If you’re looking for the ultimate fall getaway in North Carolina’s Triangle Region, make room on your list for Durham, and in particular, for our top-rated Durham Bed and Breakfast. While you’re here, you’ll enjoy a broad range of things to do in Durham, NC, including visiting places like the Mystic Distillery. Located just minutes outside downtown Durham, Mystic Distillery is one of those rare places where craftsmanship, hospitality, and storytelling come together in an experience that feels authentic and personal.Â
Officially known as Mystic Farm and Distillery, this place is not your average distillery experience. It’s where bourbon meets botanical, and where a commitment to grain-to-glass distilling is taken seriously. Their expansive farm setting feels like an experience in itself, surrounded by trees and dotted with charming outdoor gathering spots. While you’ll certainly have the chance to sample award-winning bourbon, gin, and liqueurs made on-site, this unique farm offers a full-sensory experience that stays with you.Â
With regular events ranging from cocktail classes to local music nights, the Mystic Distillery is one of the most elevated yet approachable ways to enjoy an afternoon or evening in Durham. Of course, there are far more things to do in Durham NC for adults. Head to Durham Distillery downtown for a more urban tasting experience and sample their award-winning Conniption gin. Don’t skip the local speakeasies either, like Kingfisher or Alley Twenty Six. Grab a seasonal flight at Ponysaurus Brewing, catch the latest exhibits at the Nasher Museum of Art, or browse the incredible selection of local boutiques around town.
There are endless things to do in Durham, and even more experiences waiting for you around the Triangle. To complete your retreat, book a few nights at Arrowhead Inn. Tucked away just north of downtown Durham, this historic Bed and Breakfast offers a quiet home base with luxury rooms and garden views that make it hard to leave. Gourmet breakfasts, spacious suites, and easy access to all the best things to do in Durham mean you can balance your weekend with just the right amount of relaxation and exploration. Book your stay at our Durham Bed and Breakfast today!
Tours & Tastings at Mystic Distillery in Durham, NC
The Mystic Distillery, located just outside Durham, NC, is the Triangle’s only farm distillery. Founded in 2013 by two friends who began by blending bourbon with wildflower honey and a nine-spice tea, they expanded in 2015 by purchasing a 22-acre farm to build the first post-Prohibition-era bourbon distillery in the Triangle. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in their line of spirits and their daily operations. Mystic Distillery is the world’s largest solar-powered bourbon distillery, their grain is grown onsite, and they have a zero-waste production process.Â
But as incredible as those statistics are, what really shines at the Mystic Farm and Distillery in Durham are their small-batch spirits, including their award-winning Broken Oak Bourbon. This Mystic Distillery Bourbon won Best Small Batch Bourbon under 5 years at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in both 2023 and 2024. Other offerings include Heart of Mystic, a straight bourbon whiskey, and Mystic Bourbon Liqueur, a blend of mature bourbon, wildflower honey, and spices. Their commitment to quality is evident in their grain-to-glass approach.
Mystic Distillery offers free tastings of their products every day they are open, and they regularly host fun and lively public events, ranging from cocktail classes and immersive bourbon experiences to live music and dancing classes. We also recommend you take a tour of Mystic Distillery. The standard guided tour, available on weekends, offers a one-hour experience that includes a walkthrough of the production process, tastings of aging spirits, and a cocktail.
For a more immersive experience, the Single Barrel Experience allows guests to create their own barrel of bourbon and participate in the mashing and distilling process. This tour also offers a unique opportunity to return year after year and sample the maturing spirit. This five-hour experience includes lunch, a tasting snifter, and a bottle of unaged spirit. It’s truly one of the most unique things to do in Durham, NC, for adults.Â
More Things to Do in Durham NC For Adults
Durham has an easy kind of charm that makes it perfect for a couple’s escape. It’s small enough to explore at your own pace but full of flavor, creativity, and surprises that make a trip here feel special. Whether you’re sipping bourbon at Mystic Distillery Durham, diving into world-class cuisine, or hunting down your next favorite jazz spot, Durham offers something for everyone.
The city strikes a rare balance when it comes to couples’ getaways. It’s elevated but not flashy, cultured but unpretentious, and deeply connected to its history while always looking forward. Durham’s unique identity is evident in everything from the converted tobacco warehouses downtown to the indie coffee shops and rooftop bars scattered throughout the city. Whether you’re planning to kick back with a cocktail or stroll hand-in-hand through art galleries and botanical gardens, Durham gives you options that feel thoughtful and local.Â
Here’s a list of the best things to do in Durham NC for adults, all perfect for crafting a getaway with personality.
- If you love your time at Mystic Distillery, don’t miss a visit to Durham Distillery. Located downtown, this award-winning gin distillery is home to Conniption Gin and the speakeasy-style Conniption Bar & Lounger (formerly the Corpse Reviver Bar), which offers some of the most interesting cocktails in the city.
- If you’re more of a beer drinker, you won’t be disappointed. Head to Ponysaurus Brewing Co., which offers a rooftop patio and a beer garden, great for relaxing afternoons with flights, friends, and food trucks.
- Sipping cocktails on a rooftop is one of our favorite things to do in Durham, NC for adults, and a great place to do that is The Roof at the Durham. Catch a view of the skyline with craft cocktails, raw oysters, and small plates. Their rooftop lounge often features live music or DJs, especially on weekend nights.
- Drinks aside, there are plenty more things to do in Durham, NC, for adults. Head to DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center), where you’ll enjoy everything from Broadway shows to comedy tours and major music acts. DPAC offers a stylish night out with serious cultural cred. Dress up, grab dinner downtown, and make it a full evening.
- Don’t miss the latest exhibits at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Admission is free, and the architecture alone makes the visit worthwhile.
- If you need to stretch your legs, head to Eno River State Park, where you can hike along the trails at Eno River. You’ll find quiet spots for a picnic or just a peaceful break from city life.
- There are plenty of great restaurants in Durham, but don’t miss Taste Carolina Food Tours or Triangle Food Tours. It’s a great way to skip the planning and let someone else show you the best eats in town. These curated walking tours highlight Durham’s culinary strengths and give you insider access to local favorites.
- Don’t miss the scenic Sarah P. Duke Gardens, located on Duke’s campus, where you’ll find the iconic red arched bridge in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum.
We’ve barely scratched the surface of things to do in Durham NC for adults, but we want to leave you with plenty of time to relax and enjoy the guest experience at our Durham Bed and Breakfast. There’s no other lodging in the Triangle quite like ours, but we’ll leave it for you to experience for yourself. Plan your next couples getaway, and book a stay at our Bed and Breakfast in Durham, NC, today!
