Monthly Archives: May 2010

OBX Pic O’ the Day: An Outer Banks Original

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OBX Pic of the Day: An Outer Banks Original

Established in 1977, Brew Thru is an Outer Banks icon that has stood the test of time. The Brew Thru offers a wide variety of adult beverages and their unique t-shirts are always a hit, but the true beauty of the Brew Thru is its simplicity. Need some beer but don’t feel like getting out of your car?…bingo! Brew Thru it is. Brew Thru, we salute you; keep up the good work.

PS – the Brew Thru also puts on a great Blues festival at the end of summer (8/21).  Seaside Vacations is a proud sponsor of the Bluez & Brewz festival (http://www.bluezandbrewz.com/).  We have some great vaction homes still available!

Outer Banks Brew Thru

Outer Banks Brew Thru

The Outer Banks is the Perfect Summer Vacation

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Recently, the Baltimore Sun wrote a series of articles about the Outer Banks encouraging Baltimore residents to hit the OBX for their summer vacation. 

With beaches like Ocean City, Maryland becoming increasingly bombarded with more and more people every year, the Outer Banks still has many areas that have maintained their quaint charm and sense of seclusion on the beach. There are different towns on the Outer Banks, and each of them has their own sense of charm, and all of the towns remain very family friendly.  Weather you stay in Duck or Nags Head, you and your family will be extremely happy with your trip to the Outer Banks. 

The first article, entitled Outer Banks: Hundreds of Miles of Vacation Fun, highlighted the area and a list of restaurants, activities, accommodations, etc.  As the article highlights, there is no shortage of fun things to do on the OBX. 

25 Things to do on the Outer Banks was the second article in the series that serves as a great checklist for visitors to the Outer Banks to enjoy all of the fun activites on the OBX.  The 25 activitites on the list are as follows:

1. Spend time in Historic Manteo.
2. Go for a bike ride.
3. Picnic at the marina.
4. Celebrate the Fourth.
5. Run for your life.
6. Pump iron.
7. Go fly a kite
8. Learn how to hang glide
9. View fine art.
10. Visit The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
11. Eat local.
12. Visit Bodie Island Light.
13. Climb Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
14. Check out The Lost Colony
15. Discover flight
16. See a play.
17. Take a stroll.
18. Visit The Elizabethan Gardens
19. Take in the Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods Preserve
20. Get a massage
21. Go fish
22. Go Golfing
23. Read a Book
24. Shop ’til you drop.
25. Relax

Outer Banks Events Calender serves as a excellent events guide for visitors to the Outer Banks and was the last article in the series. 

We still have great vacation rental homes available.

Army Captian Completes an Ultramarathon on the Outer Banks

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To celebrate his safe return from Afghanistan, Army captain, Zack Keefer, ran 180 miles across the Outer Banks over the course of a week!  Amazing!…7 marathons in a row…day after day!  Not my idea of a celebration, but to each their own. 

Keefer is an ultramarathoner and Ironman triathlete who has run a variety of grueling races; an Ironman in Hawaii, the Sierra Nevada 100, and he’s training for Marathon des Sables, a 145 miles run across the Sahara desert!  Clearly an experienced runner, Keefer set out from the Northern beaches of the Outer Banks, where the road meets that sand, and ran to Emerald Island with only a 13 pound back pack containing 5 gallon jug of water, some MRE’s (army issued Meals Ready to Eat).  It’s about 50 miles from Currituck Beach Lighthouse to Bodie Island Lighthouse and about 100 miles to the ferry dock in Hatteras.

The run went well, and in 2012, when he completes his Army commitment, Keefer would like to make this a formal race; a few hundred runners pounding the sand from one end of the Outer Banks to the other.  (Keefer has reserved a website: www.obxultramarathon.com)

Hands Across the Sand Coming to the Outer Banks

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Hands Across the Sand

Hands Across the Sand

The essence of the Outer Banks is contained in its pristine, natural setting, and the area depends on healthy estuarine and ocean ecosystems to survive.  If the OBX environment is threatened, so too is the OBX way of life. 

The recent lifting of the federal moratorium on offshore oil drilling and horrible environmental catastrophe plaguing the businesses, livelihoods and ecosystems of the Gulf Coast are raising serious questions and concerns for all Outer Banks enthusiasts.  As a result of these concerns, the Sierra Club and the Outer Banks Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation have organized a “Hands Across the Sand” event for the OBX to protest offshore oil drilling in North Carolina.

  • June 26th at
  • 11 AM at the
  • Bonnet Street beach access

This very same protest led Florida to ban off-shore oil drilling in their state before the recent debacle in the Gulf Coast. The hope is that the same can be accomplished in North Carolina.  Please invite your friends, families and neighbors to join. This can help send a clear message of opposition to an industry that places the people, places, wildlife and businesses in jeopardy….and preserve the Outer Banks natural wonders for generations to come.

For more information visit http://handsacrossthesand.org/ , http://nottheanswer.org/

OBX Pic O’ The Day…and Rad Surf Report

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OBX Pic of the Day: Red Flagged

A low pressure system in the middle of the Atlantic is sending some angry water towards the OBX.  Seas are raging for the next day or two, but by Thursday a nice westerly wind should usher in warm temps and some good sized, clean surf…Perfect timing for Memeorial Day weekend! Bring your board if you’re heading to the Outer Banks this weekend….and if you’re not heading to the Outer Banks…why not?!

Outer Banks Red Flag (No Swim)

Outer Banks Red Flag (No Swim)

The surf report looks pretty stellar for the Outer Banks towards the end of the week and into Memorial Day weekend.  How does clean chest to head sound?…get the wax out!

OBX Surf Report - 5.25.10

OBX Surf Report - 5.25.10

OBX Pic O’ The Day: Warm Water!

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OBX Pic of the Day: Warm Water!

Wow, what a beach day! Sun is shining, warm temps, light breeze, gorgeous green/blue water, but most importantly, warm water! The water is warm enough to surf without a wetsuit!

Here’s a fun pic of a skimboarder, but the key point is just boardshorts!

Outer Banks Skimboarder

Outer Banks Skimboarder

Outer Banks Icon Lives On – Serendipity Ready for Renters!

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Serendipity Moved & Under Renovation

Serendipity Moved & Under Renovation

Serendipity Moved & Under Renovation

Serendipity Moved & Under Renovation

Hundreds of fans of the house from Nights of Rodanthe have made the road trip to photograph the iconic house, and now lucky renters can enjoy the home from the inside. Serendipity has recently been renovated and is ready for its summer renters. 

The home was  forced to relocate after Dare County determined it was a nuisance due to its precarious position perched over the crashing waves of the Atlantic.  The home was recently sold, and now that the home is safe, the new owners feel that it is high time that the home be reborn.  In April, 2009, Ben and Debbie Huss were among the tourists who came to Hatteras to see the house after they saw the movie. Many people fell in love with the cottage and as you could imagine, it books solid during the summer months.  When it came time to sell it, the Huss’s were there to buy it. Ben and Debbie Huss bought the home in 2009 because they had loved the house for a long time.  

New Outer Banks Bridge Moving Forward?

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Mid-Currituck Bridge

Mid-Currituck Bridge

Another public hearing has been held regarding the construction of the Mid-Currituck bridge. More than 60 people showed up to the hearing, and it seemed that even though the group was rather small, each had very strong opinions about the bridge. Yvonne Avery, who lives in Aydlett, noted that the North Carolina Turnpike Authority had assured property owners and businesses that they would be made whole with fair compensation if the bridge displaced them. The small mainland community with expansive views of the Currituck Sound would be at the western terminus of the bridge. “When you change a community’s way of life, how can you make that whole again?” she asked. On the other side of the Argument, Mayor Hal Denny of Southern Shores is in favor of the project due to the amount of traffic that the town sees as a result of traffic to Corolla. The project is expected to cost anywhere from $600 million to $816 million, with a toll that will range from $6 to $12.  Other arguments included a county commisioner saying that our area desperately needs this bridge due to the fact that police cars will be able to travel to Corolla in 10 minutes rather than driving the hour long commute. 

Here is a brief recap of the proposed project according to the North Carolina Turnpike Authority:

Description
New location roadway, including a proposed bridge over the Currituck Sound, from Currituck County mainland to the Currituck County Outer Banks.

Length
Approximately 7.0 miles

Estimated Cost
Preliminary cost is estimated at $659.2 million. Final costs will be determined during design.

Free alternate route
Existing US 158 across the Wright Memorial Bridge, then NC 12.

Timeline
Draft Environmental Impact Statement Completed

Final Environmental Impact Statement 3rd Quarter 2010

Record of Decision 4th Quarter 2010

Project Open to Traffic Late 2014