Bike rentals in Ocracoke

We have found so many nice cottages on Oyster Creek, but now I%26#39;m worried that it%26#39;s not walkable. We were thinking of bikes- but we have a 3 year old and a 13 month old. Do they have any kid-friendly bikes?

Thanks!

Dena

Bike rentals in Ocracoke

You are correct-Oyster Creek is the farthest area from the village, I would say depending where on Oyster Creek, a good mile or more, so biking is a great option. There are several places to rent bikes on the island. You can start with your rental agency or if possible, bring your bikes from home.

Bike rentals in Ocracoke

The Slushie stand rents bike that are kid friendly they have the tag along that is hooked on the back of a bigger bike not sure if you 3 year old is experienced enough for that or trailer that I think will hold 2 children I think it is netted so they are not hit by rocks or sand that might fly up I%26#39;m sure you can find something there

The Slushie stand is right on Rt 12 you can%26#39;t miss all the bikes

Oyster Creek is one of the more isolated parts of the village. It%26#39;s advantages are canal access for boats and in many cases nice views of the sound. The down side is that you are not close to the restaurants, shops or anything else. It would seem somewhat of an inconvenience to me especially with two young children but it really depends on your priorities for your stay.

As others have said, you can get bikes that accommodate children.

Enjoy your stay!

Kirk

Thank you for your replies guys!

It%26#39;s great to know they have bikes with kid attachments at the slushie stand, only thing is- we will be going the first week in November, is the Slushie stand still open?

We have chosen not to stay in Oyster Creek, instead we are staying at the ';Lucky Duck cottage'; owned by Edwards of Ocracoke- anyone know if that%26#39;s convenient for biking into town?

That is much closer to town. Not sure about the slushy stand being open. I will try to find out in a few weeks when we are on the island. Many places continue to be open but on limited hours. Hotels tend to continue until the Thanksgiving holiday.

Beaches and Day Trips near Beaufort

My family is planning a trip to North Carolina this summer and we%26#39;re still trying to narrow down where we%26#39;re going to stay. We%26#39;re looking pretty hard at Beaufort right now.

We%26#39;re wondering how close a driving beach would be to Beaufort? My kids are all about the beach, but I%26#39;m thinking the ferry would get expensive?

Also, are there some good day trips we could make from Beaufort?

Thanks for any help you can give!

Beaches and Day Trips near Beaufort

I love Beaufort! Atlantic Beach is just a few miles away, on the Morehead City side of the bridge. Some day trips: drive out to Cedar Island and take the 2 1/4 hour ferry to Ocracoke for the day, take the ferry to Cape Lookout, Fort Macon at Atlantic Beach. The Maritime museum also has activities for the family. Lots to do!

Beaches and Day Trips near Beaufort

Thanks for the info and good ideas. I really appreciate it!

Mar-Y-Posa

Has anyone ever stayed in this rental? If so, what did you think?

Ocracoke in early November

We will be going to Ocracoke the very first week in November...

is this a good idea? Are things still open? Is it too cold?

Any input would be helpful!

Thanks,

Dena

Ocracoke in early November

According to weather tables the average temp in Nov is 52 to 64 degrees. Water temps are listed as 58. If you are interested in swimming, I would go in Sept early October. One bonus is that the island is not as crowded at that time.

Some shops are still open, but with limited hours. Most if not all of the indoor restaurants will be open.

Ocracoke in early November

You will find most things open (restuarants and shops), most start to close in mid to late November. The biggest variable will be the weather, it might be nice or it might not be nice. That time of year the weather can be ALL over the place. The swimming will be out but beach fishing and shell collecting can be very good at that time. The crowds will be zero.

Kirk

Thanksgiving is unusually the end of the season Many places close before then I have been there in November and it can be nice enough to swim during mid day but as Kirk said the weather can be anywhere so it all depend on that. But it is a good time to fish and enjoy the island with little or no crowds . My favorite time of the year down there.

Norfolk, VA to Wilmington, NC - which route?

I will be driving from Norfolk, VA to Wilmington, NC next Sunday. Should I take US Route 58 to I-95 and then I-40, or should I go via the US Routes 13 %26amp; 17 through Eastern NC? Google Maps says taking Rte 58 to 95 to 40 will be quicker, but will I really save much time by taking such a round-about route? What do you think? Thanks, Johnny

Norfolk, VA to Wilmington, NC - which route?

If you want to get there quickly and mindlessly, then go the 58/95/40 route.

I did the opposite once-Jacksonville NC to VA Beach using 17. It took FOR..EV..ER.... Yes, I think you really will save a lot of time.

I-40 is a very nice, newer highway.

Norfolk, VA to Wilmington, NC - which route?

Thank you for your input. Actually, I live in Richmond, but will be in Tidewater this weekend and will head to Wilmington from there. Richmond to Wilmington, we have always gone 95 to 40. While I would love to see Eastern NC, I admit I am not thrilled by your ';For-ev-er'; reference. Havning no other feedback at the moment, I may have to look towards the ';straight shot'; of 58 to 95 to 40. Thanks again.

- Johnny (native of DC area)

I have done it too. Seemed like it would be a nice drive to cut down the coast, but it does take forever. Don%26#39;t do it...unless you have a day to kill.a

58 to 95 to 40 is the way to go.

Yeah, we did it on a whim, ';Oh, won%26#39;t this be scenic!'; I always like to see new things.

We had been vacationing on Topsail and were going to visit friends in VA Beach before heading back to NOVA. We left fairly early morning and I don%26#39;t think we arrived in VA Beach until 6:00. It had been raining too, which made it worse. It was one of those drives where you come upon a mileage sign...';X miles to ABC'; and you would GROAN because it was still SO FARRRRRR.

I remember my husband was sunburned too-so was terribly uncomfortable and whining-worse than the two boys in the back!

There are some nice areas to visit through that general area. Tryon Palace in New Bern is one of my favorites. But yeah, save it for a time when you can do it at a casual pace and it is the purpose of your trip.

I had the time to kill and wound up doing the ';scenic'; route. US Rte 13 to US Rte 17. Yes, it took longer...about 6.5 but the traffic DID move. I don%26#39;t know that I would do it again, but am glad I did the scenic, as I will be doing Interstate on the way back.

Thanks for all of your time and responses.

brunch in Cary

My daughter and son-in-law are new to Cary. they love going out for sunday brunch. can you recommend a good place for them to go ?

brunch in Cary

Herons Restaurant at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary has perhaps one of the best brunches in the entire country. They should check it out!

brunch in Cary

Hi LadyMary,

The one place I always take company or clients that are looking for brunch is: Courtney%26#39;s Restaurant in Cary. They do not have to dress up and have a large variety of food items. I have never had anyone say they were not full or were unhappy when they left the restaurant.

Hope this helps!

Brig%26#39;s. It is very similar to Courtney%26#39;s but the food and service is better.

Courteneys is now closed.

Brigg%26#39;s in Cary - highly recommended

I had brunch at Lucky32 (on Tryon/Hwy 64) in Cary and it was fantastic.

I LOVED Brigs! YUMMM its usually a wait but worth it! Try the belgian waffles or the french toast!

We LOVE La Farms Sunday brunch - its a little French Cafe. Its very well-known among the locals and the food is excellent. Celebrity chefs have visited and raved! If you want something away from the %26#39;masses%26#39;, try La Farm - check it on their website.

ENJOY!

Ocean Grill Restaurant is the best

While house shopping in Cary, my husband and I stumbled on a great restaurant at Cary Parkway and High House Road. Since Cary is a suburban area, we expected to find lots of chains with the usual bland, ordinary food, but the Ocean Grill was a pleasant find.

I believe it just opened this year so everything is shiny and new. The decor is upscale and contemporary with lots of glass. Seating is arranged so that you are not too close to other diners, but the high ceilings help keep the noise down.

We ordered the fresh amberjack and tilapia. Both dishes were cooked to perfection, and the service was top notch.

We will definately make this a regular stop everytime we are in Cary (which is near Raleigh)

Ocean Grill Restaurant is the best

we had a tasting menu for new year%26#39;s eve last night, and it was incredible. Seven courses over three hours, with wine pairings, I highly recommend it!

Ocean Grill Restaurant is the best

Restraunt closed it%26#39;s Cary location and moved to Apex

My FAV for seafood around here is still %26#39;42nd St. Oyster Bar%26#39; in Raleigh!!

Where's Our Belle?

I was watching a show about Shipwrecks on the NC Coast and got to thinking Has Anybody seen The Belle of Topsail Lately?She has not been docked at the Marina for some time and last I heard she was in for repairs.Could it be She%26#39;s another statistic for the Graveyard of the Atlantic?

Where's Our Belle?

This is what I found:

http://www.belleoftopsail.com/schedules.html

If she%26#39;s hidden, maybe they should tell the web-site. :)

Happy boating!

Where's Our Belle?

I talked to Capt. David Luther a month or so ago. there has been some engine problems but hopefully they will all be taken care of before the summer season gets underway.

I hope to take a river cruise out on the Belle this summer.

June the First and still no Belle!

scars

Drinks by the pool at hotel for a night...

Prior to us getting our rental (Saturday) we need to get a room for Friday night (8/7). We definitely have to have a pool, and would be nice to be close if not on the beach. However, this is where we are getting road blocked... We%26#39;d like to be able to order some drinks by the pool while our kids swim on Friday, can%26#39;t find anyplace like this. Can anybody help me out....

Drinks by the pool at hotel for a night...

You might try the Hilton in Kitty Hawk not sure if you can get drinks at the pool but worth looking into

…hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml…

Drinks by the pool at hotel for a night...

Yes, we did stay here one year, however, the rooms are very pricey, and it is still pretty far north from where our house is in Nags Head, not so far in mileage just the traffic....Thanks

Bring your own drinks to the pool. Mix them in your room and put it in a cooler, or can beer and pour into a plastic cup. I really don%26#39;t think anyone will care, as long as your kids are not running wild.

Need help from the Outer Banks Experts out there

We are traveling to Nags Head June 6-13. This is our first trip to the Outer Banks. We are staying in a rental house near MP 19. We have three children, two girls ages 8 and 7 and our new son who is 4 months old. I am looking for some great activities or attractions in the area. Is there anything we should not miss while we are in the area? I am willing to drive outside of the Nags head area. I have heard that Duck is a great place to visit.

This website and members have always been a big help with my trips. Thank you in advance for your advice.

Take out Barbecue and Pizza

There will be 16 of us arriving on June 6. We want to plan on getting take out the first night since all of us have had a long ride in the car. Any suggestions for a good place to get take out barbecue or pizza in Nags Head? Last year we tried Sooey%26#39;s behind Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head and were very disappointed. Looking for your suggestions. Thanks!

Take out Barbecue and Pizza

Try Pigmans barbeque and Dare Devils pizza , both are around mile post 9.

Driving from Atlanta to Asheville

Can anyone comment on the drive from Atlanta to Asheville, NC?

How long is the drive and is there much difficult mountain driving?

We are flying into ATL at 4:00pm and want to drive directly to

Asheville.

Thanks for your help.

Driving from Atlanta to Asheville

Very easy drive. Worst of it will be the Atlanta traffic unless you are coming on a weekend. If you are used to LA traffic, you will have no problem, as it is not nearly as bad!

The drive should take 3.5 to 4 hours depending on your foot. You will drive up a portion of I-26, 10 or so miles? that is mountainus, but is not real curvey or worrysome. It goes to 3 lanes for the trucks to use as the grade is steep for them.

Depending on where you are going in Asheville, you%26#39;ll see the mountains all around, take a drive on the parkway around asheville to really enjoy the mountains.

Driving from Atlanta to Asheville

There are basically 3 ways to get to Asheville from Atlanta

1. Head to 85 north and keep driving until Spartanburg then get onto I-26 N. While theoretically this is the fastest route, or at least it mapquests out that way, it is also the most boring (100+ mile stretch of 85) with the least to recommend it and the most likelihood of road work and accidents. The mountainous stretch of this is right after you cross into NC from SC while on I-26. There is about a 5+ mile stretch of up the mountain but it is a 2-3 lane and is not windy. From the airport I(which is south of ATL) I would say 3.5 hrs with no stops would be extremely lucky.

1b. Another version of this route is to get off of 85 North just before Greenville onto 25 north which bypasses Greenville and heads more quickly north to Asheville. This is more of an uphill climb in some spots. This is at least a bit more scenic and takes you through part of the National Forest.

2. Head towards 85 North and then get onto 985 N which takes you past Gainesville, this turns into 23 North and becomes a much less traveled, less congested and scenic route taking you past Rabun Gap and Tallulah Falls and through N. GA mtns. You will stay on this through Franklin and Waynesville and then get on I-40 east and then 240 to get into Asheville. At times 23 North is 2 lanes and there are some areas of construction in N.GA but in generally takes me about the same amount of time to get to ATL and sometimes is faster than #1. I also like the different places that you can stop at scenic overlooks and small towns. I can get to Atlanta in about 3 hr 30 min at most and to the airport it would be another 20 min

When I come from the airport I use weavervilles 1B. route.

I am flying into Atlanta from London at 6pm so was thinking of sleeping off the jetlag before driving to Asheville next day. Anyone recommend a good hotel en route? Thanks.

I drive to/from Atlanta quite frequently and almost always use suggestion #2. I find it is much more scenic and though it mapquests at about 15 minutes longer there is often traffic/construction on 85N that eliminates that difference.

There are tons and tons of hotels around Atlanta and by the airport - I would probably try and get slightly north of the city, depending on time of day - and stay in Norcross or Gainesville so the next day you don%26#39;t have to deal w/ commuting traffic as you head north.

I much prefer the Gainesville/US 23 route as well. It offers some beautiful scenery, and there are a number of interesting shops, restaurants, and other sights along the way.

moving east and jmys,

take heed of weaverville%26#39;s reference to traffic at your time of arrival/ departure from ATL/ Hartsfield International.

Its nothing an LA traffic veteran cant overcome,but its no treat, either, to get to the north side of ATL from the airport, which is on the south side of ATL, in afternoon rush hour traffic.

Having said that, jmys, the morning rush hour is even worse, so if you can get to a motel just beyond the ATL metro area, which is easy to demarcate by the interstate highway reducing from as much as 14 lanes to a measley 6 or even 4, on the evening of your arrival, you will be thankful for that second effort, after crossing the pond, the night before.

Good luck and enjoy your trip to Asheville!

Hotel for Bel Chere

We%26#39;re just starting to plan a trip to the Smokies this summer and thought it might be fun to attend Bel Chere since our dates will coincide.

There are 5 of us including a teen, a pre-teen, and a toddler. We were hoping to find a hotel within easy walking distance of the festivities. Can anyone recommend one?

Thanks!

Hotel for Bel Chere

The hotels within walking distance of Bele Chere are limited, but they include Four Points by Sheraton, The Renaissance, Haywood Park hotel are some to choose from. I would personally want to stay a little out of the way from Bele Cher as it can stay noisy until well into the morning. There are numerous shuttles all over town so you wouldn%26#39;t need to hassle with driving or anything. It will be a fun time though and definitely worth a trip.

Hotel for Bel Chere

Thanks so much for your reply, I really appreciate it. Noise isn%26#39;t so much a problem for us (we travel with a sound machine, he he), but with a little one it helps to have a place to go back to for naps that%26#39;s easy to get to.

I%26#39;ll look into your suggestions!

There are free shuttle busses from several locations for Bel Chere, and unless you want to hear the crowds and the bands all day and well into the night, I would stay at a motel near Biltmore Square Mall, SW of downtown, or River Ridge Shopping Center, east of downtown and park for free at either of those locations and ride the free shuttle. There are several motels close to eiathr of those locations.

Alternatively, if you have kids spread from teen to toddler, you might want to stay close to town so your group can split up according to exhaustion factor. Consider one of the B%26amp;B%26#39;s in the Liberty / Chestnut or Montford neighborhoods that are within walking distance to downtown ...they provide a wonderfully relaxing respite from the chaos of Bel Chere. The White Gate Inn is ideally located for this option.

wherever you decide I would start calling and checking on availability NOW. Bele Chere is one of the most popular (mostly) free festivals in the South East so it draws people from NC, SC, TN and GA.

Driving from Asheville to Dillsboro + one stop supermarket?

We are flying into Asheville this week and driving from there to our rental cabin halfway between Whittier and Dillsboro.

Question 1: We%26#39;ll need to buy food and supplies for a week, including baby items (diapers, formula, etc) and charcoal. Is there a place where we can do a ';one-stop'; shopping either along our route or near Dillsboro (after we dropped our luggage at the cabin)? Will we be ok at the Ingles Market at Sylva? What are other ';chain'; stores in the area?

Question 2: We are arriving at around 4pm. Should we take the Blue Ridge Parkway to Dillsboro or will it be too late in the day to drive it?

Thank you!!!

Driving from Asheville to Dillsboro + one stop supermarket?

1. Ingles in Sylva will be fine to get everything.

2. I would drive the BRP to Sylva/Dillsboro.

Driving from Asheville to Dillsboro + one stop supermarket?

Thanks a lot!

That section of the BRP puts on quite a show this time of year. You may be a week or so early. The Flame Azaleas, Mountain Laurel;Ivy and the Purple Rhododenron will be in bloom. Bring your camera. Great place to get a sunset.

You%26#39;ll have plenty of time to drive the section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to where it drops down and crosses Highway 74 near Culhowee /Sylva and then drive the last 10 miles on Hwy 74 to your cabin. If you%26#39;re making good time, you can stay on the BRP all the way to Cheroke and backtrack to Whittier. Its only a few miles of back tracking, and that second section of the BRP features the best late afternoon views in the state from Waterock Knob.

Check a map when you arrive and head WEST (turn right exiting the airport) on Hwy 280 to Hwy 191, about 2 1/2 miles and turn Right onto 191 and head north along the French Broad river to the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Bent Creek/ NC Arboretum. This will save you at least 15 minutes of driving and could save you a lot more due to traffic backups and repaving work on I-26.

There is a very large Ingles just off 19/23 outside of Waynesville - about 20 minutes from Dillsboro -which willl have a lot more options than the smaller one in Sylva. The one in Sylva will have all the basics though.

The Ingles in Sylva is a fine store. I have shopped there more than once. No need to go way out of your way.

scars

Currituck Club rental

We jsut booked a house located in the Currituck Club

section. We were told that there is a trolley going to the beach every 1/2 hour. Has anyone had any experiences using the trolley going back and forth?

Also, any recommendations of good places to each, buying fresh seafood and fishing piers.

thanks

Currituck Club rental

Yes. Friend has a house there we have used.

Our experience with the trolly is it drops you off outside the community and across the main road. Where it drops you off isn%26#39;t that close to the beach. You still have a fair walk with all your junk down a right-of-way path between the homes and then over the dune.

We had my elderly grandparents with us, and it wasn%26#39;t very convenient, so we just drove up to the north part and drove out on the beach instead.

I hear there is valet services-what that entails, I am not sure. Also it was 2006 when we were there, so things may have changed.

Currituck Club rental

It might be that the valet service is during the peak season...college students, etc. They will help carry stuff down the walk, up the steps over the dunes and down the other side to the oceanfront beach. I can%26#39;t remember how they were called to haul it all in reverse...perhaps a cell phone number?

I also don%26#39;t know what their provisions are for the disabled...or perhaps I should say differently abled...traveler. Don%26#39;t know how they would accomplish going up and over and down the dune in a wheelchair. There must be a provsion though.

When we were there there was also a kiosk where the bus dropped one off that sold things like suntan lotion one might have forgotten.

At some point there was a lot of discussion on the trolley. You might do a word search using the little empty box directly atop these posts...not the big one. And first go to North Carolina to capture any in Corolla (where it seems most of them are) and Outer Banks Forums. If I remember correctly some people thought it was a bit of a hassle with all the beach toys if one had many children. Lots of homes, though, have one of those big carts to carry all the beach stuff in.

But it is a wonderful experience. Currituck Club is one of our favorites in the Outer Banks. When our group had many younger active children and parents going in different directions (even to on-site basketball court) it just seemed like Corolla Light provided one-stop shopping.

Sometimes when it%26#39;s a smaller group we%26#39;ll rent in Currituck Club and enjoy the golf course views and absolutely amazing sunsets!

Cameras a must...for sunsets and those can%26#39;t-take-a-bad-picture days of family memories; good solid kites for the wonderful breezes on the beach in the evening and binoculars.

This is what we did last summer. One person in our group drove and dropped people off then THAT person took the trolley. We took turns, worked out well. Same way with the return trip. One time, my son and his little girls wanted to go back before everyone else so they started walking. Someone that worked for the trolley service picked them up in an air conditioned van and drove them right to the house. I think they use the vans for the trolley overflow, as we were there the week of the 4th of July.

This issue was discussed in the forum a while back. I remember debating the valet service then as well. My experience was we didn%26#39;t see anyone, and then I was told it was during peak season. But we were there early August.

I am sure you will make it work for you; it is just good to be prepared.

Surfing lessons

We%26#39;re renting a house in Avon, Salvo or Frisco this August, still haven%26#39;t decided on which house. Are there any places that give surfing or wind surfing lessons on the lower OBX? Thanks.

Stopping for one night. . help?

We plan on stopping in winstom salem for 1 night while driving from OH to Sunset Beach, NC. We will have a 10 month old infant who loves to stay BUSY. . . we love going places with lots of families and parks. We would also like an outdoor pool. . any suggestions of what hotel to stay in and where to go after arriving? (we will probably arrive ~3 or 4 pm). We were thinking old salem or the children%26#39;s museum. . .For hotels we were thinking courtyard, marriott, or embassy suites.

Stopping for one night. . help?

All the above hotels are good. The Children%26#39;s Museum is great, but it%26#39;s not really geared for infants so you may want to wait until your child is a little older for that. Old Salem is a good option, although most shops and museums close up pretty early on weekdays (4:30 or 5:00). It%26#39;s still a nice area to walk around even after closing time.

What day will you arrive? I ask because Winston-Salem has several free summer concert series on Thurs-Sat, so that would be an option as well. See details and schedules at http://www.dwsp.org/music/

Also FYI, the Marriott has an indoor pool.

Stopping for one night. . help?

Thanks for your response. . do you know if the residence inn at the mall vs downtown mariott is better location for getting to old salem or any parks?

The downtown Marriott is just a few blocks from Old Salem. It%26#39;s within walking distance (maybe 10 minutes or so), and there%26#39;s a greenway you can follow to get there. However, the mall area is not far away, about 5-7 minutes by car. There are several parks and greenways in the area:

cityofws.org/Home/…ParksAndGreenways

If you want the ultimate park experience, consider Tanglewood Park. This is located about 8 miles west of Winston-Salem (just off I-40 at Clemmons). It is a huge place, formerly the R. J. Reynolds country estate, with biking and walking trails, duck ponds, horseback riding, fishing, swimming pool, golf, etc., and even a bed %26amp; breakfast inn. It%26#39;s a great place to hang out:

www.co.forsyth.nc.us/Tanglewood/default.aspx

Cherokee riverside accommodations and Indian Village

I%26#39;m going to be in Cherokee in June with 8 other family members. I%26#39;ve been looking for a place to stay that is on the river where my 2 girls, ages 9 %26amp; 12, could play in the water. None of us are fussy...clean, good management %26amp; inexpensive is all we need. I%26#39;ve looked into the Pink Motel, Pioneer Motel %26amp; Cabins and the Newfound Lodge. I like what I have seen on the internet for Newfound Lodge, but it was the only one that said the river was too rough near their property for the girls to play in and suggested going down to the Island%26#39;s Park if they wanted to get wet. Do you have any opinions as to these accommodations or can suggest any others that I haven%26#39;t mentioned? Also, when we are in town, we are going to visit the Indian Village and see Unto These Hills. Do you know how much time needs to be allotted to the village and whether the guided tour is worth the extra $5-$6?

Thanks!

Cherokee riverside accommodations and Indian Village

The Pink Motel and Newfound lodge are next to each other. There is water access there. I would not really call it rough but it is not the best place. The tubers do float this section of the river. However for the most part the tubing is fairly calm.

i have stayed at Newfound lodge but it has been several years ago. The room are okay, it is an older place but keeped up. Right now I can not think of a motel on the river that has good river access. Maybe Riverside Motel, but I do not know any thing about it. The reviews on it are hit and miss.

When you get to Cherokee you will find that the river park in the middle of town is the prefect spot for the girls to enjoy the river. It is one of my favorite places and it is free. They can swim, tube, throw rocks or chase the ducks. There is always people there enjoying it.

The indain village wil take 2 or 3 hours to tour. It all depends on you pace and how much you stop and watch. The best I recall they where all quided tours the last time I went there. Maybe they have changed the format some. The drama unto these hills is great. I say it last year and it was very good. I have seen it several times in the past.

Check out the web site www.cherokee-nc.com. It is cherokee%26#39;s official site and has some good information. If you have not already got your tickets to Unto these Hills you can order them online at that site. If not get them as soon as you get into town so you can get good seats.

John

Cherokee riverside accommodations and Indian Village

I plan to bring my grand children (girls 10 %26amp;11)

on a Wed and stay all night in Cherokee and see Unto These Hills. I want a safe, clean place for the 3 of us. I will take them to the park for creek wading. Then I plan to drive on to Pigeon Forge for a night at Wilderness Resort. How is the drive across Newfoundland Gap? It has been 20 years since I%26#39;ve traveled this road. And advise or tips will be appreciated.

The drive across Newfound Gap is okay. It is the same 2 lane road that is always been. It is narrow road but worth the drive. The sites are beautiful. They have been doing work on the road and are suppose to repave it.

Cherokkee has all kinds of hotels. Check out the website and they have listing of them. The area is really safe. I have left hundreds of dollars worth of fishing tackle, etc and never lost anything.

John

John, Thank you for your input. I think your suggestion of the park for water play is probably what I%26#39;ll do with my girls. The Indian Village this year started offering self guided tours, so I%26#39;ll probably let the other members of my group decide which tour we%26#39;ll do. Shelley

Another question regarding Unto These Hills. If seats are reserved at the time of ticket purchase, is there any area of the theater that is best for viewing? And, does anyone know what type of seats they are...bench or seats with backs? My mother is in her eighties and I am concerned about her comfort.

Thanks again, Shelley

Last year the seats where a combination of beach and seats with backs. They where old but okay. From what I have read they renovated the place over the winter. They where suppose to make all kind of improvements. These where to the seating, better accomadations for handicapp/elderly, shuttle service etc. So to answer your question I am not really sure.

Last year I order my tickets online and got seats on the third row. They where very good. With the way the place is designed I would not wanted to be any closer. Since the place is build on the side of a mountain all of the seats appear to have a good veiw. Get there early for the pre - show.

John

US Kids World Championship Pinehurst NC

Congratulations on being selected to participate in the World Championship in Pinehurst. Hopefully this post and others will help you and your family to enjoy a safe and enjoyable visit. Traveling with athletic children can be challenging in so many ways. I hope that this information makes your trip enjoyable for the entire family.

Be aware that due to the nature of qualifications, hundreds of families will all be attempting to find travel and accommodations. Most on very short notice. Post your questions and I will provide yu with good local help in sorting out your options.

The US Kids events will take place in The Village of Pinehurst, Carthage and Southern Pines. Within these communities will be the eight championship golf venues for the World Championship.

Part of the charm of Pinehurst is its remoteness, we are not near any major metropolitan area. Pinehurst is located 1.2 hours south of the Raleigh (RDU) and Greensboro (GSO) airports. Though closer (40 minutes) Fayetteville’s airport offers only limited flights. Charlottes airport (CHO) is approximately 2 1/2 hour drive on a fairly difficult road. I have found RDU to be a fairly competitive airport due to the number of discount airlines. The drive south on US 1 from RDU to Pinehurst is a pleasant drive. Another airport to consider if you are shopping the airlines is Richmond, Va. While the drive is circa 5 hours, this is another airport with very competitive fares. Moore County Airport (SOP) is available for private planes.

www.uskids2009worldchampionship.blogspot.com

US Kids World Championship Pinehurst NC

I%26#39;ll bump this to the top, as mroe and mroe people will be learning that their kids have qualified for the US Kids. I have a condo at one of the venues, and I%26#39;ve learned that our place has already been booked for the tournament times. We were in town last summer for the tournament times, and it was really a treat to see the young folks, and the great swings. I%26#39;ve read some of what Donald has written, and he%26#39;ll be a great help to everyone, and as a part-time Pinehurster I%26#39;ll add my visitor%26#39;s take. It%26#39;ll be interesting to me to compare his opinions with mine. Anyone, congratulations to everyone who qualifies, I hope everyone enjoys their time in my (soon-to-be-i-hope) home town.

US Kids World Championship Pinehurst NC

Lodging Information US Kids %26amp; Teens Pinehurst

In July and August over 1800 of the world’s most talented young golfers, hailing from over 36 countries on 6 continents will return to Pinehurst and the surrounding area for the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships. The Teen World Championship, which is in its 4th year and the Kids World Championship, which will celebrate its 10th year is a true celebration of junior golf at its best. Kids and teens ages 5-18 will compete in these Championships between July 29 – August 9th on 12 different courses including Pinehurst No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 6, No. 8, Pine Needles, Mid Pines, Little River, Talamore, Long Leaf, Midland Country Club and Forest Creek.

Where are you going to stay? This is huge decision. Let me try to help quantify your choices.

On Site?

If your budget will tolerate, I strongly recommend staying at your child%26#39;s venue. Where is your child competing; staying on-site is a great option to consider. Not needing to travel for meals, recreation (pool), competition or practice is a great advantage.

All of the venues have quality on site accommodations. I suspect the venue%26#39;s rooms will sell out quickly.

When you book, be cautious with the meal plans. Not because the plan isn%26#39;t a great value, but because no one wants to eat that heavy every day. Take a few meals in the resort, after a couple of days you will likely be looking to enjoy a change of menu and scenery. The area offers a variety of quality eating options.

The Venues

The Pinehurst Resort(910) 235-8507 http://www.pinehurst.com/

Forest Creek (910)693-1996 http://www.forestcreekgolfclub.com/

LongLeaf (910) 692-6100 http://www.longleafgolf.com/

Little River (910) 949-5013 http://www.littleriver.com/

Midland CC(910) 295-3241 http://www.golflink.com/

Pine Needles (910) 692-7111 http://www.pineneedles-midpines.com/

Mid Pines (910) 692-2114 http://www.pineneedles-midpines.com/

Talamore (910)692-5884

If you cannot stay at the venue due to availability, you have a number of options to consider. The decision is fairly simple, if your budget can handle the Carolina at the Pinehurst Resort, do it. This facility has been voted the Best Golf Resort in the US for three years running. It is a wonderful place which make your stay memorable. My comments are specific to the Carolina but the entire resort complex is world class. The food, the facilities, the locale and logistics/transportation cannot be beat. It is a large hotel; family friendly.

The Pine Needles Lodge is also a lovely alternative; call them directly. Great golf practice facilities and convenient to all venues. Large rooms, the facility is a bit rustic, but a good value. Only a few rooms remaining.

Homewood Olmstead Village Suites is a fine hotel in Pinehurst, it is not a Resort property, but a quality limited service hotel with a great location and nice accommodations. Most of their rooms are ';suites';. The hotel is within walking distance to numerous restaurants, grocery store and drug store. Located in Pinehurst, this facility is a nice option to consider.

Beyond these three, there are a number of good limited service hotels to consider. Spring Hill Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn %26amp; Suites, Residence Inn by Marriot and Comfort Inn all offer similar accommodations at similar prices. Consider the location most convenient to your venue, but none are actually out of the way for any venue. Shop wisely and determine which best meets your group%26#39;s needs. Several have restaurants within walking distance. When selecting a room, ask for a room of the east side of the facility. Avoiding the setting sun in August is a good thing. Take the shady side of the hotel.

Get started! Rooms are going to fill quickly. The area is expecting over 9,000 visitors during this event. This is roughly equal to the population of Pinehurst. A bad hotel choice will haunt you through the entire event.

Bob Barmore

Weichert ,Realtors-Larose %26amp; Co

www.bob.barmore.com

www.laroseandcompany.com

Only one addition, the website for Talamore is:

http://www.talamoregolfresort.com/

scars

Philly to OBX through Delaware, whats the best Route

I%26#39;m checking in Sunday, mid-June, I plan to leave REAL early to take advantage of empty roads...i should be hitting Dover around 6-7am.

Whats the best Route from there? 13, 113 or 1 through the shore?

I want an interesting drive, I hate slow traffic. I like to drive fast, but I can cool it if I have the road mostly to myself. Its a long drive, and it would be nice to have a fun, interesting road.

Whats the best way to go? Many thanks!

Philly to OBX through Delaware, whats the best Route

I travel from Va Beach to De all the time. I alternate 13 and 113.

There tends to be less traffic and fewer stop lights along 113, however, it will take about 15 minutes longer because it swings you to the east some. It is much more scenic than 13.

Only thing I would say in favor of 13 is that 113 is the road for DE and OC traffic-so it may be heavy with sunday check-ins. Coming back the next week I would definitely take 13.

Either route-consider slowing down-the radar is always out in force. When the town reads 45 or 50 speed limit-do it!

Have a great trip!

Philly to OBX through Delaware, whats the best Route

From SE PA we take rte 13 most of the way down south of Wilmington DE. Never travelled another way than that. Now if we ever invest in GPS that may change

I would be interested to know if anyone out there can recommend a way around the heinous Saturday afternoon traffice on Rte 1 North in Christiana where it merges with all the 95%26#39;s (I95\495)...that has always been the worst part of the 350 mile trip for us coming home...should we keep heading north on rte 13 and take that thru Wilmington?

Thanks!

We found Rt 113 to be a much better road. It%26#39;s almost like you have it to yourself sometimes. Rt 13 will take you thru 2-3 towns with speed traps and the congestion of Salisbury, MD. There was lots of construction on the other side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which I think is I-64. Also, use the Outer Banks Expressway. It%26#39;s $2, but it saves time.

I do also advise watching for the speed traps, but since the bypass around Salisbury, MD has been built, the traffic moves very well, and most of it is at that 65 mph.

Living in the area, Ialso would come down 13, possibly taking the toll road 1 till south of Dover, and continuing on 13. Safe travels!

113 is the way to go. It is less than 2 miles longer than 13, so the distance adds less than three minutes to the travel time.

Speed limits almost entirely 45-55, where 13 fluctuates from 35 to 45 to 40 back to 35, etc., as you move through multiple towns.

Then there are the traffic lights.

From the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel website:

Route 113...has only 19 stoplights along the way as opposed to 35 (for Route 13).

Thanks to all, I will take 113. My trip is 2 weeks away but I%26#39;m already in vacation-mode!

What is the Outer Banks Expressway? (Toll $2) I googled it but cant find it. Where does it start/end?...what do you bypass? Thx!

I think they are referencing this:

';Go south on 168, Chesapeake Expressway*. Once in North Carolina, 168 turns into US 158 East. Follow this road to The Outer Banks.

* Please note: Chesapeake Expressway is a toll-road, which costs $2 each way.';

Two years ago we invested in EZPass which is great for states that let you cruise thru @65MPH :) Its also nice that last year/late 2007 the Chesapeake Bay Bridge started accepting EZ pass ($12 each way - http://www.cbbt.com/ezpass.html)

Regards

Oops..... it is called the Chesapeake Expressway, not the OB Expressway. This $2 toll road saves lots of time. If you don%26#39;t use it you%26#39;ll have to travel on the Battlefield Blvd. This road travels thru lots of small towns with lots of traffic lights. One place we%26#39;ve always stopped in NC is the Morris Farm Market. Very nice, clean private bathroom facilities and a large choice of fruits and vegs. Plus, they offer a nice selection of baked goods and there%26#39;s lots of freebies throughout the bldg.

I echo the statement on Morris Farm market located in Barco...we get all of our produce there. The restrooms are very nice and cleaned regularly. I think they have a total of 6 family restrooms.

Old Edwards - Inn or Lodge

My dh and I would like a getaway in Highlands; have never been but since relocating to SC thought it might be a nice Mountain/Town experience.

The Old Edwards was highly recommended and I was hoping someone could give descriptions and/or opinions of rooms in inn vs. rooms in lodge.

I am not acquainted with the area at all so any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Gracie

things to do in Greensboro with small children

We are visiting husbands family in july with a 20 month and 3 year old.I am planning going to the zoo,water park.Any other suggestions?It can be indoors or outdoors.Thank you

things to do in Greensboro with small children

Looks like you already got two of the best things on your iternary. Perhaps also the Natural Science Center: http://www.natsci.org/

things to do in Greensboro with small children

Another place you might want to check out is the Greensboro Children%26#39;s Museum. Lots of fun things for the kids to do.. www.gcmuseum.com

First Time visit in Durham this weekend

Would love some help.

we are flying into RDU airport on Friday morning and staying in the chapel hill area till Sunday afternoon. We have a wedding on Sat night . The only thing we have planned in on Sat morning is Carnivore Preservation Trust. Not sure where the airport is in relation to everything. Would it be best to go to Duke and see the roses and chapel on the way from the airport to the hotel?? If someone could give any advice or even a loose itinerary . We would love to cram in as much as we can between the two cities. thank you in advance for your time

Jenn

First Time visit in Durham this weekend

It depends on what your interests are. In my opinion, here are the highlights of Durham and Chapel Hill.

Durham--Museum of Life and Science (though, more geared for kids), dook Gardens and dook Chapel, Ninth Street shops, the city%26#39;s amazing restaurants, Southpoint Mall

Chapel Hill--UNC campus, UNC basketball museum, Franklin Street shops, restaurants, and bars

First Time visit in Durham this weekend

thank you thats great!!! cannot wait. Now I am going to check the weather and pack

Since you probably won%26#39;t be able to check into the hotel until later, it would make sense to head to Duke from the airport. As the previous poster mentioned (though spelled incorrectly ;-)), Duke Gardens and Duke Chapel are the must-sees. I%26#39;d suggest brunch/lunch at Elmo%26#39;s Diner on 9th street first.

In the late afternoon/evening, I%26#39;d suggest strolling along Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, wander through North Campus (adjacent to Franklin) and then find one of the many restaurants along Franklin for dinner. Tallulah%26#39;s is a personal favorite, but there are many to choose from.

Have fun!

';Open Sea Sun';

Anyone ever stay in this vacation home?

';Open Sea Sun';

Maybe an address, a rental agencey, a or a little more informaton? Love to help, but I%26#39;ve never heard of it.

';Open Sea Sun';

Sorry I didn%26#39;t give more information. I have seen people just give the name of the house. It is 829 North Anderson Blvd and rented through Topsail Realty. I had posted about that particular part of the island and Conniecat mentioned that it was a quieter part of the island and family friendly which was nice to hear.

I was wondering if anyone had been in the house I am going to stay in. I have never rented through this company before..and the pictures look nice..but you never know. I looked up where the house was and it didn%26#39;t look like their was even many houses on the other side..so it didn%26#39;t look too crowded..

What I am trying to find out ..is how close this house really is to the Queen%26#39;s Grant condos..?

so that%26#39;s 829 to 926 N. Anderson. I haven%26#39;t gotten tired of ';street view'; yet. Once I stop playing with it and go to plain ol%26#39; ';map'; it looks like the two addresses are about 750%26#39; apart.

Mapquest...didn%26#39;t I get into this thing or what:)...says it%26#39;s .05 miles.

Now back to the bird that got in the house and the three cats chasing it.

I wasn%26#39;t sure..the realty place said I was two miles from them..but it didn%26#39;t look like two miles on the map...

sapphir Valley North Carolina

We have stayed at the Foxhunt Condos in July for the last 4-5 years. There are always activities on the 4th of July. We love it there. We meet with family from Ohio, Florida and Texas. There are many activities for the children at the condos and at the recreation center. The recreation center has several pools, game room bingo comedy show. poll game room, etc etc You can even rent movies, tan, free putt putt. The Hill tubing (without snow) was great for the kids. We have also went horseback riding nearby and shopping at a few of the larger towns that are nearby. Victoria%26#39;s closet in Cashiers is a great resale shop. My sisters-in law and I spend about 1-2 hours there every year. We have taken a drive to the nearby waterfalls (there are many) and there is also a sliding water rock that you can slide down. The Fruit market is a must if not only to see the pet pig. I would suggest buying the groceries, film, batteries and anything else you might need before you come, as the grocery charges 2 to 3 times the price on just about everything. I would highly recommend this resort. there are many things to do in the area.

scars

Suggestions for short-term rental in Fayetteville area ?

Hi Everyone,

I need to be in Fayetteville for approx 4-6 weeks to do some job-hunting for an eventual relocation. Hotels are too expensive to stay that long, so I%26#39;m looking for another alternative.

I%26#39;ve tried Corporate Housing, which is equally expensive, and I even put an ad on Craigslist -- didn%26#39;t get much response there. My time frame is flexible, so if it takes me a while to find something, that%26#39;s ok, but I would like to be there sometime during the next couple of months.

My main criteria is that it be CLEAN, SAFE and relatively QUIET.

If anyone has any suggestions about where to turn next, they would be more than appreciated !!

Thanks in advance !

Suggestions for short-term rental in Fayetteville area ?

We go to Fayetteville often but can%26#39;t think of something else for you. I%26#39;ll let you know if I do. How about if you belong to a group/church/organization you might contact the same in Fayetteville and see if someone might have a basement apt. or something.

restaurant for bridesmaids luncheon

My friends daughter is getting married at the Mountain Magnolia this October. Both the rehearsal dinner and the reception will be held there. I was hoping to have the bridesmaids luncheon somewhere else for a change of scenery. But I want a good restaurant (good food) with a ladies luncheon type atmosphere. Can anyone suggest someplace that meets this criteria in or around Hot Springs? We may just have to do it at the Inn.....Thanks for any suggestions

Red Stag Grill

Has anyone had lunch or dinner at the Red Stag Grill at the Bohemian Hotel? We%26#39;re thinking about having dinner there after seeing their menu and wine list. Any thoughts, comments, or impressions about the restaurant would be much appreciated!

Red Stag Grill

My husband and I travel to Asheville for business quite frequently and now our favorite place to stay is the Grand Bohemian. We were there twice in May and ate both times at the Red Stag Grill. The first time in early May, everything was delicious and service was wonderful. We tried several small bite apps, salads and both had steak and crabcakes. We left very impressed, all was delicious. We returned again late May and dinner was not very good and service was worse. My husband ordered a Ribeye medium rare, it was served well done almost burnt so my dinner was cold by the time he received his steak. We ordered small bite apps and were charged for the full size. Lettuce in our salads were brown which is nasty to me and side veggies had a burnt taste, probably on same grill as steaks. We were very disappointed as we had high expectations from the first time. We have to return again next month and will stay at the Grand Bohemian but will probably eat at Rezaz across the street or Zambras downtown. We have ate at both several times and have never had a bad meal. Hope this helps.

Red Stag Grill

I had apps and drinks at the bar there around lunch time about a month ago. We were a bit put off by a snooty hostess but enjoyed our time at the bar and talking w/ the bartender. Apps were very good...we had calamari, soup trio and clams....thought it was pretty reasonable.

Advice for trip with kids

We will be in Raleigh-Durham the week of June 11-18. I could really use some advice on activites and places to eat. We have 2 kids, ages 7 and 9. What activites are in the area and what restaurants are good, but reasonable in price. I would appreciate any advice.

Advice for trip with kids

There is tons to do. In Durham, there is the wonderful Museum of Life and Science. www.ncmls.org It has more than you can do in a day, with the outdoor exhibits, indoor exhibits, butterfly house, insectarium, etc. It is great to start there in the morning doing the outside things while its cool, then go inside if it starts getting hot.

In Durham, there is also little better than a Durham Bulls game.

Raleigh has the Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of History, Marbles Kids Museum and lots of great restaurants. Look at this site for info, links and a calendar for special events. www.downtownraleigh.com. Look under the ';play'; heading, and ';explore';. Lots of good links.

There are some great parks, including Umstead State Park for hiking, and Raleigh%26#39;s Pullen Park for old-fashioned kiddie rides (train, merry-go-round, paddle boats).

To eat, the place my kids beg for is LocoPops, in Durham and Raleigh, and they also love Times Bar in downtown Raleigh...great burgers. Tell me what types of places your kids like and I can give you more help with that.

More later as I have time....gotta get the kids to school!

Advice for trip with kids

VaNC got most of the good ones.

I%26#39;ll add that adjacent to Marbles Kids Museum is a great IMAX theatre. Also in Raleigh there%26#39;s the Museum of Art.

Can you tell me how far it is to the closest beach? We will actually be close to Wake Forest University. My 10 year old daughter will be in a school program all week. So we are looking for things to do with our 8 year old son during the week and the whole family on the weekend and at night. Thanks so much for your help.

Okay, I am confused now. Are you going to be Winston-Salem, where Wake Forest University is? WInston-Salem and Raleigh are hours apart. Raleigh is about two hours from the beach. Winston is about one and a half to two hours from Raleigh.

If you are referring to Raleigh-Durham, as it is the airport you are flying into, you need to understand that they are two separate cities, Raleigh and Durham, that are about 1/2 hour apart. (Like Seattle-Tacoma airport is between those two cities).

Or are you really going to be in Wake Forest, North Carolina?

Hope I am not confusing you more!

Sorry for the trouble. we are actually going to be at the university in Winston-Salem. I will post my question on that forum.

Thanks!

Late June/July things to do

I went to college nearby and we%26#39;ve visited the Franklin area MANY times over the years, but always over Thanksgiving week. This year we are coming for two weeks in late June/early July and are searching for local festivals, celebrations, flea markets, farmers markets, etc. Anything within a 2 hour drive. We%26#39;re long-time fans of the Franklin Christmas parade, the ';Hard Candy Christmas'; market even after it moved and we still visit the Christmas market now in the community center.

We%26#39;ve already hiked most of the local waterfalls and will revisit our favorites to enjoy the leaves actually on the trees, don%26#39;t much care to do gem searching any more, absolutely refuse to go whitewater rafting and have a long list of local artists we frequent. Please, if you have other ideas we look forward to your suggestions.

Late June/July things to do

Here%26#39;s a link to the Chamber of Commerce Events calendar: franklin-chamber.com/visitorInformation/even…

Have you visited the Biltmore Estate?

Have you been to any of the indian reservations?

Have you been to Waynesville, Highlands, Cashiers?

Late June/July things to do

Thanks for the link. We%26#39;ll check it out. After 40+ years of visiting the area we%26#39;ve done pretty much everything listed in all of the guidebooks, including Foxfire. We are looking for new arts (festivals, galleries, etc.) and will definately check out the farmers markets and flea markets.

We%26#39;re also hoping there will be special events around the 4th of July.

Thanks again for your help.

What are your exact dates you are coming for? I have several ideas if you will travel 2 hours.

Our dates are June 27-July 9.

We will probably go over to Hiawassee if there is any music fest going on and make a drive through YHC for old times sake. We%26#39;ll make at least a day trip into Asheville and visit the gardens at Biltmore. One day will be a trip to Courthouse falls outside of Cashiers. It%26#39;s for sure I will spend some time fishing. Perry%26#39;s Water Gardens is definately on our to-do list since it is summer time.

Does Franklin still do the music on the square? That sounds like a nice way to spend an evening, especially when tied to a dinner at Cafe Rel (?) or the Frog and Owl.

The house we rent is out past Cowee school, so just the drive to town takes 20 minutes. Two hours is absolutely in our relm. Send any ideas you might have.

Thanks.

They have a new 1,500 arena opening in Franklin on July 3rd. The Oak Ridge Boys is the act performing if you like them. I will do some more thinking on ideas for you. Here is an article on the new arena.

www.maconnews.com/index.php…

Now that%26#39;s the kind of thing we are looking for! It%26#39;s been a while, but I%26#39;d love to ';dig a little deeper in the well boys'; with the ';Boys';. I%26#39;ve been reading about the 4th of July fireworks and feel it is something we want to do. Do you have a suggestion for best place to watch without being directly underneath the explosions? I%26#39;m thinking the parking lot around the outdoor Outfitters place right at the bridge. Probably would have to be there early to get a good spot.

We will visit the farmers market and count on getting nice sweet corn for numerous meals. I want to cook it on the cob and creamed style at least a couple of times. I long for homegrown tomatoe sandwiches on white bread with nothing but mayonaise and salt to accompany. Some fresh peas would be wonderful cooked with a slab of salt pork for flavoring. I%26#39;ll shell the damed things myself to get the freshness of just-off-the vine delishitoshity. Organic eggs with Nantahalia sausage must be included for several breakfasts. I%26#39;m lousy at making pretty bisquits from scratch, but will do my best to honor Grandmother Smith%26#39;s and Mama%26#39;s lessons.

Here%26#39;s a new question. Is the area still under a fire ban? We like to do a small ontained ';campfire'; in the evenings but have respected the drought conditions for two thanksgivings now. Have things eased any? Steaks cooked over oak wood are an alltime favorite in our family.

The drought in now over. May is going to set a record for the amount of rain in some areas.

Have you ever visited the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. It is fun to spend a day there and have lunch there.

https://www.folkschool.org/

Thanks for still offering ideas.

While I was a student at Young Harris College I spent a great deal of time at the JCC folk school. We still make a trip over there every Thanksgiving to do Christmas shopping in their store.

It%26#39;s too bad we will miss the corn festival by only a couple of days. But we found a crafts fair at WCU which should be interesting. And we%26#39;ll go into Franklin for the 4th of July parade. It will be fun to compare it to the Christmas parade which we love attending.

scars

Myrtle Beach Accommodation for 20 Year Olds

My daughter and two friends (all aged 20) are British University Exchange Students hoping to work in Myrtle Beach this summer.

We tried to book a hotel for them yesterday until they can find work (with or without accommodation) and were amazed to find that there is apparently local legislature banning under 21 year olds in hotel accommodation unless they are accompanied by someone of 21 or over.

If they do find work without accommodation will they also have a problem renting an apartment as 20 year olds?

The girls will be using public transportation as they do not have a car.

Please can anyone come up with a solution to the dilemma of where they can stay until they find work?

Thank you for any help and advice you can give!

Myrtle Beach Accommodation for 20 Year Olds

I know when students come from some other countries through an agency that facilitates the J1 visas and interacts between employer and potential employee they often make arrangements of some kind.

Don%26#39;t know how it goes if the student is looking on his/her own.

I checked on NC and SC forums and you might buzz over to the SC forum and do a word search in the little empty box directly atop these posts. Put in just J1. You can organize by date which is handier. There were responses that came up, I think most from Myrtle Beach, in SC. Didn%26#39;t see any in NC.

While people often go to Myrtle Beach from NC, it is in SC and if you go directly to the Myrtle Beach forum you might get some answers directly from people who have hired/housed what are often called ';J1s';, the summer employees that keep things going. (that%26#39;s a J and the numeral one)

Myrtle Beach Accommodation for 20 Year Olds

I appreciate your help very much and will check this out.

I am also blushing that I got my North and South Carolinas mixed up. Oh the embarrassment!

No wonder I couldn%26#39;t find any info....

My warmest thanks!

Fisherman's Wharf restaurant reopened by original family

There have been many truly local and family-owned places that have closed in the Outer Banks in the last decade or so, as they were edged out by chains. But one of our favorites, Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf in Wanchese (Manteo) has recently reopened by the original owners, the Daniels family.

My parents and son ate there last week and were thrilled to report that it was just as good as it used to be.

If you want truly fresh, local fish excellently prepared, check it out.

http://www.fishermanswharfobx.com/index.html

Fisherman's Wharf restaurant reopened by original family

The only bad thing about the Wharf, other than it%26#39;s 30 miles from where I live, is that there is no alcohol at all. I sure like a little wine with dinner.

Fisherman's Wharf restaurant reopened by original family

They do have some excellent food. We are there(OBX area) more often in the winter months, when they are closed, but we do eat there at least once in the summer months.

Carova Beach

We are leaving for Carova Beach NC in June. My rental company originally told me my vehicle would be fine to drive. I have a Mistubishi Endeavor. Now they are telling me I cannot drive an all wheel drive vehicle on the 4 wheel drive beach. They said I will get stuck. I was told when I bought the car that all wheel drive does the same thing as 4 wheel drive so I%26#39;m confused. I%26#39;m afraid I will get stuck if I drive my car. Does anyone have any info or suggestions that can help

Thanks Lisa

Carova Beach

I grew up driving on the beach there. Often people get stuck in a 4 wheel drive!! The sand is deep and often soft. I would not suggest an all wheel drive unless you have lot%26#39;s of experience driving on the beach. Not familiar with that model but there should be lots of clearance between the beach and the vehicle? Your rental Co seems to have given you bad info and should be willing to switch you to a cottage maybe in Corolla.

Carova Beach

Another idea...if you really want to stay in Carova? You could drive down and then rent a jeep from the dealership on the Bypass in Kill Devil Hills............just depends on how badly and why you wish to stay in Carova.

We just got back from Carova yesterday. You will definitely want 4WD - our Escalade even had trouble at times - and whatever you do, make sure you take the tire pressure down to 20psi- we tried without that and realized quickly that we needed to do it. We fell in love with the area and can%26#39;t imagine staying anywhere else - and are already discussing our return trip next year. We were at mile marker 20 - which was 7.3miles from road - depending on the tide it took us anywhere from 10 -25 minutes. Enjoy!

Did you end up going to Carova last summer? We are supposed to go in August 2008. We have a Honda Pilot AWD but it can go into 4WD. Just wondering your your Endeavor held up if you made your trip. Our Honda dealer said it would be fine as did the realtor in Carolla, but reading your post made me wonder!

Thanks,

Terri

I would heed lois%26#39; report as she did the trip recently and it is first hand advice. I%26#39;ve been stuck on that beach with the tide coming in and it is not a good feeling even with 4 wheel drive. Tire pressure is definitely a key so be sure you have a gauge with you.

I rented a jeep last year up there and saw people getting stuck. The sand is soft %26amp; deep with plenty of ruts. You need low pressure and balloon type tires. I wouldn%26#39;t take your vehicle out there at all. Even if you manage to not get stuck, the environment is pretty harsh on a vehicle. There are a couple of companies that rent to Corova vacationers.

One thing I noticed, this is just me, but the constant buzzing back %26amp; forth of 4x4%26#39;s on Corova seemed to detract from it. It%26#39;s great to experience %26amp; see, but to stay in Corova, I don%26#39;t know how much I could relax and take in the full beach feeling with trucks whizzing by every ferw minutes.

Good point jmass, you really have to be careful with children on the beach there. Crazy drivers, hot days, and cold beverages can be a dangerous situation. One reason we like Ocracoke is that the beach is really much wider-plenty of room for cars and people.

Fortunately, our children are 12 and 6 years old, so I don%26#39;t have to worry about them running about aimlessly. We are staying quite a ways up the beach--only 2.5 miles from the VA border...Is there as much traffic up that far?

You will not have any traffic up in the Carova area. In addition to the things listed above about driving on the beach, there are a couple of other things I%26#39;d like to add. Get a tide chart, you need to know the times for high and low tides-it%26#39;s important to know if you have a vehicle on the beach. Also, if the tide chart only shows the time for Oregon Inlet, you will need to check the time difference for tides in the Corolla/Carova area. It%26#39;s a good idea to have a shovel with you, just in case you do get stuck. One of the smaller camping shovels will work fine. Use landmarks when driving-this may sound crazy at first, but nothing is marked up there, and after a long day all the dunes can look the same! The last thing is driving at night-Please be careful. It can be very tricky up there, and there are NO lights, and very few homes. It is also much more difficult to gage sand depth, water, etc at night, and I have heard some bad stories about people stuck up there on the beach at night. I am not trying to scare anyone with this, but driving on the beaches at night is dangerous if you%26#39;re not very experienced with beach driving, and if you don%26#39;t really know/live in the area.

You will love Carova. It is really beautiful, and a really unique area beacuse it is so open and not built up. Hopefully, you will see the horses, too. I would also stock up for groceries in Corolla at the Harris Teeter or Food Lion stores. Both are nice, but the Harris Teeter is a newer store, and they have everything.

more than one person has lost their life over the years driving that beach at night. The shifting sands often uncover ';stumps'; of trees from when the woods were where the shoreline is now! Mostly in the area of Penny%26#39;s Hill. If you must drive at night stay a bit up from the shoreline and slow down! Don%26#39;t even think of going on the beach without a shovel and a small board to place under your stuck tire as well as a tire gauge. The tide comes in quickly. Many photos exist of 4 wheel drive vehicles swamped by the tide. Most accidents happen when not observing caution and paying attention to what you are doing. I have been stuck there in a jeep and it is no fun when getting out just as the tide approaches your door jamb! Less fun if the sea gets the vehicle!

Headboat fishing near Duck

Anyone been headboat fishig in OB. Looking for something nearby.

Headboat fishing near Duck

pirates cove in manteo is closest. country girl

scars

Buying groceries on the way?

We are returning to the OBX for the first time in over 20 years. We used to live there, and I know a lot will have changed. One thing I do not expect to have changed is the Saturday traffic and the crowded grocery stores. I used to work at the S%26amp;R supermarket, and Saturdays in the summertime were just a madhouse.

So as we head for our week%26#39;s vacation in late June, I thought -- Why not stop and shop on the way? We%26#39;ll have some time to kill before we can check into our cottage in KDH.

Is there a large grocery store immediately adjacent to the snazzy new toll road from the Norfolk area? Prices are not a major consideration. Just need something where we can buy a week%26#39;s worth of groceries, a couple of cheap-o coolers, and some ice to melt while we sit in traffic.

Buying groceries on the way?

Don%26#39;t know if this is an option for you, but last year, I checked out a grocery store that would shop for you and deliver for a very reasonable price. Can%26#39;t recall the name. I think it was in Elizabeth City.

Buying groceries on the way?

Farm Fresh in Elizabeth City delivers to the Outer Banks. You order online and they deliver your groceries to your house. Great service. I used them last year and plan on using them again this year.

Cheryl

I have had groceries delivered on vacation before, but this time I want to do the shopping and selecting myself. I just need a big grocery store (Food Lion etc) that%26#39;s on the way, and a little closer to the OBX than our starting point in the Norfolk area.

Any other suggestions?

Here%26#39;s a great list of grocers in the Outer Banks:

outerbeaches.com/OuterBanks/…

A word of caution. We never get anything except totally non-perishables until we check in and make sure the place is okay (no power failure, etc.) and...well...that we Have the place.

There are lots of grocers in the Outer Banks as you ask about in your last post so you can always go back out. What we do like to do is have breakfast items for the next day (we can bring them from hom but you can pick them up in advance too in a less crowded area) like cereal, oatmeal, coffee, maybe fruit and then make a quick stop for milk or something, which can be any quickstop type place. You might want to plan so that you do a minimum of shopping on Saturday.

Ellipooh, there is a grocery store just off the toll road you are speaking of. I think it%26#39;s a Harris Teeter. There is also a Target, although I am not sure if it is a Super Target with groceries in it or not. Perhaps someone living in that area will know and respond.

There is a food lion in Granby about 10 minutes from the bridge to the OBX. We usually stop their, its never busy.

Right after the Chesapeake Expwy, there%26#39;s another Food Lion directly on Rt. 168 when you cross the VA/NC border in Moyock, NC.

THANK YOU!!! That%26#39;s *exactly* the kind of information I was looking for. TripAdvisor members come through again!

Grand Father Mountain Area

Hello,

We are planning a long trip from Toronto to South Florida and on our way back, we%26#39;ll be stopping at Atlanta for a couple of days and from Atlanta we want to visit Amicolala Falls (1.5 hour drive), from there we want to drive to Grand Father mountain area (approx 5 hours, I think). We would like to stay in a cabin or a hotel/motel around that area so any recommendation will be helpful.

We%26#39;ll be visiting for 1 day only :(

Grand Father Mountain Area

You could check www. Best Westernbannerelk.com

Smoketree Resort Lodge www.smoketree-lodge.com

Looking for activities and restraurants for kids 8 and 10

We will be in Winston-Salem the week of June 11-18. I could really use some advice on activites and places to eat. We have 2 kids, ages 8 and 10. My daughter is in a school program at Wake Forest. So we need to fill the days with our 8 year old son and look for activities for the entire family on the weekend and at night. What activites are in the area and what restaurants are good, but reasonable in price? I would appreciate any advice.

Looking for activities and restraurants for kids 8 and 10

Here are some daytime activities to consider for your son:

Sciworks--science museum geared towards kids, with lots of hands-on activities and exhibits. See http://www.sciworks.org/

Children%26#39;s Museum of WS-- see http://www.childrensmuseumofws.org/index.html

Old Salem-- http://www.oldsalem.org/

Tanglewood Park-- a huge facility with lots to do, like feeding ducks, swimming, horseback riding, climbing a locomotive, or just walking around. See http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/Tanglewood/

And if you can%26#39;t find enough to do in Winston, consider the following (all are within a hour%26#39;s drive):

Celebration Station (located in Greensboro, about 25 minutes or so from Winston-Salem)-- kids recreation park with miniature golf, batting cages, bumper boats, arcade games, etc. See www.celebrationstation.com/index.php…

Emerald Point (also in Greensboro)--a water park. See http://www.emeraldpointe.com/

The Lazy 5 Ranch (in Mooresville, about 45 minutes)-- a drive-through animal park (or ride their horse-drawn wagons) featuring exotic animals from all over the world. Kids really love this place! See http://www.lazy5ranch.com/aroundtheranch.htm

NC Zoo (in Asheboro, about an hour%26#39;s drive)-- one of the best natural-habitat zoos in the country. See http://www.nczoo.org/

Hanging Rock State Park-- about 30 minutes away, offers hiking, fishing, swimming. See www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/haro/main.php

Kid-friendly restaurants include:

Mellow Mushroom (pizza)

River Birch Lodge

Twin City Diner

Elizabeth%26#39;s Pizza

Oh, and Chuck E. Cheese :)

If you have more questions, please ask!

Looking for activities and restraurants for kids 8 and 10

Good ideas from Arbyunc.

I think Sciworks is pretty cool for a young boy.

Tanglewood Park is nice for being outside. Might be a bit hot in June.

Emerald Point is fun if you want to go to an admission water park.

Instead of the NC Zoo, I%26#39;d suggest the Nature Science Center in Greensboro. They often put the animals up at the Zoo (in the heat). The Nature Science Center just did a huge renovation and added many animals and exhibits.

If you want to try some Lexington style BBQ, try Pig Pickin%26#39;s over near the Joel Coliseum.

Outer Banks or Myrtle for couple?

My boyfriend and I are planning a vacation, but we are torn between Kitty Hawk or Myrtle Beach this year. I own my own childcare business, so I would love to find an area that is less ';kid'; friendly. We love to stay directly on the beach, however we don%26#39;t spend a lot of time there. We like to explore the area around us. We have been to outer banks once before but never myrtle. Since we live in virginia, myrtle would be a longer drive but if it%26#39;s worth it we want to.

Any advice or suggestions would be great!

Outer Banks or Myrtle for couple?

We go to the OBX several times a year. We love the quiet, relaxing atomosphere provided there. But, We do visit Myrtle Beach once in a while. It is a bit different. Myrtle has TONS of nightlife, shows, shops, etc. If you%26#39;ve never been there, I would advise you to check it out at least once.

Outer Banks or Myrtle for couple?

They are very different experiences. The Outer Banks is laid back, more rustic, less ';touristy'; stuff.

Myrtle is a bona fide tourist experience with neon lights, nightlife, amusement parks, etc.

If you want to explore nature, think Outer Banks. If you want to explore man-made stuff, think Myrtle.

need hotel advice

I know nothing about Greensboro, and I need to book a hotel for an event at NC A%26amp;T.

Being an easy drive to campus is a plus, but being in a good area with a comfortable bed is prioroty, since we will only drive from the hotel to campus once or twice.

Looking for 2-3 star chains that typically have good reputations (Hampton, Fairfield, etc.). Would like to stay $125 or under.

Any advice welcome.

Thanks, Miller

need hotel advice

The closest to A %26amp; T would be the Marriott on North Greene Street. Rates should run about $130 plus tax. They have an attached garage for your convenience. Have a good trip!

need hotel advice

The Marriott suggested is nice, but keep in mind, that%26#39;s a downtown location. Not very far from campus though.

Other alternatives (further away) would be off Interstate 40 at High Point road. The Mall as well as many restaurants and hotels are there. A yahoo map search for hotels there would bring up the major ones.

Few Days in Asheville. Thoughts? Suggestions?

We are going to Asheville for a few days. Flying into Charlotte and driving to Asheville. Below is our itinerary. Any thoughts? Changes? Restaurants?

7/2 Drive from Charlotte to Asheville Dinner -Grove Park???

7/3 Day. NC Arboretum Segway Tour. LaZoom Comedy History tour of Asheville. Mast General Store for candy Outdoor concert Shindig on the Green. Overnight Asheville

7/4 Day 2 Biltmore Estates Overnight Asheville

7/5 Day 3 Cataloochee, possible Boogerman Loop Trail? Picnic. Max Patch Bald (Crown Jewel of the Appalachian Trail). Max Patch Loop Hike. To Hot Springs NC through which the AT passes. Hot tub at the river Franklin, Gem mining at Mason Mountain, Perry’s Watergardens. Then take Mountain Waters Scenic Byway to Wayah Bald for picnic and short hike. Then into the gorge, Nantahala Outdoor Center for a whitewater raft trip. Back to Asheville for the night. Any suggestions for White Water Rafting?

7/6 Day 4 To Joyce Kilmer Forest and Cherohala Scenic Byway. Backtrack on Cherohala from TN state line to Robbinsville, take Indian Lakes Scenic Byway, stopping where we want to to see: Lake Santeetlah, continuing loop around to Lake Cheoah, GSNP, and the Fontana Dam, Fontana Lake. jet boat rides on Lake Fontana!

7/7 Home.

Few Days in Asheville. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Day 3 you have way to much to do. I would either do gem mining/Wayah Bald/Rafting one day. Next day do Cataloochee/Max Patch/Hot Springs.

Day 4 will be a lot of driving but doable.

Few Days in Asheville. Thoughts? Suggestions?

7/2 dinner..the views from the Sunset Grill/Chop House at GPI are nice, but the food is not consistent and you can drink on the terrace watch the sunset then eat dinner at the Grovewood Cafe, across the road from the east parking garage at GPI, for a more intimate meal.

7/3 sounds like a great day, leave time to wander the shops in downtown Asheville before Shindig on the Green.

7/4. Check the GPI website and the Biltmore Estates website for July 4th fireworks . There is also a nice display in downtown Asheville.

July 5. WAY too many choices in far-distant venues. I would start with a half-day rafting trip on the French Broad River starting at Barnard , north of Asheville, which you can book through NOC. The French Broad is natural flow, so the water will be wonderfully warm for swimming, falling in, whatever, in July, and more scenic and far less crowded than the Nantahala, which comes off the bottom of Nanatahala Lake and is 54 degrees year round, which is unbelievably cold if you%26#39;re not expecting it.Cheaper, too!

After your rafting trip, drive 10 miles into Hot Springs..eat a late lunch at Paddlers Pub,soak in a natural spring-fed hot tub ( make a reservation!), then drive over the Snowbird Mountains to Cataloochee to be there at sunset when the elk come out of the woods to feed..amazing to see them so close. Spend the night somewhere in Maggie Valley. That way you%26#39;ll be well situated to visit far western NC the following day.

This would be a jam-packed, fun-filled day that you will remember for a long time, unlike gem mining, which you will be disappointed in.

July 6, Day 4, is also a little ambitious with a lot of driving, but doable if you start early.

Have fun!

I definitely agree about day 3. Waaaaaaaay too many activities. Add two more days to your itinerary and you may be able to do most of those things you listed under Day 3.

Day 3, are you planning to go from Asheville first to Cataloochee, then to Max Patch, then to Hot Springs, from there to Nantahala Outdoor Center and back to Asheville? It looks like you are all over a map. You really don%26#39;t have time to include Max Patch. It is going to be a long drive from Cataloochee and part of of it is on a dirt road where you need to use your intuition to chose which way to turn, left or right or maybe straight. If you are using GPS to get to Max Patch prepare yourself to be directed to some strange roads away from your destination. Max Patch is a nice hike with wonderful views and in early May there are fantastic wildflowers but there are so many hiking jewels in the mountains of NC.

On day 4, are you going back to Asheville or spending one night somewhere else? Are you planning to take Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville? It is the most spectacular drives in NC and you need to stop often at overlooks, maybe take a little hike here and there. With your very limited time I can suggest Devils Courthouse, Graveyard, maybe take a detour to Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Waterfalls. But after that you won%26#39;t be able to do everything you want to do on day 4.

I wouldn%26#39;t go to Biltmore July 4. I think I rather spend this day in the Arboretum but some people like all festivities and crowds so maybe this is what you are looking for. There are several trails in the Arboretum and not far away from it there are trails from the parkway. If you have a time then Craggy Gardens are spectacular, views incredible on a clear day and a drive on the parkway extremely scenic. I took a promotional Segway tour at the Arboretum some time ago and truly I wouldn%26#39;t want to pay for it. It takes you to not the most important parts of the arboretum and you won%26#39;t have a time to look around and stop. I visit the Arboretum very often and only once I saw two people using Segway. Those things are always just stored at the lobby. Walking around on your own feet, stopping, enjoying gardens, bonsai, trees, flowers is more rewarding, imho. Ask for a map of hiking trails. You can get from the Arboretum all the way to the lake.

When you are at Biltmore I suggest Bistro at the winery for lunch or dinner. If you want to eat the Inn make sure you have reservation.If you are there on July 4th be prepared for mad crowds.

I just read Mangonboat%26#39;s post and I%26#39;m also voting for rafting near Barnard. She/he gave you great suggestions not only about rafting from Bernard but also about going to Hot Springs after your rafting trip then driving to Snowbird Mountains and Cataloochee for sunset and finally spending that night somewhere in Maggie Valley.

I appreciate all your suggestions. I have a few questions. How far is Asheville and Maggie Valley from Cherrokee? Our son is going to be in Cherrokee, NC. Is there anything special to do in Cherrokee? What do you think about the Smoky Mountain Train ride. We are going to be traveling with my parents and in laws and don%26#39;t want to make the trip too rigorous.

Thanks for all your help.

Travelling with seniors, I would prioritize Biltmore which will be a tiring but wonderful day. If they like to shop or see galleries, then Biltmore Village just outside the estate and Downtown Asheville will appeal. Also don%26#39;t miss the Blue Ridge Parkway which can be taken at your own pace, pulling over to enjoy or stretch. There is a brand spankin new BRP visitor center in Asheville, I haven%26#39;t been but it looks pretty good and would give you an overview. Also in Asheville off the BRP is the Folk Art Center

See: http://www.exploreasheville.com/index.aspx

Cherokee is the NC gateway to the Great Smokys National Park which should be your third major place to see. It%26#39;s about an hour from Asheville via I40 and Great Smokies Expressway or 3+ if you take the Blue Ridge Parkway (with stops). The Oconoluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum at the park entrance in Cherokee is a good level walking area and the rangers are so helpful. Pick up a park map. From there you should drive into the park and see what appeals, historic Mingus Mill, overlooks. I would caution that Clingmans Dome which is the highest point in GSNP is reached by a paved but fairly steep 1/2 mile climb at a 6000%26#39; elevation which could be challenging if your seniors have health issues It%26#39;s beautiful but so are the many overlooks. Here is the official National Park Service Website: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/

I love that you are taking your parents and inlaws on the trip. I have wonderful memories of travelling with my mom and grandmother when they were getting on in years, it was hard at times but now I wouldn%26#39;t trade it for anything.

';Unto These Hills'; is an outdoor drama performed at Cherokee almost every night during the summer and it is a beautiful, poignant insight into a history and culture most Americans are not familiar with.

If you have time , go to your local library or bookstore and pick up ';Thirteen Moons';, Charles Frazier%26#39;s second novel that got bashed by critics, mostly because it wasn%26#39;t Cold Mountain ( a hard act to follow). It is rich in minimally fictionalized places, history and country you will be in the middle of when you visit.

scars

Family Vacation in 2010...what island to stay on?

I am trying to start planning our family vacation for Summer 2010 (probably July after the 4th). I have never been to the OB or NC, so I am not really sure what island would be the best to stay on. There will be 8 of us (my husband%26#39;s parents and then his siblings/spouses...the six of us are in our mid-late 20s) and we would like to rent a house on the beach with a private pool. Any suggestions on what island would be good and the best website to find rentals would be great!

Family Vacation in 2010...what island to stay on?

Well in the outer banks there is only one island-Ocracoke, the rest of the areas are small towns.

Starts up north near the VA border in Corova, Corolla, Duck Southern Shores, Nag%26#39;s Head area (which includes Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, South Nag%26#39;s Head), then on down south to the quieter section of the banks: Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, and Hatteras. Ocracoke is a 40 minute ferry ride from Hatteras.

The Corolla/Duck area is more upscale with not a lot of nightlife or entertainment-still crowded.

Nag%26#39;s Head area has the variety of restaurants, stores, entertainment-typical mini golf etc...

Southern OBX is quieter with less entertainment, slower, but still has restaurants etc...

Ocracoke is a really beautiful island, very laid back, but no oceanfront accomodations.

What other activities are you interested in, nightlife, kids?

Family Vacation in 2010...what island to stay on?

There are many reputable real estate companies from which to rent. A few that we%26#39;ve used and have been happy with are Elan Vacations, Brindley Beach (formerly Resort Quest), Southern Shores Realty, and Twiddy.

I would suggest an oceanfront house if you can swing it financially. IMO there is simply nothing like staying right on the beach.

We prefer the Duck area - it%26#39;s not too far from stuff but still feels not too hectic. (Specifically we like the Sanderling Subdivision - not to be confused with the Sanderling Inn.) But everybody has their preference for area. My guess is that you%26#39;ll like wherever you stay though.

You%26#39;ll probably want a pretty big house with that many couples so you might find the best selection in Duck or Corolla.

Have fun.

LynnVB-

Thanks for correcting me...cities not islands. And are there really no beach front properties? I find that hard to believe.... We are mostly just interested in lounging on the beach and maybe going out to dinner or for drinks a few nights.

Carmen57-

Thanks for the references, I will check those out!

No beachfront on Ocracoke-all other areas you will have many beachfronts to choose from.

The Outer Banks aren%26#39;t the only option in NC. There are beautiful beaches all the way down the coast that you can consider.

(I know-I just made this a little more complicated. Sorry!)

Key will be what pace do you want, and how much do you want to spend.

Of all the NC beaches I have ';tried on';, I like Topsail Island north of Wilmington the best.

Lynne the entire OBX is islands....barrier islands. On those islands exist towns. And Ocracoke isn%26#39;t the only ';island'; island...you also have Roanoke Island.

If there%26#39;s 8 of you in mixed ages the main drag (Kitty Hawk, KDH, Nags Head) may be your best bet. That%26#39;s where the highest concentration of restaurants, attractions, nightlife and shopping is.

If you want a bit more subdued than I%26#39;d look to the Northern section (Southern Shores, Duck, Corolla).

If you%26#39;re looking to park the car, firmly plant yourself on a beach, and not have to touch the car again than somewhere along Hattaras or Ocracoke is your best bet.

Technically a barrier island, yes I know-I was explaining from the perspective that you can access all the areas by car except for Ocracoke.

Lynn VB has given a very accurate summary. Last month my husband and I spent a few days on Ocracoke Island, a couple of days in Corolla, and several days in Nags Head/ Kill Devil Hills (for our son%26#39;s weddding). The three areas are quite different, but each has its merits.