Picnic Areas in Chapel Hill Durham Triangle NC North Carolina

Bolin Creek Trail
	A favorite local picnic spot. Entrances located at Airport Road (just North of the Hillsboro St. intersection) and near Community Center Park on South Estes Drive.
Chapel Hill Community Center Park
	Located at 120 South Estes Drive, (across from the Main Post Office and University Mall; 1 1/2 miles NE of downtown Chapel Hill ). Picnic tables, playground equipment, rose gardens, and more. (919) 968-2790
Duke Gardens
	Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University 426 Anderson St., Duke University, Durham, NC 27708. www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens (919) 684-3698. A wonderful outing for adults and children -- bring a picnic and wear your walking shoes! Described as the "Crown Jewel of Duke University," the Sarah P. Duke Gardens encompass 55 acres in the heart of the University's West Campus, next to Duke University Medical Center. According to the garden's website, the garden is "recognized as one of the premier public gardens in the United States, renowned both for landscape design and the quality of horticulture." The garden also has a Terrace Shop and Terrace Cafe (only open during the warm seasons).
Homestead Park
	From Airport Road, turn west onto Homestead Road, take a right onto Northern Park Drive which leads to Homestead Park (located 3 miles North of downtown Chapel Hill, 2 blocks west of Airport Rd. off Homestead Rd. (919) 929-9031 Homestead Park has picnic tables and benches in the shade. A favorite meeting place for area playgroups, the "Dinosaur Playground" is tucked away in a woodsy area at a good distance from the Homestead parking lot areas. (The trees offer some shady areas in the Summer.) The playground features a friendly dinosaur slide, swings, and an additional large play set with slides, tunnels, and climbing bars. Bathroom facilities are open in the Spring and Summer. The restroom facilities are not open in the Winter (closed from October to May), so plan accordingly if you have little ones!
Poet's Walk - Ayr Mount
	376 St. Mary's Rd., Hillsborough, NC 27278. (919) 732-6886. Ayr Mount historic house (1815) in Hillsborough, NC has beautiful grounds and wonderful (approx. 1 mile) walking trail with views of the Eno River, a pond, and lots of grassy areas. Paper and pencils usually are available in a little wooden information kiosk as you begin your walk; visitors are encouraged to take a little piece of paper and borrow a pencil to write a poem while you are on your visit. (Our kids have written some lovely poems at Poet's Walk - including an pretty poem about Pansies that our little daughter wrote - inspired by the faces of the beautiful pansies in bloom.) Poet's Walk has picnic tables available near the parking lot amid Magnolias, hardwood and pine forests, near the historic Kirkland family cemetery plot surrounded by wrought-iron gate/fences. The Poet's Walk is open year-round Mon.- Fri., 8am - 5pm (until 6pm Mar-Apr. & Sept. - October; until 7 pm May - Aug.) (919) 644-2677.
Umstead Park
	(Located 1 1/2 miles NE of downtown Chapel Hill west of Airport Rd, on Umstead Rd; between Airport Rd. and Estes Drive Extension.) Picnic tables, climbing structures and sand to play in; bridge, stream and path through the woods. Better for older kids because it is not contained/fenced, and the stream is accessible from the play area.
Wilson Park
	Williams St., off North Greensboro St., Carrboro

UNC's Coker Arboretum - UNC Campus
	UNC-Chapel Hill campus (East Cameron Ave at Raleigh St.,Chapel Hill.) (919) 962-0522. Hours: Open daily, dawn to dusk. This beautiful five-acre garden (part of the North Carolina Botanical Garden) contains more than 500 species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Great picnic spots; also enjoy a stroll through the walkway sheltered by a native-vine arbor and the adjacent stone gathering circle.

UNC Campus / Grounds
	Across from McAlister's Deli (205 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. McAlister's has good food to eat in or for take-out, and has inexpensive kids' meal selections. A Chapel Hill favorite!
Eno River State Park, Western Trails, Durham, NC 6101 Cole Mill Rd., Durham, NC
	The Eno River State Park in Durham offers numerous trails both on the eastern and western sides; the Eno River western trails offer some shorter, easier hikes that are a good start if you are hiking with children. The Buckquarter Creek trail takes you along the river, with beautiful views of the river and waterfalls. Kids also love to go river stomping and discover the fish and river life at Few's Ford at the beginning/end of the Buckquarter Creek loop. There are longer hiking trails as well, including the Cole Mountain hike (a 3.5 mile loop) that crosses the river on a pedestrian suspension bridge. The Eno River State Park features picnic areas, and restrooms at the Visitor's Center. From the Eno River Website: "Two picnic areas provide the perfect spot for enjoying a meal in the open air. One of the picnic grounds is located in the Few's Ford access area, adjacent to the parking lot. Few's Ford has 20 picnic sites, 10 of which are handicapped accessible. An accessible water fountain and restrooms are nearby. [You may want to drive to the restrooms/visitor center - it's up the road around the bend from the Fews' Ford parking lot.] A 12-table picnic shelter with a fireplace and grill is also accessible and can be reserved for a fee. The Cole Mill picnic area, nestled in a wooded setting, includes 10 tables and four grills with drinking water and restrooms nearby. A group picnic area includes three tables and grill. Cole Mill also has a wheelchair-accessible picnic shelter with eight tables and a grill. The shelter may be reserved for a modest fee."
West Point on the Eno Park (a little further afield, in Durham)
	5101 N. Roxboro Rd. (US Hwy 501 North), Durham. (919) 471-1623 This beautiful park is a great setting for a picnic along the river, and is the home of the wonderful Annual Eno River Festival in early July. The park includes three historic buildings. Be sure to visit the West Point Mill (which you can view in operation, powered by the river, turning wheat into flour, and corn into cornmeal.. You can purchase the flour, cornmeal and grits produced at the Mill!) Also see the McCown-Mangum House at West Point, and the Packhouse & Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography. Open daily, year-round, from 8 a.m. - sundown. From the website: "This 388-acre park is located along a two-mile stretch of the scenic Eno River, six miles north of downtown Durham. You can enjoy a leisurely picnic and stroll around the grounds, or take a hike through the woods on one of the park trails. Feel free to bring your canoe or kayak and experience the beauty of the Eno River." PICNIC SHELTERS: From the website: "West Point on the Eno Durham City Park has numerous grills and tables in locations available for free on a first-come basis throughout their 400+ acres. In addition there are two covered picnic shelters. The large shelter accomodates up to 75 people and features restrooms, a grill and electricity. The small shelter hosts up to 40 people and has a grill and drinking fountain nearby. These shelters must be reserved; for rental fees and availability call the City of Durham Parks and Rec. Department at (919) 560-4358."