Wow, how time flies around here.
I bet with the summer in full swing and the heat making itself known, you’re seeing the days fly by, too.
My husband and I have been in NC for one year plus, and now we own a home in Raleigh, which means we’ll be here for quite a while. We sure do love this state. There is always something to explore and enjoy locally, like these places below.
State of Beer
I can’t believe that this place has only been in my life for a few months. We’ve already frequented State of Beer like four times. This bottle shop and so much more has got great beers on tap (I’m talking Wicked Weeds and other local brews), amazing snacks and sandwiches (pimento cheese, brie with green apples) and a fabulous outdoor area for enjoying the occasional Raleigh breeze.
Sola Coffee Cafe
I’m so glad that I got the chance to visit Sola Coffee Cafe a few times before I moved away from North Raleigh. From what I can tell, the fresh mini donuts are killer (cinnamon sugar!), the toast bar is inspired (almond butter with house made granola) and the coffee is good, too (if you’re into that).
Busy Bee Cafe
I may have mentioned this spot downtown before, but I feel that it should be mentioned again because they not only have great drinks, but they have tots! I’m talking about tots covered with cheese, bacon, sour cream and green onions. So good!
Nello’s Sauce
One thing that makes NC awesome is all of the local love for amazing locally made products. Recently, I picked up some Nello’s tomato sauce and enjoyed it on top of ravioli.
North Carolina Museum Park
My love for this museum has grown even more after walking on some of the trails. Grab a friend, your pet or anyone who needs to get out and explore to enjoy some beautiful greenery and unique works of art.
Watts Grocery
This spot has been on my to-eat list for quite awhile, so I was thrilled to get a chance to go on a recent (self-named) “Durham Day” excursion. I love the relaxed vibe of this restaurant and the down-to-earth but well down Southern fare. I thoroughly enjoyed my melty and buttery pimento cheese sandwich and fries.
Duke Gardens
If you ever get the chance to go to Durham, go to Duke to ooh and aah at the beautiful architecture (it takes me back to Oxford) and then walk through the Duke Gardens. There, you’ll be able to see old and beautiful magnolia trees and a plethora of colorful flowers. You’ll find plenty of lawn spaces and benches to enjoy a picnic or a nice book, as well.
Locopops
While picking up a loaf of bread at Guglhupf Bakery in Durham, we stopped in to Foster’s Market nearby for a chilled root beer and a mojito locopop. The tangy lime and mint flavor of this popsicle cooled me down and was quite enjoyable.
Bull City Ciderworks
If you know me, you know that I love a good, crisp cider. Bull City Ciderworks is kicking the cider making business up a notch with some really creative flavors. At the cider bar, we had a sampler of ciders including everything from an IPA style cider to one that was brewed with black tea (Steep South). Thankfully, you can get their ciders at many local stores in Raleigh, as well as on guest taps in some breweries. The Rhiz Up! with lots of ginger is one of my faves.
Rose’s Meat Market and Sweet Shop
Rose’s has been getting lots of good buzz in the food world since I moved to the area, so it was a real treat to get to experience the phenomenon for myself. Who knew that you could make a butcher shop/bakery such a cute place. Although I didn’t get any meats, I did get a package of Meyer lemon shortbreads that were absolutely delicious.
Chubby’s Tacos
I was pleasantly surprised with the tasty tacos and cheap prices at this local taco spot. If you’re looking for a good mix between authentic and tex mex that’s still tasty, I recommend Chubby’s. They’ve also got a great green sauce on their salsa bar.
Porter Farms
If you live in my neck of the woods (aka near Highway 42- is that how you say it?), you need to hit up Porter Farms. It’s right off of 42 and has some fabulous peaches and other produce like pick your own strawberries, along with local zucchini, squash, green beans and an ice cream shop if you have a sweet tooth.