Once the home of the American Tobacco Company for which it is named, The American Tobacco Campus is now a flourishing urban center known for its restaurants, shops, art galleries, and theaters. The district consists of 17 restored historic structures built between 1874 and the 1950s, some in Italianate, Romanesque Revival, and Art Moderne styles. A marvel of urban renewal, the district is a pleasure to simply walk through.

Once the center of Durham's famously successful tobacco industry, Brightleaf Square is housed in two large early 20th-century brick warehouses. Stroll the original cobblestone walks and enjoy the flower-filled courtyard that separates the two buildings. Inside you'll find high-end specialty shops catering to young Durham professionals. Check out the latest men's fashions at B. Hyman and Company, browse the wares at Horizon Gallery and hunt for that perfect accent piece at James Kennedy Antiques, Ltd.

9th Street, with its striped awnings and shady sidewalks, hearkens back to the days when things moved more slowly and people watching at an outdoor cafe was a favorite pastime. Billing itself as "Durham's alternative shopping district," 9th Street is located in historic Old West Durham, two blocks from Duke University's East Campus. Park the car and window-shop past clothing and jewelry stores, browse the books at Regulator Bookshop and Java Café, and then pull up a stool at MacDonald's Drug Store, a 1916-style shop with an old-fashioned soda fountain.