Hollywood Comes to the Outer Banks

Posted on January 12, 2012

Did you know that over 2,000 films have been filmed (full or partially) in North Carolina? 2K?! That’s impressive.

NC is sort of the Kevin Bacon of movie locations…we fit into any role.

North Carolina as a whole has a very diverse, and beautiful landscape…not to mention the diverse and interesting cultures and residents.

I guess it makes sense; we all love the OBX, so why not Hollywood too?

From Wilmington (also known as “Hollywood East”) to Lenoir to the Outer Banks, the beautiful, pristine beaches and majestic mountains have been the settings for some noteworthy movies throughout the years. From the east to the west, the diverse landscape in North Carolina can fill in for just about any part of the world, in any time period.

Here are a few you may know…

Movies filmed in North Carolina:

Hannibal
Patch Adams
Nell
Forrest Gump
The Fugitive
Last of the Mohicans
Mr. Destiny
Dirty Dancing
Bull Durham
Days of Thunder
The Swan
Shallow Hal
The Green Mile
Blue Velvet
The Color Purple
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
The Secret Life of Bees
Weekend at Bernie’s

The OBX specifically, has had a few films take place on the island, but not necessarily filmed here, and a couple that conducted filming right here…including some locals as extras. Nights in Rodanthe is the most recent, and arguably the most well known, and the filming of that movie was a very neat experience for a lot of local residents.

Movies filmed on the Outer Banks:

Brainstorm (one scene filmed at The Wright Brothers National Monument)
Nights in Rodanthe (filmed in the village of Rodanthe)

Movies filmed on North Carolina beaches:

Message in a Bottle (filmed in Wilmington)

Movies set on North Carolina beaches:

Dear John (set in Wilmington)
Nights in Rodanthe (set in the village of Rodanthe)
Message in a Bottle (set on the Outer Banks)

So, what are you waiting for? Come discover why Hollywood loves North Carolina (and the Outer Banks). After all, it’s not hard to see how our pristine coastline, southern charm, captivating history, and rich culture have captured the hearts of moviegoers everywhere.

Outer Banks: 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking Highlights – Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head NC

Posted on October 15, 2011

Outer Banks: 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking

September went out, and October arrived, with a bang on the Outer Banks. Actually, it was more of a splash…a big splash; a worldwide splash.

Fall on the Outer Banks is awesome. Empty beaches, warm weather, warm water, and fantastic surf. The perfect time to bring a huge surf kayaking contest to the OBX!

For 10 days, from September 29th – October 9th, the 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking were held on the Outer Banks, specifically at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, NC.

This is a huge contest. It is held every two years, and the last event was in Brazil; we are very happy that it found its way to the Outer Banks. 10 days worth of events, contestants from all over the world, a wide variety of event categories, and the Outer Banks provided some perfect conditions. The weather and waves varied a bit over the 10 day period, but there was plenty of sun, a lot of great waves, and some amazing kayaking.

I was able to make it to the event five of the ten days. It was great to see so much excitement and energy on the beach…and in the water. I couldn’t get there everyday, but I made sure to get there when all of the fickle surf ingredients lined up to throw some great waves our way. And there were plenty of gorgeous waves to go around.

I’ll let the official website of the event (http://www.worldchampionshipsofsurfkayaking.com/) offer the full recaps, including opening and closing ceremonies and list of winners, but I do want to share some of great surf kayaking highlights…and amazing OBX waves.

Sit back, kick up your feet, enjoy the scenery; the waves and kayaking are mesmerizing…and don’t forget to turn up the speakers, I think you’ll enjoy the jam from Foster the People – “Pumped Up Kicks.”

Hope to see y’all kayakers back on the OBX soon!…thanks for the show.

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 8.22.11 – Calm day. But Hurricane Irene on the way?

Posted on August 22, 2011

Outer Banks: 8.22.11 - Calm in Kill Devil Hills

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Monday, August 22, 2011.

This video was shot at the Sutton St. beach access in Kill Devil Hills at 9:00 AM.

Kids start going back to school this week! Ah, where did the time go?! End of August, wrapping up another great OBX summer!

I always have mixed feelings this time of year. It’s tough to see summer slipping away, but this really is the BEST time of year on the Outer Banks. Over the past week or so, the temps have cooled and the humidity has dropped. Temps have cooled form the 90′s to the mid 80′s. Ideal beach weather, warm during the day and getting cool at night. And this great weather will last for the next couple months! Warm air, warm water, empty beaches, great fishing, great surf. Fall on the OBX is perfect!

Today we’re seeing sun, temps in the mid 80′s, and light offshore breeze out of the southwest, and this fab weather will stick with us through the week.

Unfortunately, there’s not much surf to report today. There is a tiny bit of swell in the knee high range, and the offshore breeze is keeping it clean, so there’s a longboard wave out there if you find the right spot.

It’s pretty flat today, but the forecast is showing all sorts of activity towards the end of the week. Hurricane Irene officially formed yesterday, and it’s down around Haiti today. Forecasting hurricanes is pretty difficult, they can change drastically pretty quickly. So, it’s far to early to know where this storm is headed, but the current tracks have it coming relatively close to the Outer Banks. Fingers crossed that it drifts back to sea, but we’ll have to wait to find out.

However, in the meantime, it seems pretty certain that we’ll see some significant swell from the storm. This could be large and completely unsurfable, but knowing that swell is on the way is a good thing from the surfing perspective. The best bet for surf from a system like this could be on the backside after it moves past us, so fingers crossed for a storm out to sea and great waves late this week to early next week. Please be kind Mother Nature.

As for OBX fishing, going very strong. Offshore is catching dolphin, whaoo, yellow and black fin tuna, and some bill fish. The piers, bridges, surf, & Sound are very consistent with a wide variety of fish – speckled trout, croaker, blue fish, spot, sea mullet, pompano, flounder, cobia, Spanish mackerel, trigger fish.

Hope to see you soon. Have fun!

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)

Faire Days Festival-Wednesdays All Summer Long!

Posted on May 17, 2011

Scarborough Faire Shopping Village in Duck, NC announces that they will hold “Faire Days Festival” every Wednesday through out the summer. Every Wednesday, starting June 15th and ending Aug 31st, from 2-7pm, you’ll discover Food, Art, Imagination, Recreation & Entertainment for the entire family in the cool shade of their magnificent tree-lined courtyard.

Events will include:

• Corolla Wild Horse Fund presents LIVE Horses

• FREE Gift Bag Drawings

• Tim the Juggler

• Magic Mike the Clown & Magician

• Live Music Features & DJ

• Shopping Specials & Event Discounts

• Appetizer Specials & Wine Tastings

• Funnel Cake Van

• Author Book Signings

• Children’s Story Hour

• Play Doh Coloring Sheets

• Culinary Demos & Tastings

• Live Painting Demos

• Decorating Seminars

• Glitter Tattoo Table

• Segway Demos

• Random visits for Kayak Clinics, Child Safety Seat Checks & Deputy Dogs

*Weather Permitting & Subject to Change

Sounds like something fun to bring the kids to while on your vacation. Then again can you ever get too old to love a fair!?

Save Turtles…and the Environment. Help Keep the Outer Banks Beaches Clean.

Posted on March 7, 2011

Outer Banks N.E.S.T

The North Carolina Aquarium encourages Outer Banks residents and visitors to help keep the OBX beaches clean and save the endangered sea turtles by picking up trash. In an effort to raise money and awareness, the NC Aquarium is accepting specific pieces of trash in exchange for funds directed towards the endangered sea turtles.

With limited volunteers The Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) has already raised over $100 by sending in granola bar wrappers and Frito-Lay chip bags.

If you want to help out review the list of acceptable items to be donated and once you have saved up a stash, send them to Christian Legner at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

P.O. Box 967 Manteo, North Carolina 27954.

Please make sure wrappers and chip bags are separated from each other. Thanks!

Here is a list of items that can be donated:

• Any granola, power, nut, or Clif bar with a foil lining.

• Any Frito Lay bag. No other chip companies.

Donate Wrapers

• No candy or cookie wrappers.

Cannot Donate Wrapers

New Outer Banks Bridge Continues to Move Forward

Posted on February 8, 2011

The saga of the Mid-Currituck Bridge continues. The plans are still a bit in flux, but an important step forward was made yesterday when the North Carolina Turnpike Authority chose one of two proposed routes.

It seems traffic and congestion concerns will keep the proposed bridge out of the small town Aydlett. Instead, the toll booths on the mainland side will be closer to Coinjock.

The proposed bridge is a seven mile, two lane toll project that would cross Currituck Sound and connect the mainland at U.S. 158 near Aydlett with N.C. 12 on the Outer Banks south of Corolla.

The bridge could cut about 50 miles off the drive from Hampton Roads to the Northern Outer Banks. It is expected to reduce traffic congestion as well as provide an alternate hurricane evacuation route for the northern Outer Banks.

Its estimated to cost about $660 million and open in 2016, and the toll could cost drivers $6 to $12 each way to help with funding the project.

Outer Banks Mid-Currituck Bridge Preferred Alternative

Outer Banks Mid-Currituck Bridge Alternatives

Outer Banks Wildlife & Nature Documentary

Posted on January 25, 2011

Refuge Pea Island - Hurricane Bill Filming on the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks is home to an amazing amount of undisturbed nature and wildlife. Mile upon mile of empty beaches and natural conservation land. It seems like someone should make a movie about the abundance of OBX nature.

Bingo!

STRS Productions, a professional film development team based in North Carolina, released their newest documentary in late 2010, and the movie focuses on the wildlife available in Pea Island Refuge located on the southern portion of the Outer Banks.

From the STRS website: The new release Refuge Pea Island is the third to be released of the series of films that will be covering our beautiful National Wildlife Refuges in eastern North Carolina. Refuge the series concentrates on the wonderful wildlife that can be seen while visiting one of these majestic places.

The trailer looks amazing, and I can guarantee any OBX lover will be hooked in seconds. Here’s the description of the movie from the trailer:

“Witness wildlife as it was meant to be seen. Third in the “REFUGE” series, Pea Island lies off the coast of North Carolina where wildlife abounds and the environment is ever changing. Award winning film makers Blake and Emily Scott once again deliver. A year in the making, covering all four seasons, narrated by Denise Kelly, and filmed in High Definition completely without baiting, blinds, or staging. The power of the Atlantic Ocean is felt in dramatic footage of a hurricane and ‘noreasters battering the coastline, and full of astonishing shots of maritime wildlife that includes Finback Whales, Harbor Seals, Loggerhead Turtles and an incredible sampling of bird life. REFUGE – Pea Island captures all the drama and beauty that exists on this coastal treasure. To purchase a copy of this film on DVD go to www.refugewildlife.com.”

For more information about the filmmakers and the film-making process, here’s a great interview with Emily Scott, one of the husband-wife film-making team.

Huge Run on Outer Banks Rock Fish Sets Two State Records

Posted on January 10, 2011

NC Record - 64 LB Rock Fish

As a hobby, fishing is famous for tales of the big one that got away. For the past week and a half, the Outer Banks has been buzzing with fish stories. But these aren’t stories about the fish that got away; these are tales of limitless catches, state records, and tasty eats.

Rock fish, aka stripers or striped bass, move down the east coast in the early winter months as the water cools. Following the bait fish and staying in water temps that are just right for their temperament, these fish can be difficult to predict. It’s easy to predict that some will show up, but when and how many is anyone’s guess. Every year brings a unique experience, and 2011 is bringing a run that the OBX hasn’t seen in quite a few years…in fact, it’s been a record setting run!

Hundreds of boats have gone out of Oregon Inlet over the past two weeks. 500+ over New Years weekend alone. FaceBook is full of great images of local catches. The roads are full of boats being trailored and heading south to the Inlet. It seems everyone is talking about the big one that didn’t get away. But there are two catches that beat them all.

Last Wednesday a 12 year old fishing out of Oregon Inlet landed a NC record setting striped bass tipping the scales at 63 pounds! This is huge for a rock fish, and it broke the North Carolina record that stood since 2005.

But the new record only lasted for 48 hours. On Friday, a party chartered the Poacher out of Oregon Inlet, and Keith Angel reeled in a giant rock weighing in at 64 pounds! Two state records within two days.

The Poacher netted a state record, caught the limit of two stripers per person for everyone on the boat, and released 50 more rock fish! There are clearly a giant amount of rock fish in the area, and based on the records, it seems there is both quantity and quality.

The word on the street is that this is easily the best rock fishing the Outer Banks has seen in 5 or 6 years. It’s great to see so much excitement during a relativley quiet time on the OBX.

If you’re thinking about coming down, please take a look at www.OuterBanksVacations.com We have plenty of houses available with easy access to Oregon Inlet, and we’d love to help you find a house that meets all of your needs.

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 1.10.11 – Rock Fish Blitz is Still On!

Posted on January 10, 2011

Outer Banks - 1.10.11 - Chilly Start at Kitty Hawk Bath House

Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Monday, January 10, 2011.

This video was shot at the Kitty Hawk Bath House at 8:30 AM.

Chilly day with overcast skies. A north wind at 10-15 mph is adding to the chill. The clouds will stick around for the next couple days with a chance of rain tomorrow, but the sun should return for the rest of the week. But chill will remain all week; temps should be in the low 40′s.

Some swell has arrived in the waist high range, but the wind isn’t matching up, so no surf. Doesn’t seem like we’ll have surf most of the week, but the swell should build to chest high by the end of the week, and the current forecasts call for a good day of surf on Saturday. Forecasts change quick, so we’ll keep an eye on that.

The good news for the day is the rock fish blitz is still on. Last week was a huge week for OBX fishing. A lot of boats were out of Oregon Inlet all week, and most were catching their limit of two rock per person. Last week also saw that North Carolina state record broken twice! On Wednesday a 12 year old caught a 63 pound rock fish, and two days later his record was broken with a 64 pound rock fish. There have been reports of boats catching and releasing 50 – 100 fish in addition to their limit of keepers. Clearly, a lot of big rock fish are in the area.

Enjoy!