Perfect Spring Weekend on the Outer Banks – Taste of the Beach & St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on January 15, 2010

The 2010 Taste of the Beach Festival will serve as both a Spring Festival as well as a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. This is the perfect combination for a spring weekend on the Outer Banks. There are a wide variety of events to choose from. Here are some events listed by Associated Content.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

From A Bubbly Beginning to Kicking’ It Up a Notch, you are going to immerse yourself into the wet life of the beach with entertainment, food, sand and so much more!
The Sanderling Resort and Spa is “the perfect place to be”. Enjoy a pomegranate smoothie and fresh granola while you relax and turn your feet over to the grandiose treatment.
Healthy Eating/Healthy Living Cooking Demonstration by the “The Biggest Loser” finalists, Ed Brantely and Heba Salama.
The Lucky 12 Tavern should get the attention of all lucky Irish folk. Beer and food – making it go together!
The Kick Off Kicks It Up a Notch! The Outer Banks Brewing Station will kick off the party from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM! At the Brewing Station, enjoy appetizers, hear how the Taste of the Beach got started and what it is planning for the rest of the weekend and the future. Have your picture taken with “The Biggest Losers” finalists Ed and Heba.
Salty Food Art Exhibition presented by the Dare County Arts Council at the Outer Banks Epicurean in Manteo, NC. Outer Banks artists and food enthusiasts will exhibit pottery, glass, textiles, photographs, paintings, and more motivated by culinary art.

Great vacation rental homes still available.

NC Aquarium on the Outer Banks Adds Some Bite

Posted on January 15, 2010

: Outer Banks Shark

The NC Aquarium on the Outer Banks has a massive “Graveyard of the Atlantic” exhibit that consists of a 285,000 gallon tank and a variety of sharks. Ten years after the renovated and enlarged aquarium reopened, the sharks remain the most popular of its exhibits. The exhibit, including a 300 pound sand tiger shark, is already one of the most popular stops at the aquarium, but it’s about to become even more popular.

By summer 2010, OBX visitors that venture over to the aquarium will see some additional sharks and additional shark exhibits. The aquarium is planning to open $75,000 worth of new shark exhibits.

The planned exhibits include:

Three new sharks already added to the big tank, and more are expected in the coming months.
Sharks to replace the audio-visual display about storms that had been in the changing exhibit room.
Small sharks called chain dogfish to be displayed in a saltwater gallery tank.
Interactive games, photo opportunities and a touch tank are being discussed as possibilities.
Tropical fish that are commonly called sharks but are not – for instance, rainbow sharks, red tail sharks, and bala sharks – to be displayed in the freshwater gallery.

“Vacation with a Purpose” on the Outer Banks & Help Us Help Haiti

Posted on January 15, 2010

HELP US HELP HAITI.

On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. As Haiti struggles to recover from the devastating destruction, Seaside Vacations has decided to join efforts around the world to assist earthquake victims by promoting the “Vacation with a Purpose” campaign.

From January 18, 2010 – January 22, 2010 book your reservation with Seaside Vacations and we will donate a portion of the reservation revenue to organizations supporting disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

This is your chance to join recovery efforts around the world to assist earthquake victims. By booking your Outer Banks vacation with Seaside, you will be helping disaster victims rebuild their lives and their communities.

Show you care and join Seaside Vacations on our mission to help Haiti.

Book your Outer Banks vacation with Seaside Vacations between January 18, 2010 and January 22, 2010 and a portion of the revenue will be donated to assist earthquake victims in Haiti.

To book your stay, call 877.243.8159. Please mention promotion code HELP.

Seaside Vacations offers a wide selection of Outer Banks vacation rental homes, condos and villas on the beautiful pristine beaches of the Outer Banks.

Choose from charming 1-bedroom condos to expansive 14-bedroom private homes in the towns of Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head.

And also, be sure to check out our Outer Banks vacation specials.

Endangered Sea Turtles Recuperating at Outer Banks Aquarium

Posted on January 13, 2010

Outer Banks Sea Turtle

The North Carolina Aquarium, located on nearby Roanoke Island in Manteo, is helping nurse dozens of sea turtles back to health after being rescued from the Outer Banks’ beaches.

The cold-blooded animals appear to have beached themselves after being stunned by low water temperatures. The turtles are all either of the loggerhead, green or kemp’s ridley varieties of sea turtles.

Outer Banks Clam Chowder

Posted on January 12, 2010

Outer Banks Clam Chowder

It has been on the chilly side lately, and the winter months are a great time for some warm comfort food.

Clam Chowder has always been a favorite of locals on the Outer Banks. This simple, nourishing soup is a go to dish for any cold winter evening. Fish or seafood chowder has been a staple of sea bound countries for years. There are many different varieties of chowder, but we are partial to Outer Banks style that consists of a broth that is more clear than the traditional New England style, flour as a thickening agent, lots of pepper seasoning and the addition of bacon, potatoes and onions.

Outer Banks Clam Chowder Recipe:

Ingredients

12 large fresh clams (or 2 8oz bottles clam juice and 2 7oz cans of minced clams)

1/4 lb fat bacon

2 medium onions, sliced fine

3 medium potatoes cubed

salt and white pepper to taste

2 Tablespoons corn meal or flour

1 cup light cream or half and half

Directions

Scrub clams and boil in enough water to cover just until they open.

Remove clams from shells, chop fine, reserve.

Strain liquid and add enough water to make 6 cups, reserve.

Cut bacon in very small pieces. Fry until crisp and brown.

Add onions, potatoes, clams, and reserved liquid.

Simmer until potatoes are done.

Season with salt and white pepper.

Mix corn meal or flour in a little cold water and stir into chowder.

Add cream.

Serve at once in warm bowls, garnish with parsley.

Moonlight Ghost Tour on the Outer Banks

Posted on January 12, 2010

Moonlight Legend Lore and Ghost Tour of the Whalehead Club at Currituck Heritage Park

Explore the Moonlight Legend, Lore and Ghosts of the Whalehead Club on Saturday, February 6, 2010 beginning at 7:00pm.

This guided tour is the most fun you can have for $14! Maybe you have toured the colorful rooms in the daylight and been curious about what it would feel like to be in the 21,000 sq. ft residence after dark. Our docents have accumulated a treasure trove of legend and lore and invite the brave to come out and hear real ghost stories about previous owners of the Whalehead Club and distinguished visitors to the northern banks of the Currituck Sound. Come dressed for the weather and carry a flashlight.

To get there take Rt. 12 N to Corolla. Currituck Heritage Park is just past milepost 11 by the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Advance reservations are required. Call 252-453-9040 ext. 2.

Visit www.whaleheadclub.org for complete details.

Outer Banks Know Your Park: Torpedo Junction – Shipwrecks of WWI and WWII

Posted on January 8, 2010

Outer Banks Shipwreck

Know Your Park: Torpedo Junction – Shipwrecks of WWI and WWII

Presentation to be held at Salvo Volunteer Fire Station

The National Park Service Outer Banks Group Know Your Park citizen science program series continues with a presentation from Joe Hoyt from the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary on Wednesday, January 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Salvo Volunteer Fire Station. The program is free and will last approximately 1 hour.

Hoyt will speak about his work just off the coast of the Outer Banks including his findings in a recent exploration of the HMT Bedfordshire and other World War I and II vessels.

Mr. Hoyt is a maritime archaeologist serving as a field technician and researcher for the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. He has worked on several NOAA projects in the Thunder Bay, Florida Keys and Monitor National Marine Sanctuaries since 2001. He has worked on underwater archaeology projects in the Great Lakes, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and several inland rivers. Hoyt is also an avid photographer and diver, and has crewed documentary expeditions on BBC’s Planet Earth and PBS. Hoyt holds an MA in maritime history and underwater archaeology from East Carolina University’s Program in Maritime Studies.

The Know Your Park citizen science program series is designed to further connect the Outer Banks communities and residents with the rich natural world and cultural heritage of their neighboring National Park sites; Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Wright Brothers National Memorial and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. “These presentations offer park visitors as well as local residents an opportunity to learn more about, and better enjoy, the coastal environment and their National Parks” stated Mike Murray, Superintendent, Outer Banks Group.

Seaside Vacations & Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Lend a Helping Hand to Those in Need

Posted on January 8, 2010

Seaside Vacations Angel Tree Donation

When it comes to helping those in need, Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty are committed to making a difference each and every day.

KITTY HAWK, NC (January 8, 2010) — Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty, leading vacation rental and real estate firms located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, are committed to improving the community each and every day. Their “Vacation with a Purpose” program encourages employees, homeowners and guests to join their mission and support local non-profit organizations.

They make a difference by building homes for low-income families, providing assistance to those in need and raising funds for charitable organizations. They support organizations such as the Albemarle Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, Outer Banks Relief Foundation, Interfaith Community Outreach, Homes4NC, Dare Education Foundation, The Beach Food Pantry, The Baltimore Station (a charity supporting men, most of whom are veterans, who are transitioning from the cycle of poverty, substance abuse and homelessness to self-sufficiency) and more.

In addition to their year-long efforts, this holiday season they also sponsored The Angel Tree – a non-profit organization that provides much-needed clothing, wished-for toys and other items to the area’s neediest children. This year, Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty chose to support a needy family in Hyde County.

“I am very pleased at the willingness and excitement to support The Angel Tree program. After we matched the contributions from our employees and vendors, we were able to provide what will surely be a wonderful Christmas for a local family, “says Gordon Jones, President of Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty.

Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty would also like to thank the local businesses who help make our donations possible. Special thanks to Travel Guard and VBL Technologies as well as High Cotton – who graciously hosted their holiday donation celebration.

For more information on Seaside Vacations and their wide selection of Outer Banks vacation rentals, visit www.OuterBanksVacations.com – where you can search a wide variety of homes, book online with real-time availability, view up-to-the-minute Outer Banks specials and check out local Outer Banks events. Guests can also follow Seaside Vacations on the Seaside Vacations Blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace.

About Seaside Vacations:
Founded in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1990, Seaside Vacations is a full-service vacation rental management company representing homes from Corolla to Nags Head.

Seaside Vacations offers a complete selection of Outer Banks vacation rentals. Guests can choose from 1 – 14-bedroom private vacation rental homes, condominiums, townhomes and villas. Explore our homes in Duck and Corolla as well as numerous vacation rentals in Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head.

For more information on Seaside Vacations and their wide selection of vacation rentals, visit www.OuterBanksVacations.com or call one a Vacation Specialist at 866.936.4659.

Outer Banks – World-Class Wedding & Honeymoon Destination – Wedding Expo this Weekend!

Posted on January 6, 2010

The Outer Banks is a world-class wedding destination, and the great growth of the annual wedding expo is proof positive.

The 12th annual Outer Banks Wedding Association Expo will be held January 9th and 10th and will feature more than 150 vendors with individual booths. 2010 ticket sales have already far exceeded 2009 and there are still a few days of sales left.

Check-in begins on Friday at the Outer Banks Visitor Bureau Welcome Centers , where participants will receive packets including maps and info for Saturday’s Wedding Tour. Saturday offers the oppotunity of a self-guided tour of wedding related businesses, and Saturday night includes festivities at the Pointe Golf Club with music, drink, etc. While you are sleeping in on Sunday morning the final touches will be put on the booths and displays for the annual Wedding Expo.

While at the Expo, see the fabulous fashion show and register for the ‘Wedding of your Dreams’ drawing to be given away that very afternoon! The Outer Banks Wedding of Your Dreams is an incredible Outer Banks wedding package donated by our members and awarded at the Expo given away each year. You must be present to register and win.

Please stop by our booth to meet our great staff and get some help planning your big day. We will be giving away a complimentary three day stay as well, so please sign-up for the drawing.

We hope to see y’all there.

Baseball on the Outer Banks – New Play-By-Play Annoucer

Posted on January 5, 2010

Outer Banks Daredevils is a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 14th season with 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the CPL, please visit the league Web site at http://www.coastalplain.com.

To see the completed 2010 team schedule, go to OBXDaredevils.com and click the schedule link. Last summer was a banner year for Daredevils, winning the first half CPL North Division title and reaching the semifinals of the Petitt Cup Playoffs. The Daredevils were ranked as high as No. 7 in the weekly Perfect Game Crosschecker poll of the country’s top summer league teams, and had seven league all-stars.

The Daredevils Baseball Club has hired Bryan Holland as its webcaster for the 2010 season. Holland will perform play-by-play duties of all 29 regular season home games and potential playoff contests for the Daredevils. Games are streamed through the Internet via the Coastal Plain League’s Webpass service.

Holland, a 2009 Elon University graduate, currently works as the public address announcer for the Loyola University Maryland and Hood College basketball. While at Elon he did play-by-play for football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball. He finished his college career ranked No. 19 in the country’s top collegiate broadcasters by Sportscasters Talent Agency of America. Holland has also done play-by-play for minor league baseball’s Aberdeen Ironbirds and Frederick Keys, both single A clubs, and earned the title of youngest broadcaster in Minor League Baseball at age 19.

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