Gay Summer Getaway: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chapel Hill shines in the summer with its welcoming vibe, vibrant culture, and laid-back Southern charm — making it a perfect place to relax, connect, and explore. Start your day with a peaceful walk through the North Carolina Botanical Garden, where native plants and shady trails offer a cool retreat. Then head to Franklin Street to browse indie shops, sip iced coffee, and snap a photo at one of the town’s many murals, including the Greeting from Chapel Hill Postcard on the back of the bar He’s Not Here. The area’s friendly, affirming atmosphere makes it easy to feel at home, whether you're flying solo, with friends, or on a weekend getaway.

As the day heats up, see a star show at the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center on the University of North Carolina campus, or take a quiet stroll through Battle Park, a forested escape right next to UNC’s campus. The university is the oldest public university in the country and its beautiful grounds stay lively in the summer with open green spaces perfect for a picnic or a casual game of frisbee. Nearby, head into the Ackland Art Museum to see  a wide stylistic range of art, from contemporary American photography to European paintings, from video installations to early modern portraits. Finally, a can’t miss stop in the popular Carolina Basketball Museum highlighting a century of  Tar heel hoops.

When the sun starts to dip, head to one of the town’s cozy patios for dinner and drinks. Enjoy local brews and American cuisine at the Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery overlooking Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street or try a locally sourced meal at Lantern, where the menus celebrate the season and there is an outdoor garden patio to gather with friends to enjoy a cocktail. If a burger is what you crave, don’t miss the award-winning Al’s Burger Shack.  End the day on the Southern Village Green for a movie or live music concert each week during the summer months or check out Steel String Brewery for trivia. 

Whether you're here for a quiet retreat or a joyful celebration, Chapel Hill in the summer offers a little bit of everything — all in a community where inclusion is more than just a word. Connect locals and fellow travelers who appreciate Chapel Hill’s progressive spirit.  For more information click visitchapelhill.org or when you are in town drop by the Chapel Hill/Orange County Welcome Center at 308 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill.

Select Summer Events

Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews at 109 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill offering coffee, wine, books and treats, hosts “Queer Reader”, a book club at that aims to provide an affirming and accessible space for LGBTQIA+ readers to come together to discuss queer literature on the last Wednesdays of the month.  June 25, July 30 and August 27.

Uproar Festival of Public Art . Experience sixty bold, high-impact outdoor art installations throughout downtown Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough. Enjoy free Saturday trolley rides from Noon–7 PM, departing from the Chapel Hill/Orange County Welcome Center at 308 W. Franklin Street. Cash prizes awarded by public vote and expert jury. Art on display August 1-23.

Come experience the rare gift that is life on Earth as we celebrate Paperhand’s Puppets 25th year! This year’s summer puppet extravaganza, The Gift, features the magic of giant puppets, masks, stilts, painted cardboard and cloth, illuminated puppets and shadows all set to original live music in a performance for all ages in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater Forest Theatre on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. Weekends August 8 – September 28. 

Photos Courtesy of UNC-Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau