Planning the Perfect Texas BBQ in Your New Brazos Valley Home

Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net

After you purchase a new home in College Station, TX or Bryan, TX and settled in for a week or two, you may want to throw a housewarming party for yourself and invited over all your friends both old and new. What better way to celebrate in Texas then throwing a Texas-sized barbecue for the whole neighborhood?

If you come from out-of-state, you may not realize just how serious Texans take their barbecue. If you are not a master with the grill, you might want to hire somebody to handle the meat for you or give it a few practice runs before the day of the party.

These other five tips will help you plan the perfect Texas BBQ to welcome family, friends and neighbors to your new home:

1 – Understand the difference between barbecuing and grilling meat. Barbecuing is a slow process that involves lower temperatures and more time. This is used for thick steaks, large chicken parts and racks of ribs. Grilling is a high heat cooking technique perfect for hamburgers, hot dogs and sausage. Get more than one machine set up and try both.

2 – There's nothing wrong with potluck. Even though you may want to impress your guests with an assortment of your favorite side dishes, friendly neighborhoods have no problem adjusting to potluck style parties. This is a great way to learn more about people who live nearby and their favorite types of foods as well. And if you are an out of stater, it is the perfect opportunity to get introduced to some Texas cuisine.

3 – Always be sure to have enough of a wide variety of beverages. If you are serving alcohol at a Texas style barbecue, make sure there is enough of it for everyone. While you could suggest that people also bring their favorite brew, you need to provide for everyone yourself. Having enough cool water on hand is essential in the hot Texas summers.

4 – Finish the day off with a cool dessert. While pecan pie and pralines are traditional Texas options, people may enjoy having something cool and refreshing to top off all the delicious barbecue food you cooked before. Icebox cakes, gelatin desserts or even just ice cream and sorbet with popsicles for the kids would be refreshing and fun.

5 – Don't forget recreation opportunities at your Texas BBQ. These can be as preplanned as games or competitions or you could just make room for a set of horse shoes and maybe even a sprinkler to cool things down or to keep the kids busy. Invite people to bring along their guitars are harmonicas and have a jam session if you are musically inclined. You can craft or buy simple bean bag toss or ladder ball games. Neighborhood or yard scavenger hunts, water balloon fights or a Frisbee game are other options.

Although food is an important part of any Texas-style barbecue party, the real goal is to meet and enjoy your new neighbors, your old friends and demonstrate your own friendliness and willingness to take part in the neighborhood activities. 

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Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor Bryan-College Station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

3 Ways to Make Kids Feel at Home in College Station, TX

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When the kids in the family have to leave behind for school and friends to move to a new place, they may not see it as a grand adventure and instead see it as a dramatic time of upheaval and disappointment. When you buy a new home with the help of a professional realtor in College Station, TX, you can be sure of getting the right home for your family. This does not necessarily mean the kids will be on board with the change.

Try these three techniques to create a more welcoming, comforting and exciting feel to your new College Station, TX home.

1 – Set up their rooms before they arrive.
Coming into the house for the first time and seeing a bare and empty room as their new safe place can be difficult for kids. There is something comforting about their walls and no furniture. While older kids may enjoy decorating their own room and laying out furniture as they wish, they also need a feeling of comfort and security. Put some of their favorite things in a similar configuration to how they had them at your old home.

2 – Take a walk and of drive through the neighborhood.
To a kid in a new town or city like College Station, TX, halfway down the block is a whole new world. If you want your kids to feel comfortable with the surroundings, make them familiar as quickly as possible. Take them on the first drives to the local stores, the bank and other businesses. Walk around the neighborhood and point out street signs and landmarks so the kid gets to know he or she couldn't get lost just by taking a walk. You may even get the opportunity to meet some of your neighbors.

3 – Plan several weekends of new experiences and day trips.
College Station, TX and Bryan, TX have a lot to offer when it comes to natural beauty, history, culture and just plain fun. When you moved to the area with your kids in tow, it is of great idea to plan some outings that will help you all get used to your new world. These should be tailored to the particular interests of the kids, but can also include other things to expand their horizons.

After all, that is what moving to a new area does for the entire family. After working with a College Station, TX realtor and finding the perfect home, there is still a lot of transitioning to do. Kids who miss their old home, school and friends may have a more difficult time with it. Making things as comfortable and fun as possible will go a long way in helping them feel more at home in their new College Station, TX home.

Featured Land for Sale in College Station, TX

 

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor Bryan-College Station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

Three Natural Reasons to Move to College Station, TX

Image courtesy of Gibbons Creek Reservoir

Besides a great education at Texas A&M University or another nearby school, a low rate of unemployment, wonderful weather and plenty of culture, there are also some perfectly natural reasons to move to the College Station and Bryan, TX region of the country. A College Station realtor can help you find property that suits your family perfectly, but it may be some of the other pieces of land in the area that interests you more. This community is full of parks, nature reserves and beautiful lakes to visit for recreation and relaxation any time of the year.

1 – Gibbons Creek Reservoir

Whether you want to come for the day or stay for a long weekend, the Gibbons Creek Reservoir can provide the best opportunities for fun and adventure. All you have to do is drive a very short distance away from home to reach this multipurpose park. Motorboats, waterskiing, sailing and paddling and jet skis can all be used on the water, but there is also a secure swimming area perfect to escape the heat of the day. Fishing is a popular pastime at this well-stocked lake with a 250 foot pier to fish from. Both RV and primitive camping plots are also available.

2 – Lake Bryan Camping, Boating and the Icehouse

This lake is another great place to go fishing, boating or camping with your friends or family, but it also offers additional entertainment most weekends at the Icehouse. When you select a house to buy in the region from an experienced College Station realtor, you may not even know that such a unique blend recreation and fun exists just a short drive away. You can spend the day sailing across the clear blue waters, go for a nature hike past the campgrounds and round out the evening with live music and drinks at the Icehouse bar.

3 – 52 Additional Parks and Nature Trails

When you and your family first considered moving to Texas, your College Station realtor probably told you many things about the wonderful neighborhoods, schools, culture and entertainment in the area. There are also plenty of neighborhood parks perfect for families with children, natural areas to learn about plants and animals unique to the Brazos Valley region and opportunities to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Not only too many of these parks have fully equipped playgrounds and picnic areas, but they also offer everything from professionally-taught tennis lessons for kids to historical reenactments and computer classes in the pavilion for senior citizens.

There are so many natural reasons to move to one of the fine homes your College Station realtor can find for you. Friendly neighborhoods, exciting nightlife, a great education and employment opportunities all top the list, but when it comes down to making a home in a new place, the surrounding nature and recreation is equally important. All of the amazing parks, lakes and other recreation areas in the College Station and Bryan, TX area will help you enjoy your time living here.

Featured Home for Sale in College Station, TX

 

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor Bryan-College Station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904