There is an undeniable energy about the town of Chapel Hill.
With warm weather comes a flood of vibrant Carolina blue t-shirts and students eager to be outdoors.
Because spring has officially sprung, TripAdvisor, an online travel guide, released a list of the top five outside activities to do around Chapel Hill. We at the UNC-Chapel Hill branch of The Odyssey Online are here to help you decide what to do when you hit the outdoors.
So throw on those t-shirts and shorts, and get ready to explore.
At the top of the list is the North Carolina Botanical Garden.
According to its website, the garden has 1,100 acres of exhibits and plant collections. An emphasis on conservation underlies the experience, from an education center with seminar rooms to areas dedicated to rare species.
The garden also has group activities, such as a giant chessboard, among the plant collections.
Nick Velasquez, a first-year student, visited with some friends recently. He loved how carefree he felt there.
“The (chess pieces) weren’t as heavy as you’d think,” Velasquez said. “It also feels like you’re more in the game since the pieces are toddler size. We played like half an hour.”
With everything offered, you can spend an entire day at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. But don’t tire yourself out just yet.
If you’re looking for a more relaxing experience, you can head over to the scenic Coker Arboretum, which claims second place on TripAdvisor’s list.
The arboretum was created in the 1920s and is situated near some of the more historic residence halls at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Robert Fisher, a first-year student, lives in one of those residence halls. He loves being near the arboretum because people are always around, and on weekends, they bring their children and pets.
“Most people will go and sit on a bench and not be on their phones,” Fisher said. “Seeing how other people act there is really cool. I just think it’s nice to see other people in a very relaxed state.”
You can relax from dawn to dusk daily, according to its website.
Head over to the arboretum if you’re looking to sit back and unwind among nature in Chapel Hill. As a bonus, flowers are currently in bloom.
Joining the ranks of both the North Carolina Botanical Garden and Coker Arboretum are The Preserve at Jordan Lake and Unique Plant, claiming spots No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
Rounding out the list at No. 5 is Battle Park. The 93-acre park has a number of scenic nature paths and trails.
Though the rocky terrain makes running difficult, it’s beautiful for a nature walk or a hike, Fisher said.
Battle Park is conveniently located near the northern end of UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus. Quick accessibility and beautiful scenery make it ideal for an afternoon workout.
Whatever you decide to do this spring, make you throw on some comfortable clothes, get outside and enjoy the warm weather.
With everything Chapel Hill has to offer, you never have to look far for something to do.
