Category Archives: Outer Banks Treasures

Outer Banks Treasure:Wright Brothers Memorial & Museum

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Yes, we know its been a little while since our last Outer Banks Treasure series video, but fear not, we are back! What is the one thing you think of when you think of the Outer Banks? Of course the beach, but I remember when I was in grade school, the first time I heard the name “Outer Banks” it was in North Carolina History class and it was while learning about the Wright Brothers and the first flight. As you know, the purpose of the OBX Treasure videos is to really give you a glimpse at some of the amazing places that make the Outer Banks special. The choice was obvious here, the Wright Brothers Memorial & Museum is a one of a kind place that can only be found here in the Outer Banks and is a remarkable piece of history you have to visit at least once.

Like I have said a number of times, being a local you don’t always get the chance to enjoy some of the things that are the whole reason you live there! Sounds crazy but honestly I have not been to the beach in about 2 weeks. Its a disgrace but when you live and work in a place like the OBX you are busy with day to day life that you don’t have time. Well, the same idea applied in this situation, I had NEVER been to the Wright Brothers Memorial and have wanted to go for a long time but just never got around to it. After hearing some coworkers talking about doing their daily run up and down the monument I thought, jeeze, I need to get down there and do an OBX Treasure while I’m at it.

It was awesome! I wish I could of had my family there to see some of the amazing things inside the museum. There was so much history in this one little spot, it was amazing. I don’t want to give too much info because I want you all to see it for yourself, but seeing the plane reproductions, the very parts they used on the first model planes, and even the bikes the Wright Brothers made and sold to fund the experiment of flight was unbelievable.

After making my way through the museum and hanger exhibits I was ready to climb up to the monument. If you have been in the Outer Banks lately you know that the mosquito’s have been terrible after Hurricane Irene. Since I am allergic to mosquito’s I should have been more prepared for my climb but regardless it was worth every minute. The view from the top of the monument was great. You could see the beach and the sound and enjoy the Outer Banks from a completely different view. It was also pretty neat to touch the monument and read the engraved words that surround it. All I can say was it was beautiful.

I am so glad I got the chance to visit this little piece of history and even more excited to share it with you. I hope that when I move down to Kill Devil Hills I can get my morning workout here. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to start the day. I know we use this quote alot but it is one of the most important things to remember “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”-Ferris Bueller. Enjoy the video everyone!

Outer Banks Treasure: Duck Research Pier

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Come along as we take a tour of the Army Cops of Engineers Field Research Facility, or what we OBX’ers call the Duck Research Pier in Duck, North Carolina. The Field Research facility is used to study coastal processes, especially those that cause beach changes. The pier fulfills four main objectives:

 

  • provides a rigid platform through the surf  into deep water from which to attach instruments
  • provides a permanent base of operations for various studies by the Corps, private industry, universities, and other branches of the military
  • provides field data for use in laboratory experiments and numerical models
  • provides a facility for testing new instrumentation in the field before deployment

If you have ever been out on the beach in Duck you may have seen the 1840 foot pier from a distance but there are only private beach accesses near the facility. The reason they Army chose to build the pier in Duck is pretty neat. Duck was chosen because of its distance from coastal structures, affected by the high frequency of storms and hurricanes, and only lightly affected by the dynamics of inlet processes. It also has access to both the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound making it easier to conduct a variety of experiments.

I don’t want to tell you too much more about the pier because you need to get out there and do the tour. It was really educational and makes you appreciate all of the wonder that’s associated with the ocean. They are only doing the tours until August 19th and are Monday-Friday at 10:00 am. Only one more week left so get out there!

Outer Banks Treasure: Kilmarlic Golf Club

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Nothing says relaxation like a nice round of golf right? Well since the beach is all about relaxing and enjoying a laid back atmosphere we thought we needed to include Kilmarlic Golf Club as one of our Outer Banks Treasures. I had a chance to see the course from some events we have had through the Club Seaside golf clinic offered by Kilmarlic and Seaside Vacations.  It is a beautiful course and the club was great as well. There is a pro-shop inside, 215-Westside, which is a great spot to grab a bite to eat and a huge covered porch to sit out in a rocking chair and enjoy the views.

Want to check it our for yourself? Watch as I take a golf cart tour around the course and be sure you don’t miss out on the exclusive golf clinic and special guests rates through Club Seaside. Its a great way to get out and explore and enjoy all of the great things the Outer Banks has to offer. No matter what your skill level its a guaranteed good time!

Outer Banks Treasures: Coastal Helicopter & OBX Biplanes

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Just when you thought the Outer Banks couldn’t get any more beautiful, getting a chance to see it from over 2,000 feet in the air was unbelievable! Continuing with our Outer Banks Treasure series we had the opportunity to take some of our Seaside crew up on a helicopter ride with Coastal Helicopters and a plane ride with OBX Biplanes out of Manteo, NC.

Since I have always had a fear of heights I started to wonder why I set this up, knowing good and well I would have to make the trip up in either the helicopter or plane. When the time came Larry and Stephanie, the owners of Coastal Helicopters did a great job of putting my worries at ease and I finally was ready to do it! Let me just tell you that it was amazing! Once the plane was in the air, I wasn’t scared at all.  The views were breathtaking and I had such a great time.

I would HIGHLY recommend setting up a tour on your next vacation. They have affordable options for rides especially if you have a large group and you want to give everyone a chance at going up. It is the Outer Banks from a whole new perspective. I took the plane up but my co-workers also had an awesome time on the helicopter ride. You have the opportunity to see local attractions and all of the great OBX landmarks, as well as schools of fish and dolphins from in the air.

If you are interested in setting up a ride please visit Coastal Helicopter and OBX Biplanes online, or if you are a Seaside Vacations guests, contact one of our vacations specialists for more information and a $10 off coupon! Big thank you to Baldwin Video for such a great video!

Outer Banks Treasure: Corolla Outback Adventures Wild Horse Tour

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If you haven’t got a chance to see the wild horses that roam the northern beaches of the Outer Banks, it is a must see, add it to your bucket list now! All i can say is it is absolutely beautiful to see these horses in their natural habitat, and amazing what our community does to protect them.

Since i have lived in the Outer Banks I have seen the horses before, usually one or two along the beach in Carova. I never had been on actual tour, or knew all the history associated with the reason they are on the island. I was so excited to have the opportunity to join Corolla Outback Adventures in a tour with some other Seaside employees. It was definitely a treat :)

It was a bumpy ride but we got to see some great landmarks and were lucky enough to see a ton of wild horses, including a baby horse that was only a few weeks old. We also got to have some fun driving through the back “roads” hitting some big hills and even trudging through some water! The best part of the trip was on the ride home….while making our way back to Corolla we saw some horses on the beach and they were…. well you are just going to have to watch the end of the video to find out!

If you are a Seaside guest you can take advantage of our Club Seaside program which includes Wild Horse Tours. Visit our page for reservations with Corolla Outback Adventures.

 

Outer Banks Treasure: Kilmarlic Health and Racquet Club

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One of the great things about Seaside Vacations is our Club Seaside program, which offers our guests a unique opportunity to experience some local culture and really add to their vacation experience. We have been working with Kilmarlic Health and Racquet Club for some time now and have had such great feedback from our guests, that we wanted to include them in our Outer Banks Treasure series and allow people to see some of the things that make it such a great place to visit during your time here in the OBX.

Even though we are at the beach, having a pool at your vacation home is always a fun way to get out to enjoy the sunshine and keep the kids having a great time, but it is not always easy to find availability in homes that have pools. The good news is that for only $5 per person (free on Saturday’s)  you can enjoy all day access to Kilmarlic’s state-of-the art facility featuring the highest quality equipment, personal training, group fitness programs, a junior Olympic-sized pool, four Har-Tru clay tennis courts, four hard tennis courts, a basketball court, a poolside café, upscale locker rooms and more.

Club Seaside also offers a 50 minute Abs & Arms class, taught by a certified trainer to help keep you keep that bikini body looking fabulous! If you are a tennis lover, like myself, you can enjoy a cardio intensive tennis clinic on Kilmalic’s US Open style courts with tennis director Rob Peterson. No matter what your interests are there is something great at Kilmarlic Health & Racquet for you.

For more information visit our Club Seaside page or Kilmarlic’s website to learn more about their great facilities.

Stop in and see what all the buzz is about at 101 Wimbledon Court, Powell’s Point, NC 27966.

Don’t forget if you are stuck in summer traffic Kilmarlic is right on the way in so skip the wait and go take a dip!

Outer Banks Treasures: Chilli Peppers Coastal Grill

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Outer Banks - Chilli Peppers Coastal Grill

Outer Banks - Chilli Peppers Coastal Grill

I don’t know about you guys but going out to eat is  really risky business. You have to consider all your options…like is the food good?, is it expensive?, how big are the portions?, will I have to wait forever?, the list goes on. If you are tight on money like me you want to make sure that if you are going to go out to eat it better be worth it! When we say Outer Banks Treasure, we mean it, and Chilli Peppers is honestly one of the best restaurants I have ever been too.

If you are in the mood for a quick and easy lunch, their sandwiches are great. The BBQ sandwich is my favorite and the cucumber salad is amazing. If its dinner time, you have to try their fresh fish. No matter what the type of fish it is always a great meal. The coolest part is they grow many of the spices they use right in the back so it is fresh in every sense of the word. No one can resist a good margarita right? The first time i went to Chilli Peppers I got a watermelon margarita and I haven’t gone with a different flavor since, but they have many flavors to choose from and you can pick what shelf alcohol you want it it as well.

Out in the back they have cornhole and a new addition of a sliding walk-up window where you can order a beer outside and don’t have to go in. Or if you have been on the beach all day and look like a hot mess you don’t have to go sit inside, you can order what you want and sit out at the picnic tables. The atmosphere is relaxed, the beach music plays in the background and the drink specials rock, what more could you ask for on a vacation, or even just a night out to eat?

The restaurant is run by a great guy named Jim Douglas who was nice enough to let us come get some pictures and video to share with you guys. We really hope you enjoy the video and make sure that when you’re in the OBX you check out Chilli Peppers at MP 5.5 in Kill Devil Hills. Tell them Seaside sent you ;)

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 Treasures: Jennette’s Pier

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When you think about what really makes an Outer Banks treasure it is hard to narrow it down. There are so many unique things here in tbe OBX, that our job will never end in showing you all of the places and things we consider treasures. I had the opportunity today to take a tour of the brand new Jennette’s Pier with Assistant Manager, Daryl Law. All I can say is WOW! Jennette’s Pier is truely an amazing sight to see and couldn’t be described as anything less than an Outer Banks Treasure.

When you first walk up to the pier you will notice the amazing details on the exterior of the facility. Not to mention the beautiful ocean views that surround you. There are chairs and tables out on the side overlooking the ocean, which I thought would be a great place to have a cup of coffee and look out at the water every morning. Turns out some locals had the same idea beacause as I was walking in, those seats were filling up quick!

I don’t want to give away to many details of the inside because I want you to see them all in the tour, but I will say that everything inside was beautiful. From the aquariums (which are still in progress) to the stone and tile work, everything was one of a kind. Enough talking, we have been building up to the opening of Jennette’s for a while now and if you haven’t made it to the Outer Banks yet, here is your exclusive tour of Jennette’s Pier. (Cue opening music) :)

P.S- If you want a live view of Jennette’s Pier check out our new beach webcam!

 

Outer Banks Treasures: OBX Crabbing & Billy’s Seafood

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Outer Banks Crabbing - map to secret spot

Outer Banks Crabbing - map to secret spot

Everyone loves a free dinner, right? Ok, it’s not entirely free, you may have to spend a couple bucks for chicken necks and a string, but it’s tough to find an easier catch than blue crabs on the Outer Banks.

For our latest installment the Outer Banks Treasures video series, we’re going to focus on OBX crabbing. But really, it’s a 2 for 1 deal because we’ll also focus on Billy’s Seafood in Kill Devil Hills.

Billy’s Seafood is definitely deserving of it’s own Outer Banks Treasures focus, but it works so closely with OBX crabbing and the secret spot I’m going to point out that I decided to give a little bonus with this treasure.

Blue crabs are an OBX favorite. You can have them prepared for you at most local OBX restaurants, you can purchase them at a local OBX seafood shop and prepare them yourself, or you can head over to the Sound, enjoy a fun outdoor activity, and catch your dinner yourself…I prefer the latter!

The Outer Banks Sound is full of blue crabs. The trick is knowing where to catch them. There are a wide variety of great spots, but I’ll focus on one secret spot that is off the beaten path that has proven successful track record.

I’ll start with a point of reference that is easy to find, the gate at the Wright Brother’s museum on Rt. 158 (i.e. the “highway” in OBX lingo). Head south from the gate at the Wright Brothers museum, and take a right at the first set of lights (Dairy Queen on your left, Kangaroo gas station on your right) onto Colington Rd. Colington Rd. is a neat road that winds through the west side of Kill Devil Hills…definitely off the beaten path for most vacationers. The secret spot is about two miles down this winding road.

I’ll point out a few landmarks on the way so you know you are on the right track. Soon after you turn onto Colington Rd., you will pass the backside of the Wright Brothers monument on your right. A short distance after that, you’ll pass the Outer Banks airport on your right.

As you head down Colington Rd., you will pass over two bridges. At the bottom of the first bridge is the legendary Billy’s Seafood. Definitely worth a quick pit stop. Billy’s is a fantastic local seafood shop. Local fishermen pull their boats directly up to the store at a dock in the back of the store to unload their fresh catch….doesn’t get much more fresh than that! In addition to fresh local seafood, Billy’s is also a great spot to get any crabbing materials you may need…string, hooks, chicken, nets, blue fish…they have you covered.

After hitting up Billy, take a left out of the parking lot to continue down Colington Rd. After about another mile or so, you’ll approach the second bridge on this journey. As you approach the bridge, notice the sandy area to the right of the bridge. This is the secret spot!

As you go over the bridge, you’ll notice a parking area on the right side at the base of the bridge. As a final landmark, this parking area is directly across the street from the Colington Volunteer Fire Station (108 School St., Kill Devil Hills).

Park in the parking area, and walk up the small path to the super crab spot. Set up shop with some chairs and a cooler, and drop your chicken line into the water. Almost guaranteed catches.

If you have any questions, please let us know…we love to share our local tips.

Happy crabbing!