FUQUAY VARINA NC
Living in a small community like Fuquay Varina NC
(pronounced few-kway va-reena) is like traveling back in time. A time where life was less complicated, less stressed, where everyone knows their neighbor, and children can walk to school without fear for their safety. And it’s a lifestyle more and more city dwellers are once again seeking.
Fuquay Varina NC Located in Wake County just fifteen miles south of the city of Raleigh. This quaint little Mayberry town offers the best of both worlds, the big-city attractions of Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, and quiet charm of small town living. As the hyphened name suggests, Fuquay Varina was once two separate communities. Fuquay Springs located on the south side of town and Varina on the north end. Fuquay Springs and Varina finally merged in 1963 to form Fuquay-Varina, though long-time residents of both towns may still identify them as separate. Residents of Fuquay Varina are very friendly and the Southern manners are alive and flourishing in this small Mayberry like Southern town.
Both downtown areas of Fuquay Varina have recently made some massive renovations that include some great Fuquay Varina restaurants. The block and half along Broad Street (old Varina) provides the feeling of a small town that thrived as an overnight railroad stop at the start of the 1900′s. In 2003, a local real estate developer took steps to preserve the Varina train depot built in 1910. The building is on the National Registry of Historic Places. It is now home to a very cool little brewpub called the Aviator Taphouse. They serve all their beers on draft, an assortment of freshly brewed delicious offerings. The main room with the bar is long and skinny, a bunch of barstools, TV over the bar and tons of natural light. They have a big outdoor patio area out back with local musicians providing entertainment. This place is exactly what a local brewpub should be. An active rail line runs on the south side of the property and a 1920′s railroad operations building stands nearby, occupied by the Norfolk Southern Railroad. You generally can see a diesel engine parked along the NS tracks, or shuffling box cars along the siding.
Right across the street you will find the Aviator Smokehouse restaurant. The aviator serves North State chopped BBQ plates, grilled chicken sandwiches, smokehouse ribs, burgers and local fresh collards. Maybe you have a hankering for some New York style pizza, not to worry just few steps away you will find the best pizza Fuquay Varina NC has to offer at J&S pizza. Before you head home you might want to stop in at the best florist in Fuquay varina NC, and pick up your hunny some roses. Flowers on Broad Street offers a very unique experience.
A simple three minute drive and you will find yourself in what was formally Fuquay Mineral Springs. Here Fuquay Varina NC has completed major renovations. Including extensive landscaping, park benches, new street lights, and new sidewalks with brick bands and scored concrete and completely renovated buildings.
One of my favorite places to visit is Elliot’s pharmacy. Built in 1914, complete with full service old fashioned soda fountain. The fresh squeezed lemonade is great. During the winter months I like to duck in and get a hot bowl of homemade soup. Now hop on across the street and stop in at the Stick Boy Bread Company, a small, family-owned artisan bakery. Stick Boy serves everything from fresh baked breads, steaming cappuccinos, delicious cinnamon rolls, and decadent chocolate tortes. Now roll on across the street again and stop in to Shops on Main; inside this mall area is a hair salon, a frame and picture shop, jewelry store, a store that sells jelly beans and other food-related items, a clothing shop that appears to be aiming for the young crowd with big success, they have some truly cute clothes. This little mall area also has WI Fi. Just one more stop before you head out of town. Just a mile up the road on the corner of Main Street and Judd Parkway you will find the King’s Cubbard. This place is cool, just an old time service station/convenience store. As soon as you walk in the door look down to your right and get yourself an ice cold glass bottle of Coca Cola out of the ice cooler. Then look up and say hey to the several old timers that will be sitting across the room in chairs against the far wall. Most will be wearing overalls and some type baseball cap. Good friendly people that like to talk about the weather. I stop at the Cubbard everyday for a bottle of Coke before I get on the carpool line. But that’s a whole other story.
I hardly touched on the things to do and see in Fuquay Varina NC. If you’re looking for small town America in the south this is the place. Oh, I almost forgot they roll up the sidewalks on Sundays, just like they did in Mayberry.