Archive | March, 2009
Come to the Annual Whalehead Club at Currituck Heritage Park Wine Festival!
The Outer Banks is where it’s at for the best of Carolina wines. Kick back and enjoy samples of local vineyards, including Martin Vineyard and Moonrise Bay in Knotts Island, and Sanctuary Vineyards of Currituck County. Enjoy the soft breezes of the Currituck sound! Face painting will be from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m, so bring the kids!
Date: Wed,Apr 8, 2009
Address: 1100 Club Rd., Corolla
Info: 252-453-9040
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Price: $15.00
Event Web site: click here
Email: events@whaleheadclub.com
Looking for something fun to do with the family this Easter? The Outer Banks are a short drive for visitors in the Mid-Atlantic area, and now is the time to take advantage of the warming weather and beautiful scenery. The Whalehead Club in Currituck has a whole week of fun Easter activities planned for the week of April 7 – April 10. Be sure to stop by Currituck Heritage Park and join us!
For details on the scheduled events, call 252-453-9040.
Tuesday, April 7th, 9AM – 10AM: “Make & Take Craft”. Create your own Art-de-Fact from a horseshoe crab! Great for all ages! $5 per participant. Reservations Encouraged
Wednesday, April 8th, 10AM – NOON: “Scavenger Quest”. Find your way through the maze of clues! Great for the entire family! $5 per participant or 5 for $20. Reservations Encouraged
Wednesday, April 8th, 3PM – 6PM: “Wine Festival”. Kick back & enjoy NC wines & the soft breezes of the sound! $15 per Imbiber. Face Painting for the kids, 3PM – 5PM. Reservations Encouraged
Thursday, April 9th, 11AM – 12:30: “Going to the Dogs” Show. Dress-up your dog & win best in show! Great for the entire family, All Ages! “Poodles” of Laughs! $5 per dog entry. Reservations Encouraged
Thursday, April 9th, Dusk, Around 7:30PM: “Moonlight Ghost Tour”. Walk the Steps of Pirates & Ghosts & Shipwrecks — If you dare! Great for the entire family! $14 per participant. Reservations Required.
Friday, April 10th, 10AM – NOON: “Knight Magic”. Experience the wonder and learn the
secrets from a professional magician! Great for all ages! Only $15 per participant. Reservations Encouraged.
As Spring arrives with warm weather and cloudless skies, thoughts may turn to planning a weekend getaway. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, the idea of riding down smooth coastal highway alongside a panoramic view of the ocean may appeal the most. For bikers in the Mid-Atlantic, the Outer Banks provides many options for an affordable biker-friendly vacation. With over a hundred miles of road through the barrier islands of the region, the northern North Carolina coast offer an unspoiled ride, and the many little towns connected are ready to assist with service if needed.
Plan your trip accordingly, and coincide your trip with the various biker-related events happening up and down the coast, including these popular fests:
Biker Events in the Outer Banks
Rain or shine, the Outer Banks hosts a number of events geared toward motorcycle enthusiasts. Because of their popularity, it’s strongly advised to book rooms well in advance. In the Currituck area especially, there are a number of inexpensive hotels ready to cater to bikers. If you wish to arrange an extended stay at the beach with a number of friends or relatives, there is the option of renting a beach home. Many of the larger houses on the shore can accommodate twelve or more people.
The Outer Banks Bike Show, held annually around Labor Day weekend in Grandy, NC, gives motorcycle lovers the chance to mingle, check out the latest trends and styles, and enjoy live music and great food. Barry’s Walnut Island Restaurant is the main gathering place for the festivities, though bikers have the option of visiting other friendly spots along Currituck and Dare Counties.
The Outer Banks Bike Show is not to be confused with two other major events happening throughout the year. Outer Banks Bike Week – usually scheduled in late April connects the four major Harley-Davidson dealers in the area. Bikers may ride from place to place, browsing over a hundred vendors and sampling authentic Carolina barbecue from their annual cook-off.
A companion event, Outer Banks BikeFest is usually held over a weekend in October. Though put on for a shorter amount time, BikeFest is by no means lower key. Guests may enjoy guided bike tours of the area and indulge in the annual crab cake cook-off, all the while admiring a multitude of Harleys and other motorcycles revved up for the event.
For an affordable vacation able to accommodate bikers, the Outer Banks provides many options for dining, lodging, and service. Take a look at what’s available for you and don’t forget to book early so you can enjoy your trip.
Kathryn Lively
Currituck Heritage Park
Easter EGG-Stravaganza
Join the Easter Bunny & the Currituck Duck for the Easter Egg-stravaganza with an Egg Hunt (bring your own basket); Duck Pond & Bunny Petting Zoo; Face Painting; Coloring & Temporary Tattoos; Jellybean Counting Contest; Rock Climbing Wall; Bake Sale & Refreshments; Fabulous Prizes! Admission & Parking are free.
Date: Fri, Apr 10, 2009
Address: Currituck Heritage Park, Corolla
Info: 252-453-9040
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Price: Free
Event Web site: click here
Email: events@whaleheadclub.com
See what else is going on in the Outer Banks!
Don’t miss your opportunity to sample the best of the Carolina vineyards, and enjoy great food and music! Moonrise Bay Vineyard of the Outer Banks is holding their annual Spring Fling on April 4, 2009, from noon to 4PM. For $30 you’ll enjoy tastings of recent Moonrise vintages and delight in the music of local favorite Lewis McGehee. Call 252-429-WINE to reserve your spot.
Also, Moonrise Bay offers free wine tastings all through March (you’ll save $5)! Whether you prefer a sharp, oak-flavored Chardonnay or a bold Merlot, even the sweetness of the regionally-plentiful Muscadine, Moonrise Bay can satisfy your palate.
So what are the top attractions in Corolla, North Carolina according to Tripadvisor.com? The Currituck Outer Banks offer a wealth of activities and opportunities to have fun. If you’re looking to plan a primo itinerary, here are the must-sees when you’re not playing on the beach:
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Climb the 214 steps to the top of the majestic, red brick lighthouse, first lit on December 1, 1875. The light continues to flash today at 20-second intervals, serving as a navigational aid. The beacon, which can be seen for 18 nautical miles, comes on at dusk and ceases at dawn.
The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is located in Currituck Heritage Park and part of the Historic Albemarle Tour. Admission to climb the lighthouse is $7.00 for anyone 8 years of age or older – kids 7 and under climb for free with a paying adult.
Wild Horse Adventure Tours
Discover some of the most unique sights the Outer Banks has to offer with Wild Horse Adventure Tours air-conditioned Suburban tours or personal Jeep Off-Road Adventure Tours. Knowledgeable guides take you onto the pristine northern beaches – accessible only with a 4×4 vehicle. The off road adventure tour is two hours in length with routes varying from mild to wild.
The Currituck Club
This spectacular championship course was rated one of the “10 Best New Places You Can Play” by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest recognized it as one of the “Top 25 Courses in North Carolina.” The Currituck Club in Corolla was recently ranked the “#1 Favorite Course on the Coast” by North Carolina Magazine’s Executive Golf Guide of 2006.
A Rees Jones designed course, The Currituck Club masters the balance of fairness, challenge and beauty. Spanning over 6,885 yards of coastal splendor, the course winds through an array of terrain ranging from rolling dunes to serene maritime forests.
Whalehead Club
Built in the mid-1920′s, the Whalehead Club continues to stand as one of the most spectacular landmarks on the Currituck Outer Banks. Boasting art nouveau architectural styling and accented with Tiffany lamps, cork-tiled floors, brass duck head and water lily hardware, this magnificent structure stood isolated for years and has been fully restored.
A variety of tours are available in addition to the standard daily tour. They include; the Behind the Scenes Tour, Nuts and Bolts Tour, Children’s Treasure Hunt, and the very popular Legends, Lore, and Ghost Tour. Tour prices range from $7-$14 and reservations are required for specialty tours.
Carova Beach
The sun-kissed beaches of the Currituck Outer Banks offer fun for the entire family. Surf, swim, relax, build a sand castle, or search for that perfect seashell. There is something perfect about the sands of the Currituck Outer Banks. Perhaps it is the wide beaches, or the refreshing waters of the Atlantic Ocean that always seem to be at just the right temperature. Maybe it’s that breeze that keeps the Outer Banks just a little cooler in the summer.
This is a place made for making memories. In the early morning fishermen try their luck in the roiling surf. Waves break long and true and with almost 20 miles of coastline, there is always that perfect ride waiting for surfers. A father takes his child in the ocean for the first time, the peals of laughter from his son or daughter filling the air.
Posted in Uncategorized on 03. Mar, 2009
Now is the time to book your beach house rental for the Outer Banks. All along the Currituck shore are dozens of beautiful homes overlooking the ocean and sand, waiting for families and friends to come for an extended stay. You are just steps from the beach and days filled with fun and laughter – playing with the kids, fishing and windsurfing, and watching the famous Carolina wild mustangs romp in the surf. If you are still contemplating a trip to the OBX this summer, what are you waiting for? Vacation rentals book quickly here, so don’t miss out!
Here are just a few rental agencies offering incentives for early reservations. Click below to explore your beach vacation options.
Atlantic Realty – Book a condo at Indian Summer anytime for a week from June 28 to August 8 and get a FREE week during the off-season.
Brindley Beach Vacations – Book Afternoon Tee for late May and save nearly $400!
Southern Shores Realty – Book the Alpha & Omega house before March 31, and get 10% off!
And this is just the beginning! Come to our Beach and save on your vacation! Don’t forget to visit Currituck County for more information on Outer Banks vacation rentals and specials.
Surf Fishing The Outer Banks of North Carolina
By E. A. Edwards
My first experience surf fishing was with my father on Wrightsville Beach, NC in the 60’s. He parked our shiny black Ford Fairlane in a gravel parking lot off the beach and we hiked over the dunes to the surf, carrying rods, buckets, tackle box and various other fishing paraphernalia. I remember him catching bluefish, croakers, puppy drum and flounder as I played in the tidal pools nearby. Later, my grandmother would fry the filleted fish to a golden brown and we would eat them with hushpuppies and coleslaw.
Years later, in the mid-eighties, I remember an early winter fishing expedition near Oregon Inlet, south of Nags Head, this time with my husband, 8-month old daughter and a Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy. My husband had come in from duck hunting and had heard the big blues were hitting the beach! We parked our 4-wheel drive truck nearby on the hard sand and with the baby playing contentedly in her car seat and the puppy chewing on anything he could find, we lined up along the surf with a few dozen other fishermen, casting the heavy silver spoon lures into the churning waters of the big blue blitz. Cast after cast we were rewarded with huge bluefish, twelve to sixteen pounds, filling up a wheelbarrow in a pyramid of large fish. Later we filleted, boiled and ate the fish in casseroles made with mashed potatoes. Needless to say, we were eating bluefish casseroles all winter long.
Surf fishing is exciting, rewarding and accessible to all. Most locations can be reached either by car or ferry. With a basic understanding of seasons, conditions, equipment and regulations, an angler can get lucky just about any time of the year, but typically the very best times to surf fish are spring and fall.
Popular and prolific sport fish species you may catch surf fishing along the North Carolina coast include:
Channel bass (red drum, puppy drum) –
The spring season generally begins in April. This run will peak by mid May and taper off in early June. Average size in spring is 35 to 50 pounds. In September the smaller drum will enter the surf. These fish will range between 2 and 15 pounds. They are more plentiful than the larger variety and can be found in most sloughs. In late October the bigger drum (40-70 pounds) return and remain until late November. Bait of choice is fresh mullet; rods are 9 to 11 feet with medium to heavy action tips. Size allowed is between 18” and 27” with a daily bag limit of 1 per person.
Bluefish –
Blues are available in a variety of sizes from April to December to surf fishermen and boaters as well. Large size blues (8-12 pounds) arrive in May and remain until November. Their departure is generally hastened by the arrival of the fall run of 15-20 pound giant blues. These later fall visitors are plentiful and powerful. They’ll take bait (mullet, spot, or menhaden) or almost any type of lure. Fishing rods 9 to 11 feet are preferred. Bag limit of 15 per day per person. Only 5 allowed over 24” total length (from tip of snout to tip of compressed tail).
Spanish mackerel –
This fish is somewhat of a tourist, arriving in June and staying until later September. The Spanish is delicious, averages 1 to 3 pounds and presents a real challenge to any angler. Spanish mackerel are usually taken on fast moving metal lures. Fishing rod of choice is a 9 foot light action. Minimum size allowed is 12” fork length (from tip of snout to middle of fork in tail). Bag limit of 15 per day per person
Striped bass –
Recently during the winter months striped bass have returned to NC waters in great numbers. October, November and December are the best times for fishing, with fish still showing up as late as February. In Atlantic waters, size limit is over 27” total length with bag limit of 2 per day. For sounds and other areas, consult the NC Marine Fisheries website.
Flounder (summer, southern)–
Flounder begin biting in May as the water warms. By June, the fishing is going strong, with both summer and southern flounder being caught. Southern flounder dominate the catch in inshore and southern NC waters, while summer flounder dominate the catch in offshore waters north of Cape Hatteras. Many flounder are caught using cut baits and some are caught using jigs. When jigs are used, they work best when tipped with fish, shrimp or a mullet minnow.
Other species available to North Carolina surf fishermen are pompano, croaker, trout, spot, hogfish and whiting (sea mullet).
Be advised that there is a proposed recreational saltwater fishing license which is scheduled to take effect January 2006. The license is still being debated by the North Carolina General Assembly and you should check the NC Marine Fisheries website (http://www.ncfisheries.net) to determine if a license is required before fishing the NC coast after that date.
Also, the size regulations and limits given above are accurate at the time of this writing (summer 2005) but are subject to change, so check the NC Marine Fisheries website to confirm these regulations before your fishing expedition.
Whether beginning angler or old salt, surf fishing is a popular and fun activity with minimal expense, no boat required, easy access to great fishing conditions and plenty of action. With a minimum of effort and expense, you can catch a variety of excellent eating fish, have a great time and start making your own memories.
E. A. Edwards is a free-lance writer with a variety of professional and personal interests. You will find more information about fishing and fishing gear on http://www.fishing-rod-guide.info.
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