Start this adventure at Historic Stagville (http://www.nchistoricsites.org/stagville/stagville.htm), once one of the largest plantations in the South. This site explores both the stories of the plantation owners and the lives led by its enslaved people. At one point, the family owned almost 900 slaves and 30,000 acres of land. Visitors can see the fingerprints of slaves on the bricks of their family homes.

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In December 2007, TLC acquired 92 acres that were added to the Stagville State Historic Site. In addition to their historical significance, the tracts protect high quality streams at the headwaters of Falls Lake. This project is part of a larger conservation initiative in northern Durham, where TLC to date has conserved more than 1,350 acres with multiple landowners. Much of this conservation is on the Flat and Little rivers just before they drain into Falls Lake, the drinking water resource for more than 300,000 people in the region.

While at Stagville, take time to tour the late 18th-century Bennehan family plantation home, the two-story enslaved family dwellings, a pre-Revolutionary War yeoman farmer’s home and the massive timber framed Great Barn.

Now let’s swing through downtown Durham for some local fare. TLC protects farmland to ensure this land is available to grow food locally for generations to come. For this adventure, we’ve scouted out some of the very best restaurants proudly serving food grown right in our own backyard.

Saladelia’s selection of fresh ingredients and scrumptious desserts is a refreshing change from your ordinary dining experience. This is a retreat where you can relax and enjoy a meal designed to wake up your taste buds.

Toast is an authentic Italian sandwich shop serving up the best panini and crostini in the area. Their vision is inspired by the Italian tradition of simple cooking using seasonal local food with the shortest distance from the garden to the table.

Piedmont Restaurant is devoted to providing a complete dining experience that showcases the best local flavors the Triangle has to offer, and boy, are they tasty! The menu changes daily, so check their website to see what’s cooking.

Featuring almost exclusively local foods, Watts Grocery has a new take on traditional North Carolina cuisine. The menu changes as a reflection of what’s in season, creating some of the freshest, most flavorful culinary experiences around.

After lunch, drive to Bennett Place to learn about the largest troop surrender of the Civil War. Situated between General Sherman’s Union soldiers and General Johnston’s Confederate soldiers, the Bennitt Farm served as the meeting place to negotiate the Confederate surrender following the assassination of President Lincoln and General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

While the original buildings were destroyed by fire in 1921, this simple farm has been carefully reconstructed using sketches and photos as a guide. A modern visitor center includes an audiovisual program and exhibits to tell the story of Bennett Place.

Best time to visit: Anytime! You may be able to catch some local Juneteenth celebrations in June.

Photo by Ty Rhudy