Monthly Archives: June 2011

Spotlight on the OBX: Kitty Hawk

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Outer Banks - Welcome to Kitty Hawk

Outer Banks - Welcome to Kitty Hawk

Here’s the newest installment to our “Spotlight on the OBX” video series. Today we’re going to focus on the town of Kitty Hawk.

The town of Kitty Hawk is located on the northern beaches of the Outer Banks and is home to both Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty and Seaside Vacations. Established in the early 18th century, Kitty Hawk is rich in history and culture.

Kitty Hawk is the first town you bump into as you cross the Wright Memorial Bridge and arrive on the OBX. It is sandwiched between Southern Shores to the north and Kill Devil Hills to the south.

The Town consists of a thriving Village that has been around for generations, a newer beach community of residential cottages, and a maritime forest called Kitty Hawk Woods.

Kitty Hawk accounts for approximately 5 miles of the northern Outer Banks coast. The beaches are beautiful and full of memories for so many people…visitors and locals alike.

Having grown up here, I may be slightly biased when I say that there are no other beaches quite like the ones on the Outer Banks. There is something about the feeling of a Kitty Hawk beach that, for me, lets you escape for a short while and appreciate the natural beauty that’s around you.

On the other side of the by-pass (aka “highway in OBX lingo), in the heart of Kitty Hawk, also referred to as the Village, you’ll find families that have lived here for generations. It is amazing how much history the OBX offers! There’s a small town feeling that you’ll notice as neighbors wave while passing each other on the road, by car or bike. The Village is home to most of the year-round residents of Kitty Hawk.

This side of the Kitty Hawk bumps up to the Sound and all of the fun the Sound has to offer…fishing, boating, skiing, etc. Oceanfront is great, but there’s something very special about soundfront homes too. The view from the Sound is fantastic, and there’s no better way to spend a sunny day than cruising on the calm waters of the OBX Sound.

Whether you’re looking for oceanfront or sound side properties, Kitty Hawk has it all. We love it here….and know you will too!

I’ll zip it so you can enjoy a quick tour…

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 6.29.11 – Where did June go?!

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Outer Banks - 6.29.11 - Pretty at Avalon Pier

Outer Banks - 6.29.11 - Pretty at Avalon Pier

Good morning . Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Wednesday, June 29, 2011.

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

June 29?! Already? Where did June go. Summer is definitely here.

We have a grey start to the day with some overcast skies, but the sun is fighting its way through. It should end up being a mostly sunny day with some scattered thunder showers…and the plants could use it! Overall, it should be a nice beach day with temps in the 80′s and light offshore wind out of the west.

The offshore wind is cleaning up the surf, but there’s not much there to clean. Knee high waves are coming in this morning…maybe an occasional waist high set, and the small surf is very clean from the west wind. Definitely a fun longboard wave at the right spots.

OBX fishing is going great. Offshore is seeing dolphin, tuna, and a few bill fish mixed in. The piers, bridges, Sound, and surf are all very consistent with a wide variety of fish. It depends on the spot and the conditions for the day, but the fish range from blue fish, Spanish mackeral, flounder, to spot, speckled trout, cobia, croaker.

Hope to see you soon. Have fun!

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Great Summer Day in Kitty Hawk

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Outer Banks - 6.28.11 - Great Summer Day in Kitty Hawk

Outer Banks - 6.28.11 - Great Summer Day in Kitty Hawk

A great summer day on the Outer Banks. Bright sun, warm temps in the 80′s, cool southwest breeze. Glassy water with a little longboard bump. Fish are biting.

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 6.27.11 – OBX Summer in Full Swing!

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Outer Banks - 6.27.11 - Summer in Kill Devil Hills

Outer Banks - 6.27.11 - Summer in Kill Devil Hills

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Monday, June 27, 2011.

This video was shot at the Sutton St. beach access in Kill Devil Hills at 8:30 AM.

Happy last week of June! Amazing. I can’t believe how fast time is rolling this year. Already half way through the year, and the 4th of July is next week. The OBX summer is officially in full swing.

Great weather ahead this week. 80 degree temps, bright sun, and a light offshore wind out of the southwest all week.

Unfortunately, not much surf to report this week, but the light offshore wind is cleaning up the little swell we have. The waves are only in the knee high range today, but if you can find the right spot, there is a very clean longboard wave coming through. It should be this way pretty much all week. The swell may jump to waist high for a short time on Wednesday. Should be a pretty clean wave in the longboard range all week.

OBX fishing is going full steam. Everything is active. Offshore is seeing dolphin, tuna, and a few bill fish mixed in. The piers, bridges, Sound, and surf are all very consistent with a wide variety of fish – blue fish, croaker, spot, speckled trout, flounder, Spanish mackerel, cobia.

Hope to see you soon. Have fun!

Outer Banks Treasure: Oregon Inlet

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Saltwater Game Fish

Ever actually watched a boat unload its catch of the day? It is actually pretty neat to see what everyone is talking about when they say how great Outer Banks fishing is. We went out to Oregon Inlet Fishing Center to include it as an Outer Banks Treasure and was lucky enough to get them unloading an awesome catch of dolphin and tuna.

I never actually realized how much of a city girl I was until the day I went to get this video. Before I headed to Oregon Inlet I had to make that always dreaded trip to the DMV to get my car registered. When I get to Manteo I ask where the License Plate office is and they tell me its at a pharmacy…? Being from Charlotte, NC where there is a DMV building on every corner with a line out the door I was completely in awe that they would have a DMV in a pharmacy with 2 people in line! I was in and out in about 15 minutes.

I had been to Oregon Inlet Fishing Center before but never in the summer. I was surprised to see how many people were there and was so excited to see a boat bring in its catch, since I had never seen it in action. As I was walking around I found myself feeling particular about what catches I wanted to film. Kind of funny huh? Well someone was unloading a boat of blue fish and I thought…eh not big enough :) I’m getting too spoiled with the whole fishing thing! Anyway I saw the Outrigger of Nags Head coming in and thought I would see what they were going to unload.

Like I said its weird that I am so spoiled because as they were unloading the boat I had to ask my boyfriend (the fishing guru) what kind of fish they were bringing out. I had never seen dolphin or tuna before so it was awesome to finally see what they looked like. Pretty big too! I would have to say that since living in the Outer Banks I have definitely grown to enjoy fishing especially in salt water. Ive decided I have to throw my girly-girl status out the window if I’m ever going to fit in around here.

After we visited the fishing center we went down to the Bonner Bridge which was another treasure in itself. Whether it is for fishing or laying out on the beach it is truly a beautiful place with views of the Bodie Island Lighthouse which is pretty neat. The fishing turned out to be amazing on Friday. We usually climb down on the pileands because if you fish from the bridge, with the current sometimes it is hard to feel when you have a bite. I wouldn’t recommend this unless you are with someone who knows what they are doing though, because it could be dangerous. We ended up catching about 70 lbs worth of sheepshead (a type of fish), which is really rare and supposedly a delicacy to eat! They are also pretty funny looking and have teeth similar to a humans.

Between the fishing center and the areas around it for fishing, Oregon Inlet is surely a treasure and offers lots of fun for the whole family. The boys can take off to the bridge while you watch from your beach chair with your toes in the sand, or head to the fishing  center to see the catches of the day or check out the state record fish displayed. A real treasure is unexpected and unique. For me the fun in fishing was definitely unexpected and is promised to be the same for you! Make sure if you are in the area you check it out and if you need any tips or have questions make sure you let us know. Enjoy.

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 6.24.11 – Great start to the weekend…

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Outer Banks - 6.24.11 - Great Start to the Weekend at Avalon Pier

Outer Banks - 6.24.11 - Great Start to the Weekend at Avalon Pier

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Friday, June 24, 2011.

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

Happy Friday! We’ve had great weather all week, and it will carry through the weekend. There was an amazing sunset last night after a much needed thunderstorm, so I’ll include a pic of that too.

A bit overcast this morning, but overall a great start to the weekend. We’ll have a mix of sun and clouds today, with temps in the upper 80′s, and light southwest wind. A very comfortable beach day…and weekend.

The southwest wind is cleaning the tiny wave we have coming through, so there is a clean longboard wave, but it’s only in the knee high range. This is the story for the weekend too. Knee high waves, offshore wind through Saturday, and on Sunday the wind switches to the east. Unfortunately, not too exciting for OBX surf, but we had some fun surf and warm water this week, so no complaints.

OBX fishing is hitting its stride. Offshore is seeing dolphin, tuna and some bill fish mixed in. Near shore, piers, bridges, Sound, and surf are all very active with a wide variety of fish – croaker, spot, speckled trout, sea mullet, Spanish mackerel, blue fish, Cobia. Great time to be fishing on the OBX…tight lines all around!

Hope to see you soon. Have fun!

Spotlight on the OBX: Duck, NC

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Outer Banks SunsetWe love a good video series; so we figured why not start another. You can already view our “Outer Banks Treasures” video series that highlights all of the “secret” spots we love on the OBX so you can live like a local when you visit. And now we’re going to focus on some informational videos that will help you get an understanding of the layout of the Outer Banks. We’ll title the new video series “Spotlight on the OBX,” (pretty clever, right? :) ), and we’ll start with an overview of the town of Duck.

Hope you enjoy…please let us know if you have any suggestions or want us to focus on something in particular. We love your input!

Duck, North Carolina is a charming Northern Outer Banks town that has a lot of personality and an amazing amount to offer vacationers. Whether you’re looking to relax on the beautiful beaches, take a bike ride through the quaint downtown area, pick up some unique OBX goodies at the local shops, or dine in one of the many tasty restaurants, Duck has something for everyone.

Duck is in an ideal location. Tucked away in a wooded area just north of Kitty Hawk, it is quiet and peaceful, but it is a short drive south to hustle and bustle along Rt. 158, and a quick trip north to Corolla. It is one of the few towns on the OBX that offer a true “downtown” area…and it’s a great downtown – bike and walking paths, shops, restaurants, waterfront patios and walkways. The town also goes above and beyond during the summer months to offer free events all week long – music, exercise, shows, kids events.  A great spot for an OBX getaway

  • Beautiful Views: The town of Duck has some of the best views on the Outer Banks. From restaurants on the sound to oceanfront property, there’s a breath-taking view everywhere you look.
  • Watersports/fishing: From the Atlantic Ocean to the Currituck Sound, Duck has it all when it comes to the water. The most peaceful and relaxing beaches on the Outer Banks can be found in Duck, a great place for surfing, sea kayaking, paddle boarding or even just swimming. Just a walk away is the Currituck Sound, where you can rent a jet ski, take a boat out, go fishing or enjoy an aerial view while parasailing.
  • Restaurants: Duck is home to some of the best restaurants around. With just a short drive, bike ride or walk, you’ll find some of the top food and wine destinations on the Outer Banks.
  • Shopping: All of Duck’s unique boutiques and specialty shops are located within walking distance of each other, creating a great “downtown” shopping experience.

I’ll zip it so Chelsea can give you a quick tour. Hope to see you soon. Enjoy!

Outer Banks Sand Sculpture Festival: June 29th-July 1st

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Sounds crazy right? Well this is actually a fantastic FREE event sponsored by Kitty Hawk Sports, Peace Frogs, Panama Jack Sunscreen, OBX, Kitty Hawk Kites and the Outer Banks Hospital as a benefit event for the prevention of skin cancer.

Sandtastic (a professional sandsculpture company) will be on hand sculpting a huge sand creation! Come watch them work on this enormous sand castle all day on Wednesday, and until 2pm on Thursday. If you want to see sculpting from of the best in the world, be sure to stop by on Wednesday BEFORE noon on Thursday. At 2pm on Thursday, hang around for the Sand Clinic, given by the pro’s from Sandtastic! Be sure to sign up for our Sand Castle competitions as well!

You should also stick around  for the fun events and entertainment at Kitty Hawk Sports at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing shopping center across from Jockey’s Ridge at MP 12.5 in Nags Head.

Doctors from the Outer Banks Hospital will also be giving FREE skin cancer screenings during the event – times TBA. All proceeds raised at this event go to the Outer Banks Hospital.

Sounds like the perfect way to give back to your community and have some fun. I mean where else do you get to see a humungous sandcastle built by professional “sand castle builders”. Maybe I should witch careers :)

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Great Beach Day…with Surf!

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Outer Banks - 6.23.11 - Pretty Surf in Kitty Hawk

Outer Banks - 6.23.11 - Pretty Surf in Kitty Hawk

I love starting my day at the beach for our daily reports. It is one of the highlights of my day (second only to hugs from the fam) to stand with my toes in the sand assessing the waves, watching the birds drift in and out of sight, and letting the beach vibe wash over me. Today is one of those days that almost seems too good to be real.

Gorgeous OBX  summer day. Waist to chest high, glassy surf. Almost no one in the water paddling…I guess everyone is surfed out from yesterday. 90 degrees, sun, and a light southwest wind. Fish are biting – offshore, near shore, piers, bridges, Sound, and surf.

Thanks Mother Nature.