Due South: What’s New in Durham

Plus: First looks at restaurants in New Orleans and Lexington

PHOTO: COURTESY OF DISCOVER DURHAM

It wasn’t long ago that for many visitors to North Carolina’s Triangle, Durham was simply a pass-through between Chapel Hill, the quaint college town, and Raleigh, the more urban capital. Not anymore. Today Durham boasts a diverse culinary scene (including sticky-bun favorite Lutra Café & Bakery and Ricky Moore’s celebrated Saltbox Seafood Joint), a bold documentary film festival, and of course, the famed minor-league Bulls.

GIVE BACK TO ASHEVILLE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: The heart of Western North Carolina has long been its artists, musicians, storytellers, chefs, and brewers. But after Hurricane Helene, this vibrant community needs support to recover. Here’s a simple way to help while tackling your holiday shopping: Shop Love Asheville From Afar. This initiative from Explore Asheville showcases products from local businesses on one convenient platform, making it easy to shop small, give back, and make a difference this holiday season. Shop Love Asheville From Afar.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. When autumn arrived, my family did everything we could to take it all in: raked enormous leaf piles, admired our home-grown pumpkins, and made batches of butternut squash soup. And then, for a full-body leaf-crunching adventure, we piled into the old family Subaru and headed to Harpers Ferry.

Inn good company: Everyone else had the same idea, and we nearly had to rethink our visit when inn after inn came up booked. That is, until I stumbled upon Hillbrook Inn & Spa in nearby Charles Town. The kind staff managed to squeeze us in, and what a lucky score. This gorgeous five-building estate has cozy rooms and an exceptional kitchen. After a breakfast of eggs Benedict, French toast, and possibly the best avocado toast I’ve ever eaten, we were ready to climb Maryland Heights.
Ain’t no mountain high: If you haven’t visited Harpers Ferry, it’s essential to know that it lies at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, a place of such remarkable beauty that Thomas Jefferson called it “worth a voyage across the Atlantic.” I have to agree, especially now that I’ve summited its most famous peak. We joined hundreds of adventurers up the Maryland Heights Trail and lemme tell you, nothing humbles a hiker like seeing a group of Mennonite women, in bonnets and skirts, lap you on the way up and back down a mountain. I may have broken a sweat, but reaching the top was worth it.
Ales and tales: Afterward, we rewarded ourselves with a pint (and a lemonade for our son). We strolled through the village, which forms part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and found a patio seat at the Coach House Bar & Grill. Over two Mountain State Trail Pale Ales, my husband—a high school American history teacher—shared stories of Harpers Ferry’s pivotal moments. After his lesson I figured we’d reached “class dismissed,” but upon departing the restaurant we came upon a cider press demonstration. Naturally, my son volunteered to make some juice. We’re autumn obsessives, after all.