| Weather and Climate
North Carolina is made up of 3 sections: Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal plains. Durham is located in the Piedmont, the heart of North Carolina which makes it relatively equidistance to the adventures of both the beach and the mountains. Durham has majestic pine trees everywhere that help keep the city green all year round as well as a smattering of hardwoods that allow for the joy of spring and fall colors. The temperature is typically mild year round. We start the year in the 30s with the occasional dusting of snow, followed by a breezy spring in the 60s, a warm, humid summer in the 90s, all ending with a climatic fall with the beautiful colors of the trees and temperatures in the 80s.
 
Housing
Durham has a wide range of housing options from apartments to townhomes to single family houses and duplexes. Most students choose to live close to campus in an apartment that is within walking distance to campus, yet it always an option to live further out in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Raleigh, or Cary and commute in to class.
Cultural Events
Dance
- American Dance Festival: Dancers from around the world come to participate in dance workshops and a series of performances over the course of 6 weeks in June and July at Duke. In the past ADF has hosted performances by companies such as Paul Taylor, Alvin Ailey, Pilobolus, and many more.
- Carolina Ballet: A professional dance company located in Raleigh
Festivals
- Apple Chill/Festafall
- Taste of Durham
Museums/Galleries
- NC Museum of Art
- Museum of Life and Science
- NCCU Art Museum
- Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
- Rosenzweig Gallery
Music
- RBC Center
- Walnut Creek Amphitheater
- Regency Park Amphitheater:
Theatre
- North Carolina Theatre: They have comedies, dramas, operas and musicals.
- Carolina Theater: Which shows an eclectic mix of films and hosts the Annual NC Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- Common Ground Theatre
- Page Auditorium
- Manbites Dog Theater Company
Sports
Besides the intense rivalry of the local University’s (Duke, UNC-CH, NC State, Wake Forest and East Carolina University) North Carolina also has professional Ice Hockey, Basketball, and Football as well as some minor league baseball.
- Carolina Hurricanes: Ice Hockey
- Durham Bulls: AAA Minor League baseball team; Tampa Bay Devil Rays farm team
- Carolina Panthers (Professional football in Charlotte, NC)
Eateries/Hangouts
As in any city we have a variety of restaurants to fit a variety of budgets. You will find Mexican, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, southern, vegetarian, and American cuisine to name a few.
Religious Life
On campus there are several religious groups to join. A comprehensive list can be found at http://www.chapel.duke.edu/chapel/life/religious/ministries.aspx . The area is also rich in temples, mosques and churches.
Moving
As mentioned previously Durham has a wide range of housing locations and prices. It is highly recommended that students visit the site prior to signing a rental agreement to get a good sense of the neighborhood and its proximity to the university (everyone advertises being close to the University so take a look and decide for yourself what close means). Students may consider networking with fellow classmates or second year students to try to arrange for roommates.
Students with Children
Daycare/Preschool: NC rates these facilities with stars and then furthermore some schools receive NAEYC Accreditation. It is important to keep this in mind while seeking a facility. Child Care Services Association is an excellent resource http://www.childcareservices.org. This website will give you contact information, location, cost, star grading and will let you see any reports that have been filed against the facility. There are not many avenues to help with the cost of child care for graduate students, but there is a graduate student support group for parents and there is a free program for 4 year olds called More at Four that must be applied for through the Department of Family Services in Durham.
Public school: Durham gives parents the choice between regular calendar school, year round school, and magnet school’s depending on what best fits the needs of your child.
Durham Public Schools http://www.dpsnc.net
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools http://www.chccs.k12.nc.us
Orange County Schools http://www.orange.k12.nc.us
NC School Report Cards http://www.ncreportcards.org
NC Public Schools http://www.ncpublicschools.org
North Carolina Association of Independent Schools http://www.ncais.org
North Carolina Charter Schools http://www.ncpublicschools.org/charter_schools/ |
