Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Today I want to tell you about restaurants in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  There might be a few fancy restaurants around the area, but we chose a few smaller eateries instead.  Some friends of ours told us about the Bad Bean Baja Grill so that’s the first place we headed.  The restaurant is located in Kitty Hawk, just a few miles south of Duck.  I ordered the Taco Salad.  It was the best taco salad I’ve ever eaten and I’ve eaten a lot of taco salads.  The food had a different sort of favor.  I’m really not sure how to describe it but to just tell you it was different.  It was different in a really good way.  I opted to add beef brisket to my salad.  It was absolutely delicious.  My husband ordered a burrito and it was huge.  He loved his meal too.  It’s the only place we swore to revisit before our journey home.

Restaurants in the Outer Banks

 The Bad Bean Baja Grill Taco Salad

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Duck Duck Burgers is another day for lunch.  The restaurant is located on Highway 12 right there in Duck on the opposite side of the street from the Boardwalk.  It was a cute little burger place that seemed a little bit retro.  We liked the atmosphere there.  The burgers were a bit expensive for our tastes.  After pricing a $12 burger, we noticed that most toppings costs an extra $1.00 per topping!  We thought that was outrageous.  The meal was OK.  It was close to our resort and the food was good.  It wasn’t $15 dollars good, but still good.  As far as restaurants in the Outer Banks goes, if you are staying in Duck, you have to drive a little ways to get to most of the restaurants.  Most of them are down in the Kitty Hawk, Nags Head area.  This little place is right there in Duck so you don’t have to go far for a burger.  You just have to be prepared to pay more for it than you might be accustomed to paying.  Here are a few pictures of the place.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

If you won’t mind a 20 or maybe a 30 minute drive over to Roanoke Island, you will want to eat at the Avenue Waterfront Grill.  It sits right on the water.  We were fortunate enough to get a table right by the window where we could view the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse.  We like inexpensive meals which is the reason we don’t go to fancy restaurants much.  I wouldn’t necessarily consider this a fancy restaurant.   Casual attire is perfectly fine, but it is one of the nicer places we visited.  It was just a little bit pricy but the food was fabulous and the view was even better.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

 I only took the photo above because I smiled at the political statement.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

 The view from our dining table was nice.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The dining room was large and airy.  It was such a nice place to enjoy an evening meal by the water.

There are many more restaurants in the Outer Banks area of North Carolina.  These are just a few of the ones we visited while we were there.  Maybe someday we’ll get a chance to go back!

Read about other great places to visit in the Outer Banks of North Carolina here.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Of all the things we did while we were visiting the Outer Banks, I think my favorite attraction was the Lost Colony Drama on Roanoke Island.  I remember studying about the lost colony as early as my elementary school days.  I’ve always loved history and this story captured my attention from the first time I heard it.  What happened to those first colonists?  Jamestown was the first successful English colony but the colony of Roanoke was the first actual attempt at an English colony in the New World.

 The Lost Colony Drama on Roanoke Island

In July 1587, 117 English colonists (men, women, and children) came to what is now American soil to establish the first English colony.  1n 1590, just three years later, the colonists’ governor returned from England with supplies to sustain the colony.  They found the area deserted.  There was no sign of the colonists except for two small clues.  On an abandoned structure was written the word “Croatoan.”  The letters “CRO” was carved into a tree.  Now, more than 400 years later, we still have no idea what happened to that small settlement of men, women, and children.  There are theories, but no one knows for certain what happened to them.

 You can learn more about The Lost Colony here.

For me, it was serene to stand there on those grounds among the same trees where the colonists would have built their homes.  I looked around and wondered what had happened a few hundred years ago on the very spot where I was standing.  Was there some sort of battle?  An attack? Or did these people simply move to a new place so that they could survive until help and new supplies arrived from England?  I doubt we’ll ever know.

If you get a chance to visit the visitor’s center on Roanoke Island, you can view artifacts from the colonists.  They know they are from the colonists because they have dated the items to those times.  Archeologists can determine what items were English and which ones were native.  We couldn’t take photos but looking at those items was interesting.  They still find things.  One of the artifacts we saw was found by a visitor as late as 2008.

When we stepped outside the back door of the visitors’ center, we stepped onto the same grounds where the colonists had lived before they disappeared.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The monument in the photo above was placed there in 1896.  It marks the area where historians believe the colonists lived before they disappeared.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The drama was awesome.  I wasn’t all that impressed at first.  I’ve always considered this subject a serious one.  I didn’t like some of the humor, I suppose.  It got better though.  I ended up enjoying the play.  If you visit Roanoke, be sure to see the play.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Be sure to check out The Lost Colony here while planning your trip.  They present different dramas on different days so you’ll want to plan your trip to Roanoke Island for the drama you want to see.

Read about other great places to visit in the Outer Banks of North Carolina here.

The Currituck Lighthouse – Outer Banks

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 The Currituck Lighthouse - Outer Banks, North Carolina

When we first decided to visit North Carolina’s Outer Banks, one of the first things on my “to do” list was to visit the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  I really don’t know why I wanted to see it so badly except that I’m always seeing pictures and figurines of it.  I guess I developed a “liking” for it over time.  I was a little bit disappointed when I realized it’s location was about an hour and a half from our resort.  At first we had planned to make the drive but after spending two days in the truck, the last thing I wanted to do was get back in it for what I considered a long drive.  We looked at some tourist pamphlets and discovered that the Currituck Lighthouse was only 20 miles from our resort.  In fact, it’s location was at the end of the street where we were staying, the famous Highway 12.  So, on Wednesday morning, we headed down the street.  A resident of the area told us the Lighthouse is a nice one to visit but that it really isn’t all that pretty, “just plain brick all the way up,” she said.  I didn’t expect much but we really wanted to visit Whalehead which was right next door anyway so it certainly wouldn’t be a wasted trip.

Let me say up front that the Currituck Lighthouse was definitely not a disappointment.  The all-brick structure was absolutely beautiful.  In fact, I thought it was prettier than Hatteras or any of the other striped lighthouses.  Of course, I’ve only seen pictures of those.  I remember visiting a lighthouse in San Diego about 23 years ago.  This one, from what I can remember, was much prettier and more impressive than the one in San Diego.

As I stood outside and looked straight up at the tall structure, I wasn’t sure I could do it.  Climbing the lighthouse in San Diego had been easy, but I had been 23 years younger.  The thought of the climb intimidated me.  I was determined to make it to the top anyway.  Enjoy the pictures!

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

 The ground surrounding the lighthouse are peaceful.  It wasn’t overcrowded.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Just outside the lighthouse, there is an older house.  If I remember correctly, the house used to belong to one of the lighthouse keepers.  They’ve turned it into a store.  There was another pretty white house there too but I didn’t get a photo of it.  I think that one is where the current lighthouse keeper lives.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

You can’t see it all that well in the photo above, but the stair case is beautiful.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

There are two windows overlooking the grounds.  Every so often, there is a little platform where you can stop and rest.  This made the climb to the top much more bearable.  There were also fans on the platforms.  There is no air-conditioning inside so, if you visit during the summer months, make sure you take bottled water with you.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

When we arrived to the top of the lighthouse, I sheepishly stepped outside.  My fear of heights kicked in big time!  I’m terrified of heights.  There wasn’t much room up there.  I stayed as close to the lighthouse wall as I could.  My back pressed against that wall, but I did make my way around.  The next few pictures show you the gorgeous view from around the top of the lighthouse.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

If you ever visit the Northern area of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, take time to stop and visit the Currituck Lighthouse.  The climb is not so hard.  The view is amazing.  It only takes a short time to complete the entire tour.

 You can learn more about the Currituck Lighthouse here.

Read about other great places to visit in the Outer Banks of North Carolina here.

Whalehead: Historic Corolla – Outer Banks

So far this week, I have reviewed the Hampton Inn in Florence, South Carolina and Barrier Island Station, the resort where we stayed during our week in the Outer Banks.  I’ve also told you about the Waterfront Boardwalk Shops along the Currituck Sound and the Wright Brothers Museum and National Monument.  Today, I’m going to tell you about an old house we toured in the historic town of Corolla, North Carolina in the Outer Banks.  The house is beautifully restored and the estate is called Whalehead.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

My husband was looking at a tourist site and found information about the house.  We love old houses and antiques so he thought we would like to tour the home.  It was a good decision!  We didn’t recognize the owners as anyone famous or of any historic significance but the photo of the house and the property was absolutely stunning so we visited the estate.

Whalehead:  Historic Corolla - Outer Banks, North Carolina

The beautiful yellow house was built in the 1920s and sits along the Currituck Sound.  Edward Collings Knight, Jr. loved hunting waterfowl.  He purchased the property and the Lighthouse Club.  The property sits right next to the Currituck Lighthouse.  They began working on making the property a beautiful home which was completed in 1925.  The Knights named the property Corolla Island.  A new owner later renamed the property the Whalehead Club.

We were not allowed to take photos inside the house so I can only tell you how beautiful it is.  The woodwork, the staircase, the front porch . . . I could go on and on about this house.  If you decide to tour the home, you’ll see the main family resident areas and the servant’s quarters which were upstairs.  In the downstairs kitchen area, you’ll see the bell system the servants used to call the family members.  If you are a Downton Abbey fan, you’ll recognize this as similar to the one frequently used in the television show.

The basement was huge!  I noticed something a little odd down there.  Underneath the staircase was a lone toilet – a toilet – just sitting there under the stairs – without any privacy.  We learned later that at some point, the Coast Guard owned the property so extra toilets had to be installed around the house to accommodate their needs.  This was the only one I saw that seemed out-of-place.

The grounds were just as beautiful as the house.  We were allowed to take photos outside the house.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Crossing this bridge was quiet a treat.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

On Wednesdays, they have a few family events on the grounds.  While we were there, we observed employees teaching kids how to fish and how to play games that were popular in the day.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

I could have walked around on this wooden walkway all day long.

Image Credit:  Abundant family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

An employee had set up an area so visitors could practice their bow and arrow skills.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Visit Currituck.com here to learn more about the Whalehead Club, their hours, tour schedule, etc and plan your visit.

Read about other great places to visit in the Outer Banks of North Carolina here.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Previously, I told you about a great place to stay on your visit to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  I also told you about a nice little shopping center right on the water.  Today, I’m going to tell you about our visit to the Wright Brothers Museum and National Monument.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

 The Wright Brothers Museum and National Monument

The Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, are credited for inventing, building, and flying the first airplane.  The brothers moved to the Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina from Ohio to complete the project.  When Wilbur and Orville were living in Dayton, Ohio, the city was a center for manufacturing and manufacturing growth.  The brothers were in the right place at the right time to manage their own bicycle manufacturing business.

Wilbur and Orville drew upon their knowledge of bicycles to design their airplane.  We didn’t take any photos as we made our way through the museum above but we did learn that the brothers were about much more than air planes.  They were incredibly intelligent and gifted men.  You can learn so much more about them, their family, their studies – just about anything you want to know about them here.

The field at Kitty Hawk provided them with the space they needed to build and fly the first plane.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

As we walked out onto the field, we noticed markers lined up in a row.  Each marker indicated the length of each test flight.

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On the grounds was a replica of the brothers’ accommodations at Kitty Hawk.  The window was tinted so we couldn’t see into the building which was disappointing.  I pressed my cell phone against the window to snap the photo above.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

 Visitors can walk up a hill to visit the Wright Brothers’ National Monument.

I’ve read about the Wright brothers and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina since I was a child but never thought I would actually visit the place where the first air plane flight took place.  Standing their on that field was pretty cool.  I hope you get a chance to visit.

Read about other great places to visit in the Outer Banks of North Carolina here.

Waterfront Shops – The Boardwalk – Duck, North Carolina – Outer Banks

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Waterfront Shops - The Boardwalk

One of the things I loved most about our stay in Duck, North Carolina was the Waterfront Shops.  It was like stepping back in time.  I didn’t count how many shops are involved but there are quite a few.  I’m guessing there were around 20 shops.  A variety of shops offer just about everything including clothing boutiques, beach items, souvenirs, and restaurants.  You’ll need to carry cash.  Some of the shops do not take cards or checks.  We stopped at a little ice cream shop that would only take cash.  I’m glad we had some because my butter pecan ice cream scoop was heavenly.  If we hadn’t been carrying a little cash, I would have missed out on this experience!  :)

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

They served a large variety of ice cream flavors and milk shakes.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The Waterfront shops connect to the town boardwalk.  We walked through the shopping area and on down the boardwalk.  We passed by several docks where the people of Duck access small boats, jet skis, and kayaks.  Visitors of the boardwalk can enjoy a long stroll along the sound waters.  We loved it.  The waters were a little bit choppy when we were there, but still peaceful.

The Waterfront Shops and boardwalk provide a great place to relax, shop, and even rent a kayak.  Later in the week, my husband and I drove down the street just past the shops where we accessed the boardwalk and a rental company.  We rented a double kayak and viewed the Waterfront Shops from the waters of the Currituck Sound.  I could have stayed in that area forever.

If you visit North Carolina’s Outer Banks, you have to make time to drive up to Duck and shop the Waterfront Shops.  Even if you don’t buy a single item, it is still a greet place to visit and enjoy a peaceful walk beside the Currituck Sound waters.

Read about other great places to visit in the Outer Banks of North Carolina here.

Barrier Island Station in Duck, North Carolina

 

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

*I did not receive any form of compensation for writing this review.  My husband and I stayed at Barrier Island Station.  This was our personal experience.

Yesterday, I told you about our stay at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Florence, South Carolina.  After we left there, we headed to our final destination, Barrier Island Station in Duck, North Carolina.  Barrier Island Station sits between the open Atlantic Ocean and the Currituck Sound which is right across the street from the gate.  My sweet husband booked us a week there for our 25th wedding anniversary.  You might call it our “second honeymoon.”  After he booked our stay, I checked out some of the reviews.  They were not the best reviews.  They were pretty much just mediocre.  However, none of them were terrible so I decided not to worry too much about it.  Let me say up front that we loved our stay at Barrier Island Station.

Barrier Island Station - Duck, North Carolina

Most of the negative comments in the online reviews mentioned the dated buildings.  The buildings were dated, but I have no problem with older buildings.  I do have a problem with filth and bugs.  We found none of that in our condo.  In fact, our condo was neat and clean.  The kitchen was fully furnished with clean pots, pans, utensils, and a few appliances.  We stayed in a one bedroom condo.  It included a small dorm-sized refrigerator as indicated on their website.  I saw an electric skillet and a double eye electrical stove top under the counter top, but we didn’t need to use those.  The carpet showed signs of some wear, but considering the age of the carpet, I felt it was well kept, especially for a beach resort.  The kitchen area and bathroom floors were covered with linoleum instead of tile but that didn’t bother me one bit.  The blue color and older patterns were obviously dated but I have no problem with dated decor as long as it’s clean.  It was very clean.  The bedroom was nice and roomy with a ceiling fan.  The sheets were snow white and fresh.  A door in the bedroom opened up to a private balcony.  A white round patio table was on the balcony.  The bathroom tub/shower, toilet, sink, counter top, and mirror were all clean.  Clean, white wash cloths and towels were provided.

Barrier Island Station Condo Photographs

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

 The bedroom was neat, clean and appealing when we entered the room.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The dresser was nice.  The drawers were deep and had plenty of room for all my husbands clothes.  He packed a lot.  :)

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The living room and kitchen was really one big room.  It was furnished with a mini kitchen as mentioned above, a glass topped table, 4 comfortable cushioned chairs, a couch, a coffee table, and end tables.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The couch was a bit aged, but clean and comfortable.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

You can see that a spot on the kitchen counter is popping up and some of the paint on the corner has flaked off but still, it is a clean environment which is what matters to me.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

As we entered the condo, we had to walk down a small set of stairs to access the living area.  I wasn’t particularly crazy about this but it really wasn’t much to complain about.  It was good exercise.  :)

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

If you’re traveling with kids, there is a nice tall book shelf embedded into the wall at the stairs which provides a great place to unload books, bags, toys, etc.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The photo above shows the aged counters and blue stoned linoleum but again, it was clean.  It looks gray in the photograph, but it was very blue.   

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Some of the wood work throughout the condo showed signs of wear and tear, but I can live with that.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Some of the linoleum beside the toilet buckled up a little bit but it didn’t bother us.  You can barely see it in the photo.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Although you can see a small flaked area on the edge of the tub, you can see how clean it was.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The photo above is a closer look at the kitchen counter top.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The closet was nice and spacious.  Inside was an extra blanket and bedspread.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

There were extra hangers and plenty of floor space for luggage.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The deck just outside the bedroom was nice and spacious too.  The patio table seated four.  There was no umbrella provided.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The above photo is a closer look at that spot beside the kitchen where the paint had flaked off.

Barrier Island Station Private Beach Access

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

A hedge of natural landscape divides the resort grounds and the beachfront.  A raised walkway provides resort guests access to the beach.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

 The bridge isn’t as long as it looks in the photograph.  :)

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Barrier Island Station Swimming Pool Area

We didn’t spend much time at the pool because we preferred the beach, but the pool area was large.  There was a shallow 3 or 4 foot deep area on each end, perfect for children.  You can’t see the beach from the pool.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Barrier Island Station Tennis Courts

We don’t play tennis but for those who do, tennis courts are available.  We saw two courts.  The one in the photo below is the larger one.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

I failed to take photos but there’s more.  There is also a recreation room, indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, and pool tables.  I believe I read somewhere that there is a gym but we didn’t see that.  It’s a pretty large resort so I wouldn’t be surprised if there is more that we didn’t see.

Barrier Island Station was not what most travelers would consider a 5 star resort, but it was great for us.  It was an affordable, clean, spacious place for us to spend a week on the beach and enjoy all the Outer Banks has to offer.  The staff was incredibly nice and helpful.

Most of the stairs and decks around the resort had been replaced.  We could still smell the fresh cut wood.  There were some areas of construction around the complex.  We saw a few rolls of new carpet laying around.  They are working on updating the resort and when they do, it should be back up to top notch accommodations.

In spite of the minimal imperfections, we highly recommend Barrier Island Station in Duck, North Carolina.  The resort seemed packed full of happy families enjoying the Outer Banks.  We noticed the friendly family atmosphere was consistent all week long.  It is a great place for a family friendly vacation.

I hope you get a chance to go there and enjoy all that North Carolina’s Outer Banks has to offer.

Read about other great places to visit in the Outer Banks of North Carolina here.