Over the past few months, we’ve been spreading the Outer Banks Infographic love with a mix of originals and groovy infographics we stumble across while hunting online.
Today I have a fantastic infographic that is perfecto for the OBX. HomeAway.com recently compiled some guest survey info into an awesome infographic that details why guests choose vacation rentals vs. hotetls – “Why Vacation Rentals?“
HomeAway.com is the largest online aggregate (i.e. listing site) for vacation rental homes. Good or bad, like or dislike, the fact remains that HomeAway lists a ton of vacation renatal homes on thier site. And as a result, they have a ton of guests that pass through the site.
This puts HomeAway in a unique position to capture guest sentiments from a large pool of guests. These are some great reasons to choose an Outer Banks vacation rental for your next OBX getaway.
By the way, stay tuned for some more OBX original infographics…they’re on the way!
Today’s OBX Infographic is a bit of a public service announcement. Not many surprise stats with this one, but definitely some useful info.
An Outer Banks vacation and grilling go hand-in-hand. Hard to be on a beach vacation and not enjoy some time around the grill, favorite drink in hand, shooting the breeze with family and friends and watching the kiddos perform acrobatics in the pool. A bit of a vacation must.
As I light the gill and prepare to lay the delicious bounty on the flames, it never fails that I question the cooking time. A quick holler back inside elicits a sweet grumble from my wife who hunts down the answer.
Perhaps a little preparation would be in order. My wife agrees.
So, to aid your OBX grilling escapades, today’s Outer Banks infographic offers the perfect blend of info and graphics to help us reach the coveted grilling perfection. The perfecto grilling times for everything under the sun.
As a reminder, we’re spreading the Outer Banks Infographic love with a mix of originals and groovy infographics we stumble across while hunting online. Thanks Visual News for the grilling tips. By the way, stay tuned for some more OBX original infographics…they’re on the way!
Don’t let the anticipation of a well-deserved vacation blind you to the risks of leaving your home unprotected. Go ahead and plan your Outer Banks vacation, but take precautions before you leave.
The Insurance Information Institute reports that the majority of residential break-ins occur during the prime vacation months of July and August. Preventing burglaries and other problems when you are away takes a minimal amount of planning and can increase your peace of mind greatly while you travel. Experts in home security say that the key to keeping your home secure while on vacation is simply to make your home the least appealing target on your block.
Following the tips below, you can make your house harder to break into, and give yourself peace of mind that you have taken all the precautions for home security.
Shhhhh…Stay Quiet
While using personal pages on the Internet may be a convenient way to keep in touch with friends, sharing your itinerary can cause problems while you are away from home. Show some caution when you talk about your trip. Your blog isn’t the best place to announce that you’ll be away from home for a month.
Being aware of who’s around when you discuss your trip in restaurants and even at work isn’t a bad idea either. Make sure that your children are discreet, too. No one is saying that you should be suspicious of everyone you meet, but even a chance remark has the potential to lead to unintended and unfortunate consequences. The less information you put out there, the less likely it is to reach the wrong ears and eyes.
Tip: TheIntelligentCruiser.com recommends only notifying key people that you will be away and avoiding posting your vacation plans on Internet sites, answering machines or voice mail messages.
Lock Up
Before you leave for vacation be sure you physically secure and check all windows and doors. This seems so obvious, but hey, it’s easy to forget. If you keep a window unlocked to allow the cat easy access, or never bother to turn the deadbolt on the kitchen door, now’s the time to clean up your act. Locking your home makes it less attractive to opportunistic burglars. If you don’t make it easy, there’s a better chance that when you get home, your house will be in the same condition as when you left it.
Tip: If you have an alarm system for home security, don’t forget to arm it before you go on vacation. If you need to, make a list of things you need to do before leaving the house the day you leave for your trip, so that you make sure to set the alarm.
Unplug Electronics
Disconnecting the power to some of your electronics, like your desktop computer, coffee pot and television can save you money while you’re gone and eliminate the worry that you’ve accidentally left them on by mistake. Turning off your garage door is also an effective way to keep thieves from opening it with a universal remote.
Tip: Don’t leave a portable GPS in your car when you use long-term parking at the airport. It’ll alert thieves that you’re not home and give them a convenient map to your house.
Maintaining Appearances
If your house is obviously uninhabited, you may be at risk of becoming a target for a burglar. An occupied home looks lived in. Lights go on and off, and cars come and go. When you’re away, everything stops. To help create the illusion that the residence is still occupied, invest in timers that turn on the interior lights for a few hours every evening. If you can get a neighbor to take out your garbage and put the cans back after the garbage pickup, it’s another way to send the message that everything is proceeding normally at your house.
Paying someone to keep the yard mowed while you are away is a good idea if you will be gone for a significant amount of time in the spring or summer. Parking a car in your driveway also can make it appear as though someone is at home.
Tip: Don’t close your blinds when you leave on vacation if you usually keep them open. The more normal your home looks, the better.
Mail Delivery
Piles of mail and newspapers can make it clear that you are away. While you can temporarily stop mail and newspaper delivery while you’re on vacation, the IntelligentCruiser.com doesn’t recommend this practice because newspaper or postal workers will know you are away. Failing to receive regular deliveries also can tip off burglars that you aren’t at home.
Tip: Ask a friend or relative to pick up mail and newspapers daily to prevent telltale piles from accumulating.
Protecting Your Home
A burglar alarm, while not foolproof, helps secure your home. While alarm systems are expensive, the Insurance Information Institute reports that a sophisticated alarm system can result in insurance discounts of 15 to 20 percent. If you don’t have an alarm system, installing deadbolts on doors and windows can make it more difficult for thieves to enter your home. The Insurance Information Institute also recommends turning your computer off and locking up important documents to prevent burglars from accessing financial and personal information. Locking up expensive jewelry and small electronic devices before leaving home will help you avoid the theft of your most valuable possessions.
Tip: If you have a home security provider, make sure to notify them that you are going to be on vacation. If you’re going to be gone for longer than a week, notify the police, who will keep that in mind and possibly drive by your home if in the area.
Enlist the Help of Neighbors
Tell your closest neighbors you’re going out of town and ask them to watch your home. By leaving them a key they can enter the home if there’s an emergency or even turn lights off and on periodically.
If you have a neighborhood watch group in your area, you can ask them to keep an eye on your home, too. It’s another way to make sure someone reliable is paying attention to the premises while you’re gone
Tip: Keep track of all the keys to your home and make sure they’re in safe hands. Locking your doors is important, but up to 50 percent of burglaries involve the use of a key. Don’t hide a key outdoors in a protected spot, either. Burglars know the best hiding places better than you do. Be sure if you do keep a spare key hidden that it’s in a very uncommon place.
Consider Hiring a House or Pet Sitter
The best way to make sure your house is safe while you’re gone is to have someone you trust still living in it. You may be lucky enough to have a tidy and conscientious relative who’ll move in temporarily and water the plants, feed the pets and pick up the newspapers. If not, there are services you can use for house-sitting and pet-sitting while you’re away. This can be a pricy option, but it’s a solution that touches all the bases.
Tip:If you have a number of pets, it may be more cost- effective to have a pet sitter come to your home than board your furry friends. In many areas, a pet sitter can cost about the same amount as a stay in a kennel for two or three animals. You’ll be cutting down on the pet stress and resentment that way, too.
Preventative Maintenance
Burst or leaking pipes can make you quickly forget all about your relaxing vacation. Shutting off the main water supply may help eliminate the possibility of plumbing problems when you are out of town. Insulating pipes and keeping the heat on during a cold snap will help prevent burst pipes.
Returning from Vacation
When you get back from your trip, be sure you inspect your home upon your return. Look for signs of entry or missing items. If you notice anything stray, be sure to call the police immediately. It’s a good idea to wait outside the home until help arrives and when they do be sure to allow them to collect fingerprints. Be sure not to allow anyone to walk on the lawn until the police have left as well.
To continue our pursuit of Outer Banks vacation truths, I’m in the process of building the mother of all OBX vacation planning posts. Yesterday I offered some tips on where to stay, and today I’m going to attempt to tackle the house selection process.
No easy task, but I’m up for a challenge.
House selection is a doozey…especially with a big group. But have no fear, it can be done in a stress-free manner.
This is a must. Don’t cheat with this first step. Make sure you know what everyone is looking for so you don’t have to ask for opinions multiple times – you’ll get plenty of opinions anyway.
With the group input in hand, start to prioritize. What is most important to you and the group?
Budget – be realistic…there’s a great house out there for every budget.
Location – everyone would love to be oceanfront, but is it a necessity? If you don’t mind a walk, you get more bang for your buck…or save some of the budget for great food and drinks, a wild horse tour, a surf lesson…endless opportunities.
Town – Have you fallen in love with a specific OBX town? If you’re not sure where to stay, this post may help.
Home amenities – Every home is unique, so if you have some must-have amenities, make sure you prioritize them. Dog friendly, pool, game room, WiFi, etc.
Activities – Are there avid surfers, fishermen, boaters, wild horse lovers, lighthouse seekers, nature lovers, etc. in your group? The OBX is pretty big, so if you have activities in mind, prioritize.
Choose your dates. When do you want to come to the beach?
My first tip is be flexible. Perhaps choose a few dates/weeks. This will give you more opportunity to find the perfect house…especially during the busy summer months.
Another great tip is keep the shoulder season in mind. Summer on the Outer Banks is awesome, but the spring and fall are pretty great too…for many, even better than the summer!
The “shoulder seasons” – i.e. spring and fall – offer significant savings, a wide selection of homes, less crowds, and you still have all the benefits of the beach. It’s sort of the best kept secret.
Local tip: In my opinion, I would choose September everyday and twice on Sunday. Perfect weather, no crowds, all businesses open, great surf, great fishing. OBX perfection.
With dates in mind, and your list of priorities in order, let’s start checking out houses. Start with our OBX vacation rental home advanced searchfeature, and fill out as much of the criteria as possible to narrow down your search.
Arrival Weekend
Turn Day – What day do you want to arrive…Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?
Number of Nights – during the summer, 7 nights is a must, but in the shoulder season you can get “partial week” reservations with a three night minimum….another bonus for the shoulder seasons.
Type – house or condo. If you have a small group, don’t shy away from condos. You’ll be amazed by some of the quality OBX condos, and this may help the budget and move you to the oceanfront!
Number of bedrooms and baths – based on your group size and needed sleeping arrangements (we know, Uncle Jim snores…give him his own room!), you can vary your search.
Price – ding, ding, ding…budget! One of the great search features with our site is that you don’t need to worry about missing a discount or checking a “specials” page. Just put in your price range and the discounted homes will show up too!…you’ll even see a handy red cross-out feature to let you know how much you’re saving.
Location – shoot for oceanfront…it’s worth it!
Town – you really can’t go wrong…it’s the OBX!
Amenities – select any amenities that you require, but remember, the more you select, the more you’ll narrow down your search….but you can always scale back.
If you’ve prioritized well, your goal should be to return 5-10 homes. Any more than this is not manageable, and will just waste your time. Really, 10 is too much, but you should be able to narrow it down quickly.
Look through all homes and compare to your list of priorities. Knock off any you know won’t work.
Narrow it down to the top 5, and dive into the property descriptions, and pay close attention to the reviews.
That one is worth repeating. Pay close attention to the reviews. We include guest reviews on all of our property descriptions…these are reviews from actual guests. They will tell you a lot. We’re very happy to say that with more than 1000 reviews, our homes receive 4 out of 5 stars!
Now that you have 1-5 awesome homes that meet your criteria, share with the group, and let them make the final selection.
Look at that, you’re job is done, and now you can pawn off the rest of the vacation prep on another group member…you’ve already done your part.
What?! You’re not down with this super hip way to digest large quantities of information in an easy to understand, graphical manner?!
Let me offer a little assistance. First, you’re not alone. Most people don’t know what an infographic is. They are a relatively new trend in the online marketing world. But they are super cool!
Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly.
Basically, it’s a lot of information boiled down into a pretty picture so knuckle-heads like me can understand it.
There are all sorts of infrographics out there these days. A quick Google search will turn up more than you care to look at. But since you’re here, let’s take a look at our pretty picture.
As a new blog series, I’m going to share some cool infographics that relate to the Outer Banks, vacations, the beach, the weather, vacation rentals, surfing, fishing, etc. Some will come from other sources, and I’ll be sure to credit those sources, but my goal is to create a whole bunch of original infrographics that you’ll dig.
So stay tuned; more awesomeness to come. But for now, let’s take a look at our first original Outer Banks Infrographic…drum roll please…
Outer Banks: 11.8.11 - Gorgeous Day & Great Fishing at Kitty Hawk Pier
The Outer Banks is infectious. Once the OBX has entered your system it is impossible to shake it loose. It grabs hold of your inner child and won’t let go.
I love seeing the reactions from guests that visit the Outer Banks for the first time. It’s love at first site. It’s amazement, smiles, and laughter, and it’s a longing to return as soon as possible.
For many people, this longing to return motivates multiple beach trips every year, and for some (myself included) it turns into life altering experience that changes a vacation into a new lifestyle.
Today’s edition of Outer Banks Everyday Magic comes to us from a West Virginia mountain girl that is happy to say she’s all beach now. Thanks for sharing your magic with us Melissa.
Growing up in West Virginia, I would look forward to our summer beach vacations all winter long. I love the mountains, but escaping the cold and icy winters in the mountains was my fantasy.
In my senior year of college, I vacationed in Duck, NC, and I fell in love. Smooth white sand and a gorgeous beach almost entirely to myself. Yes, please.
The local restaurants were something I had not been accustomed to, as many back home were chains and did not have the same ambience. The laid back mindset of the locals left me puzzled.
So this is what the beach is like?
I reluctantly returned to work and school after that week at the beach, but I couldn’t get the Outer Banks out of my head. As soon as I completed my degree, I came down for another visit, staying with a friend. She let me know about a job opening at a property management company on the beach and I applied and interviewed while visiting.
As soon as I returned to West Virginia, I received a call that I was hired. I packed as much as I could in a couple of suitcases and was off on my beach adventure.
Now, after four years on the beach, I bought a home and have a great job at Seaside Vacations. I still fly or drive back to West Virginia a couple of times a year, but I now call the Outer Banks home.
The Outer Banks is an alluring place, more so than other beaches I have visited. Everyone should experience the Outer Banks magic at some point in their life…although, it’s hard to leave once you experience it.
Make sure you bring some strong willpower on your next OBX trip; otherwise the magic may hold you hostage.
I’d love to hear your story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic too. Please use the form below to share your story with me.
The beaches along the Outer Banks are pretty amazing. Mile after mile of unspoiled beaches, white sand, gorgeous fishing piers, an abundance of wildlife, and most of the time you can find a quiet spot all to yourself. This gorgeous beach environment is awesome, but it can also overshadow some of the other amazing aspects of the OBX.
It’s easy to be so focused on getting to the beach, setting up your chair and cooler, that you miss what’s going on around you. As the wise Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
At a quick glance, from a car speeding to the nearest beach access, the towns along the Outer Banks may seem pretty similar, but in reality, they all offer their own unique charm. So our hope with the “Spotlight” is that we can help you slow down and take a look around, and today we’re going to shine the “Spotlight” on Corolla – that’s Co-RHALL-a, not like the Toyota car.
Corolla, NC is the northern most town of the Outer Banks, situated just south of the Virginia/North Carolina line. Corolla is rich in history and full of tradition for many.
Corolla is an unincorporated community and home to more than 100 wild Spanish Mustangs. The horses can be found on 12,000 acres in Corolla, north of populated areas. Approximately 500 permanent residents call the community home.
Up until the development boom of the 1980s, some 30 years ago, Corolla was little-known and little-traveled and was often referred to as North Carolina’s last beach frontier. That’s all changed today. Corolla has grown quite rapidly, and the number of people who have decided to move to this edge of the world location has steadily increased.
Today, Corolla is a popular vacation destination for families from all over. Although you may not be able to enjoy the convenience of super stores and malls, you’ll find all the amenities you want for a great vacation. The beautiful beaches are clean and vast, and usually just a short walk from your vacation home. There is great shopping and a fine recreation scene, including kayak tours, jet-ski rents, surf lessons, fishing, wild horse tours, go-carts and more. Dining and entertainment is top notch, many of the renown restaurants provide live out-door music for those beautiful summer nights.
Corolla has a little something for everyone, “It is a world of contemporary luxuries, where vacationing is easy and life is civilized.”
I’ll zip it so you can enjoy the tour, but remember to slow down once in awhile …
Over the past few weeks, we’ve mentioned that HomeSchool.com has offered their official “seal of approval” to the Outer Banks and Seaside Vacations, and we’ve also included a post about some of the OBX day trips that are great home school opportunities. As a third installment on our home school theme, below is a guest post from http://www.HomeSchool.com that offers their must see Outer Banks attractions.
With so much to see, experience and learn, you’re likely to need more than one visit to the Outer Banks to take in all of the extraordinary attractions in the area. Following, is a list of some of our favorite attractions (in no particular order):
A few weeks ago we announced on the blog that www.HomeSchool.com gave their official “seal of approval” to the Outer Banks and Seaside Vacations after their recent visit, and we have some more OBX/Homeschool info to share.
The Outer Banks really is a perfect match for homeschoolers. The OBX offers a tremendous amount of “educational” opportunities; the Wright Brothers first flight, Blackbeard the Pirate, wild horses, largest sand dune on the East Coast, miles of empty beaches, water sports, shipwrecks, art galleries, and the list goes on. History, culture, nature, and arts…all set in an amazingly pretty and fun location. Does education get any better than this?!
Since I last wrote to you about our family vacation to the Outer Banks, I’ve had some time to think back on all of our adventures and family fun. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite things to do in the area, as well as some ideas for those of you who might be going to the area soon.
Daytrips! Our time in OBX was filled with day-trips! There are so many things to do, that a week wasn’t enough to take in everything the OBX has to offer. We tried to get in as much as we possibly could, but I must admit, the area warrants another trip just so we can see all it has to offer. Here are some of our favorites from the time we spent in the Outer Banks.
Roanoke Island - Everybody who vacations on the Outer Banks should make it a point to go to Roanoke Island at least once! The island is overflowing with things to see and do – being the daytrip capital of the Outer Banks, the island is home to four of the Outer Banks’ most popular attractions. For a complete guide of the area, go to www.roanokeisland.net.
Hatteras Island - If you love being outdoors and in the natural world, you’ll really enjoy Hatteras Island. About 75% of Hatteras Island is undeveloped – and much of that land is accessible to the public for activities like fishing, water sports and observing nature. You’ll be surprised by the natural, cultural and recreational opportunities. For a complete guide to this area, visit www.hatterasguide.com.
Ocracoke Island - If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, this island is for you. Ocracoke is all about simple activities – building a sand castle, crabbing from a dock, pedaling aimlessly on a bicycle, peeling your own shrimp, poking in and out of shops, and actually having very little to do. For a complete guide to this area, visitwww.ocracokeguide.com
**Need to know ferry info** A ferry service links Hatteras and Ocracoke islands with a relaxing 40-minute trip. During the summer, the wait can be long. Reservations are not accepted, and when getting in line for this ferry, make sure you’re not in the locals’ lane -usually the shortest line.
May 30 – September 6, departures are every hour from 5-7am and every 30 minutes from 7:30 – 6:30pm. It changes back to hourly departures from 7pm – midnight. September 7 – December 31 it runs every hour from 5am – midnight. For more information, please visitwww.ncferry.org or call (800)BY-FERRY.
Next time I’ll share information about Corolla, Duck, and Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk!
Stay Tuned!…
PS. If you’re looking for a home to rent while you’re in the area, be sure to check out www.outerbanksvacations.com.
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.
Don’t let the anticipation of a well-deserved vacation blind you to the risks of leaving your home unprotected. Go ahead and plan your 
