1. B&B Country Garden Inn
City: Apex, NC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (919) 303-8003
Address: 1041 Kelly Rd.
Description: The innkeepers at the B&B are Realtors inspired to open their inn to meet the needs of those moving to the area. The inn is on eight acres in western Wake County near some of the fastest growing communities in the Triangle, including Apex and Holly Springs. Surrounding the home are acres of ponds and gardens where guests can feed the resident swans and borrow a pole to fish or take out the paddleboat. Rooms include flat-screen TVs, wireless Internet access, breakfast, and use of the hot tub. Accommodations include a suite option that includes a child’s room decorated in a Mickey Mouse theme. The inn also offers weddings packages.
2. Jordan Lake Recreation Area
City: Apex, NC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (919) 362-0586
Address: 280 State Park Rd.
Description: In Chatham County east of Pittsboro, Jordan Lake has more than 1,000 campsites. Some are open year-round, but not all, so call ahead to check on seasonal closings in the late fall and winter. Each campground offers showers, restrooms, and a dump station. The Crosswinds Campground on the eastern shore of the lake off U.S. 64 has 182 sites, 134 with water and electrical hookups. Parker’s Creek on the western shore of the lake off U.S. 64 has 250 sites, 120 with water and electric hookups. Poplar Point on the eastern shore has 579 sites, 363 sites with water and electric hookups. Backpackers can find 24 hike-in sites via the New Hope Overlook area on the eastern shore off U.S. 1. The campsites are between 100 yards and half a mile from the parking lot, and toilets and drinking water are available. Jordan Lake also has group sites for tent campers and RVs available by reservation.
3. Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
City: Apex, NC
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (919) 362-0586
Address: 280 State Park Rd.
Description: Jordan Lake, in eastern Chatham County, is a 14,000-acre, man-made lake that serves as a water source, wildlife habitat, and recreational area. The most popular activities are boating and fishing. For details on these, see the Recreation chapter of this book. The surrounding 33,000 acres of wooded lakeshore also draws campers, hikers, and bird watchers as Jordan Lake is home to the largest concentration of bald eagles on the East Coast. The recreation area has 1,000 family campsites, including hundreds of sites for RVs, spread among the Crosswinds, Parker’s Creek, and Poplar Point campgrounds. The New Hope Overlook has 24 hike-in primitive campsites all within half a mile of the parking lot. The park also has 11 group tent camps and a group RV camp with 50 sites. Reservations are encouraged for all campsites. Beaches at the Ebenezer Church, Seaforth, Parker’s Creek, and White Oak Recreation areas are open to day visitors for swimming, while beaches near the campgrounds are reserved for campers. Rangers offer bird watching programs regularly, for those wanting to get a look at the bald eagles and other wildlife. The best time to spot the birds is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The eagles migrate north during spring and early summer, which is a good time to see them on the move. Vista Point, Ebenezer, and Seaforth recreation area offer good views for bird watching. The recreation area charges a $5 per car fee for day use of the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day and on weekends and holidays in April, May, and September. Camping fees range from $12 to $23 per day. The park is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. May through August; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. September, October, March, and April; and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. November, December, January, and February.
4. Ammons Pittman Gmac Real Estate
City: Apex, NC
Category: Relocation
Telephone: (919) 362-6848
Address: 307 S. Salem St.
5. Borders
City: Apex, NC
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (919) 363-8446
Address: 1541 Beaver Creek Commons Dr.
Description: The Triangle is home to six outposts of the national chain, including one in RDU airport. Free Wi-Fi in Borders’ cafes keeps the coffee-and-keyboard set happy. The central Raleigh location on Six Forks Road has a patio and is an easy walk or bike ride from the city’s greenway. The North Raleigh outpost boasts an extensive travel section, and Cary customers are enjoying the recent renovations made at the Borders on Walnut Street. The Chapel Hill location, set just off Interstate 40 between UNC and Duke, offers a wide selection of contemporary literature and arts and sciences books. Programming at Triangle Borders’ stores is aimed at movie lovers as well as readers and includes midnight release parties for books and DVDs. The RDU location is a boon for readers who left home without tucking a paperback in their carry-on.