Blogging the Beach

Great news for cyclists, and joggers and nature walkers! Pretty soon you’re going to have a terrific new bike trail in the Currituck Outer Banks to enjoy!

Thanks to a $500,000 state grant, Corolla residents will soon have a trail for walking, jogging and biking.

Currituck County officials announced Friday that the county has been awarded the grant by the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. The $500,000, combined with $500,000 in county funds, will help pay the $1 million cost of constructing a 10-foot wide, 1.2-mile paved trail in Corolla.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Holly White, senior planner in the Currituck Planning Department. “Right now there’s nothing there, so people are riding bikes and moms are pushing strollers along the side of the road.”

Once constructed, the path will stretch from Currituck Heritage Park to the Currituck Banks Coastal Reserve, White, who wrote the grant for the county, said. In addition, a small park will be built along the trail, she said.

More on this exciting story from the Daily Advance.

The Corolla trail will run parallel to NC 12, so if you bring your bike to the Outer Banks you can enjoy a leisurely ride along the most serenely beautiful areas of the OBX. You might spot a wild horse or two or other “natives” of Currituck. More news on this development as we get updates.

Have you been to Knotts Island lately? This beautiful area in the Currituck Outer Banks is home to Martin Vinyards, one of three wineries in the immediate area. If you have a taste for fruit wine or a delightful Viognier, this is the place to visit this summer.

The grounds of Martin Vineyards also provide for great seasonal fruit picking opportunities. Right now, peaches and apples are ready for harvest, but be sure to call ahead for availability. Families are welcome to pack a picnic lunch and tour the winery. Fruit may be picked by the basket. Look for seedless grapes to sample and enjoy around this time, too.

Depending on how you come, you may need to take the Currituck Sound ferry, so don’t forget to check the schedules. There is no charge to take the ferry to Knotts Island, and each ferry is equipped with restrooms and a climate controlled lounge so you can relax and enjoy the view of the sound as you’re carried across the water.

For more information on activities and events on Knotts Island, come to our beach online and discover that Currituck is more than you imagined!

The July 4th weekend promises lots of great entertainment in Currituck County as two stars in Country Music bring back-to-back days of outstanding music and performance to the local stage.
Jason Michael Carroll kicks off the weekend performances on July 3rd, taking the stage at the Weeping Radish in Jarvisburg. Carroll with his traditional country music sound and rich baritone voice, will be performing from 4:00 until 10:00 p.m.
The day promises to be a good old fashioned Fourth of July picnic with Weeping Radish beer and the restaurant’s award winning sausage cooked on an outdoor grill. Phone (252)-491-5205 or on line at www.weepingradish.com for more information.
The 17th annual July 4th Whalehead Club fireworks display just got even more spectacular as country music star Stephen Cochran, a decorated Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, brings his unique sound and arrangements to Currituck County Heritage Park.
The holiday celebration will be held on the grounds of the fabled Whalehead Club in Corolla.
A celebration of all that is best in America, the day is filled with good food, games for the kids and something for every member of the family. Activities begin at 5:00 p.m. Stephen Cochran will take the stage at 7:30, with fireworks beginning at dusk.
Admission to the event is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit Thanks USA, a non-profit organization that provides post-secondary, need-based educational scholarships to children and spouses of active-duty U.S. military personnel.
For additional information on the Independence Day Celebration, call the Currituck Outer Banks Visitor’s Center at 242-453-9612, or visit ComeToOurBeach.com.