Outer Banks Named to Travel Channel’s Top 10 “Best Family Beaches”
The Travel Channel recently compiled a list of The Best Family Beaches in America.
Duck, located on the northern part of the Outer Banks, landed at # 8. The review highlights the quaint village setting and great family atmosphere that Duck has to offer. Most rental homes in Duck are located only a short walk away from the beach, so transportation is never a problem. If you enjoy dining out, Duck also has something for everyone. Duck is also are great place to go out shopping on a rainy day.
Here are the top 10 beaches named by the Travel Channel:
U.S. Beaches
1. Coronado Beach, Calif.
2. Nantucket Island, Mass.
3. Newport Beach, Calif.
4. Santa Barbara, Calif.
5. Panama City Beach, Fla.
6. Siesta Key, Fla.
7. Poipu Beach, Hawaii
8. Duck, N.C.
9. Hilton Head, S.C.
10. Kiawah Island, S.C.
Plenty of vacation rentals available for the summer season. Great deals of more than 20% off on almost all homes! Homes as low as $30 per night / per person.
Outer Banks National Parks Get Much Needed Funding
The National Park group now has $4.1 million to tend to long-neglected maintenance in the parks and to historical structures.
A substantial amount of this money is available to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial. This money will be used for some subtle changes that are part of standard upkeep for these facilities. Repairs such as replacing park signs, fixing picnic tables and some electrical repairs. Some of the funds will also go to repairing some of the lighthouses on the Outer Banks, Bodie Island and Ocracoke.
As recently as two years ago, these parks were running on little to no budget and federal funding. “It’s absolutely a breath of fresh air that the Obama Administration has looked very closely at the National Park Service needs,” says Darrell Echols, deputy superintendent of the National Park Service Outer Banks Group.
WWII on the Outer Banks
Author, researcher, filmmaker and history detective Kevin Duffus spoke on Tuesday at Piedmont Crossing about the role the state of North Carolina played in the second World War. The lecture was titled “War Zone.”
During the War, the Outer Banks was a dwelling place for German U-boats and ship attacks. Duffus has developed a collection of eyewitness accounts of people that lived on the Outer Banks during 1942.
“Sandbreaking” for New Outer Banks Pier
North Carolina state Governor Bev Purdue said that she was astonished to see that a bill had arrived to her desk which asked for authorization of construction of the North Carolina Aquarium Pier in Nags Head. “I almost got my veto stamp out,” joked Purdue, “and said, who stole the money from Jennette’s Pier?” The pier will keep its name thanks to over 1000 petitioners that fought to keep the original name.
On Friday, a “sand breaking” ceremony was held which brought out the governor and about 300 people.
Wilmington contractor Clancy & Theys is planning on beginning construction in early June. The pier should reach completion in about two years.
Sea Turtles on the Outer Banks
The American Tortoise Rescue is a organization that was founded in 1990 in Malibu California. This group founded National Turtle Day in 2000. On this holiday the group wanted to call attention to some of the issues that threaten the turtle populations of the world today. Here are some highlights that we thought might be interesting to point out.
What to do if you find a turtle that is healthy?:
If the turtle is not is any serious harm, then you should not attempt to move it. It is also not a good idea to take a turtle home. Taking the turtle away from its natural habitat can be harmful to the turtle.
What if this turtle is injured or sick?
Call the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter at 252-240-1200. Many times the turtle will not need medical attention. If the turtle is injured, then it is a good idea to keep the turtle in a box(obviously sized according to the size of the turtle)
For more information, visit the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter online, www.owlsonline.org.
Life Saving Stations of the Outer Banks
A new search aid is now available on the Outer Banks History Center’s “finding aids” page. This new section is titled Lifesaving Stations of the Outer Banks Collection, 1874-1988.
This Collection was put together by Steven Harrison, who is an employee of the National Park Service, on Cape Hatteras. Harrison served as Chief of Resource Management.
The collection includes the name of the station, the dates the stations were active, United States Coast Guard number, architectural style, and rescue/wreck locations.
Dogs on the Outer Banks
Dogs are a part of the family, and the four-legged family members love vacation too. The Outer Banks is very dog-friendly, but it’s worth it to plan ahead.
If you plan to bring your dog to the Outer Banks this summer, here are some tips to make your travels easier:
- Do be up to date with your dogs vaccinations
- Make sure your dog is a nonaggressive dog that will get along with people and other dogs
- This one is a no-brainer: Make sure your dog is housebroken!
- No off-limit chewing- If you have a dog that is teething or loves to chew, pack some of your pup’s toys with you
- Never leave your pet unattended
- Pick up after your pooch
- Teach your pup basic commands
By taking these precautionary measures before and during your vacation, it will make your dog-friendly vacation much more enjoyable and stress free.
Plenty of pet-friendly homes still available for your Outer Banks Vacation.
Once Again, the Outer Banks Makes Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beach List
DrBeach.org has recently released a top ten beaches to visit list, and once again the Outer Banks is represented on the list (Ocracoke was voted #1 beach in 2007).
Hatteras Island has received the honor of being included on this list at number 7. Hatteras is often considered to be home of the best surf on the east coast. It is also a very quaint fishing village with a rich history. The National Seashore is a great attraction to visitors who enjoy nature and wildlife.
AMERICA’S BEST BEACHES 2009
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