Outer Banks Link Love: 1.13.12 – Potpourri

Posted on January 13, 2012

Outer Banks Link Love

This week’s edition of Outer Banks Link Love is a bit of a potpourri; a big question, a book review, amazing pictures of the Sound, some free music, and a new school.

A mixed bag of love, but some good OBX jewels. Enjoy…

The Big Question: Here’s a great story about a wedding proposal that took place on the Outer Banks for a couple from Washington DC. A delicious way to pop the big question!
Outer Banks, The Real Treasure Island: In early December we share an amazing Outer Banks pirate tale. It turns out Black Beard wasn’t the only OBX pirate! John Amrhein, Jr shares this awesome story in his new book, Treasure Island: The Untold Story, and here is a great book review of his work.
Snapshot of the Sound: Here’s a very cool website I stumbled across this week; Earth Snapshot – “A Daily View of the Planet.” Very cool idea. And it just so happens that last Sunday’s snapshot was of the Pamilco and Albemarle Sounds. They are a great view from the air (space?), and give a very informative description.

Earth Snapshot - Outer Banks - Pamlico & Albemarle Sounds

Free Music: How about some free music?! As an added bonus, it’s live tracks recorded at the Outer Banks Brewing Station. Sweet! The Muckrakes have decided to kick of 2012 by giving away their music. They are a fun rock band with alt-country roots. Definitely worth a listen…it is free after all.
New School headed to Corolla? The Waters Edge Village School, a proposed charter school in Corolla, was approved by the NC Office of Charter Schools. The first new school in Corolla since 1957 is one step closer to becoming a reality. Next month it will need to be approved by the NC State Board of Education.

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!

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.

Check out this video of Hayley who showcases and explains some awesome shells she found right here in Corolla while visiting the Outer Banks.

18th Annual Surfrider Paddle Race July 23rd in KDH

Posted on July 10, 2011

Nothing is better than giving back to your community, so why not help raise some money for local scholarships and educational programs while enjoying a fun day out on the beach with great prizes, food and paddle battles! The Surfrider Foundation, Outer Banks Chapter raised over $5,000 last year and want to do it even bigger this year.

With more than 50 competitors, there’s a division for everyone (groms to grown-ups, short boards to SUP’s). Raffle tickets will also go on sale for this event with great prizes that include: Stand-up Skate/Stick and a custom surfboard shaped by Mike Rowe from Hooked Surfboards! If you’re up for the challenge or just want to come hang out be at Ocean Bay Blvd (aka the KDH Bath House) in Kill Devil Hills on July 23.

Don’t miss this event and if you can’t attend but would still like to purchase raffle tickets, please contact brent@obxsurfinfo.com or call 252-256-0423. For more information about the Surfrider Foundation, Outer Banks Chapter, or if you are interested in donating to this great organization, please visit their website at http://outerbanks.surfrider.org/

Spotlight on the OBX: Duck, NC

Posted on June 23, 2011

We 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!

Town of Duck: Summer Music Series

Posted on June 22, 2011

Nothing beats live music, a cold drink, warm air and a cool beach breeze. The Town of Duck is bringing back the 5th annual Summer Music Series starting this Thursday, June 23rd. For 8 weeks local musicians will be taking the stage at the Duck Town Park Gazebo to show off their musical talents and provide some sundown entertainment to locals and guests. The music starts at 6:00 pm on Thursday nights so grab your cooler and your lawn chairs and head down to Duck tomorrow night for the kick off!

The current schedule of performances is (subject to change):

Thursday, June 23 – Aquarium (Jam Rock & Blues)
Thursday, June 30 – The Rajun Cajuns (New Orleans Style Dance/Rock)
Thursday, July 7 – The Fuzz Band (Jazz, Funk, Blues, Hip Hop)
Thursday, July 14 – Greg Shelton Band (Classic & Dance Rock)
Thursday, July 21 – Connected (Jazz)
Thursday, July 28 – Laura Martier (Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues)
Thursday, August 4 – The Crowd (Rock & Pop)
Thursday, August 11 – The Little Kings (Dance Rock & Soul)

Hurley’s “Rip My Shred Stick” FREE Surf Contest June 23 at Jennette’s Pier

Posted on June 20, 2011

Hurley is set to host free surf contest event for kids ages 16 under, this Thursday June 23rd at Jennette’s Pier. The event is designed to allow kids to meet and surf with professional surfers including Asher Nolan, Michael Dunphy and Oliver Kurtz. Whalebone Outer Banks will be hosting a post-event party where everyone can come out and watch a slide show of the day, eat and create custom Hurley board shorts. The “winner,” or whoever is deemed to be having the most fun, will go home with a GoPro digital sports camera

Sounds pretty sweet. If you are interested in registering or getting more information visit, Hurley’s website and or get connected on Facebook.