Chapel Hill is a vibrant college town with lots of southern charm and plenty of things to see and do. Franklin Street, near the UNC campus, is lined with boutiques, bars, restaurants, and music venues. You’ll also find museums like the Ackland Art Museum and the Carolina Basketball Museum, a planetarium, golf courses, and more.
If you’re planning to move into one of the Chapel Hill apartments or simply planning a visit and want to take advantage of fun fall activities, there’s plenty on offer for that too.
Take the Coker Arboretum Tour at North Carolina Botanical Garden
The North Carolina Botanical Garden is enjoyable to stroll through. Located on the UNC Campus, it’s spread over more than a thousand acres with native plant areas, curated gardens, and picturesque walking trails.
In autumn, you can see it bursting with fall color on an approximately one-hour walking tour that takes place on the third Saturday of the month through November.
Cheer on the Tar Heels
Fall equals football season which means you can catch a Tar Heels game, cheering on the team with the locals when they’re playing at home on the UNC campus through late November. Or, head to one of the many bars in town to watch an away game.
Top of the Hill is the city’s social crossroads and a great place to watch while enjoying a tasty brew and good food although just about any bar along Franklin Street will have multiple TVs for watching the game indoors or out.
Festifall Arts Market
Hosted by the Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture on the last three Saturday evenings in October, the Festifall Arts Market is an annual arts festival with a focus on fall.
It includes downtown block parties with artisans, craftspeople, and a variety of other artists along with gourmet food and drinks vendors.
Watch a Movie with Goats
You’ve probably heard about goat yoga by now, but the goat craze has expanded to include Movies with Goats. Hosted at Spring Haven Farm, you can watch a film on a giant outdoor screen with goats roaming around you in the farm’s pasture.
They’ll be with you throughout the entire movie. You can bring your own snacks and it’s also possible to pick up food to feed the goats at the concession stand.
Pumpkin Picking and Other Popular Fall Festivities at Huckleberry Trail Farm
Just a short drive from Chapel Hill between Siler City and Pittsboro, Huckleberry Trail Farm offers a picturesque escape from the city that’s perfect for a fall afternoon.
Throughout the month of October, the farm holds a fall festival that includes a pumpkin patch for picking your own pumpkins, a corn maze, tractor hayride, games, and a mini-maze for the little ones.
Take Advantage of the Fall Foliage Photo-Ops
In addition to the botanical garden, there are many places to capture photos of the fall color. The Johnston Mill Nature Preserve is just 10 minutes north of the center of town and offers striking natural beauty with trees that are more than 150 years old.
Less than a 20-minute drive away is the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area which has hiking trails for enjoying the autumn views and opportunities to picnic next to the Eno River under the oaks.