Outer Banks Family Fun

Monday, June 29, 2009

This week we share with you a couple of pictures from Carrol Bane of Brilliant, Ohio who was here on the Outer Banks with her clan at the Outer Banks property, “It’s A Shore Thing”, from June 6th through the 13th. Carrol tells us this is actually a picture of Santa Claus (front with the hat on) and his family! We had no idea the jolly man enjoyed the OBX as much as the rest of us, but thanks for sharing Carrol! The human beach pyramid is courtesy of Carrol’s grandchildren who obviously had a good time in Corolla as well.

Carrol said “What a blessing it was” to have everyone together. Indeed!

Carroll is now enrolled in our monthly picture of the month contest with appreciation of her sharing her precioius family memories with us here on Memory Monday. Don’t forget to send us your memories and if your entry is picked as the photo of the month you will receive $100 towards your next OBX Blue vacation.

An Outer Banks 40th Wedding Anniversary

Monday, June 22, 2009

This week on Memory Monday we are pleased to share some images from one of our rental guests that stayed with us recently! Congratulations to Randall and Christine Kilmer who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a vacation at one of our Outer Banks Blue rental homes.

Mr. & Mrs. Kilmer celebrated their 40th anniversary with their family at our property “Cara Lina” the week of May 30th through June 6th. You can see the weather was great, and we are happy to put the Kilmer’s in our Memory Monday Hall of Fame! Thanks Kilmers, and Congratulations from Everything Outer Banks!

Remember to share your Outer Banks photo memories with us as we post photos from our guests each Monday. Each month one of our entries is chosen as a winner of our monthly “best picture” contest and a $100 credit towards a future Outer Banks rental is put on the books in your name.

Dr. Beach picks OBX in his top 10 beaches AGAIN

Monday, June 15, 2009

Dr. Beach (aka Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman) has evaluated all major public recreational beaches in the U.S. America and has recently released his his annual top 10 Beaches in the U.S. list for the 19th time.

On his website (http://www.drbeach.org/) Dr. Beach says beaches are the number one recreational destination for Americans. These sandy playgrounds that line our coasts are the most extensive natural parks in the country. Nothing restores the body and soul like a stay at the beach. We are naturally drawn to the rhythmic pounding of the waves as if returning to our primordial beginnings. His annual list of the top 10 beaches is anxiously awaited as Leatherman bases his selections on 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities.

This year’s list is topped by Hanalei Bay on Kauai, Hawaii and the beaches of Cape Hatteras are now ranked number 7 on the list of top 10 beaches. Hanalei Bay, the top selection this year is located on Kauai's North Shore around the corner from the Napali Coast, the most stunning corner of the state. One side offers lush valleys, dramatic waterfalls and sculpted mountains with peaks that rise 1,219 metres. On the other is the Pacific, where dolphins and sea turtles can be seen.

This year’s inclusion of the Cape Hatteras beaches of the Outer Banks means that area beaches have now been on Dr. Beaches’ top 10 list now for the last 13 years. In 2007 the beaches of Ocracoke were named top beaches in America.

The complete top 10 list includes:
1 Hanalei Bay, Hawaii
2 Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Fla.
3 Coopers Beach in Southampton, N.Y., on Long Island
4 Coronado Beach in San Diego
5 Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii
6 Main Beach in East Hampton, N.Y., on Long Island
7 Cape Hatteras in Outer Banks, N.C.
8 Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Fla
9 Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod, Mass.
10 Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, S.C.

Typically each entrant on the top ten list will move up one spot each year until they reach the top spot. This is the 12th time a Hawaii beach has won the top spot since Dr. Beach started the list in 1991. North Carolina has won the award for the top spot just once (Ocracoke in 2007).

An Awesome Outer Banks Getaway

Monday, June 8, 2009

We had an awesome week at "Carolina Getaway" May 23-30, 2009.

This picture was taken from the pool area at the house, looking up to the upper deck. The kids in our group invented a creative game of "Keep-Away" in which half of each team was up on the deck and the other half of each team was in the pool below. They tossed a plastic ball either up or down to their teammates. Great fun to play and watch. This picture shows the kids up on the deck waiting for the ball to come up.

Thanks for a great vacation, Outer Banks Blue!

Shellie Mead

OBX Picked as Editor's Choice by Outside Magazine

Monday, June 1, 2009

OBX gets more recognition as a great place to stay for budget minded travelers.

Everything Outer Banks noted this past week more kudos as the OBX was picked as an editor’s choice for a great getaway by Outside Magazine!

Outside Magazine bills itself as the magazine for those that “Live the Active Life.” The June 2009 edition of Outside Magazine explores 25 of the best places to escape on a budget. The article entitled “Relax, Recharge and Find an Adventure” spoke about the Outer Banks having some of the East Coast’s best surf. Readers were also invited to climb the 248 stairs of the Hatteras Lighthouse for “endless Atlantic views.” Another suggestion for Outside Magazine readers was to spend the day hiking through the local wooded nature preserves on Hatteras Island. Outside Magazine rated the OBX as a great value. We couldn’t agree more, and don’t forget to check out www.outerbanksblue.com for the latest values for you and your family!

Happy Memorial Day from Outer Banks Blue

Monday, May 25, 2009

Happy Memorial Day! The unofficial start to the summer season is upon us and here at Everything Outer Banks and we greet the day with excitement and reverence.

The Memorial Day holiday is officially explained in wikipedia as a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May and commemorates the men and women of the United States who died while in military service. First created in 1868 the holiday was enacted to honor Union soldiers who perished in the Civil war, and after World War I it was expanded to include soldiers who perished in any war or military action. In 1968 the Holiday was finalized as a Federal Holiday thus creating a 3 day weekend that coincides with the early summer start.

On a more relaxed level Memorial Day means a long weekend at the beach, time with family, and cookouts in the back yard and certainly the Outer Banks is brimming with folks who are enjoying a day away from work today. The water temps are rising, and the sun is out so we will have lots of folks sporting their first evidence of a beach day at work later this week.

As the day progresses however we want to call attention to the real reason of the day and to call attention to the fact that President Obama has called today an official day of remembrance. The White House Commission on Remembrance has designated 3PM on Monday, May 25, 2009 as a time to pause in an act of national unity (duration: one minute). On the web site (http://www.remember.gov/) it states “The time of 3 P.M. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The moment dos not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom. It will help to reclaim Memorial Day as the sacred and noble holiday it was meant to be. In this shared remembrance, we connect as Americans.”

We at Everything Outer Banks pause on this special day and remember as well. Thank you to all who made the ultimate sacrifice.

2009 Outer Banks Relay for Life

Monday, May 18, 2009

Well this week on Everything Outer Banks we have to take our collective hat off to the Outer Banks Relay for Life which benefits the American Cancer Society. Particularly we congratulate the Blue Team from Outer Banks Blue Realty Services which did a fantastic job raising money for the charity of our choice.

The Outer Banks Relay for life was a 24 hour marathon walk around the track at the First Flight High School Football Field. It was held on Saturday, May 16th beginning at noon. The event was the victim of some rogue rain showers that passed through the area on Saturday afternoon, but the event went on undaunted through the afternoon, all evening, and eventually wrapped up at noon on Sunday, May 17th. A full 24 hours of fundraising for the American Cancer Society.

Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated. There are many heart warming moments in the 24 hour event, but topping the list must be the “survivor walk” where all in the area that are cancer survivors walk one lap together around the track. This year’s survivor lap was greeted with thunderous applause from all who attended. Another moving experience is the lighting of the luminaries (bags with the name of a cancer victim or a cancer survivor), and then the reading of all names on the luminaries. This year there were so many luminaries purchased that not only was the entire track encircled with the bags, but the words “HOPE” and “CURE” were able to be spelled out on the bleachers of the football stadium. A stirring site.

The event was well attended, and the community responded very well to the call for help in fundraising for this worthy cause. OBX Blue’s team alone raised more than $3,000 for the Cancer Society thanks in large part to the generous donations received from many of our homeowners. "Thanks" cannot properly express our appreciation to our wonderful homeowners for opening up their hearts and their checkbooks for this worthy cause.

At the event itself The OBX Blue team had two fundraising ideas that went over very well. Our chief cook Mimi Shrader brought her crepe maker, and we made fresh crepes for all. Berries, powdered sugar, and pancake syrup was flowing at the OBX Blue booth all day Saturday and Sunday too!




We also had a super fun fishing game for the kids. Every kid that played got an OBX Blue pirate hat just for playing, and everyone was a winner. If a player caught one of our magnetic critters in our plastic lake they got to choose a toy of their choice (cancer society stuffed bears, pirate bandanas, light up pens, bubbles, etc.). Outer Banks Blue’s presence was definitely felt by all at the Outer Banks Relay for Life.

The Outer Banks Relay for Life is one of the top events of its kind in the nation. Now in its 13th year, the Outer Banks Relay for life has consistently ranked among the top 10 community fundraising events of its kind for the American Cancer Society.

Thanks again to all who helped at the Outer Banks Relay for Life!