In an Outer Banks State of Mind

I have a love/hate relationship with the Outer Banks.  Since my first visit in 1976, I have returned to the Banks two to three times a year.  I hate that I never bought a place somewhere on or near the island.  I hate that I panic if I’m stuck on the other side of the bridge when NC12 closes; and I hate that I don’t have a truck or SUV to navigate rising water!  I am not an expert on any part of life on the island; I don’t know the best restaurants to go to for dinner; and I certainly don’t know what activities you  should not miss.  I do know great places to see sunrise or sunset; I can find sea glass, whelks, scotch bonnets, sand dollars or see a “man of war.”

What I do know is that once you’ve walked the beaches, the OBX will always call you back!

In the seventies, there was a TV in the motel room at The Falcon; however, the antenna didn’t pick up any stations.  All you could get was that static screen and buzzing noise.  Why was there even a TV in the room?  There were no bedside telephones either; however, you could walk across the highway and use the phone booth.  You also didn’t need a permit to drive on the beach.  We had a Chevy Blazer then and spent the day in the surf and sand while the husband fished.  That was what it was all about.  Now, rental homes have every amenity you could want; if it doesn’t, you can rent it somewhere.  You can even get time in a local resident’s pool by going online to swimply.com!  There is so much to love about the OBX as it was then and as it is now.

There are lighthouses!  Bodie Island, Currituck, Cape Hatteras, Roanoke Marshes, Edenton and Ocracoke.

There is a ferry that boards in Hatteras Village next to a Marina.

I love the piers:  Avon, Jennette’s, Nags Head, Rodanthe, Duck Research, Frisco; underneath the piers, and views from the sides of the piers.  Sadly, Frisco Pier no longer stands, but deserves to be remembered.

I love the history of the shipwrecks, the Belle and the Ocean Pursuit; buildings, monuments, mansions, and even the country store.

You can walk the boardwalk to the ocean, to the sound, or to shops along the waterfront; you can walk in a maritime forest and marsh to commune with nature (Currituck Banks Preserve, Buxton Woods Trail, Sea Breeze Trail in Hatteras or Nags Head Woods).

Bridges!  There is the new Basnight Bridge and the Jug Handle will open soon.  There is a romantic footbridge at Corolla Historic Park.

Sunrises!  The most amazing, spectacular displays are here in the OBX.

 

Surprise – Yes!  There is snow on the Outer Banks.

 

The beaches!  Just take a walk any day, any time and it is never the same.  It’s always a new adventure.

Can’t ever forget the sunsets!

The OBX is 200 miles long.  Each and every town is unique and worth exploring.  My favorite is Manteo.

Until the next time, OBX, it will never be goodbye… just see ya later!