Outer Banks Treasures: Katy Caroline Designs

Posted on April 21, 2011

Katy Caroline - Close Up Passionvine

Ready for some more local flavor? I hope so. We’re back with the second episode in our brand new video series, Outer Banks Treasures. There are so many great things to discover on the OBX that it’s very easy to have a long list of great ideas!…stay tuned, more on the way.

Last time we gave you a sneak peek at one of the best photographers here on the OBX in her private Seaside Vacations employee shoot. Today we are going to continue in the creative direction with an amazing up and coming artist named Katy Caroline. Katy’s career is just taking off, but what she lacks in experience, she more than makes up for in breathtaking natural ability with a paint brush in hand. She has done many commissioned works from murals, to trompe l’oeils, to illustrations.

Recently she leaped head first into her art career and devotes all of her time to creating works of all different colors, textures and styles. She will try anything once and has a true passion for what she does. She shares a deep connection with her Manteo roots which reflects in the countless paintings of the idyllic scenery of the Outer Banks.

As a Club Seaside partner, Katy offers an “Art in Action” event that gives Seaside Vacations’ guests to the opportunity to enjoy a glass of local wine and watch her in action as she paints, plus a tour of the studio and a chance to purchase her original art.

Katy is truly a delight to work with, a spectacular artist, and I am so happy to be able to share her awesomeness with you.

To learn more about Katy’s work check out her website, and when you are in the area make sure to stop by and view some of her work at ARTspace studio located at: 1 Ocean Blvd #108 Southern Shores, NC 27949

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Sun Shining at Kitty Hawk Pier

Posted on April 21, 2011

Outer Banks - 4.21.11 - Pretty Day at Kitty Hawk Pier

Pretty spring day. The sun is shining, temps in the 60′s, gentle breeze out of the north. There’s a small bump, but not much surf today. The spring fish are biting…about 10 guys casting their line on the pier this morning.

@ Kitty Hawk Pier

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 4.20.11 – A View of the New Jennette’s Pier

Posted on April 20, 2011

Outer Banks - 4.20.11 - Jennette's Pier

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

This video was shot in South Nags Head at the new Jennette’s Pier at 9:00 AM.

We had a request on Facebook to get some pictures and video of the new Jennette’s Pier, so it seemed like a great opportunity for a beach report. Jennette’s Pier will be opening May 21 after about a two year construction period. The Pier looks amazing, and will have a lot of great exhibits and activities in conjunction with the NC Aquarium. Definitely worth a visit once it’s open.

It’s a great spring day. Almost feels like summer! It’s starting off a bit overcast, but we can’t really complain with temps in the low 80′s today! Temps will cool to the 60′s tomorrow and Friday, but the nice weather will stick with us, and the temps will warm back to the 70′s for the weekend.

There is a warm wind out of the Southwest at about 15 mph, and it’s cleaning up the waist high waves wrapping around the Pier this morning. Fun longboard wave throughout the day.

The OBX fishing is going strong. Offshore is active with blue fin, yellow fin, and black fin tuna, wahoo, dolphin, and king mackerel. The Piers and the Little Bridge in Manteo are reporting all sorts of spring fish showing up; sea mullet, blow toads, croakers, speckled trout, flounder.

Enjoy!

New Video Series Outer Banks Treasures: Brooke Mayo Photography

Posted on April 19, 2011

Outer Banks Treasures: Brooke Mayo Photography

A vacation should be more than just a house at the beach. It should be time with friends and family, a chance to relax and unwind, and an opportunity to experience the local culture.

But how do you get a taste for the local flavor? How do you know what the locals do, where the locals go, all the hidden treasures?

We want you to get the most out of your time on the Outer Banks, and we’ve got some inside knowledge to share. This is the first episode of our new video series, “Outer Banks Treasures,” that will give you a local’s perspective; everything we love and think you absolutely, without a doubt need to know…all the best attractions, best local businesses, secret spots, and amazing people that make the OBX so unique.

To kick things off, we want to introduce you to one of the most fabulous photographers the Outer Banks has to offer, Ms. Brooke Mayo. As we’ve mentioned before, Brooke is an amazing photogrpaher with an incredibly unique style and an amazing eye for the perfect shot. She’s available to photograph anything from family shots to weddings, engagement, and even underwater doggies! Truly a one-of-a-kind…not to mention a super amazing person.

The video below gives you a quick look at Brooke in action and some great comments from our first “Outer Banks Treasure.”

You can learn more about Brooke and look at some amazing pictures at http://brookemayoblog.com.

Brooke is also one of the prized partners for our Club Seaside events. As a Seaside Vacations guest, you have the opportunity for a free sitting with Brooke. You can find more information at www.OuterBanksVacations.com.

Enjoy!

PS – Please let us know if there is anything you would like to see or know…we definitely take requests.

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Sun Up on the Sound

Posted on April 19, 2011

Outer Banks - 4.19.11 - Sun Up on the Sound

Sun up on the Sound. Gorgeous spring day. Bright sun, warm breeze out of the southwest, almost 80! Longboard wave. Spring fish are biting.

@ The Sound

Outer Banks Beer & Wine Festival – Wingo De Mayo 2011

Posted on April 18, 2011

Outer Banks - Wingo De Mayo 2011

The Wingo de Mayo Festival is always a blast. Perfect time of year, as the weather starts to get hot, great people, great food, great music, and great adult beverages!

When: Saturday, May 7th
Where: Native Vine in Point Harbor.

This year’s event will benefit the Outer Banks Children At Play Museum, a non-profit organization that helps foster creativity in children through hands on learning.

The festivities will feature two separate events -the 6th Annual Wine and Beer Jam and the 3rd Annual Great Wing Cook Off.

The Wine and Beer Jam (12-5pm) offers more than 50 wines and beers from around the world. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day off.

The Great Wing Cook Off pits local restaurants and individuals against each other in the battle for the best wings. Guests can sample the wings and vote on their favorites! Tickets for the Wing Cook Off are $10 over 12 years, $5 8-12 years, and free under 8, and can only be purchased the day of the event.

Advance tickets for the Wine and Beer Jam are available at Native Vine, Chillli Peppers, Children At Play or online at www.nativevine.com. Children are welcome and there is no charge for those not tasting wine and beer or tasting wings.

Live music will be performed by Augmentals and OminOtago.

This event is presented by Native Vine/TRIO and Chilli Peppers. For More info call 252.491.5311.

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 4.18.11 – Spring is in Full Swing!

Posted on April 18, 2011

Outer Banks - 4.18.11 - Spring in Full Swing

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Monday, April 18, 2011.

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

Spring is in full swing! It was a beautiful weekend on the OBX, and the great spring weather will continue this week.

We had some wild thunderstorms on Saturday night, and a number of tornadoes touched down in North Carolina; so our hearts go out to anyone that was affected by the storms. The OBX fared pretty well. Duck had some damage, but other than that things are good.

Mother Nature made up for a crazy Saturday night with some beautiful weather yesterday with temps in the lower 70′s, chest high surf, and lots of fishing! The great weather continues today and throughout this week. Temps in the upper 70′s today. The sun is shining, and the wind is light out of the west.

The swell from yesterday is leftover this morning, and there is a glassy waist high wave coming through. A good longboard wave should last for most of the day.

The beaches are very active. It’s a busy week with Bike Week and spring break this week. A lot of people out and about, and a lot of excited energy for spring.

The OBX fishing is going strong. The offshore fishing continues with yellow fin, blue fin, and black fin tuna, some mahi-mahi, and a few reports that billfish are showing up!

The piers are all open, and giving consistent reports. Spring fish are here. Blow toads, croaker, blue fish, sea mullet, some rock and puppy drum in the Sound.

Enjoy!

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 4.15.11 – Soundside

Posted on April 15, 2011

Outer Banks - 4.15.11 - Pretty Spring Day

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing report for Friday, April 15, 2011.

This video was shot at 9:00 AM at my favorite secret spot on the Sound. I’m luckly enough to hang out with my rugrat, Finn, today, and we won’t get out to the beach until this afternoon, so I figured I’d do a report from the Sound this morning.

It’s been a great spring week with sun and warm temps in the 60′s to low 70′s, and this great weather continues today, through the weekend, and into next week. It’s beautiful today with sun and no clouds, mid 60′s, and a 10 mph wind out of the north. The 10 day forecast looks great with a few chances of thunderstorms, but mostly sun and warm temps.

The surf is building through tomorrow, and it should reach the shoulder high range. The wind won’t match up until Sunday, but the swell should still be in the chest high range, and the wind looks like it will be ideal for clean surf all day Sunday and into Monday morning. The swell will fade to waist high on Monday. Looks like a good OBX weekend for weather and surf.

Outer Banks - 4.15.11 Surf Report

The OBX fishing is going strong. The water temps have warmed to 55 degress, and the fish are starting to show up. Blow toads are being hauled in at the Avalon Pier, and they are usually the first fish of the spring followed closely by sea mullet. There are also blue fish in the area, and some catches in the Sound of puppy drum and rock fish. Offshore fishing is still strong with blue fin, yellow fin, and black fin tuna and mahi-mahi.

Spring is here…and summer is close behind. Great time to be on the Outer Banks. Hope to see you soon.

Have fun!

Outer Banks Lands on List of “Sensational Drives for Families”

Posted on April 15, 2011

Family Truckster

Spring has sprung, and we are quickly approaching the end to another school year, which can mean only one thing…family road trip! Time to hop in the family truckster and hit the road for some fun in the sun, and the OBX is the perfect road trip.

FamilyVacationCritic.com recently listed their “7 Sensational Drives for Families,” and the Outer Banks landed at number four. Here’s what they had to say about the OBX…

“4. Southeast: Slow as Molasses
It’s all about taking your time in the South. Sit back and feel the breezes blowing through the pines while sipping on some sweet tea. Instead of heading north on I-95, head south for coastal exploration along the barrier islands along the Outer Banks of North Carolina… Kayak through marshy wetlands, go crabbing along the dune-covered beaches, and watch for sea turtles hatching from numerous nests on sun-filled days.”

Pop National Lampoon’s Vacation in the DVD player for a quick reminder of what not to do, and let’s get ready for some summer fun. We’d love to help you plan your family road trip to the Outer Banks…see you soon!

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Pretty Day for the Surf Shop Challenge

Posted on April 14, 2011

Outer Banks - 4.14.11 - Oakley Surf Shop Challenge

Great spring week. Another pretty day. Sun, 60′s, and a 15 mph N wind. There’s a small bump for Oakley Surf Shop Challenge, but not much surf. The surf could pick up a little when the tide flips at 11 AM, but a pretty weak surf day. Fish are biting; offshore is going strong with blue fin, yellow fin, and black fin tuna with some dolphin mixed in, and reports starting for some surf catches down south. Great fishing heating up!

@ Lillian Ave Beach Access