Date Archives: June 2021

Bubble tea (sometimes called boba tea) is a trendy, colorful, and delicious drink made from brewed tea and tapioca pearls. Whether you're a bubble tea connoisseur or have never tried this treat, these bubble tea shops located in and around Raleigh are ready to take your order.

1. Brecotea - 1144 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27511
   
   Brecotea takes particular pride in the caliber of the ingredients they use when crafting their many menu items. Customers can choose from a variety of bubble teas made with fresh fruit, real milk, and other high-quality organic ingredients. It's a great place to pick up some artisan goods when you're in the neighborhood attending viewings of our Cary homes for sale.
   
   
2. Quickly Tea House - 2604A Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC 27705
   
   Quickly Tea House is a well-known global brand whose mission is to bring Taiwanese-style bubble tea to the world. Their Durham location is close to many of our Durham homes for sale and is a hotspot for many local residents, particularly in the summer months. 
   
   A full range of beverages is available here, including regular bubble teas, milk teas (made with a soy-based creamer), slushes, and snows (creamier versions of the slushes). Special toppings add a little flair to every drink, and customers can even order snacks like egg rolls, waffle fries, popcorn chicken, and gyoza for an extra treat.
   
   
3. Bumble Tea - 3221 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, NC 27606
   
   As soon as you see Bumble Tea's smiling honeybee mascot, you know you're in for a good time. This cheery shop is within easy reach of many Raleigh homes for sale and offers a sweet-themed interior complete with hexagon-shaped tables for enjoying your purchases. 
   
   Bumble Tea serves both milk teas (in flavors like matcha, jasmine, and espresso and fruit teas (in flavors like strawberry-lemon, mango, and passionfruit). They also have a good selection of fruit smoothies available for more health-conscious patrons. If you're in the mood for dessert, you can try their adorable Bumble Waffle, a delicious treat shaped to look like the head of a bee. 
   
   
4. Beans & Bubbles - 3607 Falls River Avenue, Suite 125, Raleigh, NC 27614
   
   Beans & Bubbles stands out on this list for the sheer customizability of their menu. Each of their bubble tea drinks starts with a base of either black tea, green tea, or brewed coffee. Once you've chosen which one you want, staff members add your choice of over 50 flavors of syrup to the mix. Finally, the drink is topped off with either chewy tapioca, coffee jelly, or fruit-flavored bubbles.
   
   
5. MooMooCha - 1350 5th Avenue, Suite 250, Garner, NC 27529
   
   MooMooCha is a newly rebranded bubble tea shop in the same neighborhood as many of our Garner homes for sale. The star item on their menu is the Classic MooMooCha tea, which showcases deep yet mellow brown sugar flavors.
   
   Aside from this, the shop offers nearly two dozen other varieties of milk tea and fruit tea combined. Patrons can also sip on a selection of coffee, lattes, smoothies, slushes, lemonades, and ciders or snack on their signature egg puff ice cream treat. Many of MooMooCha's drinks can be made with non-dairy ingredients upon request, making this a popular spot for people following a vegan diet.

This excellent assortment of bubble tea shops is far from the only thing to love about the Raleigh area. Contact us today and let our real estate agents show you some of the many homes we have available in this thriving community. 

Looking for fun and excitement in Raleigh? Our real estate agents have a suggestion or two!

Many of our clients have been hankering for thrilling action out on the baseball diamond. If you're visiting to tour Raleigh homes for sale, you might have the perfect opportunity: North Carolina is home to ten Minor League Baseball teams. Here's who you might see during a fun day at the ballpark:

1. Asheville Tourists
   The Tourists boast the most interesting home field: Historic McCornick Field was built right into the side of a mountain and features breathtaking views. The 42-foot right-center field wall is the highest in pro baseball. 
   
   
2. Carolina Mudcats
   Conveniently located about 30 miles from downtown Raleigh, the Five County Stadium in Zebulon also operates the famous Cattails Restaurant – considered an ideal spot to catch the big game if you can't make it to the bleachers. 
   
   
3. Charlotte Knights
   Found in Upper Charlotte's Truist Field – a modern sports venue that has grown to become one of the region's top since its opening in 2014 – the Charlotte Knights have inspired an energetic following. Fans love Friday Night Fireworks at the field, which is well-known for being family-friendly.
   
   
4. Down East Wood Ducks
   The Wood Ducks are beloved in their native Kinston for bringing Minor League Baseball back to the area after a long five-year drought. Friday home games are made even more special with Food Truck Friday, where you can sample tasty fare from leading local restaurants.
   
   
5. Durham Bulls
   Based out of Durham Bulls Athletic Park since 1995, with a history stretching to 1902, the Durham Bulls were launched to superstardom by the 1988 movie Bull Durham. The left-field wall is adorned with a 20-foot bull mascot. It's easy to take in a fast-paced game after exploring Durham homes for sale.
   
   
6. Fayetteville Woodpeckers
   Rebranding in 2018 after a widely enjoyed "Name the Team" contest, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers play in one of Minor League Baseball's newest venues, 2019's Segra Field. 
   
   
7. Greensboro Grasshoppers
   The Greensboro Grasshoppers have some of the most impressive stats in the region, but the player fans love most is actually a Labrador Retriever. This multi-talented pup is known to retrieve bats, carry balls over to the umpire, and even participate in fun skits during halftime. The Grasshoppers play from First National Bank Field.
   
   
8. Hickory Crawdads
   Conrad and Candy the Crawdad are two beloved mascots who had a big part to play in the Hickory Crawdads' early success. They were married on-field in 2018. $1 Hot Dog Tuesdays, Fireworks Fridays, and Super Saturdays – known for live music after the game – help liven things up even more.
   
   
9. Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
   Formerly known as the "Intimidators" after NASCAR racer and former part-owner Dale Earnhardt, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers are affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. They play at the sparkling new Atrium Health Ballpark. More than a dozen major league sports stars have risen up through their ranks.
   
   
10. Winston-Salem Dash
    Truist Stadium in downtown Winston-Salem is home to the Dash, which updated its look in 2020 with a feisty new logo. The venue is noted for its all-inclusive Flow Club and the Cheesy Pig Dog, a hot dog topped off with a heaping helping of cheese, macaroni, and barbecue.

Minor league baseball is one of the many things we love about life in North Carolina. Contact us to learn about real estate opportunities in the Triangle area.

Sometimes you just need a change of scenery and a quick vacation! Luckily, you can find plenty of bed and breakfasts in the local area perfect for a short trip. Here are a few that our real estate agents recommend. 

1. Heights House Hotel, 308 S Boylan Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 
   For unparalleled luxury, look no further than the Heights House Hotel. This amazing mansion was built in 1858 in what is now downtown Raleigh. Once fallen into tragic disrepair, the property has been restored to its original beauty with painstaking care and is now finally accepting reservations. Nine gracious suites can accommodate up to twenty guests. Built in Italianate style, you'll find ornate columns, unique floor plans, and fifteen-foot ceilings. With loving attention given to each detail, guests will be able to enjoy the gracious living of the past combined with the conveniences of the present.
   
   
2. Guest House Raleigh, 420 S. Bloodworth Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 
   Four beautiful suites at Guest House Raleigh offer exceptional accommodations with unique features such as a grand double shower, a private patio, French doors, and fabulous views. Just a few doors down, at 432 S. Bloodworth Street, you will find Roger's Cottage, a sister property. This cozy home away from home is a child-friendly space with a king bedroom and a queen bed in a loft. The kitchenette with mini-fridge makes it the perfect spot for a small family. 
   
   
3. Fuquay Mineral Spring Inn & Garden, 333 S. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
   House hunters looking at Fuquay-Varina homes for sale will find this an excellent home base. The Fuquay Mineral Spring Inn & Garden offers five luxury options in a landmark listed in the National Register Historic District. Four-poster beds grace the Carriage House and the Savannah Sparrow room, while other lovely antiques make the Cardinal Suite, the Painted Bunting Room, and the Goldfinch Room feel like portals into the past. When you're not looking at houses, you'll enjoy the local sites nearby, such as Alltel Pavilion, Exploris, Raven Rock State Park, and more. 
   
   
4. Hamilton Scot Inn, 7905 Emery Gayle Lane, Cary, NC 27519
   If your focus is on Cary homes for sale, you can't go wrong with the Hamilton Scot Inn. Just minutes from the Raleigh/Durham International Airport, the Inn is nestled on fourteen gorgeous acres, offering the seclusion of a country home. You'll receive a gourmet breakfast, fresh flowers, and so much more. You'll be conveniently situated near several universities. To assist with your property searches or any business you may have during your stay, the Inn offers free WiFi.
    
5. B & B's Country Garden Inn, 1041 Kelly Road, Apex, North Carolina 27523 
   Just off the I-540, you'll find charming accommodations that are well suited to researching Apex homes for sale. Surrounded by eight acres, the property boasts a large pond so that guests can enjoy a leisurely paddleboat ride or go fishing. B & B's Country Garden Inn will even supply you with a fishing pole. If you have the time, you may enjoy the Apex Farmer's Market, the Halle Cultural Arts Center, or any number of local activities. 

Plus, staying at a bed and breakfast offers a great way to get to know about the local area if you are planning on moving there. If you're ready to find the home of your dreams in the Triangle, contact us. 

What's so hard about buying patio furniture? Why not just go online or to a store and pick something pretty and buy it? You can do that, but you may not be happy with how that plays out in the patio area of the dream home you chose among homes for sale in the Triangle. A little planning will help you make the most of your outdoor living space. If you're not sure what questions to ask about a patio furniture purchase, follow the guidelines our real estate agents have put together. 

1. Determine the Space
   This sounds so obvious, but you'll be surprised to learn that some folks just close their eyes, make a purchase, and hope it fits. Don't do that. Measure your space. Decide what you want. Bar stools? A dining table and chairs? Chairs for relaxing and lounging? You may get a good deal ordering online, but when buying furniture, it's always nice to look at it in person. Buying patio furniture in the brick-and-mortar store can show you how big it is, so you can calculate if it will nicely fill the space you have.
   
   
2. How Comfortable is it?
   There's not much point in buying patio furniture just to look at. You'll want people to sit in it and enjoy it. It's important to sit on the furniture to see if it's comfortable. Do you intend to improve the experience by providing comfy cushions? That's helpful, but you also want to see if the chairs, table, or whatever, are the right dimensions.
   
   
3. Are the Materials Weather Resistant?
   These days patio furniture is manufactured from many different materials: wicker, iron, resin, steel, plastic, wood, and others. If you're going to leave your furniture in an uncovered location during the warm season, you may want to choose something weather-resistant and resilient. Leaving the furniture in the heat and humidity will shorten its usefulness. If you're going to keep your furniture in a protected location, you might have better luck with patio furniture made of wood or wicker. Regardless of where you leave it, you may need to do a bit of maintenance every season: painting, replacing cushions, or with wood, even refinishing. 
   
   It's always a good idea to put the furniture up when the season for entertaining is over; at the very least, cover it up and protect it from the elements. Also, think about where you're going to place the furniture: on solid ground or on the patio. If it's going to make contact with the earth. you need to choose materials that can handle being on soggy ground, such as plastic or resin. 
   
   
4. Invest in Quality
   Be aware that plastic, resin, wood, or wicker furniture may look good when you buy it, but if it's used extensively outdoors, UV rays and weather will make it fade so that it loses its looks. If you can afford it, invest in good quality furniture that will stand up to the elements and last a few years. If possible, set it in a protected location.
   
   
5. Shop Colors
   You can have some fun when shopping for the right color of patio furniture. It doesn't have to be neutral, black, or brown. Match colors in your landscape or with your house, or go a little wild selecting pillows and cushions that pop.

Need more tips to improve your outdoor living space? Contact us today. 

Looking for ways to keep your kids happily occupied while they're continuing to learn this summer in Raleigh? The area has plenty of places where you can spend the day with them or enroll them in a fun summer program.

Our real estate agents suggest checking out the following places where your kids can learn and have fun this summer in Raleigh:

1. The CoderSchool – Leesville Towne Center, 13200 Strickland Rd. #116, Raleigh, NC 27613 
   Coding has become a popular interest for kids in the past few years, and it's easy to see why. Without coders, we wouldn't have computer software, apps, and websites that we access countless times a day. The CoderSchool, located close to Raleigh homes for sale, offers summer camps for kids who have experience in coding and those who don't. Camps include Game Development – Arcade, Roblox Remix, and Mobile Madness. In-person and online camps are available, with some designed for kids age 7-10 and those aged 10 and up.
   
   
2. My Gym Raleigh – 8801 Lead Mine Rd. Suite 117, Raleigh, NC 27615  
   My Gym Raleigh is all about letting kids have fun while learning in a fun, physically engaging environment. As kids are active and having fun, they gain confidence that can carry over into other activities. In addition to their regular programs, My Gym Raleigh offers summer camps running from June through August, with a discount if you enroll a sibling. Camp themes change weekly and include Circus, Superheroes, Space, Safari, and Olympics.
   
   
3. Engineering for Kids – 110 Lattner Ct. Suite #104, Morrisville, NC 27560
   Engineering for Kids, located around the corner from Morrisville homes for sale, builds on what kids are already learning in their school curriculum in a fun way. The company emphasizes the Engineering Design Process to help kids with their decision-making and critical-thinking skills and their creativity and teamwork. Choose a virtual or in-person summer program for your kids, including one on Esports that lets them learn about the fundamentals and mechanics of their favorite games as well as how everything in the game relates to the real world through physics and other disciplines.
   
   
4. Museum of Life + Science – 433 W. Murray Ave., Durham, NC 27704 
   Whether you're looking for a fun, educational place to spend the day with your child or you're looking for a summer camp with these same benefits, you'll find it at the Museum of Life + Science. Located near Durham homes for sale, the museum is filled with 84 acres of open-ended science and nature experiences, so your kids will have plenty to do and see. Take them to Hideaway Woods, where they can explore a two-acre nature playscape, complete with treehouses, a flowing streambed, and more. And don't forget the Butterfly House, where hundreds of butterflies fly in a 350-foot-tall glass conservatory where you can interact with them.
   
   
5. Piedmont Wildlife Center – 364 Leigh Farm Rd., Durham, NC 27707
   Piedmont Wildlife Center is dedicated to providing educational experiences for kids and adults while helping them build a strong connection to nature. Take the kids to meet the Center's owl ambassadors, go on a nature walk, learn about plants, or connect with nature in other ways. You can also enroll them in a summer camp for youth or teens, including a swamp safari or backpacking trip.

Contact us to learn more about Raleigh's vast educational opportunities for kids. And if you'd like to buy or sell a home in the area, our real estate professionals can help.