Memories with Friends & Family are Priceless…Experience the Seaside Vacations Difference.
Rates From $30/ Per Night / Per Person*
Rent a vacation home at the beach with fully-equipped kitchen and pool for just $30/ per night / per person.
*Rate based on full occupancy per room. Subject to availability.
Discounts On Many Homes
Many of our vacation homes now offer discounted prices.
We Now Offer Payment Plans
Select homes allow you to make three payments instead of two to lower the amount due each payment.*
*Available on select homes. Valid only on new reservations.
Vacation Insurance
We offer Travel Guard, which covers loss of job, medical emergencies, military deployments and more. This is private insurance, a service we make available to our guests. If you would like to have specific questions answered, please call Travel Guard at 888-409-7749.
Outer Banks Harley Owners Group Brings Joy to a Veteran Motorcycle Enthusiast
The Outer Banks Harley Owners Group (HOG) recently took a group ride to visit an 86 year old former member of the group. Jesse Jasielum, an eight year member of the Outer Banks HOG, was an avid motorcycle rider until about three years ago, but now he is living in an assisted living center, spending his days in a wheelchair.
In addition, to being a veteran of HOG, Jasielum is also a Navy veteran and survivor of Pearl Harbor.
This group ride was organized in an effort to brighten Jesse’s day and put a smile on his face.
This is a great example of the local support the OBX HOG’s provide to the area. They are sure to have a great showing for the upcoming Outer Banks Bike Week.
Outer Banks on T.V.
“Cruising Carolina: The Sounds” to premiere March 1 on UNCTV
The newest program in the acclaimed EMMY nominated series cruises on to UNCTV at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 1.
Cruising Carolina: The Sounds is the fourth program in the multiple EMMY nominated series and introduces viewers to charming coastal towns and villages like Hatteras, Manteo, Plymouth, Columbia, Bath, Belhaven and Washington to name a few. The program explores the rivers and sounds, large and small, that make this part of the North Carolina coastline so unique.
Whether it’s the quiet beauty of the Roanoke River, the wide majesty of the Alligator River, the ancient splendor of Lake Mattamuskeet or the excitement of the Pamlico River you’ll experience it all through the eyes of renowned Cruising Guide author Claiborne Young.
Along the way viewers will experience the unique view from atop the Bodie Island lighthouse, feel the exhilaration of kiteboarding along Hatteras Island, witness the courage of the men of the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station, the maritime history of the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and learn the story of the battle of Plymouth and see what inspires a renowned coastal artist.
The afternoon kicks off at 2:30 with an encore presentation of the triple EMMY nominated program, Cruising Carolina: The Lower Banks, an in-depth exploration of the storied lands and waters from Ocracoke Island to Bogue Inlet. Among the highlights of the program are the story of Ocracoke’s mounted Boy Scout Troop; the haunting tale of the ghost village of Portsmouth Island; a visit to Oriental, the sailing capitol of North Carolina; a nostalgic look at Cape Lookout National Seashore; a visit with a group charged with protecting the wild horses of Shackleford Banks and a look at the traditional craft of wooden decoy carving on Harkers Island.
“Cruising Carolina: The Sounds” and “Cruising Carolina: The Lower Banks” are produced by BlueWater Media, a full service television and video production company with offices in Raleigh and Danbury, North Carolina, and hosted by Cruising Guide author Claiborne Young.
Local Outer Banks Surfer
Rob Brown, a local surfer from the Hatteras area, is gaining a lot of notoriety for his surfing prowess. Rob was recently interviewed by ESPN Surfing.
One of his sponsors, Zoo York, has rented a house for Brown and his fellow teammates in Hawaii for the winter. He has been photographed quite a bit on his travels and is starting to gain a lot of media attention from powerful names such as Surfing Magazine and ESM.
Rob expresses his desire to surf on his own and explains that he doesn’t particularly like surfing in contests. The fact that the Hatteras Island native misses surfing his home breaks while in Hawaii says a lot about the OBX surf. Another example of the world-class surf on the Outer Banks.
Positive Signs for Outer Banks Tourism
Outer Banks tourism officials are beginning to notice positive signs for vacation rentals on the Outer Banks this summer.
Carolyn McCormick, managing director if the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau says that in the past couple of years, bookings have remained low until later in the season. She goes on to say that this might be a direct correlation with the economic uncertainty in these times. Despite rough economic conditions nationwide vacation rental earnings for the Outer Banks in 2008 were up 2% from 2007. McCormick Further states “In January of this year, the Outer Banks Tourism website received 1,000 more unique visitors than last year.”
The value the Outer Banks offers remains as strong as ever; the national parks are still free, pubic parking along the beach is free, the beaches are still gorgeous, and the abundance of outdoor activities, and amazing historic and natural treasures has not been diminished. In addition, the plethora vacation rentals in the area help make OBX an affordable vacation destination. Some homes can be as low as $30 per night/per person with a fully equipped kitchen and pool! With a wide variety of homes, an Outer Banks vacation is affordable for any budget and any size group.
Another little known option is travel insurance that will protect the consumer against job loss, and a variety of other vacation interruptions.
Outer Banks National Parks Hope for a Piece of the Federal Stimulus Funds
The National Parks on the Outer Banks are making an attempt to receive stimulus funding to help with the costs of operations and renovations.
The 66 parks in the National Park Service’s Southeast region could get anywhere from $50 million to $100 million from the stimulus plan, although nothing is certain, said Outer Banks Group Deputy Superintendent Darrell Echols. Some of the projects that could be funded for the Outer Banks Group include $1.1 million for road widening and expanded parking, $786,945 to build a four mile long bike path, and a $100,000 to study alternative transportation, all at or surrounding Bodie Island Light Station.
“There’s about 52 million dollars worth of project needs between the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. So the hope is that of the 15 projects on the Outer Banks’ wish list, at least one qualifies,” says Echols.
Outer Banks Surf Legend
The Outer Banks has a long history of great surf and great surfers. Two of today’s professional surfers, Noah Snyder and Jessie Hines, refined their techniques as OBX groms. But a surf culture is more than just the guys paddling in the water. In addition to the support of Mother Nature, a local surf culture requires the support of local businesses, and Whalebone Surf Shop has made countless contributions to the thriving Outer Banks surf scene. Every surf town needs a quality surf shop and Whalebone fits this description well. But more than providing quality equipment, Whalebone has offered support to local surfers, many of whom need sponsorships to survive. Much thanks goes out to Whalebone owner Jim Vaughn.
Jim Vaughn left his South Florida home in 1974 in pursuit of the surfer’s dream; lots of waves and a schedule conducive to riding those waves. Jim ended up on the Outer Banks and opened Whalebone Surf Shop; the rest is surfing legend.
The original shop was opened in 1975 in an old house near Whalebone Junction, thus the start of “Whalebone”. The Whalebone logo, skull and crossbones, is an OBX mainstay. Given the Outer Banks’ pirate history and great surfing conditions, combining the two is nothing short of genius. “Our logo has been good to us. I wanted to capture this area. Plus, I think everyone has a little pirate in them,” Jim commented in a recent article. Bob Hurley, founder of Hurley Enterprises, has this to say about Jim, “I’ve never met a more stoked surfer. He has inspired and nurtured (and tortured) countless groms and is funny as heck. Without guys like Jim, people like me do not exist. He loves his sport and works awfully darn hard. In fact, he is even more relevant today than the day he started surfing.”
Today, Whalebone Surf Shop has locked in two key Mid-Atlantic locations. Between the two shops Jim has managed to maintain a stock of 350-400 surfboards from World renowned shapers such as: Al Merrick, JS, JC, Bill Johnson, Sharp Eye, Surftech, Chili, Stretch, and many more.
Blues Fest on the Outer Banks
Freedmen’s Colony Blues Jam on the Outer Banks
The Freedman’s Colony Blues Jam will take place at Roanoke Festival Park on Friday, Feb 20 at 8pm.
This year’s featured artist will include Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, and Matt Walsh.
Hubert Sumlin is considered to be a legend among blues guitarists; he spent time recording in Chicago with Blues Legend Howlin’ Wolf (aka Chester Burnett). The recordings that Sumlin took lead guitar on eventually ended up in England where they had a great impact on artists such as Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.
Margolin has been involved in recoding with legendary blues artist Muddy Waters and is a major figure in the Chicago blues scene.
Walsh is a blues musician who is originally from North Carolina but is currently based in Wichita Kansas. Walsh’s music is influenced by Southside Chicago Blues of the 1950s.
Tickets are available to be purchased in advance at Manteo Booksellers for $15. Other locations selling tickets are: SSR Music/ Radio Shack; the Music Store in Kill Devil Hills or at the park after Feb 16.
World-Class Surfing on the Outer Banks
“When it comes to surfing, the Outer Banks stands as North Carolina’s most valuable commodity.” Surfline.com, one of the foremost online resources for surfers, does a fantastic job of highlighting the Outer Banks as a gorgeous beach environment and a world-class beach break.
When Mother Nature blesses OBX with the perfect natural elements (wind direction and swell), the Outer Banks is perfectly situated to capitalize on the driving waves: short continental shelf allows waves to reach the beach without being knocked down, curving group of islands allows waves to form in a variety of spots depending on the swell direction and wind direction, beach break that creates shifting sand bars and new breaks on a regular basis.
Local OBX residents and professional surfers, Noah Snyder and Jessie Hines, have teamed with Surfline.com to create an excellent slide show, narrated by Noah and Jessie, that highlights the excellent OBX surf conditions and beautiful surrounding area. The slide show ends with a great description of the elements that set the Outer Banks apart from other surfing locations.
Outer Banks: 1st Annual Jockey’s Ridge Oyster Roast & Recycling
Jockey’s Ridge is the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States. Located in Nags Head, it is one of the most significant landmarks on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Always changing, always beautiful
1st Annual George Barnes Valentine’s Day Oyster Roast & Recycling: February 14, 2009. 10-2 p.m. rain or shine. Eat oysters and help the local ecosystem by planting & creating new environments for the oysters. Bagging of Oysters for a new reef will be taking place; you are welcome to bring gloves join in.
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