Everything Outer Banks

Making Outer Banks Beach Memories

2010-08-27T09:00:00.001-07:00

This Monday is an absolutely gorgeous beach day here on the Outer Banks, and we want to dedicated this week’s Memory Monday to the place that creates a majority of the memories on the OBX – The Beach!

This week’s submission comes to us from Kim Merickel of Cardon, Ohio who stayed with Outer Banks Blue in the “Beachcomber” property in Corolla in June. Kim’s pictures of her family enjoying the OBX beach are of her daughter Krystel , KIim’s Son in law Tim McCaskey, Kim’s husband Mark, and most importantly their very special girl Dani Taraba who is four years old and loves the beach. Dani has downs syndrome, but she obviously is enjoying her time at the beach more than most children ever would. What a great memory to share with all of us!

Thanks Kim for sharing your wonderful memories!

All the best from the beach!

Summer Weddings @ Outer Banks Blue

2010-08-13T09:34:00.001-07:00

Boy, something is in the air this summer on the OBX! This week’s Memory Monday is our second wedding photo of the summer, and we can’t think of a better place to start a new life together than the Outer Banks! This photo is submitted by Renee McQuillen of Protage, Pennsylvania who says “I wanted to share my most memorable moment of OBX 2010!”

She and her husband have been vacationing on the Outer Banks and particularly in Corolla for years, but we here at Everything Outer Banks think this might just be their most memorable stay! Best wishes Renee on your marriage.

All the best from the beach!

Queen Bee at Outer Banks Beach

2010-08-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

This week’s Memory Monday Photo Contest submission comes to us from Karen Klinefelter of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina who presents us this cutie at the beach. This young lady is Karen’s granddaughter who was enjoying the Outer Banks for the first time when she and her family vacationed at Outer Banks Blue’s the property in Duck “The Whole Enchilada.”

Karen and her crew are veterans of the Outer Banks and it looks like they now have a new generation of beach goers. As Karen tells us “She loved it, and we all love the house we stayed in. Thanks and hope to see you next year!”

All the best from the beach!

Beautiful Ocean Views of Outer Banks Blue

2010-08-02T06:33:00.000-07:00

This week’s Memory Monday Photo contest submission comes to us from Penny Ojala, of Crystal River, Florida who stayed with us in 2009 in Nags Head.

The resolution on this week’s photos is just great as you can see the detail of droplets of water flying off of the kayak and swimmer. Great pics!

Among the folks in these pictures include Penny’s Daughter Michi Kayaking in the surf, her Granddaughter Evie on the beach, and her grandson Duncan having a great wipeout on a boogie board in the surf. Penny tells us among their favorite things to do on the beach is “relaxing on the beach, go to see the wild horses, travelling to Ocracoke, eating at Awful Arthur’s and spending time together with family watching sunrises and sunsets! What’s not to love about the OBX?!!”

We agree Penny. Thanks for your submission, good luck on yours being drawn from the hat for the monthly contest winner, and we look forward to serving you again soon at Outer Banks Blue Realty Services!

All the best from the beach!

Weddings to Remember at Outer Banks Blue

2010-07-19T14:09:00.001-07:00

This week’s Memory Monday submission is truly the memory of a lifetime as Jennifer Phillips of Durham, NC has submitted photos from her recent wedding here at the Outer Banks. Jennifer’s picture was taken at the newly restored Kitty hawk fishing pier where her wedding took place. Kitty Hawk fishing pier is now a part of the Hilton Garden Inn and the interior of the pier was gutted and restored with beautiful tongue and groove hand crafted wood and turned into a wonderful ballroom. Many weddings are celebrated there, and as you can see there are memorable pictures from events there. As Jennifer told us “It was great to see friends, meet new ones and celebrate!”

The second picture is of Jennifer’s very tired 3 year old. Too much celebration we guess.

Congratulations Jennifer! We wish you and your family all the best from the beach!

Our First Family Trip to Outer Banks Blue..We'll Be Back!

2010-07-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

This week’s Memory Monday submission comes to us from Erin Robinson of Jackson, Ohio who stayed with Outer Banks Blue from May 29th through June 5th in the “Gull Cottage” in Southern Shores. Erin and her crew were visiting the Outer Banks for the first time, but as she says “it will most assuredly not be our last!”

The pictures submitted include shots of Erin, Bill (husband), and Avery (daughter)

Among their favorite activities included visiting beaches all along the island from top to bottom. “We searched out shells from above Corolla, at the drive on beach, down all the way to Cape Hatteras. We also got to visit lighthouses in said locations. The pic of Cape Hatteras was taken on a Sunday, early in the evening, and I liked the look of it in black and white better than color, even though the color pic was good too. The lighthouses were amazing, and to imagine all of the restoration-the love and care is wonderful. We purposely didn't go to all of the historical sights so that we could leave more adventures for the next time. We also went on a dolphin tour, which was spectacular. We saw several pods of dolphins and it was a relaxing fun time.”

“We all agreed that it was the most relaxing week that any of us have had, EVER!! None of us wanted to leave, we wondered if anyone would notice if we didn't come back home. We have all been to other beaches, but we agreed that OBX was the best by far. It was the most family friendly and we are anticipating coming back next year. We are considering a Christmas trip too! Thanks for the memories, we'll be back!”

Thank you Erin for sharing your memories. We look forward to serving you again soon at Outer Banks Blue!

All the best from the beach!

Dakota's Outer Banks Blue Vacation..Doggy Style

2010-06-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

This week's "Memory Monday" Submission comes to us from Lou Cornacchia of Brooklyn, New York who recently stayed with Outer Banks Blue at the Vandermyde house in the Sanderling area of Duck.

The star of our picture show this week is Lou's able companion "Dakota" who took in several of the sights of the Outer Banks. He went biking, enjoyed a great Outer Banks Blue sunset, and of course relaxed and caught up on his sleep while vacationing with us.

Thanks to Lou and to Dakota for your great memories of the Outer Banks!

Outer Banks Blue - A Great Place for a Family Reunion

2010-06-22T06:32:00.000-07:00

This week's "Memory Monday" submission comes to us from Barbara Moefield of Saugerites New York who stayed with Outer Banks Blue in the property "Letting Go II" in May. She shares with us pictures taken during a recent family reunion held here on the Outer Banks (what a great place to have a family reunion)!

This reunion was special as this past Mother's day was Ms. Moefield's mother's 85th birthday. As Barabara says "It was a perfect chance for our scattered family to reunite and celebrate. I chose the Outer Banks Blue rental in Corolla because the house was big and comfortable enough to accommodate our entire family, including our dogs.

My mother flew in from Missouri, my 2 brother's and their wives drove from Indiana and I drove from New York. We were met by my nephew, who has now happily been a North Carolinian for the past year.

It was a wonderful vacation. My mother and I walked on the beach everyday and let the sound of the ocean wash away our stresses. My dogs must have thought they were in heaven. My girl, Keona, enjoyed sunning herself just at the water's edge where the occasional wave could cool her down.

My boy, Clancy, would have stayed on the beach playing with his ball all day if I hadn't dragged him away for a rest. On the balmy evenings we could sit lazily on the porch and on the cool ones we could light the fireplace. One night we turned down the lights and read North Carolina ghost stories. Mom loved the hot tub and we had a few good family soaks.

One of the highlights of the trip was the jeep ride over the sands to see the wild horses and their new foals. Even though a thunder storm chased us all the way back and we ended up getting wet, it was well worth the ride. I will remember warm sands, cool water, fried oysters. Just writing this makes me want to do it all over again tomorrow!"

Thanks Barabara for your great pictures and sharing your great memories from your recent trip! Outer Banks Blue looks forward to serving you and your family again soon!

All the best from the beach!

Share Your Outer Banks Blue Vacation Photos with Us

2010-06-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

This week’s Memory Monday entry comes to us from Mary-Ellen Bailey of Salisbury, North Carolina. Mary-Ellen stayed with Outer Banks Blue Realty Services recently at the “Vandermyde” property in Sanderling in the Duck area. You can tell by these photos that Mary-Ellen and her family enjoyed taking in the sights of the Outer Banks, but her dog really enjoyed the beach!

Thanks Mary-Ellen for these great pictures!

Keep in mind folks that Mary-Ellen is now entered into our monthly photo contest. By sending us these photos her name will be placed in our monthly drawing and the winner each month gets $100 off their next stay with Outer Banks Blue. You can be a winner too! Send us your favorite picture memories of your Outer Banks vacation and you may just see your pictures here too!

All the best from the beach!

Outer Banks Beaches Ranked #4 in America

2010-06-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

This week on Everything Outer Banks we give recognition to our #1 resource on the Outer Banks – Our Beach! Last week Dr. Steven “Dr. Beach” Leatherman named the Cape Hatteras National Seashore as the #4 top beach among America’s beaches.

Lee Nettles, Managing Driector of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau was quoted in a press release last week as saying “People are looking for a greater value these days, Dr. Beach’s ranking gives vacationers the assurance their travel dollars are being well spent on the OBX. Memorial Day is the official start of summer, which means a lot of people will be looking for a beach to visit, and we hope they’ll consider Cape Hatteras and The Outer Banks of North Carolina. This title is something we can all take pride in and enjoy together.”

The great thing about Cape Hatteras, is that it reflects the type of beaches you can find nearly everywhere along the 130 miles of Outer Banks coastline. If you like clean sand, lots of sun and affordable places to stay, the OBX is a smart choice for a family vacation. There are four islands you can drive to, all within a half day drive from millions of Americans, and with gas prices holding, you can really save more of your extra dollars for fun stuff when you get here.

Summertime rental bookings are very strong this summer, but there are some weeks with good availability so browse our website and find some great summer getaways for you and your family. As last week’s press release from the visitor’s bureau stated the real value of the Outer Banks comes in the experience. You can climb the tallest lighthouse in the country or run free along the biggest sand dunes on the East Coast. Take a family field trip to the place where the Wright Brothers flew the first plane or see America’s longest running outdoor drama, The Lost Colony. Take a fishing trip you’ll never forget. All of these things are within easy reach of an Outer Banks Blue Realty Services Vacation!

All the best from the beach!

Outer Banks Blue - Sentimental Journey

2010-06-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

The Memorial Day Weekend 2010 Edition of Memory Monday brings us this wonderful photo from Linda Reilly of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Ms. Reilly recently stayed with Outer Banks Blue at the property “Sentimental Journey” in Duck. She stayed with us for a full month! Ms. Reilly snapped this photo of a rainbow over the Atlantic Ocean after a rainstorm. The old saying about a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow seems to be holding true here. Our pot of gold on the Outer Banks is the beautiful Atlantic!

All the best from the beach!

Memorial Day at Outer Banks Blue

2010-05-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

This week marks the unofficial beginning of the Summer season. Memorial Day is here (well almost), and the Outer Banks is ready for our summer visitors.

As we prepare for the annual 14 or so week influx of visitors there is a feeling of uncertainty among many merchants in the area. “How are this summer’s rentals?” is a question that is often posed to the innkeepers of the Outer Banks by the merchants like restaurant owners, shop keepers, and others that rely on our visitors to make the local economy run.

Vacation Rental Managers are the bell weather of business in the area to give those merchants an early feel for what their summer season will be like because traditionally Vacation Rental Managers deal with a longer window of advanced bookings that can be a true indicator of how busy the beach will be. The answer to the question this year has been a generally positive response for the first time in several years. Bookings are ahead of last year, and in fact well ahead of the last several years.

Coming off of a tepid 2009 vacation season some are reporting bookings ahead by double digits. In fact, some weeks in late July and August are almost completely full. Outer Banks Blue Realty Services reports the week of August 21 has only 4% of the inventory available, and at least 5 other summer weeks have single digit percentage availability at this time. That is simply unheard of, and the reality is that those folks who have over the past few years waited until the last minute to make their accommodation reservations may find that there is very little if anything available for them this summer.

The good news for last minute travel is that there are still openings available during the month of June. Special pricing is available on select properties, and the weather is usually fantastic in June.

As we approach the Memorial Day holiday we also are encouraged by nationwide reports recently released by AAA that gives a travel forecast for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend that seems to indicate people are ready to travel this summer! We say here’s to the positive vibe!

In cooperation with AAA, IHS Global Insight has released the 2010 Memorial Day Travel Forecast. Key findings are based on those Americans planning to travel 50 miles or more away from home over the holiday weekend, traditionally the start to the US Summer travel season. K

Key findings are:

32.1 million Americans will travel this upcoming Memorial Day

A 5.4% increase over 2009 levels
The first projected increase in Memorial Day travel since 2005

28 million Americans will travel by automobile for the holiday – 87% of the total travel

A 5.8% increase over 2009 levels

Air travel is expected to grow by 2.4% over 2009

Contributing Factors in the Increase…
Consumer sentiment levels have risen 12.9% above 2009
Household net worth is up 8.1% above 2009
Real Gross Domestic Product has grown by 2.9% above 2009
Lastly, the later date of Memorial Day contributes to higher expectations, as historically a later date usually is indicative of greater travel numbers for the Memorial Day holiday

We here at Everything Outer Banks are encouraged by the early summer season positive news and look forward to serving all of our guests this season! Give Outer Banks Blue a call today if you haven’t already made your summer vacation plans! The Outer Banks is open for business and ready to serve you and your family!

All the best from the beach!

OBX Blue Associate Broker Interviewed by Foreclosure News Report

2010-05-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Outer Banks Blue Associate Broker Catherine Brown Strachan who was recently interviewed by the editors of “Foreclosure News Report” on the subject of “Vacation home Investors Flourishing in today’s Frugal Economy.” Excerpts of the Report, dated March, 2010 is as follows:

With the U.S. Housing Market struggling and recessionary fears lingering, one slice of the real estate industry is presenting great opportunities for investors: the vacation rental market. From the Sun Belt to the ski slopes, there are plenty of distressed seaside chalets and mountain dwellings waiting for buyers.

Entrepreneurs say they see pockets of opportunity for profit over the next few years for those who invest wisely in vacation homes as investment properties. “This is a great business,” said Caesar Guyot, a California mortgage broker and real estate investor. “People are being more frugal with their money now. Instead of renting a hotel room, vacationers are becoming part of the local fabric by renting a vacation home.”

Last year, 16 million adult Americans rented a vacation home, condo or villa and 29 percent of those travelers reserved it online, according to Forrester Research in Cambridge, Mass. And the online rental segment is expected to grow.

To be competitive in the vacation home market, amenities are more important than ever, according to vacation home expert Christine Karpinski, author of books on the subject, and director of the owner community at vacation home rental website HomeAway.com. “The average vacation rental generates $30,000 to $35,000 in annual income,” said Karpinski, a serial vacation homeowner who started buying vacation rental properties in 1996, purchasing a condo in Destin, Fla. “HomeAway has more listings in Destin than any other market in the United States. It’s the number one vacation destination on our website.”

Homeaway lists over 430,000 paid listings on several websites, including VRBO.com and CyberRentals.com.

In Florida’s Panhandle, the powdery sugar-white sands and clear, warm, blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico between Pensacola and Panama City Beach lures thousands of vacation home buyers every year. This part of Florida’s Emerald Coast draws a wide range of part-time residents, including many from southern states, but also from the Midwest, Canada and California. Vacation homebuyers and investors have started to deplete the inventory of bank-owned properties in northwest Florida, according to Thomas Williams, broker and chief operating officer at Pelican Real Estate in Panama City Beach, Fla., one of the largest locally owned real estate companies in the region. “Our condo inventory has shrunk by half,” said Williams. “This area is booming. The average hold time is less than three weeks for REO’s sometimes it’s less than three hours. If the property is on 30-A, as fast as it hits the market, it’s gone.” Highway 30-a is a scenic 20-mile beachfront stretch of upscale developments like Seaside, a New Urbanist community known for its pastel-colored houses set behind white picket fences on immaculate brick-paved streets. Williams said vacation buyers can purchase luxury rentals along this stretch that command premium prices year round.

The average summer rental rate is $4,000 a week at Outer Banks Blue Realty Services of Kitty Hawk, N.C., says Catherine Strachan, a broker whose company manages 200 vacation-home rentals. “Our season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day and draws Northeasterners from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia,” said Strachan. “This is an awesome market. Regardless of market conditions there is always a demand for rentals.”

According to Strachan, prices in the region are down from the height of the sales levels of 2000. She advises buyers to generate at least 10% gross rental income, which is arrived by dividing the purchase price by gross annual rents. She said the upper part of the region, from the northern towns of Corolla and Duck, are ideal vacation rental markets. Another factor that makes the outer Banks a desirable vacation rental investment spot is that there are fewer condominiums in the region and the market is dominated by single family homes.

Experts say many vacation destinations are experiencing the dare before the dawn and there is going to be a short window of opportunity for smart investors to jump in and make their future fortunes. For the first time in years, home prices have slipped enough in some regions for the math to work, including the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Karpinski said “This is a perfect time to buy a vacation home,” she said, nothing that prices are at 2002 levels in some vacation destinations. “In a few years prices will rise and you will kick yourself for not buying now.”

For more information on bank-owned, short sale, or any other Outer Banks property for sale, please be sure to contact Catherine or Donna or Charlie in Outer Banks Blue’s sales department. They can be reached at 866-976-9619 or via e-mail catherine@outerbanksblue.com, donna@outerbanksblue.com, or Charlie@outerbanksblue.com

Who Doesn’t Enjoy a Spectacular Sunset on the OBX?

2010-04-27T05:53:00.000-07:00

This week’s “Memory Monday” photo submission comes to us from Mark Warriner of Richmond, Virginia. Mark took this picture in September of 2007, but we think it is timeless. Who doesn’t enjoy a spectacular sunset on the OBX?!

Mark tells us he has been coming to the Outer Banks since 1998 and sometimes two or three times a year with friends and their families. He adds “Sometimes we go on fishing charters or fish the piers and lots of times we visit Wanchese, Manteo, Collington and other neat places. Of course we put in a lot of "beach time" and we enjoy the great food (favorite restaurant anywhere in the world is Pamlico Jack's (formerly Penguin Isle)! My favorite part of the Outer Banks are the Banks themselves; they are some of the nicest places I've been, from Corolla to Hatteras and even Bogue Banks and everywhere in between.”

Mark we hope we draw your name out of the hat this month to receive the $100 credit towards your next stay on the Outer Banks in a Vacation Rental with Outer Banks Blue!

Owl Enjoying an Outer Banks Sunset

2010-04-19T06:55:00.000-07:00

This week’s Memory Monday entrant is a very unique photo from the Outer Banks. Judy Lowman who has been vacationing on the soundfront in Corolla for the last 6 years. Judy tells us she comes back each year because of the fantastic sunsets, and this picture is not only of a spectacular sunset that she captured on her most recent visit in March, but if you look closely you will see an owl perched on the tree right on the water!

The owl is evidently enjoying the sunset just as any of us.

Judy finishes off this weeks entry with her thoughts about a great beach vacation: “I believe everyone should visit the Outer Banks in early spring there is plenty wildlife to see. On this particular visit, we also saw a baby seal resting on the beach (so cute), an otter on the sound side, a family of deer and tundra swans.

Our guests interest vary between reading a good book, quietly sitting on the deck watching the Sound or going to the Oceanside and beach combing all day. Whatever we do for the day, we all come together for dinner at sunset.”

Thanks Judy for your submission to our Memory Monday contest. We will put you in this month’s drawing for $100 off your next Outer Banks vacation with Outer Banks Blue (if your name is drawn from the hat at the end of the month), and we remind all of our readers to please send us your favorite Outer Banks Picture Memories to be included in our monthly contest!

Spotted: Wild Banker Ponies of Corolla

2010-04-12T12:56:00.000-07:00

This week’s Memory Monday entry comes to us from Patty Smith of Yorktown, Virginia who was lucky enough to spot the Wild banker ponies of Corolla on her recent visit to the Outer Banks.

Patty and her family actually enjoyed a week at the beach just last week (4/4 – 4/11) at Outer Banks Blue’s property “Wine N’ Sea”, a vacation rental in Duck. Thanks Patty for this great shot, and we hope you aren’t having too hard of a time getting back into the swing of things this week after your Outer Banks vacation!

Outer Banks Blue Named Greenest Outer Banks Rental Company

2010-04-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

I just finished up a couple of advertisements for Outer Banks Blue Realty, located in Kitty Hawk NC. They are now the "Greenest Outer Banks Rental Company" and have been working very hard to eliminate the un-necessary and revamp the way business on the Outer Banks operates in conjunction with the environment. If you think about it, this really makes sense. Not that going green as a company doesn't make sense everywhere, but it really applies to the relationship of businesses with this particular area. If you have ever been to the Outer Banks then you know why of course, it is beautiful and obviously an all-natural attraction for vacationers. The beaches are the main attraction for visitors, so why not help keep it that way? Keep the beaches, keep the local economy thriving, plain and simple.

Outer Banks Blue Realty Services is a family owned and operated vacation rental management, property management, and real estate services company operated in Kitty Hawk, NC. Founded in June, 2005 the basis of the company is competent personalized service by experienced professionals.

How Outer Banks Blue is making a difference and going green...

CONSERVE VIRTUALLY ALL PAPER TO GUESTS BY USING EMAIL & INTERNET

We offer Electronic Rental Agreements (we do not mail paper copies, which eliminates time, paper, money, gas andwork).
We email the balance due notices and receipt of payment, rather than mailing those as well
We have converted to e-cards for holiday greetings rather than traditional paper cards.
We email check-in information when applicable to them (without pool passes or car passes needed to access communities, items that must be mailed to guest).
We update all Online Information, to eliminate paper to produce our Annual OBX BLUE Vacation Home Brochure.
We also offer a "paperless" payroll to conserve paper for printing checks in our company. We either use direct deposit or offer a debit card for usage with our foreign students or employees without a personal banking/savings account. We no longer print checks for company payroll.
Have made donations to local Preschools to recycle our paper products.

Moving onto other things we do, these are ways that we recycle, reduce or and conserve our paper usage as a company.

We offer Keyless entry into our homes, meaning they receive a code to access the home and do not have to use gas to come to our office to receive a hard key, we also do not have to reproduce the hard key for usage from renters. This feature saves the guest time, they receive directions to the home and they are able to drive straight there, instead of coming to our office and waiting in line for keys.
We give our guests a complimentary OBX Blue Welcome Bag, that doubles as a Thermal Grocery Total, that is made of recycled materials.
Our Housekeeping department reuses our cleaning materials(rags), as we wash and reuse those items.
We recycle and reuse our Housekeeping cleaning bottles (also the company we use for our chemicals does have a “Green Cleaning Line” that we are getting more information on at the current time in the review idea of possibly using more of those chemicals for 2010. The line of Green cleaning supplies is new and not in use by our company at this time.
We provide both bed and bath linens to our guests at no additional charge. Our linens are cleaned with an “Ozone Technology Cleaning”, which uses less water and chemicals in each wash.
We stock our homes with Biodegradeable soaps and cleaners, in our "Starter pack" for the guests.
Donate used Printer Cartridges to local High Schools for reusing.

By: Heather Hagler
www.thefreshinkpress.com

Who Else Wants More Fun and Less Crowds When on Vacation?

2010-03-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

This week's Memory Monday brings us photos from Tami Brander.

Here's Tami's description of what we are looking at in today's pictures:
"The First Picture of the two boys are my son and my nephew. They love to fight the waves at the Outer Banks. They spend hours just jumping in the waves, and are usually exhausted by the end of the day. The second picture is my son on a rather cold water day playing in the waves. The third picture is my daughter jumping the waves--Her pony tail flew up as she jumped.

We have been coming to the Outer Banks for over 15 years now. We love it there!! It is so family friendly, and family oriented, the beaches are not over crowded and are just beautiful. We love the restaurants, parks, and fun things to do. We go golfing, we climb the dunes, we take the kids fishing. It is just a wonderful place for families and that is why we continue to come back every year for our vacation."

Well Tami we look forward to serving you and your wave jumpers in the near future on your next Outer Banks Vacation. The weather is warming up and we can't wait to jump in the waves ourselves here at Outer Banks Blue Realty Services!

Dog Friendly Vacationing in the Outer Banks

2010-03-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

This week’s “Memory Monday” submission comes to us from Chris and Melody Cobb of Fairfax, Virginia, and this picture is of their four legged friend “Morgan.”

Morgan and the Cobbs enjoy the Outer Banks so much that they purchased a house in Duck (Villa One Sea - check out this duck vacation rental), and they enjoy the house and the beach every time they are here. It looks like Morgan is ready to jump in the Atlantic in this shot.

Thanks for your submission Mr. and Mrs. Cobb and here’s a reminder that every week we post a new photo on our “Memory Monday” photo contest. Simply send your favorite picture memories of the Outer Banks to us, and we will enter your picture into our monthly drawing. If your picture is chosen as the monthly winner you will receive a $100 discount on your 2010 vacation with Outer Banks Blue!

Ethan enjoys an Outer Banks Vacation

2010-03-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

This week’s Memory Monday submission comes to us from Tammy Moore of Friedens, Pennsylvania who sends us some great photos of “Ethan” enjoying a recent vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina!

Tammy and her family stayed with Outer Banks Blue Realty Services this past October in the Corolla vacation rental house “Dreamweaver.”

Thanks for sharing your photo memories of your Outer Banks vacation!

Sand Shark Attack in the Outer Banks

2010-03-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

This week’s Memory Monday submission comes to us from Amber Simione of Sellersville, Pennsylvania. Amber sends us a picture of her aunt who was evidently the victim of a sand shark bite!

Amber and her family stayed with Outer Banks Blue Realty last August in our property “Angel’s Way” in Duck. She says “We had an amazing time and look forward to returning this year; using Outer Banks Blue Realty of course! Hopefully this silly photo will help alleviate our costs a bit if we win the contest; we have a very large family attending this year so every penny counts! We were walking the beach searching for shells and came across this sand shark. My aunt thought this pose would make everyone laugh…she was right!”

Thanks Amber, we wish you and your family luck on being drawn as the winner of our March contest!

Our Friendly Neighbors, the Outer Banks Wild Horses

2010-03-01T09:05:00.000-08:00

This week’s Memory Monday submission is from Dave Quinn. Dave tells us that he has been coming to the Outer Banks for 12 years now, and as you can see by this week’s photos he has been lucky enough on his visits to capture some photos of the Currituck Outer Banks wild horses.

Dave tells us that he and his family “have experienced good weather and bad, but have never regretted a minute of being on the Outer Banks! We will continue to come to the Outer Banks and I’m sure we’ll always be happy that we did.”

While we are happy to share these photos with you we remind all visitors to the Outer Banks that these wonderful majestic animals are wild, and should never be approached to be rubbed, petted, have pictures of children taken on their backs, or fed. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund representatives remind us all that these wonderful animals are never to be approached, and they are to be admired from a distance.

Thanks Dave for your pics! We look forward to serving you in 2010 at Outer Banks Blue!

The Outer Banks Vacation Experience: See why families like the Branders' come back year after year

2010-02-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

Memory Monday has been busy in February with lots of submissions to consider, but we encourage everyone to send their photos in and get posted just as this week's contest entrant Tami Brander.

Tami and her extended family stayed with us last Summer (June 2009) and captured the occasion with some great pictures. We love them!

The first picture is of Tami's 3 1/2 year old daughter "Faith." Tami tells us she was busy feeding the birds at the beach, but making sure the birds were not going to get too close.

Tami explains the other photo...."The other photo includes my four children and my 3 nephews and 3 nieces. We have been vacationing together at the Outer Banks for over 15 years now. The children have all been coming since before they were a year old. We absolutely love climbing the dunes while we are there and that's where that photo was taken. We go up every year and take pictures of all the kids, fly kites, and run down the big piles of sand."

Great stuff Tami! Thanks for sharing with us at Everything Outer Banks! We look forward to serving you again soon at Outer Banks Blue Realty Services!

An Outer Banks First-Timer

2010-02-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

This week's Memory Monday submission comes to us from Elizabeth Phillips of Gainesville, Virginia who stayed with Outer Banks Blue in our Nags Head vacation rental property "Just For You" in 2009.

This priceless picture is of her toddler Lucas as he puts his feet in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in his life. What a great moment, and what a great picture!

Elizabeth and her family have been coming to the beach for about 9 years, and she explains that she wanted to introduce her son to their family tradition.

"The first day we got there, we walked across the street to the beach. We wanted to introduce our son, Lucas to his very first beach before the sun set. He was almost a year and a half at the time and he absolutely loved it. His face lit up (literally) and he giggled with such delight every time the waves rolled in and touched his toes. From the looks of it, his Dad enjoyed the moment just as much as he did. We can't wait to return."

We can't wait to have you and your family back to the Outer Banks either Elizabeth. Thanks for your submission for our "Memory Monday" photography contest.

Remember to send your photographic memories to us and you will be entered into our contest. We post photos here every week, and we pick one winner a month out of our hat to receive a $100 credit towards a 2010 Outer Banks vacation at Outer Banks Blue!

Relaxing Outer Banks Style

2010-02-08T11:24:00.000-08:00

This week's Memory Monday entry comes to us from Shirley Fuller, of Lynchburg, Virginia who stayed with Outer Banks Blue Realty in 2009 at our Southern Shores vacation rental, the "Rum Runner".

Shirley's explanation of the picture says it all....

"Just how relaxed can you get at The Rum Runner at the Outer Banks 2009? Just ask Martha Ferguson, retired exec from the Ericsson Corporation. And also first time we climbed the Currituck Lighthouse. Very brave of everyone!"

Thanks Shirley for sharing your happy memories of your stay with Outer Banks Blue!