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Town in North Carolina, United States
Photo: Utoddl, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Pittsboro is a town of 4,300 people (2018) near the Haw River in the Research Triangle in North Carolina. The county seat of Chatham County, Pittsboro has a big cat sanctuary as well as a historic district centered around the 19th-century courthouse.
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A big cat sanctuary. Guided tours allow you to see tigers, lions, cougars and other big cats, all rescued from poor treatment and brought to the sanctuary.
A historic courthouse in the middle of downtown Pittsboro, a cute little area with lots of historic buildings. It was built in 1881 and restored after a fire in 2010. It now houses the Chatham Historical Museum.
A small, artsy town just outside Pittsboro next to the Haw River. Keep your eyes out for street art and wooden animal sculptures.
This used to be the main bridge before 15-501 was put in. Now it's a pedestrian bridge covered with lots of interesting graffiti. Nearby there are some walking paths and river beaches.
A 5-mile (8-km) hiking trail through the woods beside the Haw River, with lots of river beaches and other interesting little spots along it. The trailhead is in Bynum.
There's a short hiking trail starting from the Bynum Dam parking lot. It's possible to go kayaking or swimming above the dam, though be careful not to go too close to it. If you swim to the right spot there's a rope swing on a river island. The trail and the river can be muddy after it rains, and watch out for poison ivy.
Breakfast and lunch restaurant that doubles as a bed-and-breakfast.
A meadery (winery that produces honey wines).
This inn (and complementing village of shops) can run heavy on the wallet, but the luxurious experience is more than worth it. Perfect for a romantic weekend getaway.
The last of several local pottery shops that used to be located around here. It's still run by the lady who opened it in 1984—she's friendly and chatty, and the pottery is beautiful. It's mostly porcelain, but she also has stonework, onyx, fossils, and soap.
By bike
Biking is also possible—Pittsboro is about 20 miles (30 km) from Chapel Hill. The most direct route from Chapel Hill is taking 15-501, but that's just a highway.
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