If you’re ready for winter travel with your family, perhaps you’re also ready to head somewhere temperate and lovely, with a dash of Southern hospitality thrown in. The city to be? Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina.

When I visited Raleigh/Durham this past winter, flying just an hour south of my home in Philadelphia, I was amazed at just how much warmer and inviting the city appeared. Whereas I left a muddy, gloomy metropolis, I landed in a sunny, friendly city with a small-town feel.

Even better, the area is home to four different Homewood Suites, each conveniently located for your exploring pleasure. I stayed at the one near the airport, which exudes elegance when you walk in and is just far enough from the airport so that you don’t get any flyover noise.

If you’re heading to Raleigh/Durham, be sure to check out these great ways to share the fun:

Eating Out with the Kids

1. In nearby Chapel Hill (home to the University of North Carolina), don’t miss Locopops, the local favorite popsicle store. Believe me when I say that this place is different, featuring flavors like Mexican chocolate, bacon, and kiwi popsicles.

2. In Durham’s tobacco warehouse district, try the patio at Alivia’s Durham Bistro, where the shrimp po’ boy and loaded baked potatoes made my entire family full and happy.

3.  Also in Chapel Hill, try out the tiny but yummy Cosmic Mexican restaurant, great for nachos and burritos and appropriately low-key for kids.

Can’t Miss Destinations

1. Check out a 1920s drugstore at the North Carolina Museum of History. The exhibit boasts the re-created interior of a typical North Carolina drugstore from the 1920s, complete with pharmacist’s workroom and authentic marble-topped soda fountain.

2. Take a Segway tour around Raleigh, North Carolina’s capital city! You’ll see Raleigh’s main street, the Capitol Building, the Governor’s Mansion, and more.

3. Explore the Marbles Kids Museum, complete with an IMAX theater, a children’s garden, and hands-on exhibits.