By Jayne Cannon

The city's Convention and Visitors Bureau greets visitors with that motto these days. And it's appropriate for the times, as Durham looks to rebound from the publicity black eye it received for more than a year during the Duke lacrosse scandals.
 
Until that scandal, the city’s association with the university -- and with the family for which the school was named -- had been a positive one for more than a century. The legacy of tobacco magnate Washington Duke (1820-1905) can be seen throughout the area.

Exhibits at the Duke Homestead trace the development of the tobacco industry in North Carolina, and December visitors can experience an 1870 holiday observance in the "Christmas by Candlelight" program.

Washington Duke's son, James Buchanan Duke, created the endowment that led to the creation of the modern-day Duke University. He's buried in Memorial Chapel on the university campus. The 55-acre Sarah B. Duke Gardens honors the memory of another Duke family member. The Gardens are adjacent to the Nasher Museum of Art, whose collections literally span thousands of years of art history. The museum’s collection of ancient American art is one of the largest in the U.S.

If you’re spending an afternoon at the Nasher, consider a stay at the nearby Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. Located on the Duke campus, the Inn, a AAA Four Diamond hotel, is a bit of mini-museum itself, with artifacts and Duke family photos on display.

Durham prides itself in its culinary accomplishments, and an impressive variety of restaurants offers some surprises. The eclectic menu at homey Foster's Market will delight any appetite. Noted cookbook author and caterer Sara Foster’s salads, sandwiches and desserts draw a loyal following among Duke students and local residents. Close by on Chapel Hill Highway is the German-influenced Guglhupf, a popular stop for divine baked goods.

Diners can recreate the leisurely experience of dinner at a French sidewalk cafe with a visit to Vin Rouge, a AAA Three Diamond-rated restaurant just around the corner from the variety of shops and clubs in the "alternative shopping" district of Ninth Street. The food is simple but delicious, and the Charcuterie Plate, with housemade sausage and pate is not to be missed. The wine list is extensive and includes some hard-to-find vintages. If the weather allows, dine outside in the garden.

Shoppers can also find treasures downtown at Brightleaf Square, located in a pair of former tobacco warehouses dating from the early 1900s. And the sprawling Streets at South Point mall offers more than 140 stores and restaurants, from major department stores to specialty retail.

Sports fans can find something to watch at Duke throughout the school year, but don’t expect to score a ticket to a basketball game at historic Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the Blue Devils host capacity crowds to watch Coach Mike Kryzezewski's men’s squad. During baseball season, a popular pastime is minor league baseball at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The park, constructed by the same firm that built Camden Yards in Baltimore, evokes the intimate atmosphere of the classic downtown big-league ballparks.