Relocating to the 919? Top 15 things to help you blend in

If you are relocating to the Raleigh or Durham area, here are some tips to help you quickly feel right at home. 

Barbecue is not a verb

Barbecue is exclusively a noun. We grill, or cook out, but if you hear a reference to barbecue, that’s pulled pork. And we have some amazing barbecue joints. All you have to decide is which North Carolina sauce you prefer: Eastern (vinegar based) or Lexington (traditional red sauce).

The Triangle / 919 is the region 

The phrases “the 919” or “The Triangle” is how we talk about the region. If you draw lines to connect Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham, you get a “triangle.” RDU is the airport, not the region. The 919 includes all the other towns like Cary, Wake Forest, Apex, Holly Springs, Morrisville, and Garner. And 919 area code and 919 Realty Group serves them all.

We go Year Round

Seriously, school in July is a thing. Year-round school calendars mean some kids are in school for 9 weeks, then get 3 weeks off (called “Track out”). Wake and Durham County Schools have numerous schools on that calendar. You can choose a traditional calendar as well.

College Basketball is king

With 3 major universities playing hoops in the ACC, college basketball is omnipresent. It’s easiest to pick one of the big 3 (Duke, Carolina, or State) to root for and don’t take any lip from those other fans!

We look forward to Hurricane Season

Right behind college hoops is Carolina Hurricanes hockey. Central Division Champion Carolina Hurricanes are the only major professional sports franchise in the area. Home games at PNC arena have one of the best crowds in the NHL. (Yes, the entire NHL)

Be Ready for French Toast Weather

If the other type of hurricane, or snow and ice, is in the forecast, you likely won’t be able to find bread, milk, or eggs in the stores. Who knew bad weather makes people crave French Toast? Stock up early, but relax too, because the weather prognosticators will tease about snow 20 times more often than you’ll see a flake.

School will be out more than you think

With school districts being county-wide, bad weather anywhere (or even predicted anywhere) will likely shut down schools. Unlike where you may come from, we don’t really have equipment to remove snow and ice. So we wait for the solar remover to do it’s work. But don’t worry, your workplace will likely be closed down too….so enjoy the day off no matter how the weather turns out.

Outdoors is In

With Umstead State Park, Jordan Lake, and Falls Lake you can camp, fish, hike, water ski or boat to your heart's content. The Tobacco Trail and Neuse River Trail bookend the region with 30 mile trails that are fairly flat. Raleigh and Cary have hundreds of miles of greenways too. Littles will love Pullen Park downtown. Seriously...we have great parks, just not “The Park.”

“The Park” is not a park.

RTP is short for “Research Triangle Park” on the border of Durham and Wake Counties and sometimes just called “The Park” by locals. Working “in The Park” is a commute destination...nothing to do with swingsets and ballfields. Because it is the largest employment hub in the region, home values rise as you get closer to "The Park" as well as city centers.

Foodies Love it

With Beard national award winning restaurants and dozens of cuisines, the 919 food scene is outstanding. From classics like The Angus Barn to Beasley's Chicken, the region has amazing Indian, Thai, Mediterranean, Italian and dozens of other cuisines. Plan to invest time in finding your local favorites. 

Music Scene is bangin!

From the Pour House and Red Hat Amphitheater to DPAC and Coastal Credit Union Music Park, the concert scene in Raleigh and Durham is hot. Rolling Stone rated it one of the 10 best in the country last year. 

We drop the Acorn

New Years Eve is big in Raleigh and to celebrate, the City of Oaks drops a giant acorn. And we do it twice...at the traditional midnight hour and at 7:00 PM so younger ones can celebrate with their families.

For 2 weeks “The Fair” owns the 919

The North Carolina State Fair comes to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds once a year in October and it’s not to be missed. Live concerts, rides, tons of fair food, pig races, livestock, 4H, crafts, and people watching are great!

Southern hospitality

Don’t be surprised if people you don’t know wave at you on the street or say “hi” as you pass on the sidewalk. Chatting strangers up in line at the grocery store, or on an elevator is pretty normal. People still invite neighbors into their homes. Before long, you’ll be waving at strangers too...let the friendliness happen!

North Carolina Culture lives here

Raleigh is home to the North Carolina Ballet and the North Carolina Symphony. Duke Energy Center / Meymandi Concert Hall and Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) bring in Broadway touring shows all year round and the local museums are top notch. Don’t miss the North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of Natural Science, NC Museum of History as well as the “Marbles” museum for kids. With three major universities, there is always a lecture, performance or cultural event happening.

What do you think people need to know to blend in? Let the 919 Realty Group know what we should add to the list.