Winding Out by Robert Winkler is a striking surprise at the Parrish and Mangum corner, a tall…read morespiral of angled wooden panels that feels both kinetic and rooted in place. I stopped to take a closer look and found myself appreciating how the twisting geometric catches light differently from every side, giving the piece a sense of motion even when standing still. As part of the Bull City Sculpture Show and unveiled in 2014, it fits Durham's vibe perfectly: bold, a little quirky, and inviting enough that you end up lingering longer than you planned. [Review 1163 of 2026 - 4812 in North Carolina - 26342 overall]

Major stands in downtown Durham with the kind of presence that made me slow down a little, even…read morethough I was on the way to somewhere else. He has that faint echo of the famous charging figure in New York City, but the resemblance is more about attitude than imitation. This one is upright, steady, and grounded in a way that feels tied to Durham itself. The surface of the statue captures the light cleanly, and the post has a quiet confidence that fits the plaza around him. You can read the caption at his feet and it adds a layer of pride, knowing that the sculpture was cast right here at Liberty Arts, created start to finish in the same city where it now stands. The bilingual plaque gives the piece a sense of welcome, like it belongs to everyone who passes through. Knowing it was gifted to the citizens of Durham through a grant from Central Carolina Bank makes the whole installation feel intentional, not just decorative. It is the kind of public art that doesn't need to shout to make its point. Major feels rooted, local, and fully part of the streetscape, a sculpture that reflects the city's intention of mixing creativity with community in a way that feels natural. [Review 1164 of 2026 - 4813 in North Carolina - 26343 overall]

State of North Carolina Marianne and Daughter Love North…read moreCarolina. I've got family members and my friends living there who I've had for over 50 yrs. Then years ago we made Manhattan friends that originally came from North Carolina. I've been to North Carolina staying in my Aunt and Uncle's time share. I can't say enough about how much I enjoy this State. If I didn't have to have a car to get around in North Carolina I'd want to move there in a heartbeat. But that's only if I had to leave Manhattan for some reason. Naturally I love and want to stay here in Manhattan. I'm so happy that I have so many connections in my personal life to this state. It's definitely welcoming and I can visit when I want! If you're looking for a place to retire or relocate for any reason I recommend North Carolina!

Other than two years when I was living in the UK, I've lived in the Tarheel State for the last…read moresixteen years. I've lived in six states (NY, MA, FL, PA, AR, NC) and two countries (US, UK). This is my favorite place. Our motto: "To be, rather than to seem." Don't fake it. North Carolina was one of the original thirteen colonies, the twelfth to join the Union and the last to join the Confederacy during the Civil War. We're in the South now, y'all. It's a huge state, incorporating the cities of Charlotte, Raleigh (the state Capitol), Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville and Asheville. We have the barrier islands, the Great Dismal Swamp, the steel and concrete jungles, the mountains, beaches and the rivers. North Carolina has the highest point in eastern North America, Mount Mitchell. Our license plates say "First in Flight" (because the Wright Brothers flew here first at Kitty Hawk) and "First in Freedom" (as my fellow Charlotteans declared independence a full year before John Hancock signed that other famous Declaration). We have 420 miles of I-40 (the busiest east-west corridor in the USA), 182 miles of I-95 (the busiest north-south), 231 miles of I-85, I-77, I-74, I-73. I-26 clips the corner of the western end of the state and at 12.9 miles long, I-87 is the shortest designated primary Interstate. To drive from Tennessee border (west) to the Outer Banks (east), it's about six hours. Or you can drive three hours from north to south. Could we do better? Sure. North Carolina got worldwide news and boycotts for the enactment of HB2. Officially the "Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act" it got notice as the "Bathroom Bill" that required people to use the bathroom that corresponded to their birth certificate. We're also known for the gerrymandering of our 12th Congressional District that was described as "political pornography" by the WSJ. We hosted the 2012 Democratic National Convention and the 2020 Republican National Convention. We currently have a Democrat governor and both houses of the legislature are Republican. It's interesting. We are home for the Carolina Panthers (football), the Carolina Hurricanes (hockey), the Charlotte Hornets (basketball) and we have the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Charlotte Motor Speedway and Rockingham Speedway host car races. Minor league baseball include the Charlotte Knights and the famed Durham Bulls. The North Carolina Museum of Art, the North Carolina Museum of History, the Durham Performing Arts Center and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. In education, Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest University are routinely ranked in the top 100 best colleges in America. Thirteen of the Fortune 500 are based in North Carolina, including Bank of America, Lowe's Home Improvement and Honeywell International. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is the sixth busiest airport in the world after Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Chicago and Los Angeles, ahead of Orlando, Guangzhou and Las Vegas. The Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte is the 56th tallest building in the United States. Pepsi-Cola was invented in New Bern, Cheerwine in Salisbury, Texas Pete hot sauce and Krispy Kreme Donuts in Winston-Salem and we have the headquarters for Bojangles Famous Chicken N' Biscuits in Charlotte. The UPC bar code and the CTRL-ALT-DEL key sequence were developed in our state. You might be wondering why we have a NORTH Carolina and a SOUTH Carolina. Here you go: https://www.carolana.com/Carolina/thesplit.html We don't talk to them much. :) Taxes are not excessive, the roads are okay, the crime rate is climbing and it's all good. I love it here. Come visit! [Review 19084 overall - 3402 in North Carolina - 53 of 2023.]

I didn't know how much fun a social district could be until my friend and I spend an afternoon…read morewandering around Downtown Durham with a beer in hand and no bartender yelling at us to chug it before leaving. The Bullpen is Durham's official social district, and it went into effect in 2022 after the North Carolina General Assembly approved the idea of walkable drinking zones back in September 2021. The city signed off on it in October 2022 as a way to boost downtown businesses, and honestly? Mission accomplished. The district covers a defined area of downtown where you can buy a drink from any participating ABC‑permitted business and carry it outside in the official cup. It runs seven days a week from 11 am to 10 pm and the boundaries include a big chunk of central Durham. Enough to make a proper walking tour without ever feeling like you're skirting the edge. For our self‑directed food and drink crawl, we started at Bull City Burger and Brewery, then wandered over to Little Bull, Liberty & Plenty, Geer Street Garden, and finally up the hill to DSSOLVR. Every stop was inside the district, and every time I had a few ounces of beer left, I just took it with me because it's completely legal here. That tiny detail along makes the whole experience feel relaxed and fun instead of rushed. Durham built this district to encourage exploration and it works. you can bounce between breweries, restaurants, bottle shops and bars without losing momentum. Window clings mark the participating businesses so you always know where you can grab your next drink and keep moving. If you're in Durham and want a walkable afternoon that mixes food, drinks, and a little urban wandering, The Bullpen is one of the best ways to do it. It's simple, it's smart, and it makes downtown feel alive in a way that more cities should copy. [Review 1077 of 2026 - 4783 in North Carolina - 26256 overall]

This parade is held each December in Apex's charming and historic downtown. We just recently moved…read moreto the Raleigh, NC area, so we were curious to check it out and see what it was about. I don't know the whole parade route, but I'd suggest finding a spot to watch near the Apex Chamber of Commerce. A lot of people watching brought beach chairs along, which is an excellent idea. Unfortunately, it was rainy on the night of the event, but it was still fun. I was quite surprised by the size of the parade. We saw one marching band, various local dance groups, karate schools, color guard from the local school, Girl Scout troops, church groups, firetrucks, antique vehicles, an Elvis impersonator, Santa and much more. I felt like I had stepped into a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting, it's all very cute and idyllic. Be sure to arrive early so you have enough time to find a parking spot, a lot of the roads were closed off for the event. There are other Christmas festivities planned in that area for that weekend, so check out the town website for more info. https://www.apexnc.org/428/Special-Events-Festivals This is a great family friendly activity! I think most kids will love this parade.

The Floyd Council Mural was the hardest of the 25 murals to find as there is not a list of all the…read moremurals or addresses for all of the NC Musicians Mural Project. I've been adding them to Google as I go so others don't have as much trouble. This mural is located on the side of Franklin Motors and it just happens to be on the side with a paid parking lot so parking was very convenient. Floyd Council is the "Floyd" of Pink Floyd. Pink Anderson is the other blues musician in that group's name. Syd Barrett liked those two musicians and used part of their names to name his group. This mural pays tribute to that with the pink color for Floyd. Floyd Council was known as "Dipper Boy". He was a Piedmont Blues singer and guitarist who had his own intricate fingerpicking style. He was in a group called the Chapel Hillbillies, then met and played with Fulton Allen aka Blind Boy Fuller. Council's style was serious and soulful as he sang about his struggles. He released just 8 singles and only recorded 27 songs so his music is hard to find. Council suffered a stroke and couldn't really play or sing after that. But he sure did inspire other musicians.

As I live and breathe-- I truly cannot believe that the local flavor and glory of Raleigh hasn't…read morebeen reviewed yet! I've officially been exploring these parts for about a year now and (while I'm still figuring it all out) I'm smitten and pleasantly surprised, quite frankly. Raleigh is a sleeper, meaning that outside of the state you don't really hear much about Raleigh, in particular, and Charlotte gets the majority, if not all, of the NC attention outside of sports and the tourism in Asheville. I've been told more than a few times that's by design and the "Triangle" locals prefer it that way. (lol) Raleigh has Southern charm and a strong arts, culture, and food scene. The coffee and BBQ here leaves much to be desired, but that 's subjective and no city has it all. Cost of living is fairly decent in these parts, and the suburbs are growing fast. Raleigh is an interesting city to explore, has great flight routes, and the traffic/parking situation isn't unbearable in the least. (Huge nod for that coming from Houston.) I love Raleigh's location with easy access to other cities like Charleston, Charlotte, Asheville, the mountains, and several beach vacay spots. All in all-- Raleigh's alright with me!

Shout out to Jared Long (customer service) for taking the time to help me submit a building permit…read moreto the city of Raleigh. He went out of his way to help me complete the permit apparently. He was responsive and courteous and quickly resolved my predicament. Thank youJared!

Can you find these three public art exhibits in Durham? We did! They were designed by artist Mary…read moreCarter Taub after she was chosen from 27 applicants for a city sponsored art project. It's a blend of Art Deco and Pop Art inspired by Rice Krispies! Parking was a major challenge to take pictures at each location but we didn't get any tickets! Just be bold and be safe! The locations are at the corner of Blackwell and Vivian, near the Marriott City Center and The Bull Statue, and at the Durham Central Park on Foster Street. Life is good with unique local art!

This is not named after the rice crispy treats. This is the snap crackle and pop public art…read moredisplay. We are walking around and I came across this and thought it was pretty cool.