Perfect Outer Banks Surf. And More on the Way?

Posted on August 27, 2010

A low pressure system swung in from the north east a day or two ago, and it hung off the coast of the Outer Banks long enough to send some amazing surf. Yesterday was about as good as it gets.

Perfect conditions; water temps in the 70′s, air temps in the upper 80′s, a light off-shore wind, and clean waist to shoulder sets lining up one after another.

This video was shot in about 10-15 mintues, and I lost track of the number of great waves and great rides I saw.

Pretty darn close to perfect OBX surf.

Thanks Mother Nature. Please come again soon.

Now we are setting our sights on the two tropical systems moving through the Atlantic. At this point, both Danielle and Earl seem to be staying out to sea. This could spell a very good scenario for OBX surf.

Then again, it could be a lot of water moving around with no surf. Surf conditions are sensitive to say the least, and right now, the winds don’t seem to be cooperating, but who knows, we could be surprised. Definitely worth keeping an eye on.

At this point, the surf report seems to be saying early Monday is the best bet.

Outer Banks Surf Report - 8.27.10

Hurricane Danielle as of 8.27.10

Hurricane Danielle - 8.27.10

Topical Storm Earl as of 8.27.10

Tropical Storm Earl - 8.27.10

Outer Banks Named to Trip Advisor’s Top 10 Labor Day Destinations

Posted on August 26, 2010

Trip Advisor

TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site, today announced the results of their Labor Day travel survey of more than 5,000 TripAdvisor members, and the Outer Banks landed at number 3.

The Fall on the OBX is arguably the best time of year…local’s favorite. Warm weather, warm water, summer crowds are gone. Here’s a list of the Top 10 Reasons to Visit the OBX in the Off Season…including great fall events!

America’s Top Labor Day Destinations

Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Mackinaw City/Mackinac Island, Michigan
Outer Banks, North Carolina
San Francisco, California
San Diego, California
Seattle, Washington
Destin, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
New York City, New York
New Orleans, Louisiana

In addition, TripAdvisor® conducted its annual fall and Labor Day travel survey of more than 2,000 U.S. travelers, and here are some of the Labor Day travel trends.

Labor Day Travel Trends

28 percent expect to travel for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, down slightly from 30 percent one year ago.
Among those traveling for Labor Day weekend, 66 percent plan to drive to their destination, down from 70 percent last year.
36 percent of those traveling for Labor Day weekend plan to fly, up from 33 percent one year ago.
The busiest getaway day looks to be Friday, September 3, with 35 percent planning to travel on this date.
The majority of travelers (39 percent) will travel home on Monday, September 6.

Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Outer Banks in the Off Season

Posted on August 26, 2010

Outer Banks Sunrise

Seaside Vacations, a leading vacation rental company located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, lists the top 10 reasons to visit the Outer Banks during the off season.

Come enjoy the beach all over again this fall with everything you love about the Outer Banks – warm sunny days, refreshing ocean waters, fine dining, natural treasures, historic sites, local attractions – with fewer crowds. The weather continues to stay warm long into September and October; so while the beach beckons, what better place to spend some time than the OBX?

Seaside Vacations has compiled a list of 10 great reasons to visit the Outer Banks in the off season. – everything from savory, fresh-caught seafood to cozy nights by warm fireplaces. While everyone else is paying top dollar to stay during the summer months, you’ll be soaking in the relaxation, solitude and the satisfaction of a fabulous getaway…at a great bargain.

10. Computer? Check. Notes? Check. Brainstorming Sessions in the Sand? Amazing.
Great meetings are about more than what goes on inside the conference room. The Outer Banks has the uncanny power to clear the mind and rejuvenate the spirit, paving the way to productive meetings. The serene setting allows meeting participants to focus their minds and unlock their creativity, ensuring guilt-free breakout sessions on the picturesque beaches. Discover Outer Banks meetings.

9. No Reservations Required
Well-known for fresh, locally-caught seafood, you’ll be delighted by the wide-ranging offering of culinary delights in unique settings – even during the off season. Outer Banks restaurants serve everything from Italian standards, to Southwestern and French cuisine. And the best thing about the off season dining experience? No reservations. No more 45-minute waits. And still just as many delectable choices.

8. Flip Flops Welcome Year Round
No matter the time of year, you’ll find that it is always a great time to be on the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks typically has mild weather year-round with the ocean waters staying warm through November and then warming up again in May. The weather in the fall is ideal with warm days and cool evenings. The ocean water is still warm from the summer months – and not too cool for swimming until almost Thanksgiving.

7. Adventure, History, Culture…and More
From kayaking, hang-gliding and wild horses to famed lighthouses and boutique shopping, there is still plenty of fun to be had in the off season with numerous Outer Banks attractions and activities. The world-class surfing on the Outer Banks reaches its peak in the fall, and the fishing is also at its best with a typical Outer Banks fall morning displaying a gorgeous sunrise silhouetting a shoreline dotted by surfcasting fishing enthusiasts.

6. ‘Tis the Season
The holiday season on the Outer Banks is something to behold! Our barrier island comes alive with festive Outer Banks events that set the stage for fun family reconnecting. From concerts and festivals to art shows and open houses…the holiday cheer abounds!

5. Nights in Rodanthe, Anyone?
Why not leave the family behind…and take some time to rekindle the romance (the sitting-snug-by-a-crackling-fire kind). From long walks by the ocean to brilliant sunsets over the sound, you’ll discover that the romance is all around.

4. A Family Affair
Off season on the Outer Banks is the perfect setting for fun family reconnecting. The vast stretches of empty shoreline, the crashing of the waves, the long walks in the refreshing ocean breezes, all the seashells you can carry and the serene natural beauty—this picturesque scene is staged just for you.

And don’t forget the other members of your family! The off season is the perfect time of year to bring your furry friends for a frolic on the beach in a pet-friendly rental on the Outer Banks!

3. Fully Stocked
So maybe you won’t be donning a bathing suit and lounging on a chaise the way you might under the hot summer sun. If the weather isn’t picture perfect, no matter. Most Seaside Vacations vacation rental homes come stocked with everything you’ll need (and more) to have just as much fun inside as outside. From board games and DVDs, to cozy fireplaces and warm relaxing hot tubs…you’ll find that you may never need to leave.

2. Out of Season Vacations = Out of Your Mind Prices
One of the biggest draws for off-season visitors is the amazing deals they can find on an Outer Banks vacation rental. An impressive eight-bedroom oceanfront house that rents for $10,050 a week in July rents for $2,815 a week in November. And a five-bedroom home drops from $3,720 to $825!

1. Our Pristine Natural Beauty
Spectacular sunrises over the Atlantic. Radiant golden sunsets over the sound. Pristine (and empty) windswept beaches and rolling dunes covered in swaying sea oats. A place of unparalleled beauty where time seems to slow and breathtaking beauty envelops the spirit and sets it soaring. This is the off season on the Outer Banks.

So, if you’re looking to escape the crowds and find a peaceful vacation in a beautiful spot at the edge of the world, visit the Outer Banks in the off season. It just may be that a sweet escape to the wind-swept coast is exactly the getaway you’re looking for.

For more information on a relaxing late summer or fall vacation with Seaside Vacations, please visit www.OuterBanksVacations.com.

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 – 10-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 877.346.8231.

Outer Banks Included in National Geographic’s Top 100 American Adventures

Posted on August 25, 2010

Great Outer Banks Surf

Earlier this year, National Geographic chose the Outer Banks to be included on its list of “Drives of a Lifetime,” and now the OBX has landed on N.G.’s list of the Top 100 American Adventures.

Here’s piece of the praise for the OBX:

“North Carolina’s Outer Banks represent what the eastern seaboard used to look like before all the development and jetties. Left to the whims of the wind and tide, the barrier islands and their dunes change shape from year to year. That makes for an ideal place for beach sports ranging from surfing to striper fishing.”

You can read the full article here.

Outer Banks Art Exhibit

Posted on August 25, 2010

Outer Banks Art Exhibit

Local Outer Banks artists Ben Morris and Ben Miller are combining their efforts to display some recent works on at the Dare County Arts Council Gallery in downtown Manteo.

The exhibit opens on the “First Friday” of September, including an opening reception – September 3, 6-8 pm.

The vibrant colors and seaside flare in their works of art are definitely worth a look.

2010 Outer Banks Pro Surf Competition Set for September

Posted on August 25, 2010

2010 Outer Banks Pro

The 2010 Outer Banks Pro will return to last year’s venue: The Comfort Inn South in Nags Head, North Carolina.

Hurley and Wave Riding Vehicles are dedicated to making this years event the most exciting and lucrative event on the entire East Coast.

The dates are set for September 24-26. Click HERE to stay updated concerning how to enter, total prize money purse, special event perks and hotel room deals for competitors.

Update: OBX Beach Report & Outer Banks Pro – 9.24.10.

Outer Banks Vacation Experience – Over the Rainbow

Posted on August 23, 2010

We recently gave a Flipcam to a group of guests, and this is their Outer Banks Vacation Experience in Nags Head.

They did a great job of capturing their full vacation; starting the week shopping at Harris Teeter, enjoying a BBQ dinner, making the most of the game room, races on the beach, Nags Head Pier at night, an OBX thunder storm, and an awesome rainbow to close out the trip.

We are looking forward to welcoming them back to the OBX soon!

Outer Banks Wind Farm Hits a Snag

Posted on August 20, 2010

Wind Turbine

Duke Energy has been working towards a wind farm along the Outer Banks. The initial plan called for a pilot program in conjunction with UNC Chapel Hill to build three wind turbines in the Sound, but Duke Energy has decided it will not build the three wind turbines in Pamlico Sound as a pilot project..

The costs of the small pilot project were too steep. Duke had estimated the costs at $35 million. But it now believes the costs would be closer to $116 million to build three turbines.

Duke Energy feels the economies of scale still argue that building a large number of offshore turbines would be economically feasible for developers. The problem with the small project is that the utility cannot sufficiently defray the design, permitting and other fixed costs with only three turbines.

Duke Energy does not consider this a failure.

The project has already proved that the best place for building such turbines would be on the ocean side of the Outer Banks. Duke Energy feels that Pamilco Sound is too shallow for the barges that would be required for construction of the offshore turbines. And the greater wind resources in North Carolina are clearly on the ocean side of the Outer Banks.

This may seem like a step back, but Duke Energy is still committed to the wind farm and has increased its investment in UNC Chapel Hill’s study of offshore wind power for North Carolina to $4 million, a $400,000 increase.

2010 Jazz Fest on the Outer Banks

Posted on August 20, 2010

2010 Duck Jazz Fest Lineup

2010 Duck Jazz Fest - Outer Banks

The 4^th Annual Duck Jazz Festival, headlined by San Francisco-based jazz guitarist and vocalist Joyce Cooling and co-hosted by Philadelphia-based jazz musician Gerald Veasley, will be held on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at the Duck Town Park, 1200 Duck Road. The Festival will be begin at 11:00 a.m. and is free to the public.

The current schedule of performances is as follows:

- - - - 11:00 a.m. The Roy Muth Big Band featuring Laura Martier
      - 12:30 p.m. Big Rick and the Bombers
      - 2:00 p.m. Adrian Crutchfield
      - 3:45 p.m. Joyce Cooling

Please be advised that this schedule is subject to change due to weather and performer requirements. For the latest schedule, please visit our website at www.duckjazz.com.

About the performers

Joyce Cooling- Best-known for her eclectic style and colorful body-moving sound, Cooling is funky, soulful, and always original, and is recognized as one of the most dynamic and popular contemporary jazz guitarists in the world. Cooling has recorded seven albums – five of which charted on the Billboard music charts. She has to her credit two number one radio singles, six top 10’s, and 13 charting singles in all. Cooling has garnered multiple music awards, including the “Gibson Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year” and “Best New Talent” in the Jazziz Reader’s Poll. She was a nominee for the California Music Awards, the Oasis Awards, and the Gavin Contemporary Jazz Artist of the Year.

Adrian Crutchfield- Adrian Crutchfield is mostly known for his neo-soul sound. His timbre creates music in a variety of genres including jazz, funk, Latin, and rock. Crutchfield, a saxophone aficionado who’s been playing since he was four years old, recently released his debut C.D., “Private Party,” that highlights his diverse musical interests and talents by featuring his sophisticated sax on jazz, neo-soul, and hip hop tracks. Crutchfield has performed with many internationally known artists, including the 2009 Duck Jazz Festival’s Headliner Kim Waters.

Big Rick and the Bombers- Big Rick and The Bombers have been wowing audiences all over the country since 1994 with their unique style and approach to the classics. They have had the opportunity to perform at festivals across the United States, as well as private parties for various celebrities. This fun band has a diverse repertoire of songs, playing music from the past and present which includes a little something for the young and for the young at heart from jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and blues.

The Roy Muth Big Band- The Roy Muth Big Band, a swing jazz band, plays traditional big, band orchestra-style music. For the 2010 Duck Jazz Festival Outer Banks own, Laura Martier, will lend her elegant vocals to the performance.

Jazz Musician Gerald Veasley to Guest Co-Host the 4^th Annual Duck Jazz Festival

Philadelphia-based Jazz musician Gerald Veasley is set to co-host the 4^th Annual Duck Jazz Festival on Sunday, October 10, 2010, at the Duck Town Park.

The critically-acclaimed Jazz bassist, who was also the Festival’s 2008 Headliner, will return this year to co-host the Festival, as well as host an eventful pre-festival weekend of music and fun beginning on Friday, October 8, 2010 and culminating in the main event The 4^th Annual Duck Jazz Festival.

Veasley comes to the Duck Town Park Stage with an impressive résumé, having recorded with the late Grover Washington, Jr.; Teddy Pendergrass; Dianne Reeves; and Earth, Wind, and Fire vocalist Philip Bailey, to name a few. He has also shared stages with Jazz legends such as Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.

As an educator of music, Veasley’s motto is “to inform and inspire.” He believes information and inspiration are indispensable ingredients to music education. Aside from workshops and master classes, Veasley has taught classes at the University level. He has been artist in residence at the Artist-Teachers institute of Stockton State College; guest lecturer at Dartmouth; instructor at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts; and video instructor on “Solo Bass Techniques” released by CCP Baldwin. He also offers and instructs his own “Bass Boot Camp”.

Veasley currently has eight CD’s to his credit. His 2008 hit Your Move reached #12 on the U.S. Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, and was called “instantly infectious and stylistically versatile” by Jazziz Magazine. He has been voted “Best Electric Bassist” by Jazziz Magazine and recognized in both Downbeat Magazine’s Critic’s and Reader’s Polls.

Outer Banks Classic Brew Thru Inspires Ice Cream Shop – Moo Thru

Posted on August 19, 2010

Moo Thru

The famous Brew Thru stores started along Outer Banks have inspired a popular new ice cream business in Fauquier County, Virginia.

A fourth-generation dairy farmer, came across the Brew Thru stores in Nags Head and decided that a similar concept would work for a store selling milk, ice cream and other dairy products.

And the Moo Thru was born.