Local Loves! My Favorite Places to Play Outside Near Chapel Hill
We all have different ways to cope with stress. As a college student and someone who is always looking forward to the next big thing, stress is inevitable. It's easy to feel like you're not doing enough! It is critical to identify the things that help you cope and remain joyful even when under stress, especially coping mechanisms that are good for your health. When I can tell that my stress is becoming too much, I know I need to get in the car and go to the river. Being outdoors and outside of downtown Chapel Hill can feel like hitting a reset button.
As much as I love the mountains, Chapel Hill is beautiful in its own right. With a busy student schedule, sometimes you can only devote an hour or two to getting outside, but that shouldn’t stop you! I’ve already mentioned the benefits of forest bathing in my first blog but wanted to make this practice a bit more accessible to my fellow Tar Heels by highlighting some of my favorite places to soak in some fresh air on or near campus.
I love it here because this option is right on campus, but it doesn’t feel like it. They’ve done an amazing job making it feel like a garden oasis rather than a little block of land on the edge of campus. Once it's warmer out, this is the perfect place to throw down a blanket and have some snacks with friends, do homework, or destress between classes!
A yummy picnic in the Arboretum (shoutout to my sorority!)
Just a short drive from campus, the NC Botanical Gardens is like the Arboretum on steroids. I used to always take my dog on walks here in high school, they have a bunch of nice trails behind the actual gardens. It’s the perfect place to get some steps in or daydream about having a big garden one day.
Town of Chapel Hill Walking Trails
There are quite a few trails in Chapel Hill and I often walk the ones behind the Northside Neighborhood with my roommates on sunny days. While there’s nothing that special about these trails, it is a nice option to have, especially for those who don’t have a car on campus.
About 15-20 minutes from campus,
Jordan Lake has a ton of different activities, from swimming to hiking to kayaking. If you have an adventure bug you need to get out without traveling outside of the local area, this is a great place to do it!
My favorite on this list, the Haw River is my sanctuary. Hanging up my Eno on a tree over the river and listening to the water move can help me feel calm even on the most stressed-out days. Being here reminds me to take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture. The river taught me the importance of playing outside.
This one is somewhat of a hidden
gem. It’s basically a free-standing mountain in Hillsborough, and the view from the top of the hike is gorgeous. It’s a beautiful place to get some fresh air, especially in the fall when all the leaves are turning. Plus, Hillsborough has a charming little downtown, so it can be fun to grab some lunch after a good hike.
This is a super fun place to swim in Durham. The river itself is beautiful to walk along or swim! I’ve also tubed down it before and that was an enjoyable time. Right near the river, there’s a big quarry where you can swim and float around with friends. It’s a great place to hang out on a summer day. Sadly I don't have a good picture of this one :(
Right by campus, there is another Chapel Hill walking trail that leads to a pretty pasture that is the perfect place to have a picnic or watch the sunset. I recommend grabbing a BLT from Merritt’s Grill and taking it to go for a picnic- you won’t regret soaking in a little sun here.
I hope you enjoyed reading about some of the places most special to me in Chapel Hill. If you haven't already, give forest bathing a try, and let me know if you check out any of these places. See ya Wednesday!
Cheers,
Katie Magnolia
