Outer Banks Everyday Magic: Sound-side Love

Posted on January 26, 2012

Outer Banks Everyday Magic: Sound-side Love - Sunset

Gorgeous, sunny, 60 degree OBX weather in January?! Yes, please. Seems like the perfect day for some Outer Banks Everyday Magic.

This week we have the pleasure of getting a sound-side perspective from Barb, who has enjoyed years of fun-filled family life on the OBX Sound. Thanks for sharing Barb, and yes, you may just be lucky enough.

What’s that saying? If you are lucky enough to live on the water.. you are lucky enough!

I may just be lucky enough.

The Outer Banks is famous for mile after mile of gorgeous beaches, and rightfully so. However, there’s a secret on the other side of the island that is pretty special but often goes unnoticed – the Sound.

When our kids were young we spent endless hours playing in the Sound – swimming, crabbing and fishing. Jet skiing, boating, and tubing have entertained us indefinitely.

As our children had their own families, the Sound became a haven for weekend fun and family get-togethers. Lots of laughter, squeals of joy and wonderful discoveries have been shared along the shallow waters of our Sound-side paradise. From the little ones chasing minnows with nets, to digging clams from the sand, to chasing or running from crabs, there is always continual motion…and unlimited fun and smiles. If we got bored on the shore, sailing, kayaking and windsurfing offered endless entertainment for all ages.

For years our family has enjoyed Indian summer fishing off the Sound front pier. When the summer temperatures begin to drop a bit in the evenings, it’s the perfect time to enjoyed a late summer evening on the water. A northeast wind blows the water out to make for some great croaker, flounder and drum fishing. We have always been pretty competitive about who would catch the first fish, the biggest fish and of course, the most fish.

But the highlight of the evening is always the unique sunset with it’s amazing display of color. To witness the beauty of a huge sun rapidly sinking into the water always takes my breath away.

Some people find their everyday magic along the oceanfront of the Outer Banks. And I don’t blame them, the OBX oceanfront is just as breathtaking, but If you’ve never explored the Sound-side of the island, you’re missing out!

This is where I continue to find my everyday magic, regardless of the time of year.

And yes, I am lucky enough!

Sound-side Love: Crabbing

Sound-side Love

Check out those awesome retro pictures! Actual prints, not just a quick digital snapshot. Who knew prints still survived these days?! Thanks for sharing Barb!

I’d love to hear your story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic too. Please use the form below to share your story with me.

Outer Banks Everyday Magic: Landing the Perfect Catch

Posted on January 17, 2012

Outer Banks Everyday Magic: Landing the Perfect Catch

The Outer Banks Everyday Magic series has become one of my favorite blog features. I was excited when we started it because I knew we’d discover some awesome stories, but I continue to be amazed by how much the OBX touches people’s lives.

I have the lucky position of getting to read and format every story that we get, and I can honestly say that I get goosebumps when I read how much passion people feel for their time on the Outer Banks.

Time on the OBX is waaay more than just a vacation; it’s a new adventure, time to reconnect with loved ones, a time to disconnect from everyday life, a time to bond with nature, it’s life-long memories, and this week we get to hear from Kristen who explains that the OBX is also one of the best spots to reel in the “perfect catch.”

Thanks for sharing Kristen. Enjoy…I bet you get goosebumps.

Most OBX lovers know the Outer Banks is famous for world-class fishing. Offshore, inshore, surf fishing, sound fishing. Marlin, tuna, dolphin, stripers, red drum. It’s a fisherman’s oasis – and it’s where I landed the perfect catch.

I’ll start from the beginning.

I grew up coming to the Outer Banks (“Nags Head” as we all called it when I was young). Every summer my family rented a cottage from family friends – The Lilly Pad on Archdale. Those were some of the best days of my life.

My sister, my cousin, mom, aunt and our super cool teenage babysitter – headed to “Nags Head” for a fun-filled week of boogie boarding, shell collecting, trips to the Surfslide (I was terrified of those water slides), the Ghost Ship (does anyone remember this?!), bumper boats, crab leg dinners, early morning walks to The Donut Shop (oh how I miss those Tarheels) and nights on the deck singing Patsy Cline’s, “Walkin’ After Midnight.”

It wasn’t long before those innocent weeks on Archdale turned into weeks without a babysitter, my cousin and I cruisin’ behind the wheel (only after I begged my mom to give me the keys – I WAS 16 after all), and hot summer nights hanging out at Foosball Palace. (Again, does anyone remember that hole in the wall on the beach?!)

Then it was “Beach Week,” with a group of 10 high school friends – all under one roof for one wild week of post-high school “celebrations.”

These were the days. (As Van Morrison so wisely sang.) Or so I thought.

Fast forward eight or so years. I once again found myself frequenting the Outer Banks. This time, I was a recent college graduate (go Hoos!) with no career in sight. So, with a close high school friend (and my love of the Outer Banks still solid), we road tripped it to the OBX pretty much every other weekend during the summer of 2000.

At first these weekend jaunts were just quick carefree getaways – a little dancing and a lot of sun bathing. But after a few trips, the question arose, “Why don’t we just move here?” Without a solid career path for me in VA, I agreed that a move to the OBX would be the perfect “in between” option. I mean, it would only be for a year or two – and then I would come back to reality, move back to VA and find a “real” career path.

That’s when fate reeled me in.

It was the last night of one of our whirlwind weekends. We were headed back to our hotel – another crazy weekend spent at the OBX. Time to say goodbye and plan our next adventure. And that’s when I landed the catch of my life.

I met the man who would become my husband that night. (And, yes, one of the reasons behind the title of my story. He fishes for a living.)

It wasn’t long before my brief stint on the Outer Banks turned into 12 years of a life I never imagined living.

Sure, I grew up going fishing with my dad – on lakes, ponds, etc. – but now I was really in the mix. Hanging with the “big boys.” Charter boats, billfish tournaments and “fish” talk. I quickly became “in tune” with all things related to charter fishing and the fishing lifestyle on the Outer Banks. Tight lines. Rigging baits. Sea witches. And SUPER early mornings. And I loved it. I was proud to call myself “the girl” of a charter boat fisherman.

And now? The catch of my life has brought me more joy than I could ever have imagined – even back during my carefree days on Archdale. We have two guppies of our own, Luke (5 years) and Anna (7 months), and I’m proud to say while one has already reeled in plenty of fish on his own, the other has already held a fishing pole. (And yes, we’re already counting the days until the 2012 Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament!)

So there is my story of the “everyday magic” I found on the Outer Banks. After all, there aren’t many things more magical than going down to the marina to watch your daddy’s boat come in. Especially with a 500 lb. marlin in the cockpit.

Tight lines!

Tight lines indeed! Such a great story. A lifetime of Outer Banks memories.

I’d love to hear your story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic too. Please use the form below to share your story with me.

Outer Banks Everyday Magic: Family Traditions

Posted on January 12, 2012

It’s been a gorgeous winter day on the Outer Banks (60′s, sun, and surf…in January! ), and we’re heading into a three day weekend, so let’s celebrate with a double dose of Magic this week.

Today’s story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic comes to us courteous of Ms. Yvette, and it focuses on a topic that many of us OBX lovers can relate to, family traditions. Enjoy…

A few years ago I decided that I really needed to take my daughter on a vacation…to a real beach. So, I decided on a trip to the Outer Banks.

My first thought was that I would drive down from the mountains of Pennsylvania for a few days. However, when I mentioned my plans to my Mother, she and my niece (both living in New York) decided to join us. A family trip for two turned into four.

My family is originally from South Carolina, so the laid back Outer Banks atmosphere took me back to what childhood is supposed to be.

Last year, my sister, my son, his wife and children (age 4 and 2…who had never seen the sea) joined us. And what a pleasure it was.

I have promised the girls a week in the Outer Banks every year until they are grown. Although I suspect they will continue the tradition themselves.

It is soooo great to see the effect the Outer Banks can have on people. OBX magic comes in a lot of different forms, and seeing families come together for reunions and to start family traditions has to be one of the best gifts the OBX has to offer.

Thanks for the great story Yvette.

I’d love to hear your story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic too. Please use the form below to share your story with me.

Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival Nov. 8-13

Posted on October 24, 2011

Of course the millions of Outer Banks visitors come here every year to enjoy the beautiful beaches and attractions but I couldn’t agree more with Wings Over Water, that the ultimate attraction in our area is the wildlife, natural history and scenic views. As a chance to get out an enjoy the over quarter of a million acres of wildlife and wetlands, Wings Over Water is presenting the 15th annual Wildlife Festival from November 8-13th.

Here are just a few of the many great adventures planned for you and your family to experience!

Venturing into areas with combined bird lists of nearly 400 species.
Learning from experts how to shoot photographs that capture the unique beauty of the region.
Traveling to historic landmarks like the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station.
Visiting North Pond on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island, the hottest spot for fall birding in North Carolina – or even visit South Pond which is usually closed to visitors.
Taking a ferry to the pirate Blackbeard’s hang-out on Ocracoke Island to enjoy the quaint fishing village and check out the birds.
Paddling the backwaters of the area or four-wheeling the area north of Corolla.
Visiting the ancient maritime forest of Kitty Hawk Woods for a look at this rare ecosystem.
Venturing into Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge at night in search of bear and other wildlife.
Absorbing the waterways’ natural beauty during a sunrise or sunset kayak tour.
Wading in search of Clapper Rails, marsh sparrows and wrens at Oregon Inlet.
Exploring a Ghost Town on Portsmouth Island.
Experiencing a Red Wolf Howling where the nearly extinct animal is now fighting its way back.
And many other wild experiences……

Just another great activity for any fall OBX’ers. Don’t say we didn’t tell you that fall is the best time to be at the beach. For more information on the festival or to view a complete schedule and descriptions of all the events, click here. Here’s a quick peak at some of the beauty to be discovered here in the Outer Banks.

Sunset and Wildlife on the Outer Banks from Seaside Vacations on Vimeo.

Kitty Hawk Skate Competition: Proceeds to Benefit Irene Victims

Posted on October 7, 2011

Awesome event for a great cause set to take place Saturday, October 9th at the Kitty Hawk Skatepark, with proceeds benefiting Hurricane Irene victims through the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. Honorable, in conjunction with LACED Clothing, proudly presents the “LACED & FLOODED” benefit Skate Jam. The weekend will kick off Saturday, October 8th at Moms Sweet Shop in KDH for a meet and greet with Jake Brown and Peter Smolik from 12-2pm. They will be premiering LACED clothing as it hits the racks at Moms and make sure to stop by and pre-register for the Skate Jam.

On Sunday registration for the days event will be from 11am-12:30pm and the contest will begin at 1:00pm sharp. There is a $10 entry fee, and two age brackets of 16 & under/16 & up for the game of SK8, and a street-league style best run contest. There will be tons of awesome prizes donated by 158 Surf & Skate, and other great vendors. Lucky 12 Tavern donated a cooker, pig and sides for a good old fashioned pig pickin’ with plates being sold to raise funds for OBRF. The Bad Bean Baja Grill will also be around with a fresh juice bar, and treats.

If youre in town make sure to stop in and check this out. Should be a fun time and is for a great cause! If you have any questions regarding the weekends events please feel free to contact MomsSweetShop@gmail.com or call 252.441.MOMS (6667).

Outer Banks Treasure:Wright Brothers Memorial & Museum

Posted on October 3, 2011

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

Posted on August 11, 2011

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!

Kitty Hawk Kites: 5th Annual Watermelon Festival 8/11

Posted on August 8, 2011

Join Kitty Hawk Kites and the Wright Flight Foundation for the 5th Annual Watermelon Festival, Thursday, August 11 from 10-4, at the Kitty Hawk Kite store in Nags Head (mile post 12.5) for a big outdoor summer bash with a homegrown backyard feel. This event will have tons of fun for kids and adults of all ages including a dunk tank, moon bounce, inflatable obstacle course, watermelon seed spitting distance contests, pie eating contests, t-shirt tye dying, face painting, and of course, tons of watermelon!

Kitty Hawk Kites staff will be on site teaching kids how to use juggling sticks, balance boards, and letting them try out top selling toys. There will also be great music, food vendors on site, and one of the best raffles on the beach and over $2000 in prizes.

Proceeds from the Watermelon Festival go directly to the Wright Flight Foundation–a local non-profit that rewards 5th graders, who achieve their academic goals, with flight! The foundation has helped improve performance in local school districts and has given children the opportunities to do things like hang gliding, tandem hang gliding, and plane rides, that they may have not been able to do before. Students are also educated about the history and basic principles of flight.

Check it out! What a great cause and a very creative way to motivate students. See you all there!

Outer Banks Treasure: Kilmarlic Golf Club

Posted on August 4, 2011

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!

Tips on Finding Beach Treasure on the OBX

Posted on August 4, 2011

Ever wondered where and how to find thing like driftwood, sea glass, fulgurites, seashells and other coastal treasures? Luckily the Outer Banks has been named one of the best places to discover some of these rare items. Check out Coastal Living’s article on everything you need to know about beachcombing while out exploring the coastline.

If you don’t have a beach trip planned yet, you can also find some neat places all around the U.S that sell many of these handcrafted items. Of course we can always help you plan your next beach trip so you can find some of these ocean gems right here in the OBX for yourself .

Follow the link and you will see this screen. From here you can explore all of these different types of beach treasures.