Well, don't believe the hype that Durham isn't nice.
The Marriott in downtown Durham is a real nice one.
It's right next door to the historic Carolina Theatre, a real gem of entertainment in the Triangle. About 5 blocks away is Brightleaf Square, which is a set of old brick historic warehouses renovated into trendy restaurants, shops and bars. About a mile in the opposite direction is the American Tobacco District, a set of old cigarette factories renovated into a modern shopping & dining complex.