OBX Pic O’ the Day: Fresh & Local

Posted on August 6, 2010

Fresh and the Outer Banks definitely go hand and hand; fresh seafood, fresh salt air. However, thoughts of the Outer Banks don’t necessarily conjure pictures of fresh fruit and veggies, but they should.

As you drive south to the OBX along Rt. 158, you pass through a number of communities in Currituck County that have a strong history of farming. Many of these farms still operate today, and for the lucky traveler, the farms have set up great “farm stands” along Rt. 158. The stands are full of mouthwatering fruits, veggies, pies, ice cream, etc.

If nothing else, the farm stands give you a great reason to get out and stretch your legs, but I predict it will be more than just a pit stop. Fun will be had, fruits will be purchased, and you’ll help support a local farmer.

After all, who doesn’t love some fresh, local watermelon while you’re sitting on the beach?!

Fresh & Local - Outer Banks

First Friday on the Outer Banks – Tonight 8/6

Posted on August 6, 2010

Manteo Map

Music:
To Be Announced – find out when we get there I guess. :)

Art:
Dare County Arts Council Gallery, reception 6-8 p.m.; painting demo by local artist Catherine Hamil at Washed Ashore in the Phoenix Shops

Activities:
Historic Inn Crawl, 4-6 p.m. (a self-guided tour); wine tasting from local Scuppernong vineyard at the Full Moon Cafe with local artist E.M. Corsa in attendance to sign her wine label designs; roving caricature artist (drawings for a fee); Magic Mike’s sleight of hand and balloon sculptures; Kitty Hawk Kite’s rockclimbing wall; yarn spinning demo at Kimbeeba Yarns; belly dancers, yoga and pilates demos, mini-massages around the downtown; aquatic arts and crafts with the Outer Banks YMCA; costumed interpreters from The Lost Colony, North Carolina Aquarium and Festival Park; free essential oil samples and discounts at Theraroma in the Phoenix Shops; 10% discount at Stock-Aide General Store

Outer Banks On List of Top Ten Weekends on the Water

Posted on August 5, 2010

Outer Banks Sunset

Away.com recently compiled their list of Top Ten Weekends on the Water, and the Outer Banks came in at #2.

Away.com’s OBX description covers a wide variety of the amazing qualities the Outer Banks has to offer

Wide beaches
Temperate weather
Great opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, and parasailing
A chance to glimpse herds of wild horses at play
Also famous for Jockey’s Ridge, the largest natural live dune on the East Coast
Historic attractions include the site of the first American colony on Roanoke Island
Check out vestiges of that age at the Elizabethan Gardens and the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
It was also in the Outer Banks that the Wright Brothers conducted their first experiments, which eventually led to the first powered flight in their airplane.
In addition to the stunning landscape, there are plenty of great places to eat and drink on the Outer Banks.

Surfing for Autism on the Outer Banks

Posted on August 4, 2010

Surfing for Autism

A great OBX surfing event for a great cause…Surfing for Autism planned for August 14th for individuals with Autism.

Local surfers along with therapists and teachers are donating their time to give children with autism an opportunity to surf.

30 slots available to the first 30 who register.

DATE
August 14, 2010 (Saturday)

TIME
9:00am-12:00pm – Surf Appointments (received after your registration) & Beach Activities
12:00pm-Until Surfers Pass Out – If you’re child enjoys their scheduled surf experience, after 12pm they have an opportunity to surf some more!

REGISTRATION
Register here. You’ll receive an email to verify your registration and provide your child’s appointed surf time.

Outer Banks Named in TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Aviation Attractions

Posted on August 4, 2010

Wright Brothers Monument - Matt Lusk

TripAdvisor, home of the “world’s most trusted travel advice,” recently compiled a list of the Top 10 Aviation Attractions, and the OBX, specifically, the Wright Brothers’ museum and monument, came in at #3.

Here’s what they had to say, including a link to reviews on TripAdvisor:

3. Back to the Beginning: Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
For enthusiasts looking to go back to the beginning of air travel, there’s no better place than the Wright Brothers National Memorial on the site where Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first successful plane travel over one hundred years ago. Travelers can re-trace the routes where the Wright Brothers tested out their first aircraft and explore the on-site museum and its collection of models, tools, and machines used by the pioneering, high-flying duo. As one TripAdvisor traveler puts it, “this was the highlight of our trip to the Outer Banks.” Admission: $4.00 for adults, free for children.

PS – this is a National Park, so there is free admission August 14 & 15, 2010.

OBX Pic O’ the Day: BBQ…NC Style!

Posted on August 3, 2010

Are you aware that North Carolina is the Barbecue Capital of the World? Sure enough, NC is known as the “Cradle of Cue”….well, that’s what the North Carolina Barbecue Society says anyway.

North Carolina is one of the few states with a long legacy of great barbecue, and the NC BBQ is unlike any other. Slow pit cooked, extra vinegar…mmmmmm.

So, “when in Rome…”

High Cotton is one of the best BBQ spots on the Outer Banks, and it is centrally located in Kitty Hawk (just across from the Hilton Garden Inn), so it is easily accessible.

When you go in, ask for Will and tell him Seaside Vacations sent you…see if he’ll give you couple extra hush puppies.

Enjoy…and try not to spill on your shirt.

Outer Banks BBQ - High Cotton

Outer Banks Weather & Sky Photography Exhibit

Posted on August 3, 2010

Eve Turek - Outer Banks

The Outer Banks is a natural wonderland; a Nationally recognized and persevered seashore, the tallest sand dune on the east coast, mile upon mile of undisturbed beaches, wild horses, sunrises and sunsets over vast bodies of water, and the list goes on. One of the most mesmerizing natural elements along the Outer Banks is weather patterns that change on a daily, if not hourly, basis and the resulting colorful displays in the skies.

As a result of this amazing mix of natural elements the OBX is a favorite muse for photographers far and wide, including many that call the Outer Banks home.

From August 1^st through August 30^th, the art gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park is featuring an amazing exhibit of weather and sky photographs from three great Outer Banks photographers.

August 1-30.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Mon-Fri) 10 a.m. 4 p.m. (Sat)

The three are well-known Outer Banks photographers with a passion for weather, sky and its moods.

For more information: (252) 475-1500 of www.RoanokeIsland.com.

Watermelon Festival on the Outer Banks

Posted on August 3, 2010

Outer Banks Watermelon Festival

4th Annual Watermelon Festival
August 12th, 2010

Kitty Hawk Kites and the Wright Flight Foundation will hold the 4th Annual Watermelon Festival on Thursday, August 12, at the Kitty Hawk Kite store in Nags Head (mile post 12.5).

The festival is a big outdoor summer bash with a homegrown backyard feel. It is one of the most unique festivals on the Outer Banks!

A lot of fun activities for kids and parents:

the dunk tank,
moon bounce,
inflatable obstacle course,
watermelon seed spitting distance contests,
pie eating contests,
t-shirt tye dying,
face painting,
And of course, tons of watermelon!

Kitty Hawk Kites staff will be on site teaching kids how to use juggling sticks, balance boards, and letting them try out all of our top selling toys.

There will also be great music, food vendors on site, and one of the best raffles on the beach! They will give away over $2000 worth of prizes.

Proceeds from the Watermelon Festival go directly to the Wright Flight Foundation–a local non-profit that rewards 5th graders, who achieve their academic goals, with flight! The foundation has helped improve performance in local school districts and has given children the opportunities to do things like hang gliding, tandem hang gliding, and plane rides, that they may have not been able to do before. Students are also educated about the history and basic principles of flight.