Kathy Evans and Pam Crater are transplants from the Midwest. Kathy was born in Cedar Falls (IA) but has lived in North Carolina for over 15 years. Pam was born in Waukesha (WI) but has lived in North Carolina for over 30 years. Here is their Unofficial Midwesterner's Guide to Raleigh:

ANTIQUES: Shop the smaller towns like Fuquay, Wendell, Wilson and Pittsboro for the real deals. Expect to find unusual items (like tobacco presses and textile spools) and more English imports than you see in the Midwest.

ART, MUSIC, and THEATER: Raleigh is home to the NC Symphony, NC Theatre, Theater in the Park and Raleigh Little Theater. Outdoor pops concerts are held in Cary every weekend in June. Our art museum is fabulous.

BEACH MUSIC: Southern beach music means The Embers, not The Lettermen. Heard primarily along the coast (especially in Myrtle Beach), it is also a shuffling dance style similar to a slow jitterbug.

BIRDS and WILDLIFE: The cardinal is the state bird of North Carolina. Also abundant are mockingbirds, chickadees, titmice, towhees and finches. Hummingbirds are common from April thru September. Curiously, there are no pheasants here, but lots of deer, squirrel and possum.

FOOD: Barbecue pork, Brunswick stew, hushpuppies and grits may take you a while to get used to. Good delis and bakeries are hard to find. Johnsonville and Unsinger brats are available if you know where to look. Ice tea is always sweetened and you drink it year 'round. And never order a hot dog with "everything" or you'll get cole slaw, onions and chili on it!

GOLFING: Public and private courses abound--many of which are located in residential developments. Rates are reasonable and you can play just about any month of the year. And remember, Pinehurst is less than an hour way!

HEALTH CARE: In a word--excellent.

LANDSCAPING / LAWNS: Forget the Kentucky blue. Our lawns are primarily fescue and/or perennial rye, zoyzia and creeping bent. Expect to mow your grass from late February through November, but you won't have to "sprinkle" here because fescue goes dormant in the summer. Many people naturalize parts of their yard with pine straw or bark mulch.

MASS TRANSIT: CAT (Capital Area Transit) buses run on limited schedules along city routes. Amtrak trains connect Raleigh and Charlotte. A mass transit system between Raleigh, RTP and Durham is being planned.

PIG PICKIN': Whole hog--literally--slow-roasted over live coals. Often the guests serve themselves buffet-style as they file past the pig on the grill.

OUTLETS and FLEA MARKETS: Large outlet centers are located at Smithfield, Burlington, and Myrtle Beach. A huge indoor/outdoor flea market is held every weekend at the state fairgrounds in Raleigh. Garage sales sprout like mushrooms in the spring.

RESTAURANTS: The Triangle has just about every restaurant chain imaginable from Applebee's to Ruth Chris. Local establishments can be very good but are often crowded on weekends. Family-style buffets such as Golden Corral, Ryan's and K&W are popular with the natives. Trendy gourmet dining can be found in converted downtown warehouses.

SHOPPING: Crabtree, North Hills, and Cary Village are our three major malls; Cameron Village and Crossroads are popular too. A new huge mall called Triangle Towne Center is planned for North Raleigh. Anchor stores include Penney's, Dillard's, Hecht's, Kohl's, Hudson-Belk's and Sears. We have a Lord & Taylor, a Pottery Barn and even a Williams-Sonoma. Nordstrom is coming, but you won't find a Marshall-Field here.

SHRUBS: Hollies, forsythia, crepe myrtle and azaleas thrive but lilacs and peonies can't take the humidity and heat. Learn to cultivate gardenias and camelias instead. Expect to grow daylillies, impatiens and vinca. Plant daffodils not tulips. Pansies will bloom thru the winter and spring. Pam Crater enjoys gardening so ask her for the names of the really good garden centers.

TRAFFIC: Traveling I-40 to RTP and the airport can be crowded, especially during the state fair or football games. A major highway called the Raleigh "Outer Loop" is currently under way. Ask Pam Crater for a map and a construction timetable. The major road which circles Cary is called the Parkway.

TRAVEL: It's only two hours to the mountains or to the beach; three hours to Williamsburg; five hours to Washington, DC. The kids will love Carowinds in Charlotte or Kings Dominion in Richmond. For a fun afternoon, shop for pottery or visit the NC Zoo in Asheboro.

TREES: Raleigh is sometimes called the City of Oaks despite the pruning by an occasional hurricane. Dogwood, white pine, beeches and sweet gum replace Northern birches and spruce. The fall colors are absolutely glorious.

WINTER: In Jan. 2000, the Triangle had an all-time record snowfall of 21 inches. Normally, less than 9 inches accumulate all winter and in some years it is not unusual to have no measurable snow. Bring your winter coat and gloves but leave your snowblower up North.

Links:

FUN
How to make Beer
Chicago Cubs Trivia Quiz
Man Survives Plane Crash Because of Cheesehead
Minnesota Fun Facts and Lingo
Southern Dictionary

SPORTS
Official Packer Homepage
Official Chicago Bulls Homepage
Chicago Cubs Homepage
Minnesota Vikings Homepage
Minnesota Twins Homepage

WEATHER
North Central States Weather
Midwest Visible Satellite Map
U.S. Severe Weather Map

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KATHY EVANS, Broker RE/MAX Highlander Realty 800 W. Williams Street, Suite 271, Apex, NC 27502

PAM CRATER Relocation Assistant Toll-Free 1-877-614-7888

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