Outer Banks, North Carolina

Outer Banks, NC

Travel Article
April, 2009

We had never been to the Outer Banks before. We knew people loved it and my husband's sister moved there when they retired and our nephew and his family lives there also. The have been vacationing there for many years and love living there. Since the Outer Banks is a destination on our website we thought it about time we visited these intriguing barrier islands on the North Carolina Shore. As the Visitors Guide states , “Adventurer and sun-seekers, anglers and explorer—these are the people who have been drawn to this thin strip of sandy coast for thousands of years. The Wright brothers, pioneers of flight, came to make history on the windswept sand dunes. Today, nearly seven million people come to the Outer Banks every year for many of the same reasons—to explore new places, find an dventure and ultimately, discover paradise.”

The Outer Banks is comprised of several barrier islands. On our way to the Outer Banks we stopped in Dunn, NC for lunch. We had lunch at the Sagebrush Steakhouse and Saloon. We had a burger, excellent hot tomato basil soup, a house salad and wine. It was excellent and reasonably priced. We stayed in the town of Duck at a time-share exchange. It was the Barrier Station Duck. This is a huge complex of weather beaten shingled buildings sitting right on the beach. Duck is one of the most popular resort destinations on the Outer Banks. Duck is also the Outer Banks newest town. We loved the town of Duck. It is very quaint. Duck offer a new town park and soundside boardwalk providing vibrant recreational, cultural, and entertainment center. We loved the town of Duck. It is eclectic and charming. We had dinner take-out from the Duck Deli and it was delicious and inexpensive. Eating out in the Outer Banks can be expensive. They also serve breakfast starting at 8:00 AM. We also had dinner at Fishbones Raw Bar and Restaurant. It is located in the Scarborough Far complex. Most of the stores and galleries were still closed for the season but they offer an eclectic group of shops, restaurants and a winery. We weren't hungry for a full meal so we ordered an assortment of appetizers. We had onion straws, which were not the least bit greasy, potato skins and salads. The wine and beer was reasonably priced.

On our first night we had dinner with at the Sunset Grille and Raw Bar right across the street from our complex. We were very happy because we collect pictures of sunsets and have learned the hard way to get a picture the first time the weather is good because things can change quickly. We got a lovely picture for our wall of sunsets. The Grille offers breakfast daily at 8:00, a Sushi Bar and Sunset Sushi Platter as well as lunch and dinner. The prices are very high herewith dinner starting at $16.99 up to $47.99 for surf and turf. We were very pleased with what we ordered. I had fried scallops which were lightly breaded and excellent. My husband got the spicy seafood combo and he really loved it also. The Sunset Grille offers not only a wonderful Sunset view but outdoor soundside dining, 3 bars including the only waterfront Tiki bar on the Outer Banks.

The next day we ventured toward the northern end of the island, Corolla which the locals pronounce “CA-Ralla” , go figure. It is the high end part of the island with huge houses everywhere. We were heading for the Currituck Beach and Light Station. It was a very interesting and beautiful trip. Located in Currituck Heritage Park and on December 1, 1875 its beacon of Light filled the remaining “dark space” on the North Carolina coast between the Cape Henry light to the north and Bodie Island to the south. To distinguish the Currituck Beach Lighthouse from others it was left unpainted showing the multitude of bricks used to form the structure. The lighthouse was automated in 1939 when the US Coast Guard took control of the lighthouses. On site there is the Lighthouse Keeper's house which is a Victorian stick style dwelling. It was completed in 1876 and three keepers and their families shared the duplex in the isolated seaside setting. Other historic structures located within the light station include a smaller Keeper's house, louvered cisterns at either end of the Keeper's house, a cement cistern beside the Museum Shop that stored rainwater for the keepers. Also, a former storehouse on the south side of the property, with four sharp finials now serves as an office for the lighthouse staff.

The Whalehead Club was built in 1922 by Pennsylvania industrialist Edward Collins Knight Jr for his wife, Marie Louise LeBel who loved to hunt. Prohibited from hunting at the Men Only Clubs Mr, Knight bought the 4.5 miles of land and began building his wife a large hunt club mansion on the sound. The Knight's used the club to entertain their northern friends and many distinctive guests, including Theodore Roosevelt. Currituck County purchased the Club and the surrounding 39 acres and formed the Whaledhead Preservation Trust, a very lovely area. The Currituck Heritage Park is also home to the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, which features information and educational programming.

Most of the Corolla restaurants were closed for the season so we decided to try lunch at the Currituck Golf Club. It was a lovely room half of it covered by windows. We had a great steak and cheese sub and onion soup. which was the lunch special. It was excellent and inexpensive. These were not half portions but full portions for $9.95. Our friends said that they never thought of trying a Golf Course for lunch and probably will now. That night we had dinner with our relatives in Southern Shores which is a gorgeous residential town.

The next our explorations took us first to find The Native Vine Tasting Room which offers daily wine tastings daily in a large handsome room. Every Friday they offer reserve wine tastings. Daily tastings are $6 and you can keep the glass for $3.99. The store is filled with wine, wine gadgets and novelties and is a fun place to visit. Back on track we headed through Kill Devil Hills, an older beach community, to Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers Memorial.. The Wrights learned to fly on a stretch of beach near the Kill Devil Hill. It provided isolation, high dunes, strong winds, and soft landings. At their 1902 camp the Wrights shared their living quarters with the glider. They slept aloft in burlap slings hung from the rafters. On this remote, sandy beach, in 1903, Orville broke our human fond with the Earth. He flew. His flight only lasted 12 seconds and the first distance of the flight was less than the length of an airliner. But for the first time, a manned, heavier-than-air machine left the ground by its own power, moved forward under control without losing speed, and landed on a point as high as that from which it started.

The Visitor Center offers information, exhibits and a bookstore, Exhibits and interpretive programs tell the Wright brothers' story. The Centennial Pavilion has films, educational programs, a gift shop and exhibits on the Outer Banks, the evolution of aviation and challenges of flight. The first flight airstrip is a 3,000-foot paved airstrip with markers depicting the starting point and the length of the three flight attempts. The Wright Brother's Monument is a 60-foot monument atop Kill Devil Hill honoring the brothers and the site of the hundreds of gliders that preceded the first powered flight. Next we headed to the Outer Banks Brewery in Kill Devil Hills. It is the first brewery in the US to use wind power. The turbine will supplement the power used and when the turbine produces more power than we need the meter will literally stop and reverse itself then putting electricity back on the grid. The turbine cost was approximately $45,000. It should save the brewery between $200 and $300 per month on electricity. At this rate it should pay for itself in 15 years.

The brewery offers live entertainment and has a second floor and a huge private booth. We always search out breweries on our trips and our interest peaked at the sign for Angry Hour 5:00 to 7:00. We inquired about Happy Hour specials and the bartender explained that NC is not allowed to have drink specials unless they offer that special all day. Thereby the name Angry Hour. Tourists used to their vacation Happy Hours are not happy about this. We shared a brew sampler with five tastes for $6.00. The beer was good. We then headed to the Lone Cedar in Nagshead. It was a large waterfront restaurant that none of us, all the families, had never been to. I do not usually do this but this is a very high priced restaurant with no atmosphere except the water and the service was horrible. The salads looked very good, and one person said it was the best she crab soup she had ever had. The children's menu was $7.99 with an apple juice for a toddler at $3.49. The adult chicken Parmesan was dry and overcooked. And cost 12.99 for a medium portion. I had seafood pasta and my husband had spicy shrimp and grits. We both liked it but thought it could use more sauce. Two 12 ounce prime rib dinners cost $45.98. I would really suggest that you not go to this restaurant.

On our last day we decided to explore Roanoke Island. The first place we stopped was in the quaint town of Manteo, named for a helpful Indian Leader and pronounced “Man-eo”. “Manteo is surrounded by beautiful boardwalks, sailboats and the music of Shallowbag Bay lapping the shore. Roanoke Is is home to much of the best of the Outer Banks and is convenient to the rest. Festival Park, Historic Fort Raleigh, The lost Colony Outdoor Drama and the Elizabethan Gardens are all here along with the world famous Christmas Shop, the renowned Weeping Radish microbrewery and the NC Aquarium. As we walked down the Harbor Marina pathways we explored eclectic shops and a small restaurant which we later returned to for the live music. We were walking back to our car and we saw the beautiful Tranquil House Inn and its 1587 restaurant. My husband wanted to check it out but we both thought it might be costly. Actually, it was very reasonable compared to restaurants on the Outer Banks. We returned for dinner with our family and we were sat at a beautiful white table clothed table and sapphire blue glasses. Our table over looked the Harbor and we felt a sense of history and romance. The food was excellent and fairly priced. Each dish was plated beautifully each with its own side dish and wonderful sauce. I had the rack of lamb and it was superb. I can't remember what everyone else had but they all loved it. Our family said they would definitely return and if I lived there I would be a frequent diner. Don't miss this opportunity. The Tranquil House Inn is a must on any trip to the Outer Banks.