Things to Do in Durham

There are numerous times in life when it’s not appropriate to storm off to the mountains for adventure and stress relief. Work, family, and co-dependent penguins often keep us committed to life in one place. The climbing center at Vertical Edge provides all the challenge and fun of actual mountain climbing without the distance and dangers of a real rockface. Under the skilled tutelage of trained instructors, you'll get a lesson on basic climbing techniques, including the fine art of belaying another climber (to avoid such accidents as witnessed on playgrounds when itinerant sumo wrestlers attempt to see-saw with toddlers). After your lesson, you can stick around the massive facility and belay or climb for as long as your want, then return for any full additional day with equipment and admission included. With over 8,500 square feet of climbable surfaces to choose from, including a bouldering cave and 20 leadable routes, there’s no shortage of learning opportunities available.

Buffaloe Lanes facilitates retro entertainment by offering open bowling, leagues for all ages, and arcade games. Each lane boasts bumper capabilities, which makes games easier for younger bowlers or those with oval-shaped bowling balls. Bowlers can also host parties at Buffaloe Lanes, during which groups gather in one of the private rooms to unwrap presents and sing to cakes before eating them. The smoke-free and alcohol-free facilities also host snack bars with soft drinks and concessions.

Arthur Murray has been a leading name in franchise dance since 1912, when the entrepreneur began selling mail-order dance lessons. Expanding his reach, he enlisted teachers to spread his signature dance lessons on first-class steamships and skyrocketed to fame in the '30s after introducing the public to such dances as the Lambeth Walk and The Big Apple. By the 1950s, Arthur and his wife, Kathryn, were hosting their own highly popular TV show on ABC, The Arthur Murray Dance Party, which ran for 12 years. Today, Arthur Murray's team prepares students for rug cutting at special events and weekend nightclub jaunts. Throughout lessons, instructors teach the foundations of two to four dances from a long list of styles that range from Latin to country-western, helping students to learn basic step patterns, timing, and the ability to lead or follow.

Attractions such as miniature golf, batting cages, and laser tag make Adventure Landing an ideal location for getting in fun, interactive family time. Whether the kids opt for a heart-accelerating whip around the go-kart track or a few swings of the bat, the fun center gives families every excuse to band together or square off against one another in friendly competition. School, church, and corporate outings are available as well, giving groups of all ages a place to gather, nosh on pizza, and create complex victory dances.

A Franklin Street icon, the recently renovated Varsity Theatre has entertained audiences and cineastes for more than 50 years with screenings of current blockbusters, cult flicks, indie films, and classics. A vintage marquee beckons audiences to file into comfy seats as 35mm and digital projectors project movies onto screens. Along with regularly scheduled showings, The Varsity also holds special events such as film forums, dinner-and-movie specials, or interviews with John Wayne's neckerchief. Groups can rent out the theaters for birthday parties, corporate functions, or special events, with multiple media services and catering options available.

Students of all ages and skill levels hone English or Western riding skills in White Briar Farms' diverse riding spaces, which include an indoor arena, a well-lit outdoor arena, and a network of trails. Each student's journey takes shape with the farm's customizable lesson plans and covers topics from basic warm-up techniques to the nuances of specialty styles. Lessons are stratified into three levels, with options for a variety of needs, including toddler riders with a chaperone and equestrians seeking a theoretical foundation in riding before saddling up. The farm's fleet ranges from colts to adult horses, and when they have time off from lessons, they take jaunts in the two turn-out paddocks and graze in a 10-acre pasture, complete with a pond where they can take a dip to feel the weightless freedom of a seahorse.