EP 50: Brandon McCraney, Founder of Olde Raleigh Distillery

In this episode we chat about the current Raleigh real estate market with our realtor partner, Chuck Belden, a local full-service and client-centered realtor. Chuck shares valuable insights into the current state of the Raleigh market for the first quarter and looking ahead, including: Is it a buyers or sellers market? Current inventory for sale (supply & demand) Are prices rising, stabilizing, or declining? Average time on market? Current average home price in Raleigh Current interest rates and their impact What factors are driving the Raleigh real estate market right now? Good value neighborhoods Advice for buyers and sellers Due dilligence fee trends Emerging trends And much more! RESOURCES: All episodes: https://thisisraleigh.com/category/raleigh-life/raleigh-podcast/ 13 great places to live in Raleigh 5 top neighborhoods in Wake Forest 5 top neighborhoods in Apex 11 top neighborhoods inside the beltline

In this episode we share 14 years of tips and lessons as "Influencers" and content creators. We have partnered with some of the biggest brands in the world such as American Express, Qantas, Canon, Ford, and destinations like Visit California, Visit Florida, and Tourism Singapore. Our experience is spread over several platformas such as blogging, Facebook, Instagram and podcasting. If you're a brand looking to hire influencers, we have helpful insights for you. And if you're an influencer looking to build a business, we have been there and done that and have many tips to share!  RESOURCES: About ThisIsRaleigh.com Press on yTravelBlog.com    

We love to travel and sharing our tips. After visiting 50+ countries and living in 5 countries, we have lots to share from domestic getaways from Raleigh, to internatinal trips.  In this episode we are chatting about one local and one international destination; Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, and London in the UK! What to see, do, eat and where to stay in each destination, how to get there, getting around tips and much more!  RESOURCES: Biltmore Estate: Guide to visiting Biltmore Estate Charming stay at the Inn on Biltmore 48 hours in downtown Asheville Lake Lure getaway London: 33 things to know before traveling to London 55 tips for getting around London 24 places to visit in London 3 day London itinerary 7 day London itinerary 16 great pubs in London Where to stay in London          

We love getting local insights about Raleigh, and it would be hard to find someone with their finger on the pulse of what's happening in Raleigh more than Jessica Holt, the Public Relations and International Tourism Manager at Visit Raleigh.  In this episode we ask Jess about what she thinks sets Raleigh apart from other cities as a tourist destination, how has Raleigh's tourism landscape evolved over the years what she sees for its future, her must-visit attractions, places to eat and drink, her favorite festivals, what advice she would you give to someone planning their first trip to Raleigh, and much more! RESOURCES: 25 top trails in Raleigh Top festivals in Raleigh Brewgaloo Beer Fest Dreamville Festival 20+ top breweries in Raleigh Top Raleigh restaurants Family fun in Raleigh VisitRaleigh.com

Spring is one of our favorite times to get outdoors and enjoy the vibrant Raleigh lifestyle. The weather is warming up, the gardens are blooming, and there are fun festivals & events. In this episode we talk about all the fun things to do in Raleigh during Spring, inlcuding best gardens, events, places to eat outside, trails and much more! RESOURCES: 40+ things to do in Spring Art in Bloom at NC Art Museum Dreamville Festival CueGrass Fest Brewgaloo Fest Spring Daze  Artsplosure Rose Garden Dorothea Dix Park WRAL Azalea Garden Duke Gardens Juniper Level Botanic Garden Oakwood Garden Tour Strawberry Picking Places to eat outside in Raleigh 25 trails in Raleigh

We are recent pet owners, two cats, and we know how much you guys in America love your pets. I think we are the only people in Raleigh without a dog, lol.  In this episode we talk about pet-friendly businesses in Raleigh including restaurants, breweries, dog parks and trails. And we also discuss adaption centers, pet supply stores, vet care, and much more! RESOURCES: SPCA of Wake County Second chance pet adoptions  Wake County animal center  Safe haven for cats Unleashed Pet Supplies Plus Pet Mania Chewy.com Trusted Housesitters (use code: YTRAVEL25 for a 25% discount) Leash laws in Wake County Pooper scopper law See all podcast episodes here.   

Spring Break a little early this year, mid - end of March with Easter Sunday being on March 31. In this episode we share Spring break getaway ideas from Raleigh that are easy to get to by driving. Plus, some fun international destinations that have direct flights! If you're looking for Spring Break tips and inspiration, listen in get ready to pack your car or dust off your passport! Here is our spring break getaway from Raleigh guide with more information: https://thisisraleigh.com/spring-break-destinations-from-raleigh/ RESOURCES: 18 fun things to do on Ocracoke Island Spring mountain getaway to Virginia’s Blue Ridge 3 day Washington D.C. itinerary Top places to go in the North Carolina Mountains 48 hours in downtown Asheville Guide to Wilmington, NC 13 great beaches near Raleigh 15 fun day trips from Raleigh Top things to do in Beaufort, South Carolina 3 day London itinerary 4 days in Paris itinerary Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia Unicoi State Park & Lodge, Georgia

Looking to explore Raleigh as a local in 2024? Here are our suggestions for the best things to do in Raleigh including the outdoors, food, breweries & bars, family fun, festivals, sports, and neighborhoods.

https://thisisraleigh.com/raleigh-trails/2023 is the Year of the Trail in North Carolina and we're grateful to live in an area that has so many awesome opportunities for walking and biking trails. In this episode we share our favorite trails in Raleigh and tips for what to take to get you up off the couch, out the door, and hitting the excellent greenway and forest trails we have at our disposal. WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT: Lake trails Greenway trails Bike trails Umstead State Park Hiking with kids Tips for what to take when hiking RESOURCES: 25 best trails in Raleigh Umstead State Park trails 12 kid-friendly trails in Raleigh Tips for hiking with kids Full guide: https://thisisraleigh.com/raleigh-trails/                  

Brandon McCraney is the owner, operator, and master blender at Olde Raleigh Distillery in Zebulon with a focus on the art of blending and distilling spirits, and he's been on a mission to make damn good whiskey since its establishment in 2017. In this episode Brandon shares the differences between whiskey and bourbon, the many challenges he faced getting off the ground, the process of blending, what makes Olde Raleigh different from other distilleries, why he chose Zebulon and the community response, and much more!   WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT: Bourbon vs Whiskey Challenges he faced getting the distillery off the ground How his military background helped him stay the course. The process of blending spirits How to know what flavor profiles go well together. Where he sources his barrels, and why they are important. What makes Olde Raleigh different from other distilleries! How to taste test bourbon Different ways to drink it. Why he opened in Zebulon, and the community response. The different aspects of his distillery and what you can do there. And much more! REOURCES: OldeRaleighDistillery.com Tours of Olde Raleigh Distillery Olde Raleigh Whiskey Society