Experience the Best of Western Wake
5 West magazine is devoted to exploring and celebrating life in Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs. This area repeatedly ranks among the top regions in the country to live or work, to find a home or start a business, to raise a family or retire. 5 West is dedicated to covering the topics readers care about – from hometown stories and community spotlights to fashion, food and local trends. Published six times a year, 5 West helps readers enjoy the good life that Western Wake County has to offer.
A Weekend at Leatherwood Mountains Resort
By Jennifer Primrose | At Leatherwood Mountains Resort in Ferguson, the High Country opens up—miles of horse and walking trails, and just enough quiet to remind you why you came to get away from the daily grind.
How Personal Style Shapes Your Living Space
By Rachel Danielle | This exercise shows how you are already creating and showing up for your vision and how you can pull everything together, without spending more money.
Lifeguard certification through the YMCA
By Dolly R. Sickles | A national lifeguard shortage means that your local pool this summer is likely to have shortened hours because there are simply not enough lifeguards.
The Rise of Private Training in Youth Sports
By Kurt Dusterberg | Dan Gill has coached softball for more than 15 years. After years as head coach at Apex Friendship HS, he is now an assistant at Seaforth High School.
Rosé: One of Wine’s Oldest, Most Misunderstood Styles
By Matt Weiss | Somewhere along the way, especially in the U.S., rosé wine became shorthand for sugary, simple, and unserious. A wine for…
The Rise of Wild Mushrooms in North Carolina Kitchens
By Autumn Coleman | The Appalachian Forests are among the most biodiverse in the world. The humid climate during summer breeds around 14,000 different species…
Raleigh Trainers Share Smart Home Workout Tips
By Kurt Dusterberg | We all know that staying active is part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For many people, that includes making regular…
Small Space, Big Soul: Intentional, Unexpected Design
The transition to an empty nest is often framed as a period of loss—the loss of noise, the loss of frantic schedules, and, most commonly,…
The Ellie Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach
By Jennifer Primrose | You think you know Myrtle Beach. The ocean. The boardwalk. The common rhythm of umbrellas, sunscreen, and sandy feet. But perspective…
A Garden Journey through North Carolina
From Murphy to Manteo, North Carolina is home to a variety of vibrant cities, each with its own unique charm. Whenever I travel across the…
Cache In: Geocaching is a way to help clean the trash out
Geocaching is a scavenger hunt for all ages. People around the world put items inside small containers called geocaches or caches and hide them for…
2026 Influential Women of Western Wake – Kenda Kist
By Dathan Kazsuk | I’m inspired by how jewelry can transform how someone feels—fierce, confident, or beautiful.
2026 Influential Women of Western Wake – Kat Hamlil
By Dathan Kazsuk | I started this journey five years ago as a solo cleaner while attending nursing school and supporting my family.
2026 Influential Women of Western Wake – Sheri Hagerty
By Dathan Kazsuk | From thoughtful updates and intentional staging to strategic pricing and elevated marketing, I approach every property as a product that…
2026 Influential Women of Western Wake – Amanda Steinert Francfort
By Dathan Kazsuk | Every turnkey project we get our hands into is a blank slate where structure, emotion (sometimes a lot of it),…
2026 Influential Women of Western Wake – Lauren Burns
By Dathan Kazsuk | I find energy and inspiration in growth. Over the years, learning to adapt and embrace change has taught me to…
2026 Influential Women of Western Wake – Jenn Birch
By Dathan Kazsuk | My inspiration comes from the Birch Therapy team of clinicians and staff. I genuinely look forward to work each day.
Crú Wine Bar Refreshes Menu at Fenton
Dathan Kazsuk | Spend time at Crú, and you already know the drill: Wine flights are kind of their thing. Reds, whites, global…
New Cary Apartments Open at Alston Town Center
A new residential community has officially opened its doors in one of Cary’s fastest-growing mixed-use districts.
Meet the Chef – Bhavin Chhatwani
By Dathan Kazsuk | We’re digging deeper with Executive Chef Bhavin Chhatwani of Tamasha, one of the most exciting new forces redefining modern Indian…
