If you’re thinking about retiring someplace with mild winters, consider taking your grandchildren on a visit to North Carolina. Thirty-seven percent of the 300,000 people who move to North Carolina each year are 50 or older, according to the Carolina Center for Living (CCL), a private research and marketing firm. The research triangle of Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill is a prime destination, and it’s packed with fun things for your grandchildren to do. Here are our favorite places in this vibrant — and unmistakably Southern — slice of the country.
Chapel Hill: The Hip Hub of UNC
What to do: Support the Kidzu Museum, a nonprofit, hands-on museum located in the heart of Chapel Hill, by stopping in for a cozy storytime session, arts and crafts experiment, or just a stroll through the cheery space. A visit to the sparkling new Carolina Basketball Museum is a must if your grandchildren are Tar Heel wannabes or college basketball aficionados. The 8,000-square-foot museum is packed with UNC artifacts and features a 32-foot tower where fans can make their own call on great Carolina plays. Admission is free.
Where to eat: At Sandwhich, opened by a couple from Brooklyn, sandwiches become art with selections such as Grilled Gruyere and Niman Ranch Meatloaf on homemade bread. Two sweet stops of note: Locopops serves up delicious frozen pops, and the baby blue-accented Sugarland bakes cupcakes that will make your mouth water. Your grandchildren will be sugared up, but happy. While you’re in Chapel Hill, visit Carrboro, located just outside the city line. It’s home to the Carrboro Farmer’s Market, a Saturday morning ritual in which locals pack picnics and relax while shopping for organic produce. From there, have brunch at Southern Rail, a restaurant built around vintage railroad cars between active freight tracks. If your grandchildren are into Thomas the Tank Engine, this will be the hit of the trip.
Durham: The Old Tobacco Capital and Home of Duke University
What to do: For a breathtaking glimpse of nature, stroll the Sarah P. Duke Gardens on the Duke University campus. Tap into your inner Kevin Costner at a minor-league baseball game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. For retail exercise, sample the boutiques and restaurants in the restored tobacco warehouses of Brightleaf Square, and locally-owned specialty shops along Ninth Street.
Where to eat: At Foster’s Market (which has another location in Chapel Hill) you’ll get hooked on the chewy chocolate chip cookies and overstuffed sandwiches. The Royal Skillet will redefine breakfast at Brigs Restaurants, with three other locations in the area. Get the visual: home fries topped with ham or bacon, under a blanket of cheddar jack cheese that’s fire-baked and crowned with a pair of basted eggs. Oh, my. At Elmo’s Diner, kids can color while they wait for their meals, and their art may be posted on the restaurant's website.
Raleigh: The State Capital
What to do: In downtown Raleigh, you and your grandchildren will find more culture than you’d ever imagine. Take toddlers straight to Marbles Kids Museum. It’s one of the most action-packed museums ever, with a water-play area, a pirate ship, a mini-kitchen, and a climb-on transportation area that will delight little ones for hours. Next, stop off at Pullen Park for a ride on an antique carousel, a pint-size train or kiddie boats. Older grandchildren may enjoy a visit to the North Carolina Museum of Art, which features a stunning collection of Rodin sculptures. If shopping appeals, head right to North Hills, a village with more than 90 upscale shops as well as 25 restaurants and cafes.
Where to eat: To get your fix of traditional Southern cooking, dine at Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant in the middle of Moore Square, Raleigh’s former produce center. Big Ed coined the term “hillbilly hip.” Dessert comes first at this restaurant. Try the banana pudding and get ready to swoon. Steaming biscuits with blackstrap molasses accompany chicken and dumplings that are almost as breathtaking as the creamed potatoes and deviled eggs. The place drips in atmosphere. For barbecue, it’s The Pit, opened by famed pitmaster Ed Mitchell. For a fancy-schmantzy meal with your older grandchildren, consider The Mint, contemporary southern food served in a gorgeous space. You can find an authentic Mexican meal at Dos Taquitos. It’s tucked away in a strip mall, but enter the welcoming space and you’ll feel like you’re in Tijuana.
Where to stay: The Embassy Suites Raleigh-Crabtree is centrally located between the three cities. It boasts an indoor pool, complimentary breakfast, an afternoon snack and a suite with pull-out double bed. The bonus: If you have a teenage granddaughter, she’ll be thrilled as the hotel is located right across the street from the oh-so-fabulous Crabtree Mall.
While you’re in North Carolina, visit a sublime spa in Pinehurst and a popular park in the Great Smoky Mountains. Extend your Southern road trip by driving to the Chattahoochee Valley.
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