Blogging the Beach

North Carolina means a lot of things to a lot of people. Did you know it is great place for surfing? When you think of surfing, do you automatically think of California? Hawaii? Australia? When you learn a few of the facts, you will rethink your surfing options.

The beaches of North Carolina, in particular the Currituck Outer Banks, are known for their warm waters, natural beauty, bright and clean sand, and plenty of close-by attractions. Between wildlife refuges and historic sites, each beach on the Outer Banks has its own style and character. Families, couples or groups of friends come from around the world to enjoy these gorgeous pristine beaches. This area is a refreshing spot with consistent and hollow surf for the surfing enthusiast.

For decades, the Outer Banks has been the most popular surf-regions in North Carolina. The reasons for this are both geographical and meteorological. While a wide continental shelf usually flattens swells at most East Coat beaches, the shelf narrows near the Outer Banks, allowing swells to reach the beach. The exposed area gets the full brunt of low-pressure weather systems in the form of nor’easters and tropical events.

The Currituck Outer Banks are unmatched in their simplicity and beauty. There are miles of clean ocean and unlimited beach access for miles along the coastline. When surfing talk turns to North Carolina, the Outer Banks are always mentioned first.

The seasons will play a part in your surfing. In the summer months, south swells can creep into the area overnight, so watch the surf reports to get the latest information about surf conditions.

The fall on the Outer Banks is fabulous. The tourists thin out and the air cools off. North swells, south swells, east swells, wind swells, hurricane swells and light westerlies make this the best surfing season. Surfers will find big pits, small pits, clean pits, and dirty pits in the fall, not to mention the famous Outer Banks spitting barrels. Normally, you can wear your trunk until October and then it will be time to switch to your full suit.

The surfing community is always willing to share information about the best surf locations, so ask them about surfing on the Currituck Outer Banks. Local shops, such as Corolla Surf Shop, are great resources for board rentals, apparel purchases, and surf lessons. Check out their services at www.corollasurfshop.com.

Learn more about surfing and other activities in the beautiful Outer Banks by checking out the Currituck County Travel & Tourism site at http://www.visitcurrituck.com.

Camping has been a popular recreational activity in the United States for many years and became more popular in the early 20th century. Campers use the time to get away from civilization and enjoy nature up close. Camping in the Outer Banks of North Carolina can provide the perfect retreat for all types of camping enthusiasts.

“Camping” describes a wide variety of activities; a survivalist may set out with just a pair of boots on their feet while recreational travelers may arrive at their camping site equipped with their own electricity, heat and air conditioning, and comfortable patio furniture. A popular kind of campers, those who use a tent, are commonly called “tent campers.” Recreational Vehicles, or RVs, allow campers to have most of the comforts of home while traveling to camp sites that provide utility attachments. Campgrounds throughout Currituck County, NC offer these types of camping as well as others like survivalist, huntsman, and surf camping.

While camping is often the objective, it is usually combined with other outdoor activities such as hiking or hunting. Campers on Bells Island in Currituck can enjoy camping close to the Currituck Sound, where they can participate in boating, fishing, crabbing, and other water sports. Distant waves provide a comforting sound to fall asleep to at night.

Camping in Currituck County, North Carolina is also a great place for wildlife enthusiasts to photograph and catalog various species of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, and aquatic animals. Several endangered species, such as piping plover, sea beach amaranth, and loggerhead sea turtles call the brackish water marshes home. Perhaps the most splendid could be the galloping groups of wild horses that roam the area, stunning observers with their speed and elegance.

Currituck County has long been a destination for people who enjoy camping activities. From the glory days of the hunt clubs to today, many people have made Currituck a favorite camping destination, offering every type of camping that an outdoor enthusiast could desire.

Bells Island Campground is about 22 acres of land on the Currituck Sound. Campers will find tent camping areas, RV hook-up sites and clean restroom and shower facilities on site. Available activities include fishing, crabbing, boating and sailing. Contact Bells Island Campground for more information at (252) 232-2590.

Hampton Lodge Camping Resort offers RV hook-ups and other amenities for all sorts of campers. Its numerous nature walks and bike trails are a great way to spend an afternoon outdoors. They can be reached at (252) 453-2732 for additional details.

Sandy Point Resort Campground is on Knotts Island on the Currituck Sound. They feature 80 full RV hook-up sites, 30 water and electric sites and 40 primitive sites. This campground has a boat ramp, a sandy beach and fishing access. Contact Sandy Point at (252) 429 3094 to find out more.

Among the countless activities one can partake in while in Currituck County, North Carolina, hunting near the Currituck Sound has been popular with locals and visitors alike for many years. Currituck Sound was connected directly to the Atlantic Ocean until the early 1800s by one or more inlets through the Outer Banks. Shifting sands eventually closed the inlets, changing the Sound from a high-salinity estuarine environment to a low-salinity estuarine environment. The marshes and waters of Currituck sound became well known for prime water hunting grounds.

Since the early 1800s, the Currituck Sound is on the migration path for ducks, Canada geese, and other water birds. The village of Duck in Currituck County was named for the large numbers of waterfowl that once made their home in the area. Currituck Sound, which borders the Outer Banks from Kitty Hawk north to the Virginia Line, was once the most bountiful and popular waterfowl hunting destinations in the country. Historians noted that the fresh water of the Currituck Sound attracted so many water birds that when they lifted in flight, they would actually block out the sun.

In the late nineteenth century, northern businessmen began buying tracts of land in the marshes and the small islands to construct hunt clubs. The most famous of these is the Currituck Club in Corolla. In the winter months, hunters would arrive from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Local residents would serve as caretakers, servants and guides, providing them with much needed income.

For over 75 years, Currituck’s waters were hunted until the bird population was nearly decimated. Stringent wildlife protection laws closed the hunt clubs and the population of waterfowl has steadily increased.

Before hunting for duck or other waterfowl, a few of rules and regulations must be followed:

• Public waterfowl hunting is allowed by permit only from designated sites in the Wildlife Refuge. A North Carolina Waterfowl Hunt Permit or a Refuge Hunt permit, a valid hunting license, State and Federal waterfowl stamps must be carried when hunting.
• Youth hunters (under the age of 16) may participate in any hunt provided they have passed the State-approved hunter safety course and are accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old.
• November to January is state waterfowl season. Mid-January through March is snow geese only season. Hunting is only allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• All hunters are subject to inspections of permits, licenses, bag limits, hunting equipment, boats, vehicles and their contents during compliance checks.
• Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited while hunting.
• Taking any wildlife or plants away from the designated hunting areas is prohibited
• Use of an un-permitted guide is prohibited.
• Littering is prohibited. If you pack it in, pack it out.