<p>things to do/see while there in order to give her the best glimpse into what it would be like to attend school there. Also visiting Duke and Wake that weekend, so also would appreciate any answers to same question for those. Thanks!</p>
<p>Although she will eat at the restaurants on Franklin Street often if she goes to UNC, I think taking a walk up and down Franklin Street near campus is a great way to see what is there. I’ve visited the area and I love the Mediterranean Deli on Franklin. It’s casual and has so many items to choose from. For an upscale restaurant, Top of the Hill is noteworthy. </p>
<p>I agree with the poster who commented on the Duke thread that spending time on campus and eating on campus is a good way to get a feel for the culture. Chapel Hill feels like a college town wheras Durham is more urban. The closest mall is a few miles away at Southpoint Mall, which has the usual stores and movie theatre as well as good restaurants nearby. </p>
<p>The Carolina Inn is a hotel on campus. It is very beautiful and historic. It is expensive which may preclude staying there ( if not, then you should) but worth seeing inside. </p>
<p>Carboro, nearby, to me has a trendy feel. Many students live off campus in apartments there. All three campuses: Duke, UNC, Wake, are nice, and all are excellent academically, so it would be about where she feels she fits, and other factors like cost that would determine what she chooses. </p>
<p>For slightly upscale dining, 411 West and Crooks Corner. There are many other restaurants as well along Franklin Street. There’s also Elmo’s in Carrboro and Breadmen’s in Chapel Hill for breakfast. Cafe Driade is a nice tucked away coffee place in Chapel Hill. For lunch, try a side trip to Foster’s Market in Durham.</p>
<p>The Sothern Rail restaurant in Carborro. The restaurant is a train. Really good food. Ate there with my son when we visited Chapel Hill in the spring. Highly recommend.</p>
<p>Top of the Hill is a restaurant at the corner of Franklin and Columbia. Columbia is the street that runs into the campus from Franklin. Good food. The view is wonderful and if the weather is nice, sit outside. Kids call it “toppo”. We loved the Italian food at Vespa. Nice dinner spot. Tallula’s … Turkish food - so very good, probably our favorite. Acme is down the road a bit - toward Carborro … but really nice menu and good food. Park in the back. The Med Deli is a good lunch choice. The Lantern is also nice, expensive, Asian cuisine, but good. </p>
<p>Carolina is nice, good location, expensive. I would only stay there for game days or parents weekend. The New Hampton on West Franklin is very nice and there is a restaurant right there we ate out as well - bar/ food, but good. There is also an A Loft on the other side of the campus - if your student goes there and is on south campus this is a good choice. </p>
<p>One thing - I had one son go to UNC … and the second to NC State. When we were doing a college visit with my youngest - we were doing UNC, Duke, Wake …and decided to add in State. We are glad we did. Wonderful school. If your daughter is even thinking about engineering - you should at NC State in Raleigh to your list. We are OOS as well.</p>