Tag Archives: top 10

Cape Hatteras Named #8 Best Beach In America by Dr. Beach

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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse,Outer Banks North Carolina

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Outer Banks North Carolina

The Outer Bank’s Cape Hatteras beach was just named the number eight best beach in America on Dr. Beach’s annual Top 10 Beaches list.

Dr. Beach, who is one of America’s foremost beach experts, proclaimed that Cape Hatteras’s excellent fishing and board surfing conditions along with being home to the most famous lighthouse in the United States were key factors in making the annual top 10 list.  This is the second year in a row Cape Hatteras has made the cut as one of the best beaches in America on Dr. Beach’s list.

There are 50 areas of beach criteria that determine a beach’s spot on the top 10 list, some of these factors include: beach width, number of sunny days, amount of rain and wind, average water temperature, rip currents, tidal range, views, trash and noise.

About Dr. Beach
Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman (Dr. Beach) is a Professor and Director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University.  Leatherman has worked tirelessly to increase awareness about rip currents and he has written and or edited 16 books and has also written over 200 journal articles and technical reports.  You can find out more about Dr. Beach and the top 10 list by visiting their website.

Outer Banks Lists: Top 10 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About the OBX

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I have a little confession to make. I love lists!

I use all sorts of lists all day long. When I’m done posting this, I get to check this off my list! In fact, here’s a list of some of the lists I love: “To Do” list, grocery list, “Honey Do” list, project list – there are endless potentials with lists. What do you want to know? Like “apps,”  there’s a list for that. :)

We dig all sorts of lists for the Outer Banks, and one of our favorite types is the Top 10! A quick hit that provides great info in a compact format. What’s not to love?!

Stay tuned, we’ll be sharing all sorts of OBX lists, and today we have…

Top 10 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About the OBX

1. A “Tucked Away” Outer Banks Park

If you’ve been to the Outer Banks, you’ve probably seen (or heard of) most of the parks and recreational areas. Currituck Heritage Park, Duck Town Park,Roanoke Island Festival Park and the list goes on. But there’s a little known park on the Outer Banks you’ve probably never seen. It’s in the 4-wheel drive area past Corolla, close to the Virginia line.

Best parts of the Outer Banks four wheel drive park:

  • Real bathrooms (not port-a-potties)
  • Grassy area for kids and pets to run around
  • Park grills
  • Trash cans
  • Boat dock

So, if you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy one of the Outer Banks’ lesser known parks.

Carova Park, Outer Banks

2. The Martians Have Landed

If you’re ever In the town of Hatteras, you may notice a quite unusual sight. If you look clsoely, you will see a “Martian space craft” sitting quietly along side highway 12. It’s complete with little green men and some spooky creatures peering out from the porthole windows.

Outer Banks martians, Hatteras Island

3. Winged Horses

The beautiful horses you see around the Outer Banks are from the Winged Horse Extravaganza - a celebration of the 2003 Centennial of Flight. They can be found all along the Outer Banks – not only at places of business, but also in front of rental properties.

Outer Banks Winged Horse

4. She Sells Seashells by the Seashore

If you have the opportunity (and time), make sure you head south to check out Ocracoke Island. Once you get off the ferry, you will be driving down a quiet section of highway 12. After approximately 1 or 2 miles, pull off the road and walk over the dunes on the oceanside (on your left as you drive). Most of the beach in this area is desolate and filled with incredible sea shells at low tide.

Seashell heaven in Ocracoke

5. Big Blue

According to the International Gamefish Association, the Outer Banks and the Virgin Islands are the most likely places to catch Atlantic Blue Marlin weighing more than 1,000 pounds.

Outer Banks blue marlin

6. Bird is the Word

More than 400 species of birds have been identified at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, located on the north end of Hatteras Island.

Pea Island Nationa Wildlife Refuge, Outer Banks

7. The Civil War

The War Between the States brought several battles to the Outer Banks. At Hatteras Inlet (August 1861), at Chicamacomico (October 1861) and on Roanoke Island (February 1862), the Federals won their first victories of the war and established control over the Outer Banks. The inhabitants were not strongly attached to the Southern cause, and many took the oath of allegiance to the United States.

The Civil War on the Outer Banks

8. Pillage and Plunder

Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard the Pirate, lived, pirated, and died on the Outer Banks. Blackbeard was a very successful and flamboyant pirate. He was a tall, intimidating man decorated with cutlasses and pistols. During combat, his beard was braided with ribbons and he wore lit cannon fuses in his hair. He was killed in hand-to-hand combat with members of the Royal Navy at Ocracoke Inlet on November 22, 1718.

Blackbeard the PIrate, Outer Banks

9. A House by the Sea

The first cottage built on the Outer Banks was in the 1830′s. In those days, planters from inland counties longed to escape the long, hot and humid summer, which they believed fostered malaria and other diseases. In the 1830s, the first of these plantation owners came to Nags Head and purchased 200 acres of land where he built the very first beach cottage.

Old Nags Head

10. On Hallowed Ground

The cemetery on Ocracoke island is officially located on British soil. It contains the graves of British sailors washed ashore after the wreck of the HMS Bedfordshire during WW2.

Ocracoke Cemetery

Outer Banks Link Love: A Bonanza of OBX Love

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Outer Banks Link Love

Outer Banks Link Love

This week’s Link Love is chock full of all sorts of good OBX info. Good wild horse news, multiple top 10 lists, breaking news on the beach driving issue, nature, gardens…lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!

Lets get to it!

As I mentioned last week, I like to get the not-so-great news out of the way first so we can focus on the positive.

  • It’s part of nature, but it’s always sad to see a beached whale. This story doesn’t offer too much detail, but you can get the basic gist; a deceased whale washed up in Nags Head this week. I guess it’s the Circle of Life, but always a bit heartbreaking.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s move on to some goodies…

  • The Outer Banks lands on two Top 10 lists this week…
    • Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Coastal Living named the Outer Banks to their list of “Top 10 Romantic Escapes.” Their description is great: “The Outer Banks offers the most elementally “out there” experience of any bridge-accessible U.S. destination. Standing on a thin ribbon of sand, with the mainland out of sight over the western horizon and burly Atlantic Ocean waves thundering in from the east, you truly feel untethered from your everyday world. Such towns as Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, and Kill Devil Hills offer plenty of tourist pleasures. But it’s also easy to sneak away and find your own private stretch of beach, with vivid stars overhead, moonlight-silvered surf at your feet, the sea breeze tousling your hair―and magic ready to happen.”
    • The OBX also made Coastal Livings list of “Top 10 Shelling Beaches.” This one is particular to Ocracoke…But we’e all one big, happy family on the OBX. :)

How about a little wild horse love?

  • Check out this cool documentary video about “Alonso,” a Corolla wild horse that is being moved from the Corolla herd to the Ocracoke herd to help improve diversity.

Let’s stick with the nature theme…

  • Are you garden lover? History lover? All around lover of the OBX? Have you ever been to the Elizabethan Gardens? No?! It’s a must. So worth the trip. Here’s a great article that gives you a brief history of the Elizabethan Gardens, and as the title says, it “offers far more than greenery.”
  • The Outer Banks is one of the premier locations for birding. The OBX sits in a prime location that cross the migration paths of a wide variety of birds. This has been a slow year for birding though – I can’t speak from experience, but the article I’ll link to mentions it is probably due to the warm winter weather. However, even with a slow birding season, the OBX offers some rare gems, including a Golden Eagle!

Here’s a pretty interesting idea for all your OBX vacationers that return year after year…

  • Tired of lugging all of that OBX beach gear in your car year after year? How about a convenient storage “beach box” to keep your goods on the Outer Banks? Brilliant, right? Add that to the list of “why didn’t I think of that.”

Let’s close out with the heated topic of Outer Banks beach driving…but there’s a twist…some breaking news…

  • I agree that the new beach driving rules are no fun. I love the freedom to drive on the OBX beaches – it’s one of the many aspects that make the Outer Banks so special. However, here are some thoughts to consider…
    • The rules are similar to those already in place at other seashore parks.
    • Those fees — and an accompanying requirement to watch an educational video — aren’t unusual.
    • Tourism figures don’t reflect a downturn in overall visitors to the Outer Banks, despite the recession and a couple of wildfire-plagued summers.
    • The plan acknowledges the importance of beach driving and fishing to the local economy. Popular areas such as Cape Point, South Point and Bodie Island Spit will have ORV routes that are open at least seasonally.
    • Special-use permits will be available for commercial fishermen to reach some areas ordinarily closed to vehicles.
    • Park officials also plan to seek funding for additional ORV access ramps and to consider allowing businesses to offer beach and water shuttles to fishing areas.
    • The Outer Banks is still open for business.
  • Now, with all of that said, check out the news that just broke late yesterday afternoon; an OBX beach access group just filed a law suit to stop the Park Service’s ORV (off-road vehicle) plan. There’s still hope yet.

Time Capsule

Here are some popular posts from last year at this time:

Outer Banks Makes Dr.Beach’s Best Beaches in America

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Looks like the Outer Banks has done it again! Dr. Beach, the beach expert names the OBX as one of the best beaches in America noting its great board surfing, lighthouses, and historic fishing villages.

Here is the list of the top 10 beaches across the U.S:

1.  Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida
2.  Coronado Beach in San Diego, California
3.  Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
4.  Main Beach in East Hampton, New York
5.  Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
6.  St. George Island State Park, Florida panhandle
7.  Beachwalker Park Kiawah Island, South Carolina
8.  Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
9.  Waimanalo Bay Beach Park on Oahu, Hawaii
10. Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida

We feel so fortunate to be in the top 5 and hope that everyone has a chance to experience the beauty that the Outer Banks has to offer.

TripAdvisor Loves Vacation Rentals: Top 10 Vacation Rental Spots for 2011

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Outer Banks Sunset

Outer Banks Sunset

TripAdvisor®, dubbed the world’s largest travel site, today announced America’s top 10  vacation rental hot spots for 2011, based on TripAdvisor search data and site editors. The Outer Banks landed at number 7!

“Vacation rentals can offer families and groups of travelers significant savings over other accommodation options,” said Hank Hudepohl, director of vacation rentals at TripAdvisor. “Our list shows off some of the best vacation rental destinations in the U.S. where travelers can save big, ranging from prime summer beach spots to areas with first-rate ski resorts.”

Top 10 Vacation Rental Hot Spots in the U.S.

1. Kissimmee, Florida
2. Big Bear Lake, California
3. Gatlinburg, Tennessee
4. Kihei, Hawaii
5. Destin, Florida
6. Palm Springs, California
7. Outer Banks, North Carolina — 1,302 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

A narrow strip of land just off the Atlantic Coast, the Outer Banks boasts miles of picturesque beaches and a wide array of wildlife, including herds of wild horses that roam the beaches in the northern portion of the islands.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $1,580 for a weeklong trip.
*All Seaside Vacations homes are listed on TripAdvisor

8. Lahaina, Hawaii
9. Hilton Head, South Carolina
10. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

More information about TripAdvisor’s more than 100,000 vacation rentals listings from around the world, as well as its innovative Vacation Rentals Calculator, can be found at:http://www.tripadvisor.com/vacationrentals.

† Average potential savings versus a hotel based on a group of four travelers using the TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals Calculator.


2011 Outer Banks Taste of the Beach – 4 Days of Food, Drink, & Fun

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Outer Banks 2011 Taste of the Beach

Outer Banks 2011 Taste of the Beach

Well, we’ve flipped the calendar.  It’s a new year, and we’re all welcoming in 2011 with open arms.  But it’s January, and January is a tough month.  The holiday festivities are over, days are short, and the weather is downright cold.

I saw this morning that 49 out of 50 US states have snow right now!…every state but Florida…even Hawaii?!

January can be a bear, but the good news is we are getting closer to spring every day, and I know it’s getting close because we are all starting to talk about the Outer Banks Taste of the Beach coming in March.

The Outer Banks Taste of the Beach is a one-of-kind event that enlists local restaurants for four days days of unique tasting opportunities with an OBX flare.  The OBX Taste of the Beach was even named as one of the top 10 food and wine festivals in the US by Coastal Living!

The Taste of The Beach Weekend has been scheduled for March 17-20, 2011. The Outer Banks.  This grand food festival event on The Outer Banks of North Carolina will feature wine tastings, cooking classes, special menu presentations, celebrity guest chef appearances, brewery tours, tapas crawls and many more events with exciting array of creative combinations of culinary delights and fun activities on the Outer Banks.

The Outer Banks Taste of The Beach Weekend is a fantastic way to sample the fare of several fine restaurants on the Outer Banks in one fun-filled, food-centric weekend! Casual chefs to full-on foodie fanatics will revel in innovative culinary opportunities offered up by members of the Outer Banks Restaurant Association. You can indulge in a fancy wine dinner one night and mix with the masses in an organic farm to fork experience the next. Or maybe an intimate cooking class with one of the area’s world class chefs is more your speed.

Freshness is the hallmark of dining on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Offering much more than just seafood, the barrier islands are home to over 160 locally owned and operated restaurants. You’ll be delighted by a diverse offering of culinary delights in unique settings, with menus dreamed up by the finest-trained chefs.

Nothing beats locally caught seafood – you can taste the difference in ours. We have the finest Watermen in the world who bring in plump oysters, savory shrimp, and fish entrees almost too gorgeous to eat!  For discriminating palettes or pocketbooks, Outer Banks restaurants serve everything from true Italian fare, to Southwestern and French cuisine. And yes, you can find down home Southern-style barbecue and hush puppies. And you don’t have to break the bank.  Whatever your tastes, you’ll find plenty of food, drink, and fun among the wide array of activities encompassed by the Outer Banks Taste of The Beach Weekend.

You can find a calendar of events here.

Tickets will be limited so book ahead of time.  You can order tickets here.

This will be a very busy weekend on the Outer Banks.  There are some additional events planned for this weekend: the YMCA OBX Polar Plunge, Kelly’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Annual Running of The Leprechauns 8k. Lots to do!

If you’re heading down to get your fill of great food, we’d love to help you find a house that meets all of your vacation needs.  You can find our houses at: www.OuterBanksVacations.com.

Outer Banks Named to Trip Advisor’s Top 10 Labor Day Destinations

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Trip Advisor

Trip Advisor

TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site, today announced the results of their Labor Day travel survey of more than 5,000 TripAdvisor members, and the Outer Banks landed at number 3.

The Fall on the OBX is arguably the best time of year…local’s favorite.  Warm weather, warm water, summer crowds are gone.  Here’s a list of the Top 10 Reasons to Visit the OBX in the Off Season…including great fall events!

America’s Top Labor Day Destinations

  1. Cape Cod, Massachusetts
  2. Mackinaw City/Mackinac Island, Michigan
  3. Outer Banks, North Carolina
  4. San Francisco, California
  5. San Diego, California
  6. Seattle, Washington
  7. Destin, Florida
  8. Las Vegas, Nevada
  9. New York City, New York
  10. New Orleans, Louisiana

In addition, TripAdvisor® conducted its annual fall and Labor Day travel survey of more than 2,000 U.S. travelers, and here are some of the Labor Day travel trends.

Labor Day Travel Trends

  • 28 percent expect to travel for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, down slightly from 30 percent one year ago.
  • Among those traveling for Labor Day weekend, 66 percent plan to drive to their destination, down from 70 percent last year.
  • 36 percent of those traveling for Labor Day weekend plan to fly, up from 33 percent one year ago.
  • The busiest getaway day looks to be Friday, September 3, with 35 percent planning to travel on this date.
  • The majority of travelers (39 percent) will travel home on Monday, September 6.

Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Outer Banks in the Off Season

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Outer Banks Sunrise

Outer Banks Sunrise

Seaside Vacations, a leading vacation rental company located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, lists the top 10 reasons to visit the Outer Banks during the off season.

Come enjoy the beach all over again this fall with everything you love about the Outer Banks – warm sunny days, refreshing ocean waters, fine dining, natural treasures, historic sites, local attractions – with fewer crowds.  The weather continues to stay warm long into September and October; so while the beach beckons, what better place to spend some time than the OBX?

Seaside Vacations has compiled a list of 10 great reasons to visit the Outer Banks in the off season. – everything from savory, fresh-caught seafood to cozy nights by warm fireplaces. While everyone else is paying top dollar to stay during the summer months, you’ll be soaking in the relaxation, solitude and the satisfaction of a fabulous getaway…at a great bargain.

10. Computer? Check. Notes? Check. Brainstorming Sessions in the Sand? Amazing.
Great meetings are about more than what goes on inside the conference room. The Outer Banks has the uncanny power to clear the mind and rejuvenate the spirit, paving the way to productive meetings. The serene setting allows meeting participants to focus their minds and unlock their creativity, ensuring guilt-free breakout sessions on the picturesque beaches. Discover Outer Banks meetings.

9. No Reservations Required
Well-known for fresh, locally-caught seafood, you’ll be delighted by the wide-ranging offering of culinary delights in unique settings – even during the off season.  Outer Banks restaurants serve everything from Italian standards, to Southwestern and French cuisine.  And the best thing about the off season dining experience?  No reservations.  No more 45-minute waits.  And still just as many delectable choices.

8. Flip Flops Welcome Year Round
No matter the time of year, you’ll find that it is always a great time to be on the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks typically has mild weather year-round with the ocean waters staying warm through November and then warming up again in May. The weather in the fall is ideal with warm days and cool evenings. The ocean water is still warm from the summer months – and not too cool for swimming until almost Thanksgiving.

7. Adventure, History, Culture…and More
From kayaking, hang-gliding and wild horses to famed lighthouses and boutique shopping, there is still plenty of fun to be had in the off season with numerous Outer Banks attractions and activities. The world-class surfing on the Outer Banks reaches its peak in the fall, and the fishing is also at its best with a typical Outer Banks fall morning displaying a gorgeous sunrise silhouetting a shoreline dotted by surfcasting fishing enthusiasts.

6. ‘Tis the Season
The holiday season on the Outer Banks is something to behold! Our barrier island comes alive with festive Outer Banks events that set the stage for fun family reconnecting. From concerts and festivals to art shows and open houses…the holiday cheer abounds!

5. Nights in Rodanthe, Anyone?
Why not leave the family behind…and take some time to rekindle the romance (the sitting-snug-by-a-crackling-fire kind). From long walks by the ocean to brilliant sunsets over the sound, you’ll discover that the romance is all around.

4. A Family Affair
Off season on the Outer Banks is the perfect setting for fun family reconnecting. The vast stretches of empty shoreline, the crashing of the waves, the long walks in the refreshing ocean breezes, all the seashells you can carry and the serene natural beauty—this picturesque scene is staged just for you.

And don’t forget the other members of your family! The off season is the perfect time of year to bring your furry friends for a frolic on the beach in a pet-friendly rental on the Outer Banks!

3. Fully Stocked
So maybe you won’t be donning a bathing suit and lounging on a chaise the way you might under the hot summer sun. If the weather isn’t picture perfect, no matter. Most Seaside Vacations vacation rental homes come stocked with everything you’ll need (and more) to have just as much fun inside as outside. From board games and DVDs, to cozy fireplaces and warm relaxing hot tubs…you’ll find that you may never need to leave.

2. Out of Season Vacations = Out of Your Mind Prices
One of the biggest draws for off-season visitors is the amazing deals they can find on an Outer Banks vacation rental.  An impressive eight-bedroom oceanfront house that rents for $10,050 a week in July rents for $2,815 a week in November. And a five-bedroom home drops from $3,720 to $825!

1. Our Pristine Natural Beauty
Spectacular sunrises over the Atlantic. Radiant golden sunsets over the sound. Pristine (and empty) windswept beaches and rolling dunes covered in swaying sea oats. A place of unparalleled beauty where time seems to slow and breathtaking beauty envelops the spirit and sets it soaring. This is the off season on the Outer Banks.

So, if you’re looking to escape the crowds and find a peaceful vacation in a beautiful spot at the edge of the world, visit the Outer Banks in the off season.  It just may be that a sweet escape to the wind-swept coast is exactly the getaway you’re looking for.

For more information on a relaxing late summer or fall vacation with Seaside Vacations, please visit www.OuterBanksVacations.com.

About Seaside Vacations:

Founded in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1990, Seaside Vacations is a full-service vacation rental management company representing homes from Corolla to Nags Head.

Seaside Vacations offers a complete selection of Outer Banks vacation rentals. Guests can choose from 1 – 10-bedroom private vacation rental homes, condominiums, townhomes and villas.  Explore our homes in Duck and Corolla as well as numerous vacation rentals in Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head.

For more information on Seaside Vacations and their wide selection of vacation rentals, visit www.OuterBanksVacations.com or call one a Vacation Specialist at 877.346.8231.

Outer Banks Named in TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Aviation Attractions

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Wright Brothers Monument - Matt Lusk

Wright Brothers Monument - Matt Lusk

TripAdvisor, home of the “world’s most trusted travel advice,” recently compiled a list of the Top 10 Aviation Attractions, and the OBX, specifically, the Wright Brothers’ museum and monument, came in at #3.

Here’s what they had to say, including a link to reviews on TripAdvisor:

3. Back to the Beginning: Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
For enthusiasts looking to go back to the beginning of air travel, there’s no better place than the Wright Brothers National Memorial on the site where Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first successful plane travel over one hundred years ago. Travelers can re-trace the routes where the Wright Brothers tested out their first aircraft and explore the on-site museum and its collection of models, tools, and machines used by the pioneering, high-flying duo. As one TripAdvisor traveler puts it, “this was the highlight of our trip to the Outer Banks.” Admission: $4.00 for adults, free for children.

PS – this is a National Park, so there is free admission August 14 & 15, 2010.

Outer Banks Named in List of Top 10 Dog Friendly Beaches

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Outer Banks Dog Friendly

Outer Banks Dog Friendly

FIDO Friendly magazine (http://www.fidofriendly.com) just released its Top 10 Sizzling Summertime FIDO-Friendly beaches. The list was compiled of those beaches that have little or no leash restrictions, and the Outer Banks made the list!

Here’s what FIDO Friendly had to say about Duck:  Town of Duck Beaches, North Carolina – Beaches aren’t public access, so for those traveling with Fido, you’re in for unleashed luck in Duck! Dogs are permitted to play on the town’s beach under voice control of their watchful guardian. Fido is allowed off lead on Duck’s beach year-round. Due to their lack of public access, the beaches tend to be less crowded and more intimate. In fact, the Travel Channel’s annual America’s Best Beaches List ranks Duck’s beach amongst the highest. With its miles of clean beaches and surrounding shops and activities, not only is this a Fido-friendly beach town but a great vacation getaway. www.townofduck.com/pets.htm

Here’s a recap of all OBX dog related information, including leash laws by town/beach and some beautiful vacation rental homes that love their four-legged guests:  http://www.outerbanksvacations.com/PetFriendly.htm