Lochmere - Cary, NC

Lochmere and the surrounding North Carolina area dates back to the early American colonists, who began a settlement in modern-day Cary in 1750. By the 1850s, the North Carolina Railroad prompted further development extending southwest of Raleigh, and Allison Francis "Frank" Page stood as the first mayor of the incorporated area in 1871. In the 1980s, Cary's Planned Unit Development constructed Lochmere to support growing Raleigh suburbanites flocking to the area.

Locals can discover this fascinating history at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center in downtown Cary. Located a little closer to Lochmere, the Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park showcases the most prominent musical and art acts in the area. From events such as the Beer & Bacon to the Pickin’ In The Pines Bluegrass Series, this Amphitheatre provides a beautiful setting for both local and national talent.

The North Carolina Triangle has garnered a well-known reputation for its innovative array of fine-dining restaurants, international eateries and trendy, unique joints that you can't find anywhere else in the United States. Classic Americana fare remains the most popular and accessible for Lochmere residents, and locally-owned kitchens scattered throughout the neighborhood ensure that foodies always have something new and interesting for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A North Carolina neighborhood just wouldn't be complete with an authentic Southern-style kitchen, and Lochmere residents have the privilege to fill up on traditional Southern fare at the nearby Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen on Tryon Road. Serving up earnest, hefty portions in an upscale atmosphere, Lucky 32 remains famous for its house-made pork boudin balls and its gumbo. Top every meal off with some white chocolate-banana bread pudding, and take home a jar of the infamous Voodoo Sauce.

Time travel back to the days of Buddy Holly on the jukebox and American Graffiti-esque style at Corbett's Burgers & Soda Bar located just 10 minutes north of Lochmere on Kilmayne Drive. With over 240 artisan, craft and vintage glass-bottled sodas, this quintessential Americana diner allows visitors to try exotic and exclusive tastes they can't find anywhere else. Complement an Americana huckleberry soda with any of the famous homemade hamburgers.

In addition to traveling back in time, Lochmere residents can make a culinary trip to Turkey at Bosphorus. Visitors claim that Bosphorus endures as the most authentic Turkish restaurant in the nation. After sitting down, the friendly staff brings out hot bread and a sauce consisting of oil, red peppers and spices, but try not to fill up on bread. Locals recommend any of the kebabs as well as the lamb pizza and the ali nazik.

As a community development area, Lochmere does not feature much of a high-octane nightlife. Throughout the city of Cary, however, locals can discover a wide array of casual sports bars and trendy lounges for hip, relaxed evenings with friends and family.

Lochmere's distance from the Raleigh city center and surrounding areas means that locals need a car to get around the neighborhood conveniently. An abundance of spacious, well-paved roads and highways near Lochmere provide easy access wherever residents want to go. For the 30-minute trip to downtown Raleigh, locals can take Tryon Road to connect with the Raleigh Beltline. Lochmere also rests next to the historic U.S. Route 1, which travels northeast towards Richmond and southwest towards Columbia. Throughout the Lochmere neighborhood, car owners can always expect to find free, curbside parking.

Wide and spacious roads combined with pancake-flat streets allow bicyclists to get around with ease. Lochmere Drive has a paved path next to the road ideal for bikers and walkers, while conscious drivers ensure right-of-way to bikers on surrounding drives and streets. Taxis rarely pick up Lochmere residents from the side of the road, and so locals should either call ahead or use ride-sharing services such as Uber for a quick ride.

Cary Transit provides several fixed routes throughout the town of Cary, which includes Lochmere. Route 5 travels down Kildaire Farm Road and Crescent Green Drive, while Triangle Transit Route 305 picks up riders on Tryon Road in front of the Waverly Place Shopping Center. C-Tran also provides door-to-door service for senior citizens and the disabled.

The Lochmere area emphasizes an abundance of trees and green space to ensure healthy, active lifestyles. Lake Lochmere and Lake Lochmond feature pristine views ideal for a walk or a picnic, and although visitors cannot swim at Lochmere lakes, they can still fish for panfish. Watercraft on Lake Lochmere must display a Lochmere boating permit.

Although most residents spend their free time walking or jogging around the lakes, Lochmere also has several neighborhood parks catering to visitors of all ages. The Kids Together Playground in Marla Dorrel Park includes three separate play zones for the neighborhood children, while Harold D. Ritter Park caters to athletes with its baseball fields and basketball court. Neighborhood parks are all free to use, and dogs must be kept on a leash when entering the park grounds. To let Fido run around freely with other dogs in the area, Lochmere residents can travel about 7 miles to find the Cary Dog Park at Godbold Park. This dog park does charge a fee.

Take out the hiking shoes and head over to the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve to discover beautifully wooden trails and well-cultivated hiking paths. Neighborhood hikers and tourist visit this preserve often for the esteemed bird watching and pristine views.

Much of the neighborhood activity occurs at the Koka Booth Ampitheatre at Regency Park. Once fall rolls around and Halloween approaches, this amphitheater transforms into the most popular movie venue for the A Reel-ly Scary Cary festival. Including a haunted house, food vendors and a screening of a horror flick three nights in a row, this festival remains as the ideal way to get into the Halloween spirit.

The cost of living throughout Lochmere is slightly higher than Raleigh averages, though residents can save considerably on goods and services in the area. Newcomers to the area should expect the median rent of an one-bedroom apartment to hover around $900 a month.

Traveling to downtown Raleigh via Cary Transit costs $1.25 for a one-way ticket. Car owners in the area often pay around 3 percent higher than national averages for gasoline. For a pint of beer, locals only need to whip out a crisp $5 bill.

Shopping for household staples as well as brand name clothing and goods has never been a problem for Lochmere residents. The Waverly Place Shopping Center, regarded as one of the most popular shopping malls throughout Cary, fosters shopping convenience for Lochmere residents. Some of the anchors at this expansive mall located along Tryon Road include Violets Boutique and Shower Me with Love, among many others.

Located within the Waverly Place Shopping Center, Whisk endures as the go-to superstore for kitchen supplies and cooking lessons. Dan and Diana Saklad, the founders of Whisk, have a mission to supply Cary and Lochmere residents with unique and innovative kitchen materials, ranging from bakeware to advanced cooking technologies.

The Lochmere Pavilion shopping center provides another charming option for local shopaholics. This center, featuring a small piazza surrounding a fountain, allows visitors to discover several interesting stores. One highly popular store, Swagger Gifts, sells what it calls "Gifts with Attitude." Including decor for the home and bathroom as well as useful travel goods, gardening supplies, and much more, this comprehensive gift store provides an exciting browsing experience.

Lochmere residents have several options when stocking up on both brand name groceries and organic delicacies. The Harris Teeter Supermarket and Whole Foods Market display the largest assortment of various foods, beverages and specialty items. When stocking up on organic fruits and vegetables as well as sustainable meats straight from the countryside, locals can check out the Apex Farmers Market every Saturday between April and October. A little closer to home, LL Urban Farms connects locals with fresh fish delivered daily from the North Carolina coast.