Plan a Trip for the 'Gram

Pics or it didn’t happen! You don’t have to be an influencer to want that perfect shot to memorialize your trip to the Bull City. Whether you’re looking to replicate an iconic image or capture an original, Durham’s most creative and stylish settings offer the chance for a grid-worthy portrait.

DAY 1 – ICONIC BACKDROPS AND PICTURE-PERFECT SUNSETS

Day

No trip to Durham is complete without a visit to Major the Bull, the 2,000-lb bronze sculpture that stands in CCB Plaza. Start your day there and grab a coffee and pastry from Oak House to prepare you to explore. Then, head over to American Tobacco Campus, where you’ll find a tucked-away honeybee mural by Matt Willey around the corner of Burt’s Bees Global Headquarters. Follow the water feature past the Lucky Strike tower to snap a pic at the iconic Durham logo sign, commissioned by Discover Durham and fabricated by artists at Liberty Arts.

The Durham Sign

American Tobacco Campus | 300 Blackwell St. near Boricua Soul, Ekhaya and Parker & Otis
Stand proud and snap a photo! Commissioned to celebrate Durham’s sesquicentennial, this sign is dedicated to the city’s strength and resilience. If there's an essential shot to commemorate your visit, this is the one.

Hop in the car and head to Boxyard RTP to find a community of creative small businesses housed in an indoor/outdoor shipping container hub complex. Stop by the breathraking Rebirth mural by Durhamite Gabriel Eng-Goetz and try Korean BBQ tacos from Bulkogi.

As you head back toward downtown, stop at Satellite Park, a collection of decommissioned satellite dishes – blank canvases for artistic expression by local artists.

Major the Bull

CCB Plaza | 201 Corcoran St.
No trip to Durham is complete without a visit to Major the Bull, the 2,000-lb bronze sculpture that stands in CCB Plaza. Named for American banker, hospital administrator and philanthropist George "Major" Watts Hill and designed, sculpted and cast by artists Michael and Leah Waller, it's a symbol of the city. Snap a pic as you rub his horns for luck.

Evening

We may have mentioned them already, but you can’t miss a sunset pic on a Durham rooftop. But before the sun sets, make sure you get a few pics of the East Chapel Hill Street Murals. Created by artists Cornelio Campos and Cecelia Lueza, these pieces are inspired by the works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, respectively.

Then, head to The Durham Hotel to pose in front of the striking black and white tiles and geometric carpet in the lobby before you head to the roof for a drink and a sunset snap. The Patio at Unscripted, across the street, offers the chance for poolside pics and a bird’s eye view of CCB Plaza.

Hillside Park Basketball Courts

1301 S. Roxboro St.
These strikingly beautiful basketball courts feature the city’s colors and flag as well as an original design by local artist Sarahlaine Calva. The courts were renovated by the Grant Hill Foundation and FILA and are all set for you to shoot your shot and get a great pic over at Hillside Park.

DAY 2 – BEAUTIFUL BUSINESSES, MURALS & DINOSAURS

Morning

Get your caffeine fix at Cocoa Cinnamon’s Geer Street location before you venture out to appreciate Durham’s natural beauty. Eno River State Park’s suspension bridge is a can’t-miss spot for a pic and a walk among the trees. Enter the park at Fews Ford and you’ll find the bridge near the beginning of the Cox Mountain Trail. Closer to downtown, you can earn true Durhamite cred if you find Bronto, the (perhaps) life-size brontosaurus sculpture along Ellerbee Creek Trail near the Museum of Life and Science.

Durham Central Park

501 Foster St.
In Central Park, you'll find myriad spaces to strike a pose, along with plenty of space and sunshine to create your own photo op. Couples pose on the bridge over South Ellerbee Creek and kids climb for photos on top of Mr. Pickles the turtle sculpture. Cross the park toward Liberty Warehouse to find an interactive pixel wall where you can create your own public art.

Day

Get to know the city with a scavenger hunt to some inspiring spots off the beaten path. In the Lakewood shopping center, you’ll find El Futuro’s gorgeous community mural by Mexican American artist Cornelio Campos. Look for the roadside cow statue to find some of Durham’s best tacos at Taqueria La Vaquita.

Eno River Suspension Bridge

Eno River State Park | 6101 Cole Mill Rd.
Eno River State Park is one of the area's top spots for outdoor adventuring. Miles of trails provide glimpses of native flora and fauna along the banks of the river, and you'll find swimming spots along the way as well. Near the beginning of the Cox Mountain Trail, you'll find the suspension bridge that crosses the river. It's one of the park's most popular attractions and a perfect spot for a memorable photo.

Keep heading west to University Hill, where more than 40 murals by local and national artists make up one the largest concentrated collections of public art among local shops and eateries at UHill Walls.

A short drive east allows the chance to shoot your shot and get a great pic at Hillside Park’s outdoor basketball courts, renovated by the Grant Hill Foundation and FILA to include vibrant murals by local artist Sarahlaine Calva.

Beautifully Designed Businesses

You can find a beautiful spot for a pose in almost any Durham establishment, but there are a few spots you won’t want to miss.

The Patio at Unscripted Durham
202 Corcoran St.
Snap your poolside pics here, year-round. In warmer months, claim a seat or take a dip in the pool and enjoy frosé and snacks as you pose for a selfie. In winter, igloos and twinkle lights keep things cozy and festive. Plus, a bird's eye view of CCB Plaza makes for great people-watching.

Evening

Check out the third downtown boutique hotel by stopping for a cocktail or dinner at Counting House in 21c Museum Hotel. Don’t miss the lounge inside the vintage basement bank vault for a cozy pic with your date. If you’re in the mood for a glass of wine, check out East Main Street’s Killer Queen Wine Bar where you can take advantage of a photo-worthy mural on their cozy back patio.

The Durham Hotel Lobby and Roof
315 E. Chapel Hill St.
This is one of the best spots to watch the sunset in Durham. Our skyline is quickly changing, so what it looks like today will not be forever. Enjoy the view as you sip a cocktail. Don't skip the midcentury design in the entryway and lobby. Black and white tiles and colorful geometric carpet create memorable backdrops for snaps on your way in.

If you’re staying in South Durham, make time to head to Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP where you can enjoy a drink at the outdoor beer garden, beautifully designed with cheerful murals. Natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows and hanging greenery at Glasshouse Kitchen make the modern RTP restaurant a destination, and the all-day, seasonal food and drink menus satisfy any appetite.

Counting House in 21c Museum Hotel
111 North Corcoran St.
Round out your trip with a visit to the third downtown boutique hotel. There are plenty of photo ops among the works of art in the hotel's museum, open 24/7, but you won't want to miss a stop to enjoy a cocktail in the vintage basement bank vault.

Killer Queen Wine Bar
117 E Main St.
Wind down with a glass of wine and capture the moment in the eclectic bar setting, or step into the back patio to find a magical urban oasis that's the perfect photo backdrop.

Glass Jug RTP
Greenwood Commons Shopping Center, 5410 Hwy 55
Enjoy a beverage in the outdoor beer garden adorned with cheerful murals. Catch community events like trivia, food trucks and live performances.

Glasshouse Kitchen
5 Laboratory Dr, Research Triangle Park
As the name suggests, this modern farm-to-table restaurant is filled with gorgeous natural light and hanging greenery, making for the ideal photo setting. Plus, the all-day, seasonal menus will satisfy any appetite.

Murals Around the City

Civil Rights Mural
110 Morris St.
This powerful, colorful mural documents many stories of Durham’s civil rights history. Discover Julian Francis Abele, the African American architect who designed Duke Chapel and much of Duke but was never able to step foot on campus. Also featured is Ann Atwater, a Durhamite who worked to integrate Durham Public Schools (and is the inspiration of the feature film “The Best of Enemies”). The mural was a collaborative effort and is the product of local artist Brenda Miller Holmes and over 30 community members.

Pauli Murray Murals
311 Foster St. (pictured); multiple locations
Pauli Murray championed civil and human rights and lived in Durham. She was a powerful voice for the unheard and marginalized, and her vision for community lives on through several murals around town. This one reads, “True community is based upon equality, mutuality, and reciprocity. It affirms the richness of individual diversity as well as the common human ties that bind us together.” Learn more and discover other murals created by Brett Cook and dedicated to Murray.

East Chapel Hill Street Murals
198 E Chapel Hill Street
In partnership with the North Carolina Museum of Art, the City of Durham, and the Durham Convention Center, Cornelio Campos and Cecelia Lueza completed these stunning pieces. They are inspired by the works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, respectively. These are the doors for the loading dock of the Durham Convention Center so they might be up during the mornings and afternoons. The best times to catch them down are in the evenings and weekends.

Lakewood Community Mural
El Futuro | 2020 Chapel Hill Rd.
Led by Mexican artist Cornelio Campos and the Latino community in Durham, an empty lot in the Reuse Arts District was transformed into a display of joy. On the wall of the El Futuro mental health clinic, this welcoming piece of public art gives a voice to those who remain silent and provides a space for folks to share their hopes and contributions to our society with a special emphasis on the mental health of the Latino community.

UHill Walls
3806 University Dr.
Within the University Hill complex, situated between 15-501 and University Drive on the western edge of Durham, you'll find one of the largest concentrations of public art in the southeast. Among the 40+ murals, there's art by local and national artists and work inspired by some of Durham's most famous residents of the past and present, including André Leon Talley, Betty Davis, Phil Freelon and more.

Duke Expression Bridge
Campus Drive near Maxwell Avenue; for reference, the two bridges are Main and Pettigrew Streets
Ever-changing and always expressive, this spot is both a bright backdrop and a source of inspiration. Students and locals contribute to the bridge by sharing hopes, frustrations, dreams, and more. If you want to explore Duke, this sidewalk connects the university's east and west campuses. Stop here for a photo and add your mark in Durham, too!

Public Art and Inspiration Guide

If you'd like help finding a mural, or you want to get inspired by more opportunities to take in art around the Bull City, visit the Visitor Info Center at 212 W Main Street and pick up a free Public Art and Inspiration Guide. You can download a copy here.

There's plenty more to document and discover as you explore Durham. Be sure to snap those selfies, and tag @durhamnc along the way!