The Best Hotels and B&Bs to Book Near Durham Bulls Athletic Park, North Carolina

Some might say baseball is an art, but for aficionados of the more traditional mediums (painting, photography, sculpture and so on), this hotel-cum-art museum should be a home run. Upstairs, cool and contemporary rooms, dressed in a soothing palette of greys and creams, provide a calming contrast to the varied and stimulating exhibits in the museum below. Encompassing all of this is the building itself, a bold block of art deco design – this is one for the aesthetes among you.

We’re not sure what we love most about the rooms at the Durham Hotel. Maybe it’s the complimentary Burt’s Bees gift on the nightstand, the curated snack tray with Tar Heel treats, or the Counter Culture Coffee ready to be poured. That said, it could just as easily be the rooftop bar and restaurant, with an open-air terrace boasting panoramic views of Downtown Durham – but, then, that would be neglecting the artfully elegant suites, with their bold color-blocking decor. We give up – you better choose.

There are few places in Durham better for an impromptu getaway with friends than Unscripted. Even an act as simple as grabbing a drink is a choose-your-own-adventure-style endeavor. Will you sip fruity and fizzy cocktails at the rooftop Patio, fill up on classic cocktails and light bites at the Studio or dive into beers from far and wide at Pour Taproom? Or, for a change of scene, fuel up with caffeine at the allday coffee bar, and venture into Durham’s bar scene.

Where better to stay in the Research Triangle than in the center of its hypotenuse? It is equidistant from downtown Chapel Hill and Durham, so the maths is easy – especially when you throw in the smashing complimentary breakfast. Dozens of nearby stores provide hours of retail therapy as you decide on which Triangle city to explore first. Head west for an out-of-this-world visit to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill, or head east, and eat your way through the Durham Food Hall.

You’ll never miss a moment of the game at Aloft. A line-drive away from Durham Bulls Athletic Park, this hip Bull City hotel is right in the center of the hip American Tobacco Historic District. Sneak in a midday nap in your loft suite before grabbing a local brew at WXYZ Lounge and heading out into the evening – for bars and boutique shopping. Prefer a night in? The pool and the pool table at Aloft are calling your name.

Worried you won’t have time to discover Downtown Durham while on a work trip? Fret not – Marriott City Center can help you. As it’s attached to the Durham Convention Center, you won’t have trouble mixing pleasure into your itinerary while keeping business firmly in place. All rooms have their own dedicated workstations, and the Table South Kitchen & Bar downstairs will gladly send your dinner up if you have to work late. Nightcaps at the M Club Lounge are a must on weeknights, but, on the weekend, take off the tie, and greet Downtown Durham right outside your door.

You can leave your car parked at Morehead Manor Bed & Breakfast, as it’s just a 10-minute walk to Durham Bulls Athletic Park and another five to Downtown. After a day at the ballgame, you can look forward to a long and luxurious sleep. As there will be no children under 12 spending the night, you’ll notice that the halls are extra quiet, allowing you to sprawl out in peace on the king-size wooden canopy bed in the Magnolia Room.

With North Carolina barbecue and Duke University dominating the Durham discourse, Millennium wants to remind you about another Tar Heel State staple: the great outdoors. Your spacious deluxe room is just on the edge of the Duke Forest, with hiking trails accessible right across the street. After a long walk absorbing the beauty of Durham, taste its bounty back at the hotel’s Bel Gusto restaurant, where farmers market vegetable panini and housemade pizza will refuel you.