OBX: Part Two

One of the reasons we decided on the Outer Banks was because, in addition to the beach, it offered several interesting historical sights within close proximity.  And lighthouses.  I love lighthouses - but that's another post.

On Tuesday we went to Roanoke Island to see the site of the Lost Colony.  I have to admit, the details surrounding the "lost colony" had escaped me, but still, I was intrigued by the idea of a mystery.  Just in case you have forgotten too, go here, if you are into that sort of thing. 

The site is in the town of Manteo and the island is actually quite tiny but very cute.  The weather was perfect and we had a great time climbing aboard a replica of the ship (I couldn't believe how many people they fit in those things - 50-60!), wandering though the Native Settlement, and English Settlement and then finally the museum.  This museum was one of the best I have ever been to with lots of stuff for the kids to climb on, dress up in, and play with.  There was even a big gravel pit out front to dig for fossils!  We came home with quite a few shark teeth and a few fossils.  After the museum we had lunch on the marina and played at the park.

Next we headed to Kittyhawk or Kill Devils Hills, I'm still not sure which it really is, to visit the Wright Brother's Memorial.  We looked in the museum, climbed up a big hill, and then got to play on a replica of the plane.

OBX: Part One

Brad and I decided early on that, as much as possible, we should try to explore the areas around where we live while we live there, because you never really know how long that is going to be.  And you don't want to regret not seeing something while it was close to you.  Since we have already been to Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Charleston, and Tybee Island,  we decided to head to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a week at Duck Beach.  It was a celebration for Brad finishing his master's degree and probably because this will be the last time we can take a mid-September vacation without "unlawfully" taking a child out of school.  Oh, and also it was a good excuse to meet up with my sister and her family and meet our new baby cousin (my nephew).

 

We arrived on Saturday night.  It was a long drive but not too long that the kids weren't dying with anticipation to see their cousin B and meet their new baby cousin.  Unfortunately the cousins weren't quite as excited to meet them at first but Baby Sister did manage to sneak in and hug B and right before bed he agreed to give the Little Mister a "shy hug".  I loved watching the cousins play together - I think that was my favorite part of the whole trip.

 

We woke up Sunday morning to a light drizzle.  Perfect!  And I mean that.  It gave us the excuse to lazily mill around the house and explore the neighborhood where we were staying.  We took a quick stroll to the beach and to the sound.  Luckily the island is super narrow at that part and so we were in a short walking distance of both the beach and the sound side.  That evening we all went to the beach to fly kites and let the kids run.

Monday we got up and headed to the beach.  It was beautiful and sunny but also quite windy.  And, probably due to the remains of some hurricane, the waves were quite big and the water was a little chilly.  Still, we had fun playing in the sand all morning (swimming in the ocean is not a requirement for an enjoyable beach trip for me, FYI).   Uncle Drew, or Tickle Drew as we like to call him, made sure there was always something to be built, or destroyed!