Area Attractions

Chapel Ridge is ideally located just minutes from exhaustive shopping, dining, and entertainment options, not only in Pittsboro, but in the surrounding communities, as well. Explore the local amenities within easy reach!

 

Pittsboro ~ 11 min drive

Pittsboro is an upcoming community centered around a distinct and vibrant downtown and with new developments bringing in the new dining and shopping opportunities to this previously rural area.  

Shopping

  • Downtown Pittsboro – Pittsboro is a small historic town with all the needed amenities. In the historic downtown, you will find a wide assortment of eclectic shops and eateries including: antique shops, barber shops, artisan shops, book stores, several coffee shops, a bakery, old-time soda shop, restaurants and more. In addition, Pittsboro provides all the conveniences needed including several grocery stores (even its own food co-op), pharmacy, banks and more. This historical town even features one of the nation’s oldest center courthouses, built in 1881.
  • Fearrington Village Center – “Boutique shopping with a whimsical flair”. Aptly described by the center website, this full-service community boasts: a book store, designer clothing, multiple restaurant options, farmers market and a spa boutique all tucked into an idyllic working farm setting.

Dining

  • Oakleaf –Oakleaf specializes in seasonal, progressive cuisine with French and Italian influences and small production wines in an historic, stylish setting. This sophisticated farm to table restaurant is found within the Pittsboro historic Chatham Mills property, a repurposed silk mill hosting shops, a local food co-op and local mead producer.
  • Fearrington House Restaurant– The Fearrington House restaurant is the only AAA Five Diamond and Frobes Five- star restaurant in the US to be Green certified. The restaurant located between Pittsboro and Chapel Hill, welcomes diners with a seasonal menu of farm to fork cuisine that celebrates North Carolina’s four season agricultural offerings. The menu is complimented by a local and extensive beverage program.

Entertainment  

  • Chatham County Museum – This museum focused on the history of Chatham county and its residents is found inside the stately Chatham County Courthouse, originally built in 1881. In addition to roving exhibits there are permanent presentations on the rich social, agricultural, military and industrial history of the area.
  • Carolina Tiger Rescue – A rescue, advocacy and educational center in Pittsboro focused on wild cat conservation. Carolina Tiger Rescue’s mission is saving and protecting wild cats in captivity and in the wild. Their location in Pittsboro provides educational exhibits as well as public and private guided tours of rescued wild cat species.

Siler City ~ 24 min drive

Siler City is a farming based community that caters to the rural artist as well. You will find all your banking, grocery and lawn and garden items as well as the closest Wal-Mart, in this small town. In addition, Siler City boasts antiquing opportunities, artist co-ops and local restaurants.

Shopping

  • Farmers’ Alliance Store - A general merchandise store that opened in 1888 and is still in business today, the Farmers’ Alliance Store has been in business longer than any other establishment in Siler City. Find all your gardening needs–Wyatt-Quarles seeds in packs and by bulk, gardening tools and clothing (all sizes of overalls and jeans), western wear, beekeeping supplies and plants.

Dining

  • Courtyard Coffee and Soda Café – Full coffee shop offerings with fresh bakery items. Coffee beans are from Joe Van Gogh Roasters in Hillsborough, freshly roasted weekly. Also offering coffee beans by the pound, ordered weekly. Also has an outdoor Courtyard music on the Courtyard stage every Third Friday, and some Fridays and Saturdays in between during warm weather seasons.
    • Ongoing events here and the monthly Third Friday ArtWalk and Music Series is among the popular ones taking place on the Courtyard!
  • Johnsons Drive In – A stop in most NC guidebooks and touted as the best burger in NC! Great small old fashioned burger place. Get there early as they make food fresh each day and close when they run out!
  • Pickle Jar Café and Catering – Located in Silk Hope, a small hamlet outside of Siler City, The Pickle Jar Cafe and Catering is located in the heart of Silk Hope, NC. They specialize in fresh, local ingredients and made from scratch recipes while supporting local farmers.
  • Peppercorn -- A new restaurant, bar, bakery offering seasonal, local, fresh, creative food and a beautiful venue for the special events in your life, in downtown Siler City.
  • Dry Dock Seafood Restaurant -- A seafood staple in town. Boasts a fine example of fried and fresh seafood. 

Entertainment  

  • Silk Hope Winery – The Silk Hope winery is in rural Chatham County, in the hamlet of Silk Hope. The 2-1/2 acre winery is a small, family-owned winery in the heart of North Carolina’s Haw River Valley wine region.  At just over 700 feet in elevation, their grounds offer scenic views and a prime location for gorgeous tours and tasting of award-winning wines.

Carrboro and Chapel Hill ~ 25 to 30 min drive

The first stop heading into the Chapel Hill from the country is the trendy artsy community of Carrboro. Carrboro boasts local shops, groceries, bars and an assortment of amenities. The historic town of Chapel Hill is host to the University of North Carolina’s main campus and has vibrant downtown and world class medical facilities.

Shopping

Dining

  • Il Palio Ristorante – As a AAA Four Diamond Italian Restaurant, Chapel Hill’s II Palio combines seasonal North Carolina ingredients with Italian cooking and hospitality. They craft their own pasta in house and as a winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, Il Palio features wine from Italy’s 20 regions and vintifications produced in every corner of the Italian Peninsula.
  • Crossroads at the Carolina Inn –
    • Crossroads is a newly renovated space within the historic Carolina Inn that focuses on authentic Carolina cuisine with regionally sourced ingredients, handcrafted cocktails and exemplary service in a luxurious yet relaxed restaurant atmosphere.
    • http://www.carolinainn.com/crossroadschapelhill/

Entertainment  

  • Ackland Art Museum – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s premier art museum. With a permanent collection of more than 18,000 works of art the museum features North Carolina’s premier collections of Asian art and works of paper art (drawings, prints, and photographs), as well as significant collections of European masterworks, twentieth-century and contemporary art, and North Carolina pottery.
  • Morehead Planetarium and Science Center – Owned and operated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the Morehead Building houses the GSK Fulldome Theater, as well as the Science Stage, exhibits, Morehead classrooms, UNC Morehead Observatory as well as a large iconic sundial. The planetarium and science center hosts a myriad of science programs for all ages. 
  • NC Botanical Gardens – The North Carolina Botanical Gardens are a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are comprised of over 1,000 acres at 10 sites in the NC Piedmont. Their main display garden and educational center is in Chapel Hill and offers year-round hiking and plant displays as well as an educational center and gift shop. The gardens host a variety of workshops, educational exhibits and other events throughout the year.

  

Durham ~ 45 min drive

Durham is the next stop in what is known as “the triangle” – the collective name for Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. Durham is host to Duke University and is a community on a restorative mission. Old tobacco and textile mills are being given a new focus as restaurants, breweries, upscale event centers and condos, etc.  This makes for a fun and vibrant local community to enjoy!

Shopping

Dining

Entertainment  

  • Museum of Life and Science – This interactive 84-acre science park, is conveniently located less than 5 miles from downtown Durham and features a two-story science center, one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast and beautifully landscaped outdoor exhibits. These exhibits are safe havens for rescued black bears, lemurs, endangered red wolves or anyone of another 60 species of live animals.
  • Durham Performing Arts Complex – The iconic DPAC, located in Durham, is North Carolina’s center for live entertainment.  As the #4 ranked theater in the country, DPAC hosts over 200 performances a year including spectacular touring Broadway productions, high-profile concert and comedy events, family shows and the heralded American Dance Festival.

 

Raleigh ~ 50 min drive

Raleigh is the furthest point in the triangle Raleigh but as the state capital and home to North Carolina State University it has a wealth of shopping, dining and entertainment options. Way too numerous to mention, below is a sampling!

Shopping

Dining

Entertainment  

  • Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts – Located in Raleigh the center is host to a plethora of venues including: Memorial Auditorium- a 1930’s theater for a wide display of artists and performers, A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater-  the 600 seat epicenter for opera and dance in North Carolina, Meymandi Concert Hall- the 1700 seat venue that is home to the North Carolina Symphony, and the new 170 seat universal Kennedy Theater.
  • NC State Fairgrounds – In addition to the two-week NC State Fair affair, the fairground, based in Raleigh, hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year. Check out the events calendar to find a show, workshop or festival that fits your interests.

Chatham, Orange and Wake County Sights ~

  • Jordan Lake Educational State Forest – Jordan Lake Educational State Forest is a 900-acre North Carolina State Forest near Apex. Nestled adjacent to the over 46,768 acre Jordan Lake this forest showcases a wide variety of pines and hardwoods found in a wetland ecosystem. It is also home the famed talking tree trail, a scenic .5-mile trail that provides buttons on wooden posts for recordings about various trees that you're seeing along the way.