A warning for those heading to Nags Head and the Northern Outer Banks in the next few weeks.
Beware of smoky conditions from the huge Stumpy Point Fire. Stumpy Point’s located to the West of Roanoke Island (where Manteo is) and the fire has been raging since May 2011. Reports are that it’s 80% contained but with the drought in place and limited firefighters it will be several more weeks (at least) until it’s fully contained (or burns itself out). Here’s a link: http://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/blaze-north-carolina-wildlife-refuge-burns-20000-acres
SouthWest winds carry the smoke to the Outer Banks and it’s really only a problem at night (when the sun can burn off the excess smoke). If you have small children or elderly guests please use caution in the late evenings if the wind is blowing the smoke to the Outer Banks.
Regardless of the smoke, the Outer Banks, NC are still the best collection of beaches in the US!
Tags: Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, nags head, NC, Outer Banks, Roanoke Island, Stumpy Point Fire
Car rental companies are like any other company and are out to make money so it is important to know what kind of hidden car rental fees to watch for. Not that these fees are necessarily hidden, they are just out of sight in the small print or added on with the assumption that you won’t find out. And if you don’t ask, guess what, you won’t.
More and more car rental companies are finding very ingenious ways to well-nigh pick your pocket. Some of the silly, yet totally legal ways that car rental companies can jack up your bill are:
o Duplicate charges: Watch for fees that are aerated twice so to speak. You may return a car to the car rental lot with a full tank of gas because that is in the agreement, but you may be unaware that the car rental company is charging you a fuel fee. This fee is only supposed to be charged to those that do not put fuel in the rental cars and the rental car agencies will say it is an veracious mistake, but if you don’t check you will never know. There are even rental companies that will charge you a toll road fee, whether you intend on using a toll road or not and even if you do use a toll road and pay your own tolls. The only way to find out approximately this fee is to ask up aspect.
o Tire fee: No joke, some car rental companies will charge you a tire fee. Not that you can order a rental car without tires, but car rental companies will say that the charge is for the wear and tear put on the tires. Doesn’t the rental fee cover that?
o Privilege fee: Some rental companies are getting spear carrier creative and charging what is known as a privilege fee. This fee is charged when a car is rented within 48 hours of landing at the airport so if you want to deflect it then peradventure you should sleep in the airport for a few days.
o Extra driver fees: This is nothing new, but more and more rental companies are not making it optional. That’s right; even if you are the sole driver of the vehicle you may have no choice but to pay this unnecessary fee.
The barrier islands along the north coast of North Carolina are known as the Outer Banks. It’s possible to arrive at these islands by two routes going down from Virginia, or across the state of North Carolina itself. But once you get on the islands, you’re on Highway 12. Highway 12 runs all the way north up to Corrolla, and all the way down to Ocracoke, famous as a base for Blackbeard the Pirate during the 1700s.
As you drive down Highway 12, youll be enchanted with the scenery. You cant see the ocean, but you can see the houses lining the beach. Youll be enchanted by the restaurants as well, and the only question in your mind will be, where shall you dine? The Food of the Outer Banks If you come from northern Virginia, youll cross over to the Outer Banks close to Kitty Hawk, and perhaps drive down to Nags Head. The Outer Banks are famous for their seafood, and youll find dozens of options for Nags Head dining. There’s more than seafood on the Outer Banks, of course. Perhaps, if youre in the mood to drive all the way down to Hatteras to visit the famous light house there (and if you come in from the west, from North Carolina, youre much closer than if youve driven down from Virginia) you will find Italian restaurants, Mexican restaurants, Chinese restaurants, and even some offering American cuisine. (And Im not talking about the ubiquitous fast food restaurants, either, but of course they are on the Outer Banks as well.)
The Ambiance of the Restaurants
The Outer Banks are very proud of their ocean-going heritage, and all the seafood restaurants will reflect that. In some, youll feel as if youre dining in the hold of a luxurious ship, in others, youll simply be taken back in time to the days when people lined up for the fresh catch off the fishermans boat. Something to look for is awards and distinctions awards given to restaurants. By perusing a few lists you can find the Corolla AAA Four Diamond restaurant that can give you a one-of-a-kind experience.
No matter where you end up, dining on the Outer Banks is a unique experience don’t miss it.
Tags: Corolla, nags head, Outer Banks
| The Outer Banks vacation rentals offer a wide range of accommodations which allow tourists to spend time on the beautiful white sand beaches of North Carolina, amongst sand dunes, and sea oats.
The 300 miles of barrier island beaches give a picturesque view, excellent sea food and a huge list of excursions for the tourists to take a retreat into nature and also run into the city when they want. All of this is possible due to the lodging arrangements created by the vacation rentals. From cozy condos to large private homes, theyre stretched all over including, Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. Some of the best rates on Outer Banks vacation rentals available are in June. One needs to book early to receive some of the great promotional offers they have at this time. Normally a one bedroom rental which is fully equipped with all the modern amenities would be priced at around $1000 but during June its around $800! These condos have everything starting from TV to dishwashers and private second level decks and most importantly an ocean view. If you have looser budget and wouldnt mind spending a little more lavishly, then there are 4 bedroom rentals which are normally around $1700 and are now priced around $1300. Then there are offers where one can pay the entire rental prior to arrival in 6 equal and easy monthly installments, so the rent is already paid when you arrive! For couples there are complimentary offers of free massage and spa packages. Every year these rentals come up with different, new and sometimes very exciting offers, so one needs to do early planning of their vacation to the Outer Banks, and with a bit of searching you can find the best offers on these rentals to make your trip that much better.
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| Whether you’re visiting Outer Banks, North Carolina for a weekend or month, there is a plethora of choices in where to stay. Traditional hotel rooms, resorts, campgrounds and bed and breakfast inns are just a few places you can choose from. There are also a number of areas up and down the Outer Banks including Duck, Corolla, and Nags Head. No matter where you choose to stay, whether it is a Nags Head hotel or a Duck resort, Outer Banks has it all.
Hotels and Resorts Townhome and Rentals Campgrounds Bed and Breakfast Inns Who can resist the charm of a Bed and Breakfast Inn? Now put the intimate qualities of a Bed and Breakfast set on the gorgeous coastline of the Outer Banks and add a touch of southern hospitality. Combine all this together and you have the makings for an incredibly down to earth, memorable and relaxing vacation. Sound inviting? Wait until you see the beaches! Outer Banks offers a variety of choices and prices, activities and amenities in its accommodations. Everywhere you go there are things to do, ways to relax and the comfort of southern hospitality. Outer Banks has something to offer everyone, for every budget and every enthusiast. Come check us out today! See you on the shore.
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Tags: duck, nags head, Outer Banks
Nags Head, NC — named after the practice of pirates putting a lantern on a nag’s (horse’s) head and walking it up and down the beach to ensnare ships in the shallow water and shifting sand banks as these ships would follow the light as their guide through the choppy seas.
Move the clock up a few hundred years and now it’s one of the best places to stay on the Outer Banks. Like many other places in the Outer Banks, there’s great eats in Nags Head. From Kelly’s on the by-pass road (hwy 158) to Jockey’s Ribs there’s everything you could possibly want to eat.
Best Under the Radar Place to Eat: Suey’s (BBQ) near Jockey’s Ridge
Best Place for Casual Drink and Music: Mulligan’s
As for shopping and things to do try some of the following:
Climb Jockey’s Ridge — huge sand dune about 2 – 3 miles in diameter (make sure that you either go in the early morning (8:30ish) or at sunset. The sand gets really hot as you would expect so if you’re going during the day make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.
Fish — The Nags Head pier is a great place to go or the Avalon Pier on the south side of Nags Head. You can also rent a boat and take it out in the sand.
Shop — There’s a great Outlet Mall here with every retail outlet that you can think of. Kitty Hawk Sports near Jockey’s Ridge has some high quality shirts, pants (shorts), and specialized local items.
Cottage Viewing — Take a walk on the beach or on the beach road path to view the historic Nags Head cottages.
Where to Stay — Great cottages to rent and/or stay on the beach at the Nags Head Inn.
Close Attractions as well:
Manteo — @ 10 minutes away. Visit the local downtown shops in the harbor and view the Queen Elizabeth II ship (QE II). Also, while you’re there, check out the NC Acquarium and get tickets for world-renowned The Lost Colony outdoor drama.
Kitty Hawk / Kill Devil Hill — Go see the Wright Brother’s Exhibit. Worth the $3 admission.
Cape Hatteras — great fishing right on the beach (you can even take your car / truck on the beach)
Of course, this only just touches the service of everything Nags Head has to offer. See for yourself and you may want to come back to Nags Head year after year.
Tags: nags head, Outer Banks
A tent becomes a person’s home while out in the wilderness on a camping trip. Erecting and disassembling a tent is one of the most important jobs to be performed while on safari. This is because without it, people have no shelter from the elements and different wildlife found in nature. Certain tips exist that can aid a camper in setting up their tent.
The first one may be a little hard for men to hear but is drastically important. Use the directions or manual when assembling a tent for the first time. Practicing at home will save time on a trip, but it is imperative that a tent be set up correctly. Setting up a tent correctly means that if a falling branch strikes it or a strong gust of wind comes through the forest, a tent will not collapse on campers.
When looking to set it up, try to find the firmest ground possible in which to anchor a tent down. Anchoring a tent is important because a strong gust of wind can simply blow a tent over if no one is inside. To anchor a tent down, usually a person will have to drive stakes into the ground that are then attached to the tent. These stakes must be anchored in solid ground to hold.
After picking the spot and reading the directions, always build a tent from the ground up. Do not get ahead of yourself or rush to put up the tent. Taking proper care and time will facilitate the camper in setting up the tent properly. Start by staking it in the ground then work up to crossbeams and interlocking parts. All campers can help to speed up this process.
Building a tent is a fundamental aspect of camping. To successfully pitch a tent in the field, a person must first know the layout and different pieces of the tent. Choose comfortable but supportive ground to plant stakes and take special care to set up a tent correctly. No one wants to be awoken in the middle of the night to a tent collapsing on them.
If you like the great outdoors, you should check out a Kowa Spotting Scope. Perfect for viewing wildlife.
Tags: camping
If you’re looking for a vacation spot for you and/or your family with:
limited crowds
great golf
outstanding beaches
family entertainment
beachfront cottages, homes, and hotels
fishing (deep sea and inland)
incredible restaurants and local cuisine
romantic getaways
Then you definately need to check out the tiny strip of land on the coast of North Carolina appropriately called the Outer Banks . The Outer Banks stretches from before Atlantic Beach and Long Beach on the Southern tip to past the lugurious oceanfront village of Duck on the nothern coast. It’s basically a tiny strip of land (1/2 to a mile or so maximum from Sound to Ocean) surrounded by water.
However, don’t let that fool you into thinking that this vacation spot doesn’t offer everything that you could want. From deep sea fishing charters in the Atlantic Gulf Stream, to scenic golf courses, great food, and a plethora of places to stay (including many large and small oceanfront rentals) the Outer Banks has it all.
Here’s a cheat sheet of towns to check out and things that make them famous:
Nags Head: Received it’s name from pirates walking a Nag (horse) along the beach with a lantern hanging around it’s neck. Ships would inadvertantly assume the light was a beacon, try to navigate towards shore, and eventually get stuck on a sandbar. The pirates would then raid the ships. Some great sites at Nags Head include: Jockey’s Ridge (huge sand dune about 1 mile in diameter), Nags Head Pier, Daniel Brother’s Seafood (get some crab meat here — caught fresh daily and cleaned right in front of you), and Old Nags Head (a collection of well-maintained cottages dating back to the early 1900s)
Kitty Hawk / Kill Devils Hill: Wright Brother’s Memorial is here. Great place to learn how Orville and Wilber Wright ushered in the age of flight.
Duck: A high-end, exclusive part of the Outer Banks
Okracoke Island: Only accessable by ferry. Very romantic place with great Bed and Breakfast establishments and restaurants. Famous for the being the headquarters for Blackbeard the pirate.
Beaufort: A small town located on the inland side of the Outer Banks nead Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, and Emerald Isle. If sailing, make sure you dock your boat here and spend the night. It’s worth it.
Cape Hatteras: Basically the Eastern-most point of the Outer Banks. Great surfing, fishing (you can drive your car on the beach here), and sightseeing (the Cape Hatteras lighthouse is a sight to behold).
All in all if you want an off-the-beaten path place for a great vacation or getaway, you might want to give the Outer Banks, NC a look.
Tags: Kitty Hawk, nags head, Okracoke, Outer Banks
Thieves are always on the lookout for easy targets. Don’t make yourself an easy target.
Always follow these simple steps.
- Never leave anything valuable on display, however small and insignificant it may seem. Thieves steal first and think about value afterward.
- Don’t leave anything loose in the cockpit or on deck.
- Don’t leave your engine key in the ignition – always take it with you.
- Keep your boat keys separate from your engine keys.
- Always keep your boat secured when no one is on board, even for a short time.
- Use strong padlocks or rimlocks on all your hatches, entry points and cockpit lockers.
- Constantly check and improve the security on your boat. It’s a good idea to fit an alarm and use a visible sticker to say that one is fitted.
- Make sure your cockpit lockers can be properly locked, and check that your main hatch and fore-hatch are strong.
- Also think about having a strongbox down below. If you don’t think something is secure, get it repaired.
Lock anything valuable out of sight in a strong locker secured by a strong padlock;
IMPROVE YOUR SECURITY – Visit www.abc-protect.com
- Lock up emergency money away from other valuables;
- Keep your curtains shut so that no-one can look in;
- Keep unused ropes, fenders and other items out of sight in your cockpit, lockers and cupboards – and always lock them;
- Make sure that your life raft and outboard motor are secure, as these are valuable and attractive to boat thieves.
- When you go ashore from a dinghy, always remove your oars or paddles, rowlocks or pump, and secure the dinghy with a strong chain and padlock.
- If you are the victim of boat theft, call the police straightaway and tell the harbour master or boatyard manager. Check to make sure that your boat is still seaworthy and hasn’t been badly damaged.
- And, if you can, check that neighboring boats haven’t been broken into as well.
- Get to know other boat owners in your marina and work together to keep the marina secure. You can do the following.
- Keep an eye on other boats, as well as your own.
- Report any strangers at the marina to the harbour master or yard master.
- Don’t give your marina access card or key to other people.
- Never tell anyone else the access code to the marina.
- Don’t let strangers into the marina, however genuine they may seem.
- Keep the marina gate closed at all times.
Tags: Fishing
Who needs a vacation? But who doesn’t, am I right? You could probably use a couple weeks away from it all. The monotony of your job is killing you. You need a break. I bet you are thinking about a break right now. Don’t worry about it. We’ve all been there. One minute your are working hard, the problems are piling up on your desk, and the next minute you are staring dreamily out the window thinking about a warm beach and peaceful lapping water. You are in a cosy bed and breakfast with your wife. And the kids are no where to be seen. You left the kids with the grandparents. Come on, work with me here. The routines of your life are pushing you. You need a break. So let’s plan a getaway. Are you ready?
Name the one place you would like to be right now. This is a tough one for me. I mean, I already did the whole Prince Edward Island romantic bed and breakfast routine with my better half a few years back. However, it was outstanding. We both loved the area and all it had to offer. I would love to go back and see the place again. We did our honeymoon in Savannah. A beautiful romantic bed and breakfast in the historic district. You can’t beat this for the money. It was wonderful. I suggest that a trip like this needs to be planned correctly to get the full benefit. If you are going to travel such a great distance to get there, then you should research your destination first and ensure you have a great place to stay. Make sense? Sure does. This area is stunning. Therefore it’s only right to stay in an ideal romantic bed and breakfast that’s right in the middle of it all. And by it all I mean the wonderful amenities. In Savannah there are many.
Stop what ever it is you’re doing. I have a mission for you and it includes a romantic bed and breakfast getaway. Are you ready for this? Okay, her it goes. Get on your PC or Mac, bring up Google.com and start searching. Do a search for the place you’ve always dreamed of visiting but have never been.Once you know where it is, you can easily find a choice romantic bed and breakfast to stay in while you’re there. The internet has given us the power to plan every detail of our trip in advance and ensure that we will have the best vacation posible.
Country Bed and Breakfast
Why you should vacation in the Kawarthas
Tags: bed and breakfast