Outer Banks - Bodie Island Lighthouse Aerial, Restoration
Have you seen the Bodie Island Lighthouse lately? Surrounded by scaffolding the lighthouse is getting a make-over and will be the subject of an upcoming exhibit this Friday March 4, hosted by the Outer Banks History Center.
The news is a sigh of relief from previous reports that the Outerbanks Lighthouse Restoration Hits a Snag, noting multiple safety issues that could substantially delay completion of the restoration process.
Did you know there have been three Bodie Island Lighthouses?! This historic lighthouse, first lit in 1872, is welcoming its 3rd large restoration project. The first Bodie Island Lighthouse sunk in on one side because of poor foundation and the second one was demolished by Confederate soldiers. The third time will surely be a charm.
Be sure to join the friends of the OBHC, the staff and members of the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society for the opening reception Friday March 4, 2011 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Here you will be able to learn more about this historic lighthouse as well as other early Navigational Aids in America. You can also enjoy a lighthouse keeper’s favorite meal of biscuit and beans and further information on the restoration of this famous OBX landmark.
Here we are on day three of March, and we’ve already seen some drastic changes in the weather.
March came in like a lion on Tuesday with chilly temps, overcast skies, and heavy north winds. We had some spring-like weather yesterday with bright sun, temps in the 50′s, almost no wind and great surf.
And today?…the lion has returned.
Bright sun, but chilly with stiff northeast winds blowing at about 25 mph. The ocean is active, but no surf. Tuna & rock fish are biting, but is rock season ending soon?…starting to run north.
14th Annual Polar Plunge – Saturday, March 19, 2011
The Outer Banks Family YMCA invites you to the 14th Annual Polar Plunge benefiting the “We Build People” scholarship program.
Through this program, over $244,000 was given to support children, individuals and families in the OBX community in 2010. 100% of the proceeds support programs such as swimming lessons, memberships, summer camps, youth sports and Y-change programs.
YMCA members – $45, Non-YMCA members – $55.
Taking the plunge will get you a t-shirt, delicious food from Outback Steakhouse and the Plunge!
For more information: Outer Banks Family YMCA website or (252) 449-8897.
The Outer Banks is quietly becoming the home of blues music. Blues, brews, & the beach, the perfect combination!
Last summer we announced our sponsorship of a great Bluez & Brewz Fest held in August, and last week we announced our sponsorship of a Memorial Day blues fest in Corrolla, but the longest running blues jam on the Outer Banks is the Freedman’s Colony Blues Jam, held at Roanoke Island Festival Park, that is in its 7th year in 2011!
7th Annual Freedmen’s Colony Blues Jam
March 25 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Indoor Theatre
The Crowd from Dare County and Big Ron Hunter from, Winston- Salem, NC, will be featured.
The event is sponsored by the Roanoke Island Freedmen’s Colony Association. Beginning February 21, tickets can be purchased for $15 at Manteo Booksellers, the Music Store in Kill Devil Hills and HHR Music in Nags Head.
Jockey’s Ridge is the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States. Located in Nags Head, it is one of the most significant landmarks on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Always changing, always beautiful
3rd Annual George Barnes Valentine’s Day Oyster Roast & Recycling: Saturday, March 5, 2011. 10-2 p.m. rain or shine. Eat oysters and help the local ecosystem by planting & creating new environments for the oysters. Bagging of Oysters for a new reef will be taking place; you are welcome to bring gloves to join in.
Archaeologists say there is no doubt that what they have been diving on since 1997 is the Queen Anne’s Revenge, officially identified as shipwreck 31 CR 314.
“Absolutely” is what the QAR Project Director and Archaeologist Dr. Mark Wilde-Ramsing says. “There is no question that this could be any other ship.”
But how it got there is still a mystery. Some believe the pirates may have ran the ship aground on purpose. The debris field encompasses an area approximately 90 x 200 feet with a north-south orientation. Finding bits and pieces of the wreckage, coins, navigational instruments, pewter ware, intact bottles, lead shots of many sizes, small arms and gold dust, to name a few, there is still something missing…bodies.
“Everybody got off,” said Sr. Wilde-Ramsing. “We are not finding any human remains and actually there is very good evidence that they got off because we are not finding any clothing.”
With over half of the artifacts discovered, divers set a goal to find the rest by 2013. Weather conditions determine the dive schedule. It can be calm underwater, yet storms can cause limited visibility. Future dives will undoubtedly answer many questions surrounding Blackbeard and his ships, and confirm the Outer Banks truly is the Graveyard of the Atlantic
Good afternoon. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Wednesday, March 2, 2011.
The first part of the video was shot at the Lillian St. beach access in Kitty Hawk at 9:00 AM, and then a quick surf update was shot at Lillian St. at 1 PM.
March feels good today. It was chilly with heavy winds to start March yesterday, but today the sun is out, the temps are in the upper 50′s and the wind has died down a lot. This weather will stick with us for the rest of the week; bright sun, blue skies, and temps working towards the 60′s for the weekend.
Yesterday’s weather built some decent swell, and with the change in wind today, the OBX surf is looking good. Started off a bit disorganized in the morning, but the wind clocked around to the west a bit more, and this afternoon offers some great chest high, clean sets. There were about 30 people in the water when I went for the afternoon surf update.
Still great OBX fishing going on. I got a report from a boat out of Oregon Inlet that caught 97 stripers on February 27th…97! That’s an amazing day. But the same report also mentioned that the rock fish are starting to run north towards VA, so we’re reaching the end of the season. If you want to get some OBX striper fishing in, you should probably head down soon.
Some great tuna fishing is starting up as well. We are getting a lot of reports of huge schools of blue fin offshore, and some reports of yellow fin in the area. There have been a bunch of smaller catches, and a couple catches at Oregon Inlet that have tipped the scales over 200 & 300 pounds!
The Lost Colony is one America’s oldest unsolved mysteries. Archeology sleuths have long been hot on the trail of the aptly named lost colony. Historians have been puzzled for centuries about just what happened to the group of about 117 English men, women and children of the Lost Colony, considered America’s oldest unsolved mystery. There have been many theories speculating that the colonists were killed by Indians, or that they traveled north in an attempt to reach their original destination near the Chesapeake Bay.
Are we any closer today to solving the mystery? According to some, the mystery has been solved, and according to others we’re not there yet…but getting close.
The Virginia Pilot recently wrote an article about Scott Dawson, an Outer Banks native and local historian, who has been researching the Lost Colony along with archeologists for several years. Dawson, whose lineage traces back to the Croatoan Indians, believes that the Lost Colony traveled from Roanoke Island to Hatteras Island sometime after their leader, Gov. John White, sailed back to England for help in 1587. Hoping to prove this theory and learn more about the Croatoan, Dawson spent several years working with archaeologists at the University of Bristol in England.
In November, Dawson’s work finally paid off when the university sent a team to explore an area in Buxton that he believed had once been the site of an Indian village. The team found a mix of Native American and English artifacts dating back as far as the 17th century.
“We didn’t get Virginia Dare’s pinky ring, but I’m not disappointed,” Dawson said.
The history behind Dawson’s theory – parts of which are shared by other historians – is based on the fact that there were two rival tribes in the area. Relations with the Secotan were hostile, largely because of the actions of another Englishman who ordered a Secotan town burned in 1585.
The Croatoan’s however, had welcomed white people since the first English expedition landed on the Outer Banks in 1584. Abandoned by their leader and surrounded by enemies, the colony may have sought refuge with the Croatoan on Hatteras Island, Dawson theorizes.
Research will continue in late March and early April in the Buxton and Frisco areas.
Dawson recently spoke for the first time about last year’s dig, and his presentation included a slideshow of pictures from the dig, along with several artifacts.
To learn more about the Lost Colony make sure to visit the 74th season of the symphonic drama opening May 28th at Manteo’s Waterside Theater.
The vacation rental industry has historically played second-fiddle to the monstrous hotel industry, but times they are a changing. As the USA Today points out, vacation rentals “are finally on their way to going mainstream.” There is a growing awareness among consumers and the media, and big names are starting to take notice. HomeAway has run an ad promoting vacation rentals during the past two Super Bowls, and Google is even an investor in HomeAway. The vacation rental growth pattern is clearly on the upswing.
It’s easy to understand why vacation rentals are such a hot item. With a birds-eye view of the ocean from the comfort of your Nags Head Hammock, life is definitely good for renters. A water view – without having to request an upgrade. A full pot of fresh brewed coffee waiting in your private kitchen each morning. The flexibility to cook your own meals, or dine out. The entire group of family and friends under one roof, eating together, enjoying the private pool, and visiting in the family room. If these descriptions appeal to you, you might be one of a growing segment of travelers considering a vacation rental in 2011.
With all of the increased interest, USA Today & SmartTravel.com recently ran an article highlighting some tips for finding the perfect vacation rental home.
As vacation rentals become increasingly popular, rental companies like Seaside Vacations, are offering more ‘hotel-like’ services and amenities that were traditionally not offered by rentals. For instance, every guest who stays with Seaside Vacations enjoys guest access to Kilmarlic Health & Racquet Club, special guest rates at Kilmarlic Golf Club and the benefits of Club Seaside – an exclusive program designed just for Seaside guests. Club Seaside includes complimentary yoga classes, wine tastings, wild horse tours, fishing classes, and various other exclusive events.
As the industry becomes more sophisticated with its offerings, vacationers should take the time to understand the company and home they are considering renting. All homes and all vacation rental companies are unique, and may not be equal. It is crucial to do the research and set the right expectations for your vacation.
Here are some great tips from USA Today for new and seasoned vacation home renters:
“The benefits of renting from a company you can trust with your family, your credit card, and your invaluable vacation time can’t be understated. Book with a company that regularly manages and inspects its properties to ensure they meet a high standard of quality and safety, [as well as] one that offers online bookings and payments, can handle booking amendments and cancellations, and provides impeccable customer service and around-the-clock check-in assistance.”
“If you’re planning to visit a high-demand destination this year, the earlier you plan, the better.”
Once you’ve found a property that interests you, be sure to ask the following questions.
• Is the property professionally managed or rented by its owners?
• Is a rental contract required?
• If not, how will all transactions be handled?
• Will you need to make a security deposit? What are its return/refund policies?
• What are the renter’s cancellation policies?
• What pre-departure steps are required from renters (cleaning, laundering sheets and towels, etc.)?
• Are there fees for additional guests?
Good luck hunting for the perfect house. If you’re planning an OBX getaway, we’d love to help you find that home the meets all of your vacation needs: www.OuterBanksVacations.com
Outer Banks - 3.1.11 - In Like a Lion at the Avalon Pier
March is coming in like a lion. Cool temps have returned and the wind is blowing out of the North/Northeast at 25 mph. The ocean is very active, and swell is building. The wind will shift to the west tomorrow and die down. Nice offshore wind and swell! Clean, chest high surf tomorrow?! Rock fish & blue fin tuna biting.
