s worth sitting on the rooftop patio to look out over the quaint city as so many others have done over the years. Having an ice-cold beer in your hand makes the moment even better.

→Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery // 100 E Franklin St #300, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

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Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering

Though our stomachs were already full when we visited Mediterranean Deli, our eyes were plenty hungry. Thankfully the displays of pastries, fresh pita, prepared foods, and an olive bar provided a visual feast. We picked up a few pieces of baklava for the road (but honestly, not enough!) and made a mental note of their market selection for future visits to better stock our pantry.

→Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering // 410 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

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Brandwein’s Bagels

Good bagels are few and far between in the South (which is the reason I usually resort to making my own), but I can confidently say that Brandwein’s Bagels is doing the bagel justice. If you’re dining in, you might want to know that portions are pretty generous; one lox sandwich was more than enough for the two of us to share!

I also recommend picking up a dozen bagels to bring home as a souvenir – just slice and freeze them as soon as you can to preserve their freshness!

→Brandwein's Bagels // 505 W Rosemary St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

WHERE TO STAY IN CHAPEL HILL

Graduate Chapel Hill

Set yourself up for success during your car-free weekend by staying in the heart of it all. Graduate Hotel’s Chapel Hill location is right on Franklin Street and just a few blocks from the UNC campus. Whether or not you have ties to the university, it’s a fun place to stay. Head here to learn more about the hotel and read my full review of our stay.

→Graduate Chapel Hill // 311 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

WITH MORE TIME IN CHAPEL HILL

Our visit to Chapel Hill only gave us so much time to explore—and despite spending two full days in town, many places were closed on Sundays and/or Mondays. If you can, I’d recommend at least adding a Saturday to your visit.

Even though the town is fairly small, it’s packed with plenty of things to keep you entertained for days. With more time in Chapel Hill, I’d recommend checking out the following activities (note, some of these you may need a car/bike/rideshare to reach): catching a live show at Cat’s Cradle in neighboring Carrboro, cradling some actual cats at Cat Tales Cat Cafe, seeing stars at Morehead Planetarium, spending time in nature at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, and, naturally, watching a live college sporting event.

And of course, with more time in Chapel Hill, you’ll have more time to eat and drink! Some of the other places I have saved for my next visit include: Lantern, Tesoro, Pizzeria Mercato, Tandem, Sutton’s Drug Store, Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen, Osteria Georgi, Momo’s Master, He’s Not Here, Beer Study, Lime & Lemon, and Al’s Burger Shack. If you get to visit any of these before I do, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it was!

MY CHAPEL HILL PACKING LIST

Collage of garments packed for Chapel Hill — Silk Tank* | Shorts* | Linen Wrap Dress℅ | Midi Dress* | Pajama Top | Pajama Bottoms | Sandals* | Pointed Flats℅ (use code WAYWARD for $10 off!) | Sunglasses℅ | Sunglass Chain* | Face Masks | Bag*

If Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, in North Carolina summer must unofficially start even earlier. The forecast called for light, breezy fabrics and breathable shoes – and a change of fresh clothes for dinner.

With a solely walking itinerary, I knew I’d need shoes that could carry me through the day (get it?). A pair of sandals I’ve worn a million times, and a pair of flats designed for comfort were the correct answer. And really, could I wear anything else other than my almost-Carolina-blue dress during this trip?

Looking for more packing lists? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter

*This item is no longer available from the retailer and I've linked a similar product

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A Car-Free Summer Weekend in Chapel Hill, North Carolina—and Everything I Packed