The Virginia Pilot recently ran a very insightful article about the potential problems facing final approval for the proposed mid-Currituck Bridge.
The debates surrounding the bridge have echoed for years, and earlier this year it seemed a final conclusion in favor of the bridge was coming to a close. The proposed bridge would begin near Aydlett, about 25 miles south of the Virginia-North Carolina line, and stretch across the Sound to Corolla. It is believed that the bridge would cut travel time for visitors headed to northern Outer Banks.
At this point, the closest access to the Outer Banks is the Wright Memorial Bridge, about 20 miles south of Aydlett. As a result, travelers headed to the northern end of the Outer Banks are forced to head 20 miles south to Kitty Hawk, and spin around onto Rt. 12 to head north another 10 – 20 miles to reach Duck and Corolla. Clearly not ideal. The convoluted route has long been a source of safety concerns. A new bridge is expected to reduce evacuation times, boost tourism on both sides of the sound and curb pollution from idling vehicles.
However, there are concerns. Environmental, zoning, construction, etc. But the debates on these issue have already been voiced and heard, and the major project still seemed poised for approval.
Not so fast.
The scope of the US political spectrum shifted a bit with the recent elections in November, and the Republican lawmakers who clawed their way back into the NC General Assembly last month are looking for much needed budget cuts. Seems the mid-Currituck Bridge could be on the chopping block.
The state lawmakers need to close a projected $3 – 4 billion (yes, with a B!) deficit, and the bridge offers a pretty significant savings. The current plans for the bridge call for initial funding at $15 million per year, but that figure has the potential to rise to $28 million per year in 2013…and continue for 40 years.
Seems like the debate is far from over but conclusions could be reached in the near future.
Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Friday, December 3, 2010…plus some bonus footage of great OBX surf from Wednesday afternoon.
This video was shot at 9:15 AM at the Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills.
It’s a chilly day. Quite a difference from Wednesday’s report. Wednesday we came pretty close to hitting the 70 degree mark (in December!), but today we’ll be lucky if we get out of the 40′s. And it should stay like this for the next few days; through the weekend and into the start of next week.
Unfortunately, there’s not much to report for OBX fishing. A few reports of trout, rockfish, and drum, but not much. Hopefully the rock will be here in full force soon.
The silver lining on an otherwise cloudy and chilly day is that the swell is sticking around. Wednesday afternoon was pretty ideal for surf. Straight off-shore winds cleaning up the head high sets coming through. A few pictures and video clips are at the end of the this video. And that swell is still with us.
Unfortunately, there is a stiff wind out of the NW today, so the surf isn’t clean right now, but there should be a good window of opportunity for clean waist to chest waves tomorrow afternoon. Probably starting at about 12 or 1 PM. It will be chilly, so getting in and out of the wetsuit could be tough, but it could be worth it for clean waist high waves.
I’m not sure how this snuck up on us so quickly, but guess what? It’s the holiday season! Thanksgiving is long gone, and Christmas is fast approaching. See ya later 2010!
Seems like a good time to run through some of the holiday fun that can be found on the Outer Banks.
While the OBX is best known for beaches and summer fun, there’s plenty to offer during the holiday season as well.
We’ll start with a few of my fav’s that tend to fly under the radar.
1. The holiday boat parade in Colington Harbor. This one is definitely under the radar. I think there were a total of 10 people there last year…including the 6 with me, but it’s a blast. There’s something special about watching a sailboat with Christmas lights. Colington is tucked away on the West side of Kill Devil Hills…take a right at the Monument and head straight until you hit the guard gate, welcome to Colington Harbor. I can’t find the date for this year, but you may be able to get more info on this site.
2. Kites with Lights at Jockey’s Ridge, hosted by Kitty Hawk Kites. Darn! I just realized we missed this one. I guess they moved it to Thanksgiving weekend this year. Shoot, but I’m including it here anyway so we can all be reminded to mark our calendars for next year…plus, I like this video. Kites and lights are a great combo! :)
3. Ahhhh…last but definitely not least, my fav; the famed Outer Banks Christmas House. The Paulos family has gone all out with Christmas decorations for years, and they invite young and old to take in the spectacle.
The house/light display was voted number one in America in 2005 on the Today Show, and it’s been featured on HGTV! Who knew?! Local celebs right here on the OBX!
Feel free to park your car and wander around the yard to get the full effect and boost your holiday spirit. A night viewing is optimal to get the full effect of the lights.
The time and effort this family puts into their decorations is astounding.
Here’s their FaceBook page if you want some more info or want share your love of their efforts.
Directions: The house is located in Kill Devil Hills near the Nags Head Woods entrance
Heading South on Rt. 158 into Kill Devil Hills
1. Proceed to light at Ocean Acres Dr. (opposite MacDonald’s)
2. Turn right at Ocean Acres Dr.
3. The road will change from paved to gravel as you go up a hill. Just over the top of the hill you will find the Poulos home.
And for some of the more traditional (and “on the beaten path”) options…
December 3 First Friday
Downtown Manteo Waterfront. 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. First Friday is a fun-filled, family-oriented street festival. The sidewalks pulse with live music, magic, artisans, period-dressed actors, a rock climbing wall and much more.firstfriday-roanokeisland.com
December 3 Santa at the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Come visit with Santa! Free. (252) 475-1750 or roanokeisland.com
December 3 – 4 Town of Manteo Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade
Tree Lighting will be December 3rd at 6 p.m. with Santa visiting with the children afterwards at the Maritime Museum at the Creef Davis Boathouse. The parade will be December 4th at 11 a.m. in downtown Manteo.manteo.govoffice.com
December 4 The Jazz before Christmas
Comfort Inn North Oceanfront, Kill Devil Hills. Mix, mingle and celebrate the holidays with jazz! A Semi-Formal Affair Hosted by Gwendolyn Meekins. Performance by Chante Moore. Live Jazz Band. Catering by Basnight’s Lone Cedar. Heavy hors d’oeuvres. One specialty beverage. Full cash bar. Admission: Advance Purchase – $50, Door – $65. For additional information, call: 252-573-1014 or email: GM.Events@live.com. Ticket and Semi-Formal Attire Required for Admission. Please be responsible, DON’T DRINK & DRIVE! Hotel Rooms are available at a discounted rate. $55.00 plus tax (Regular), $70.00 plus tax (Oceanfront). For hotel reservations, call 252-441-6333 and reference “The Jazz before Christmas”.
December 3 – 31 Holiday Show
Dare County Arts Council Gallery, Manteo. Over 500 works of art to fit every budget, including original paintings, pottery, glass, jewelry, fiber, metal, mixed media and wood. darearts.org
December 4 Manteo Preservation Trust Holiday Tour of Homes
Manteo Preservation Trust Holiday Tour of Homes 2 pm til 7 pm. 10-12 houses/Inns. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased the day of the tour at the Dare County Courthouse (located in downtown Manteo) which is also the first stop on the tour. For more information contact Grizelle Fearing at 252-473-7336.
December 4 RIFP Performance Series Christmas at the Park with Elizabeth City State University
7 p.m. Indoor Theatre The performances are free and open to the public. (252) 475-1500, roanokeisland.com December 8 Grand Illumination
Join The Elizabethan Gardens as we kick off ten nights of lights and floral displays at The Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo, North Carolina. This kick-off event will feature holiday foods and festive drink in the Embellished Hall. Also featured are fire pits on the Great Lawn, where guests can roast marshmallows, drink hot cocoa and be entertained by Dockside Theatre Company and others. On this evening enjoy The Gardens’ Gift Shoppe and plant sales, offering 10% off all merchandise. Friends’ receive an additional 10% off. For the occasion, a special holiday promotion is planned featuring many gifts under $15.00 ~ pre-wrapped and ready to give for Christmas. Garden plant sales will feature winter annuals; ornamental vegetables; forced bulbs; rosemary Christmas Trees; and conifers with bows. Tickets for Illuminations for Non-Members are $14 for adults; $9 for youth (ages 6-17); $6 for children (5 and under). Tickets for Friends’ are $10 for adults; $7 for youth (ages 6-17); $4 for children (5 and under). Groups of 20 or more receive $1.00 off each ticket. Please call The Elizabethan Gardens at 252-473-3234 for more information or visitelizabethangardens.org
December 11 Christmas Past at Island Farm
5 p.m. – 8 p.m. In celebration of Christmas Past at Island Farm, bring your family to learn how Roanoke Island families celebrated Christmas a century and a half ago. Many of the holiday traditions we enjoy today began in the 19th century. A special event at Island Farm on Roanoke Island will bring them to life, 1850s style.
When Adam Etheridge and his family lived on the farm on the island’s North End, there was no electricity. Candles were placed on a freshly cut tree, and their glow made the season bright. The men celebrated by shooting off muskets. Children sang carols and ate cookies while their elders sipped hot mulled wine. It was a time for all families, black and white, to gather with their relatives and to enjoy time away from work. On Dec. 11, Island Farm will host visitors on a guided candlelight tour representing an 1850s Southern Christmas. Gather around a bonfire while muskets are fired to ring in the season. Warm yourself by a crackling fire as you sip a cup of hot wassail, and learn how Christmas traditions began.
The farmhouse will be decorated for the holidays, with flickering wax candles illuminating the Christmas tree. Carolers will sing Yuletide favorites. And costumed interpreters will present vignettes of island life, including the perspective of those who were enslaved.
“Christmas Past at Island Farm is designed to be fun, festive, and educational,” said Jonathan Failor, farm manager. “Why do we decorate trees at Christmas and hang garland on the mantel? How did the tradition of feasting begin? We hope families will make this event a tradition in the years to come.” Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased on the day of the event. Children aged 5 and under are admitted free. Admission is paid at the door, beginning at 5 pm on the day of the event, Saturday, Dec. 11. The farm will close at 8 pm. Island Farm is open weekdays through Nov. 30 for the 2010 season. The Christmas Past celebration is the last event of the year; look for more special events in the spring. For more information, contact Island Farm, 252-473-6500, email:islandfarm252@gmail.com, or visit the website, theislandfarm.com
Given the fact that we rent vacation rentals along the Outer Banks, it’s a pretty safe bet that we are big fans of the value, convenience, and overall experience that vacation rentals offer guests that hotels cannot.
But we’re not the only fans. We can count the Huffington Post among loyal supporters of vacation rentals as well.
The Huff Po recently ran an article titled “Live Like a Local with Vacation Rentals” that highlights one of the strongest advantages vacation rentals offer over hotels; local flavor. A vacation is so much more than the where you lay your head at night, but your choice of lodging can have a large impact on the overall experience.
A stale room in a high rise where you meet your friends in the lobby to head out to dinner, or a house that feels like home where you gather with your friends on the deck overlooking the ocean to enjoy a great meal prepared in your private kitchen?
Seems like an easy choice.
As the article states…
“[H]ow else can travelers, especially those on a budget, really get to know a place? Spend the night cooking in with friends, rather than dining out among strangers?
The vacation rental’s ability to put you in the heart of things reflects, I think, a more communal, democratized approach to travel. Concierge and crisp guest books are now replaced by Trip Advisor and countless rental websites, not to mention random queries for advice on Facebook and Twitter.”
Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Wednesday, December 1, 2010.
This video was shot at 9:00 AM at Hayman St. in Kill Devil Hills, just north of the Avalon Pier.
Great start to December. Should reach 70 degrees today. Unfortunately, the heat wave won’t stick around too long. A cold front should be settling into the area early tonight. Temps should dip down to the low 50′s for the next few days.
On the bright side, we have some decent swell coming through. It’s probably about waist high right now, and should be waist to chest high through Saturday. The wind is matching up too well just yet, so it’s still a bit disorganized, but it should clean up over the next couple days. The water is about 55 degrees, so a wetsuit is a must.
Not too much happening with OBX fishing today. No surfcasters on the beach this morning. And the piers are officially closed for the winter. However, I keep hearing reports of trout and stripers, and the big drum and rock fish should be moving in as the water temps cool off.
When Adam Etheridge and his family lived on the farm on the island’s North End, there was no electricity. Candles were placed on a freshly cut tree, and their glow made the season bright. The men celebrated by shooting off muskets. Children sang carols and ate cookies while their elders sipped hot mulled wine. It was a time for all families, black and white, to gather with their relatives and to enjoy time away from work. On Dec. 11, Island Farm will host visitors on a guided candlelight tour representing an 1850s Southern Christmas. Gather around a bonfire while muskets are fired to ring in the season. Warm yourself by a crackling fire as you sip a cup of hot wassail, and learn how Christmas traditions began.
