Monthly Archives: May 2009

Summer Leisure Travel Seems Stable Despite Struggling Economy

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It has been predicted by industry experts that Americans will take 322 million domestic leisure trips this summer (June, July, August.)  This is a 2.2 percent decrease from last summer, which is relatively stable for the current economic climate that we are facing. 

Consumers are expected to take an average of two summer trips, stay approximately seven nights away from home, and spend more than $900 on their longest vacation.  “Travelers’ resilience is good news for the travel industry and the entire American economy,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Association. “According to our forecast, Americans will do their part this summer to stimulate the economy, save and create jobs and strengthen communities from coast to coast. 

The TravelHorizons survey also revealed that nearly six out of ten (57 percent) intended leisure travelers expect to spend the same number of days on vacation as last summer.  It seems as if industry trends will lean towards travelers taking more day trips or long weekend getaways. 

Travel deals might be one way to convince Americans to go on vacation, and especially the last minute bookings.  It is estimated that 38 million US adults have not decided whether or not they will be taking a vacation this year.  It is thought that these people are waiting for the economy and their personal finances to improve in the upcoming months.

Southern Living Names Outer Banks #1 Memorial Day Getaway

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Southern Living Logo  The Outer Banks took the # 1 spot in Southern Living’s “Top 10 Budget Memorial Day Getaways.”

These are difficult economic times, but time with friends and family is priceless…a great vacation maybe just what you need.  The Outer Banks can be a very economically sound vacation.

Gorgeous vacation rental homes allow you to prepare meals at home to save on food expenses, and many homes have rates starting as low as $30 per night / per person.

Save Vacation Dollars with Meals at Home

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Beach Dollar Sign  Preparing meals rather than dining out is a great way to save money while vacationing on the Outer Banks, and one of the major benefits of vacation rental homes is the fully equipped kitchens that make home cooking easy. 

You might think that slaving over a hot stove while on vacation is the last thing that you would want to do, but the savings is significant and since your friends and family are around, it can be a fun activity.  Planning to cook is the key to great savings on your Outer Banks vacation. 

It’s a good idea to first determine which nights you will be dining in or out.  Then, determine the types of meals you would like to prepare, and try to get all of the groceries for the week in one trip; this may be a lofty goal, but saving trips to the grocery store allows for more time at the beach.  Having plenty of milk, cereal, and deli meats are great ways to let your party fend for themselves during breakfast and lunch.  One great time saver for grocery shopping is to bring as many non-perishables as you can allow space for in your car.

New Outer Banks School in Corolla?

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A Group of concerned parents are interested in starting a new school in Corolla, North Carolina. 

Corolla is one of the most thriving towns on the Outer Banks, and it has not had a school since 1957.  The old schoolhouse is located close to the Currituck Lighthouse and serves as the headquarters and a museum for the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. 

A committee of parents has formed a plan to start a new school, which will most likely be a North Carolina Charter School.  The group will be looking for support and ideas at a public meeting, which will take place May 17th.  If everything works out, the group will select a board, start a nonprofit, apply to the state charter office in February 2010 and, if accepted, open in the fall of 2011.  Many members of this group hold undergraduates and graduate degrees with a background in nonprofit companies.  Currituck County currently sends a 40 passenger bus to pick up three children.

Public Access to Hurricane Data will Help Preparation Along the Outer Banks

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National Hurricane Center meteorologists are creating a new tool that can significantly help hurricane prone areas make pre-storm preparations.

The National Hurricane Center is putting storm surge data online to help emergency managers determine if their areas will be flooded by coastal waters surging during hurricanes.  This data will be available to the public online helping businesses and homeowners predict the probability of a storm surge affecting property, and vacationers in coastal destinations, like the Outer Banks will have a tool to help predict the impact of the approaching storm. 

The tool will combine graphic computer modeling with Google mapping to help the user find, as an example, the probability that a storm will deliver an 8 foot storm surge to our beach.  Storm surge is generally the most fatal factor of any major Hurricane.  Storm surges were responsible for killing an estimated 1500 people during Hurricane Katrina.  The probability indicator will use approximately 250 different computer models of a storm that will be able to predict a number of aspects of Hurricane damage.  For example, the machine might predict a 60 percent chance of a 9 foot surge, suggesting that the owner of a beachfront house on 8 foot pilings should take precaution.

The Wailers Come to the Outer Banks

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Bob Marley & The Wailers  The Wailers, Bob Marley’s band, will be making a stop on the Outer Banks this week.

The Wailers will be playing a live show on Thursday May 14th at the Pit Surf Shop and Boardriders Grill in Kill Devil Hills. 

The Wailers will be forever associated with the songwriter Bob Marley.  Together, the band achieved international fame in the 70s and is still recognized by people around the world as outstanding artists.  Their sound is very fitting for the OBX lifestyle and mentality.  In recent years the band has played with artists such as Sting, Carlos Santana and Stevie Wonder. 

The band will kick off at 10:30 p.m. Tickets will be $25 in advance and $30 at the door.  The Pit is located at milepost 9 on US 158.

The Outer Banks has Pleanty to See and Do…Roanoke Island Festival Park

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The Outer Banks has an endless supply of great attractions…historic, natural, artistic, shopping, eating, and the list goes on.  Here’s a list of 100 to choose from.

For this post, we’ll focus on one attraction that offers a lot to see and do in one location: Roanoke Island Festival Park.

The park, built in 1998, is a 25 acre, state run facility which features living-history programs, live musical performances, art shows, nature trails, and the Elizabeth II, a replica of a 16th century ship. The park is opened seven days a week from 9 – 5.  There is a nominal fee for full admittance, but it is well worth it.

One of the many highlights of the park is its art gallery.  The gallery changes displays throughout the year, and currently the gallery is featuring the Molly Fearing Art Show through May 27th.  Works from over 100 artists are displayed in the 11th annual event.  The show is named in honor of the great patron of arts and one of the founding members of the Dare County Arts Council.  All mediums of art will be present in this show, from watercolors to pottery.

Old Deeds Could Save Millions for New Outer Banks Bridge

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outer-banks-bridge  Plans to replace the bridge over the Oregon Inlet on the Outer Banks have been discussed for years.  It is a complicated project, but two old deeds found recently may help the planning and create a large savings for the new OBX bridge. 

A State transportation official has indicated that the discovery of two old deeds will help North Carolina save $300 million in the replacement of the bridge across the Oregon Inlet.  The existing bridge, named the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, was built in 1963.   The deeds were discovered in the archives of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.  The documents where dated from 1953 and 1968. 

These deeds give the state the right of way through the wildlife refuge.  This gives the State the ability to create the most cost effective approach rather than following the restrictions set by the refuge, and as a result there could be a significant savings in design and construction costs.  The cost for this project is estimated to be between $1.1 to $1.4 billion.