A Day Without Shoes…Count Me In!

Posted on March 28, 2011

No Shoes

When I graduated from college and realized I needed to head off into the “real world,” I distinctly recall telling myself that if I could find a job that would allow me to wear sandals on a daily basis, then I would be a happy cog in the real world wheel. I now live at the beach where sandals are pretty much a requirement for the majority of the year.

I guess sandals can be a pretty motivating force.

But now that I’ve accomplished that life goal, it’s time to set my sights on a new prize…no shoes! If sandals give that laid-back vibe, than no shoes must give the “I’m swinging in my hammock taking a nap” vibe. There’s a strong goal if I’ve ever heard one.

So, any reason to go sans shoes, count me in! Luckily, Outer Banks Boarding Company and Tom’s Shoes are giving me a reason to chase me shoeless dreams.

On April 5th, Outer Banks Boarding Company (OBBC) goes without shoes so kids won’t have to. Will you?

Tom’s Shoes, and OBBC are hosting “One Day Without Shoes” on Tuesday April 5th from 4 to 6:30 PM at OBBC in Nags Head, including a shoeless walk to the beach and back. Purchase a Pair of Tom’s Shoes and get a local artist to customize your shoes for just $5.00!!

There will be free refreshments, food, and live music by an amazing local OBX singer/songwriter, Esther Faith.

Esther is well worth the trip on her own. I don’t want to pigeon-hole her, but she has this great surfer/alt-country vibe; almost like Taylor Swift riding a wave. The perfect Outer Banks vibe.

Outer Banks Boarding Company & Tom's Shoes - Day Without Shoes

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 3.28.11 – Spring, please come back…

Posted on March 28, 2011

Outer Banks - 3.28.11 - Chilly Start in KDH

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Monday, March 28, 2011.

This video was shot just south of the Avalon Pier at the 5th St. beach access in Kill Devil Hills at 8:30 AM.

Where did spring go?! I hope it comes back soon.

It was a chilly, windy, and wet weekend on the Outer Banks. Temps in the 40′s, wind blowing out of the northeast at 20 mph, and rain. Unfortunately, the week is starting out the same way. It’s overcast today with temps in the 40′s sticking around for the next couple days. The sun should return in the next day or two, and the temps will warm up as the week progresses. We should be approaching 60 degrees by next weekend.

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t help much with the surf or fishing this weekend.

No surf today, and not much swell coming in this week. It looks like we could have chest high swell in the area by the end of the week, but forecasts aren’t predicting surf. Although, I looked at the wind forecast, and I’m thinking there could be a chance on Friday. I’ll keep an eye on it.

As for OBX fishing, unfortunately, not much activity over the weekend due to the wind and rain, but there are still large schools of blue fin tuna in off shore and reports of puppy drum in the Sound. As the water warms the activity will continue to improve.

Enjoy!

First Movie in North Carolina Shot on the Outer Banks Tells the Story of the Lost Colony

Posted on March 25, 2011

Old School Lost Colony Movie

The staged performance of “The Lost Colony” will soon open (May 27th) for its 74th year on the Outer Banks – started in 1937! But before the curtain rises for opening night, a new tale is being discovered.

The News & Observer recently reported on another tale of The Lost Colony that is unfolding as a lost film of the famous drama is discovered. The film was found in “The Lost Colony” administrative offices and is thought to be the only surviving copy in good condition.

The film was actually the first movie ever shot in North Carolina, and it told the story of the Lost Colony using local OBX actors and Outer Banks sets.

When the movie was released in 1921, Outer Banks residents mobbed local theaters and its popularity forced the show to be played over and over again. It marked a time in history when the Outer Banks, cut off from the rest of the state, began to share the story of its early English colonists.

North Carolina’s state government spent $3,000 filming the story – whose idea came from Mabel Evans Jones, superintendent of Dare County Schools at the time. The movie’s original title was interesting to say the least: “The Earliest English Expeditions and Attempted Settlements in the Territory of What is Now the United States, 1584-1591.” A mouthful…kind of like the title of this blog post.

Produced with a single cameraman, there was a cast of about 300 people for the movie – pretty much the entire Manteo population. The film was quickly eclipsed by the popular staged, outdoor drama “The Lost Colony.”

A five-minute segment of the film, now digitized, will be shown during a lecture at East Carolina University. Backers hope to revive the entire 46-minute movie.

Killer Whales (aka Orcas) on the Outer Banks?

Posted on March 25, 2011

Outer Banks Killer Whale

Killer Whales on the Outer Banks? For real?

It’s true. Killer Whales have been spotted off the Outer Banks coast this week by a number of fishing boats.

The Outer Banks offers a wide variety of sea life, and as I mentioned in our recent post about whales, the winter months seem to increase the activity of these amazing creatures. It is not completely unheard of for orcas to be spotted along the OBX, Wikipedia says they are in every ocean, but it certainly is not a common occurrence. So it’s pretty cool to see these awesome animals in the wild.

To add to the amazement, if you look closely at the above picture, you can see a 150 pound blue fin tuna in its mouth! The orcas were hanging out near the boats and taking the tuna catches right off the hooks as the crews were hauling the catches in. In the video below, you can see the killer whales surfacing, and eventually they latch onto a 250 pound blue fin tuna! Wow!

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 3.25.11 – Pretty but a chill in the air…

Posted on March 25, 2011

Outer Banks - 3.25.11 - Pretty but chilly at Avalon Pier

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Friday, March 25, 2011.

This video was shot at Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills at 9:00 AM.

Spring has officially arrived, and it felt like it earlier in the week with 70 degree temps, but a chill is in the air today. The sun is out, but temps have fallen back to the low 50′s, and will stay that way for the next few days. Chilly compared to 70, but still pretty seasonable.

There’s some swell in the water, but unfortunately the 15 mph northeast wind isn’t cooperating with the surf. So, no surf today, and although the swell will stick around for a few days, no surf in the foreseeable future as the wind will not match up. But surf changes quickly, so I’ll keep an eye on it.

OBX fishing is going strong. There were guys working on the Avalon Pier this morning, so that’s a great sign that the Pier will be opening soon. We continue to get a lot of great reports of blue fin tuna catches offshore…a bunch of schools in the area, and we are starting to get pretty consistent reports of puppy drum catches in the Sound. Catches from the surf should arrive soon.

Enjoy!

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Clouds Roll In

Posted on March 24, 2011

Outer Banks - 3.24.11 - Rain Clouds in KDH

Rain clouds have rolled into the OBX. The sun is trying to fight through, but it seems like it will be an overcast day. Temps in the upper 50′s. The wind should be switching to the north, but it is still blowing out of the west this morning, and cleaning up the ground swell coming in. A fun little wave in the water. Blue fin tuna and puppy drum are biting.

@ Oregon Street Beach Access

Outer Banks Fishing Highlighted in Sport Fishing Magazine – More Specifically, Congrats Rock Solid Fishing!

Posted on March 23, 2011

Outer Banks: Congrats Rock Solid Fishing

The Outer Banks is a well-known fishing destination…world-class even! Here’s a quick recap of some recent OBX fishing excitement…

The most recent thrill for OBX fishing is a great writeup in the outstanding Sport Fishing Magazine, and to add to the thrill for Seaside Vacations, we have some close ties to the article.

The article highlights local charter boat captain Aaron Kelly and his skilled fish hunting abilities. The writer and photographer tagged along with Aaron on a charter trip out of Oregon Inlet on the prowl for cobia, and it goes into detail about Aaron’s skills as a skipper. Needless to say, the day trip was a success with some big cobia catches…and some great photos. The article is a great read for OBX fishing enthusiasts.

And the tie-in to Seaside Vacations? Well, to begin, Aaron and his crew of captains at Rock Solid Fishing are partners for the Outer Banks Fishing 101 Club Seaside event that is offered to Seaside Vacations guests. So we are very proud to have the Rock Solid as a partner, and excited to offer great Outer Banks fishing information to our guests from one of the Outer Banks’ best skippers.

But the article hits home even closer. That dashingly handsome fella holding the giant cobia in the amazing picture below is none other than Seaside Vacations owner Gordon Jones. Nice catch Gordon!…I’m sure Aaron was just there for moral support.

Outer Banks: Congrats Rock Solid Fishing

Huge congrats to Rock Solid Fishing for the great coverage!

Outer Banks Spring Vacation Savings

Posted on March 23, 2011

Outer Banks Spring Vacation Savings

ENJOY SPECIAL SAVINGS WITH THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER.

Spectacular sunrises over the Atlantic. Windswept beaches and rolling dunes covered in swaying sea oats. A place of unparalleled beauty…and all of this from the comfort of your private vacation home.

Ready for another getaway to the beautiful Outer Banks – but worried about what it will cost?

Seaside Vacations has the answer.

Offer
Book your Outer Banks vacation between March 23 – April 30, 2011 and receive 5% off the rental rate for any week between March 23, 2011 – June 19, 2011.*

Book Now
To take advantage of this exclusive offer, you may book online or call 855.856.0752. Please mention promotion code SPRING5.

In addition, Seaside Vacations offers flexible payment plans – tailored to each guest – to help everyone enjoy a vacation on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Club Seaside - Outer Banks Fishing 101

Club Seaside - Paddleboarding Clinic

*Terms and Conditions: Offer valid on reservations booked between March 23 – April 30, 2011. All stays must be completed by June 19, 2011. Offer valid on new reservations only. Offer is subject to change without notice and some restrictions may apply. Offer subject to availability and valid on participating homes only. 7-night minimum stay required. Must mention promotion code SPRING5 at time of reservation. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, award, promotion or discount. If booking online, please put the promotion code.

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 3.23.11 – Spring has sprung – 70′s today.

Posted on March 23, 2011

Outer Banks - 3.23.11 - Spring has sprung.

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Wednesday, March 23, 2011.

This video was shot just north of the Avalon Pier at the Hayman St. beach access in Kill Devil Hills at 9 AM.

It feels like spring is finally here to stay. A bit overcast to start the day, but the sun is fighting through the clouds, and temps will be in the 70′s by this afternoon. Unfortunately, but temps cool down to the 50′s for the next few days, but spring has definitely arrived on the Outer Banks.

There’s a light east wind blowing off the ocean this morning, and that is creating some wind swell/chop, but it’s pretty small…waist high at most. The wind could switch to the west this afternoon, so there could be a small chance of a longboard wave at some point, but for the most part, there is no surf today.

OBX fishing is going strong. The water temp is heating up in the ocean and the Sound. Up to about 50 degrees now, and that is drawing fish into the area. We are still getting a lot of reports of blue fin tuna catches offshore, and we are starting to get consistent reports of puppy drum catches in the Sound. This usually indicates that some catches out of the surf will be here soon.

Enjoy!

2011 Taste of the Beach Winners

Posted on March 22, 2011

Outer Banks Taste of the Beach

The annual Outer Banks culinary extravaganza that has been dubbed the “Taste of the Beach” seems like a young event, possibly three or four years old. But, in reality, the Outer Banks Restaurant Association has been hosting the Taste of The Beach for more than 25 years! The “new” feel is the result of a renewed focus that happened around 2008 when the festival grew from a single ticket event that drew people from the East to celebrate local food to a multi-day festival with more than 50 events attracting tourists from as far as California and Canada.

This past weekend marked the 2011 Taste of the Beach, and good people, good times, and great food could be found up and down the OBX.

The final event of the annual culinary festival is the OBX Grand Tasting. This year, there were more than 20 OBX restaurants competing for various awards.

2011 TASTE OF THE BEACH WINNERS

Best Outer Banks Cuisine (voted by panel of judges)