Surf or Sound Realty - Horrible Experience

Be careful who you rent your vacation home from. We went for 2 weeks in July to Avon and rented through Surf or Sound Realty. Our home ';On Island Time #515'; was filthy. There were numerous safety issues, like live wires near the hot tub and smoke alarms off the walls. The couch in our main living room was torn and stained beyond belief. Even when they had the professional come in to clean it, he couldn%26#39;t remove all the stains. The couch should have been thrown away. It was disgusting. Bugs smeared all over the walls, screens missing and torn from the windows. Lack of furniture around pool and throughout home. Broken Chairs, Kitchen was not stocked properly with utensils and kitchen tools. After contacting Surf or Sound to remedy some of these situations, they stuck us with their Office Manager that was not customer friendly. She was very mean, yelling at my children and myself when her company dropped the ball on this house. The house should not have been rented. Very difficult office staff to deal with. I was told never to rent through them again. This is Discrimination. My family didn%26#39;t do all this to the home. We spent a lot of money on our ';Dream 2 week vacation'; and were highly disappointed. Whatever you do, don%26#39;t rent with Surf or Sound Realty. Unless, you want to be disappointed with your vacation home and the staff. Use the other well respected realtors in the area. They are much more customer oriented and try to make things right. Surf or Sound was horrible.

Surf or Sound Realty - Horrible Experience

(tried to send this earlier but didn%26#39;t go thru so sorry if it appears twice!)

I%26#39;m sorry you had such a bad vacation - too bad you didn%26#39;t enter Surf or Sound Realty in this forum before you booked with them. You would have seen dozens and dozens of complaints similar to yours. We have always had great luck with Hatteras Realty and Outer Beaches Realty.

If you are new to this forum check out the comments on the realty companies before making a reservation!

Surf or Sound Realty - Horrible Experience

Sorry you had such a horrible time due to your realty company. Please don%26#39;t think this is true of all rental companies on OBX. My family has rented houses through Stan White, Joe Lamb, and Carolina Designs, with little to no problems.

We also had a bad Surf or Sound experience. The refrigerator in the house we were renting wasn%26#39;t working when we arrived, and most of the week went by before it was fixed. No apology from Surf or Sound (and no discount because apparently a fridge isn%26#39;t ';essential';). This was in a rather expensive, 6 bedroom house with a private pool. That was several years ago. Since then we have been renting from Outer Beaches and have had a much better experience.

Drat! Not what I want to hear. We%26#39;re going with Surf or Sound for the first time this year. Usually we go with Hatteras Realty but we needed a larger house.

If I were you, depending on how much money you have put down already, I would try to get out of it. You need to read all of the posts on this website under Surf or Sound. I can%26#39;t believe they are still in business with the way they treat their customers! If you can%26#39;t get out of it, be sure to take pictures of anything that is wrong with the home as soon as you walk in. Be sure to let them know of anything that is wrong, even though they won%26#39;t do anything about it. What house did you end of renting? I think if you get a brand new home, you should be ok.

We%26#39;re getting #333 Bramasole. I%26#39;m not sure how old it is. We%26#39;ve already paid 50% and I don%26#39;t know that we could get another rental at this point...

Sorry you had such a bad experience. We have not rented from SurforSound, but were considering it for a trip this May. When I called to inquire about heated pools, etc, the reservationist was rude, and not interested in helping us find the best accomodations for our needs. I hung up the phone, and will never consider them now or in the future.

Hello. I saw your posts here about the ';on island time'; house and Surf or Sound realty. That really sounds horrible. If anyone is interested, I have a very nice family oriented home for weekly rental. It has no pool and is a bit smaller, but I keep it very clean and make sure the tenants are satisfied. The house is in Avon. Below is the link. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Thanks,

John

http://www.vrbo.com/129687

Surf or Sound when they first stated got all the new expensive places. I checked the pricing this year and noticed that their rates were cheaper than Midgett, Hatteras or Outer Beaches. I never did use Surf or Sound but almost did this year. I have uased the other three extensively and if I lived closer I probably would have bought a place years ago, But living 6 to 7 hours away is too far to check on a property.

Not much difference between the other three rental companies...I have had many more good experiences with them than bad ones. I do not like how Outer Beaches website is now.

A friend of mine rented from a friend of his who owns a place Hatteras or Buxton..I cannot remember. This guy told my friend that when they purchased they were looking at a lot of houses with different realty companies. One house they looked at...generation 1980s, Oceanfront...they were told not to buy because it was haunted. Anyone heard of a haunted house on Hatteras....I just thought about it because it probably is a Surf or Sound rental! Seriously about the story.

It is amazing that any business would allow their customers to be treated like that. Evidently they feel that there are so many people they will never run out of potential customers. It is evident that they have not heard of Internet Reviews, and they don%26#39;t realize that by mistreating one person can cost them many $$$$.

I did notice that another Poster added a link to their cottage, that could be the way to go. Rent from someone who values each customer. We also have a rental and since it is only 2 bedrooms will not take away from the first poster. Any one who just need tow bedrooms in a neat, clean, and very reasonable cottage give us a call. www.sandsoftimecampground.com Click on the link COTTAGE.

Thoughts om Memorial Day 09

Surf City Police need to get their act together and come up withg a traffic plan for Surf City.They need to have Officers directing traffic at the stoplight and near by intersections on weekends and Holidays.I have never seen so many Idiots without a clue as to what they are doing or where they are going.

Thoughts om Memorial Day 09

My thoughts on Mermorial Day are not about traffic, picnics, Nascar races, but for more important things, people... The brave men and women and their families, past and present, who have fought for our freedom.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but this is what we have to remember, people have fought and died to give us our rights , yes to even our right to b**ch about traffic.

So fly your flags high, attend a Mermorial Day parade, visit a local Vet. center, buy a poppy from the vets. Show your pride in our country in your own way, but please remember the reason for this special day. Especially with Camp Lejeune being a close neighbor, a lot of military families enjoy the island also!

Happy Holidays.

Thoughts om Memorial Day 09

I%26#39;m Sorry, But I did attend The Memorial Day Service at the Veterans Cemetery Today on the FIFTH ANNIVERSITY of MY FATHER%26#39;S Death Today and felt a little Aggravated when I got back to this Place.

And He was a Veteran and the MAYOR of this Town for two terms.ButHow was Your Day ?

Eh, you have to expect crazy, backed up traffic on busy holiday weekends in popular vacation areas. It%26#39;s nothing new and it%26#39;s not unique to Surf City.

All the crowds were good to see. It was good for business and good for the local economy.

A good tip for locals and visitors alike is to avoid accessing the island via the Surf City swing bridge on summer Saturdays or holidays between about 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. if traffic bothers you.

The highrise bridge into North Topsail Beach might add 20 minutes or so to your time but if you%26#39;d rather add that time than sit in traffic, it would be worth it. Traffic flows steadily over that bridge with no stopping or slow downs.

Once you get to Surf City via NTB, if you are going south of the traffic light, get off Hwy 210 and go one road closer to the ocean (North Topsail Drive) to end up at the traffic signal and not stuck in traffic as you get closer to Roland Avenue.

scars

ie hosted control

1st visit to outer banks, driving from Charleston to Maine,

this will be our 1st visit to the Outer Banks. After leaving a child in Charleton for college we are heading back to Maine. We are planning on taking 3-4 days back. We love the beach and would like to relax for a couple of days. Would Corolla be a good place to relax for a couple of days? Is it a reasonable spot to stop enroute from Charleston? We are considering the Hampton Inn in Corolla, we want to stay on the beach and it will probably be the weekend of aug. 21st. Any suggestions for a great place to hang out at the beach for two days. Thanks in advance.

1st visit to outer banks, driving from Charleston to Maine,

Very nice hotel. Great location. Sounds like the perfect spot for 2 days of R%26amp;R. Have fun!

Franklin, NC - Gem Mining

We%26#39;re going to Franklin soon. We want to visit gem mines but not sure which ones since there are so many! No kids-- Just me and my husband! Which mines are the best for gem mining? Which places offer the best advice, tell you what to look for, etc.,? I%26#39;m a teacher and would like to take back ';something'; to show my students.

THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE!

Franklin, NC - Gem Mining

As to which is %26#39;best';, well that is one%26#39;s own interpitation. But there are several in the area. Do a search for ';gem mine franklin nc'; and click on the first one, which is the franklin CoC. On there you will see ';gem mines'; click there and then on MAP. You will see all in the area. If you notice the ';Rose creeck mine and Mason mine'; these are two that you will GET some gems in your buckets. Try one or both or even several. There are ';rock shops'; that will even evaluate and cut your stones that you find and will send them back to you after cutting. I have done this and was satisfied with the results. I have no preferance as to which is ';best'; but I would say try the rose creek first and then maybe mason mine. The one on cowee valley rd has ';natural (ruby) stones'; but a lot LESS of the other gems. Most all of the mines will have bags or buckets with ';enhanced'; gems from all over. If you buy buckets with only natural stones then you will find FAR less in then compared to enhanced buckets.

There are other places in NC that have gems like CANTON having natural rubys, Spruce pines which have emerals and other gems. Also Hiddenite which has quite a few differant gems, but you have to dig there for your riches.

I hope this helps and where ever you go, happy hunting. jim

ps Take along some OLD clothes that you don%26#39;t mind getting real dirty.

Franklin, NC - Gem Mining

My family and I mined the Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine several times while I was in college and enjoyed that experience. We also liked the gold and gem mine in Cherokee. At the Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine, you can actually buy bags of dirt to take back with you to show your students how to mine. You have to understand that most (if not all) of the mining companies ';enrich'; their bags. You%26#39;re not really getting the true mining experience because of this. I guess they want to guarantee success for each of their customers. If you go to Hiddenite near Statesville, you can get make the choice to get the ';real'; experience. It may be the same way at the emerald mines near Spruce Pine. Just remember that it%26#39;s all about the fun of the experience. I don%26#39;t believe you%26#39;ll be disappointed.

Have a great time!

If you%26#39;re looking for a non-commercial adventure in mining, try driving out Hwy 64 towards Murphy from Franklin to the Nantahala Forest. Turn left onto Deep Gap Rd (brown forestry sign) and drive down to the first campsite on the right. Armed with nothing more than a kitchen strainer %26amp; garden trowel, you can sift the garnets out of the sand in the creek %26amp; tell them all how you did it for free.

deltasunshine: Where exactly is Deep Gap Road? Is it in Hayesville or Murphy? I have a couple places in Murphy and am headed up there at the end of the week and want to check out the creek area you described, but can%26#39;t picture where Deep Gap is? Can you give me a landmark besides the forestry sign? Hopefully you will read this and let me know before I leave. micb63: We have gone gem mining at the Sapphire mine in Franklin (gave advice, showed us what to look for, etc.), they had regular buckets and fortified buckets. It is a blast, I also brought rubber gloves, flip flops, brought towels, bottled water to rinse off feet and wet ones to clean off before getting back in the car, it is very dirty, and fun for all ages, have a great time wherever you go!

We had our best experience at Gold City, a few miles above Franklin. I found a beautiful, native emerald and had it cut into a 2 carat gem. One of my kids found a native sapphire that was cut into 5 carats. We also found native rubies. They were slightly expensive ($25 a bucket and up) but as for the experience it was the most fun for our kids. Everyone found something of value and we learned how to identify rough gems. It wasn%26#39;t crowded, weather was nice and cool, trough was covered and plenty of room to spread out, people working there were extremely helpful and nice. I want to visit other mines when I return but I will definitely go back to Gold City. We visited one featured on the Travel Channel and were less than impressed and wouldn%26#39;t go back there ever again. I found the Franklin Chamber of Commerce website to have wonderful information on the mines. There is printable map on the website that shows the location of the mines.

It%26#39;s a late response but better late than never. My girlfriend and I go to the Franklin area at least 3 times a year to gem mine. We like Cherokee Ruby Mine because they don%26#39;t ';salt'; (enrich) their buckets. The staff is SO helpful and never seem to tire of your questions....no matter how many you ask. If you are members of M.A.G.M.A. (Mountain Area Gem %26amp; Mineral Association) you get discounts on the entry fee and bucket cost. Visit them. You won%26#39;t be disappointed. FYI: Bring a picnic basket and lots of water. There are no vending machines.

I went last year to Rose%26#39;s and had a ball! I found some nice stones and it wasn%26#39;t too expensive. I think you%26#39;d probably be fine anywhere.

Another mine that does not ';enrich'; is Mason%26#39;s Ruby %26amp; Saphire Mine www.masonsrubyandsapphiremine.com/index.htm they have shaded flumes and concessions but charge $30 for as long as you want to stay.

Cherokee is the only other that does not enrich. Not shaded and no snacks, but there is a $7 entry fee and $2.50 per bucket.

Sorry, that%26#39;s Cherokee Ruby Mine @

http://www.cherokeerubymine.com/index.php

Cherokee Ruby Mine and Mason Ruby %26amp; Sapphire Mine (Not Mason Mountain), are definately the way to go for the ';real'; mining experience. Ray, Tony, and Maria over at Cherokee are terrific very helpful people. They really give you an education on how to sluice and what to look for. As other posters have said, you should bring your own lunch, snacks and drinks, also rubber gloves are helpful and bring either ziploc bags or a cup for your finds. Maria provided us with empty pill bottles which was great. Only negative thing I have to say is the benches are too close to the flume and it is back breaking after a few hours. Mason Mine had a shaded waist high flume area, and you can actually go to the mine cave to dig. Expect to get wet and dirty at either location(wear boots!) but it%26#39;s a blast!

Clam Bakes on the beach?

Our family will be visiting the Outer Banks this year for the first time. We are having a family reunion celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary. We will be renting a house in the Village of Corolla.

Does anyone know if we can hire someone to cook us a clambake on the beach? Is this even allowed and if so, any suggestions as to whom we should use?

Thanks so much!

Clam Bakes on the beach?

Check out obxconnection.com. The people on there know everything there is to know and should be able to answer your questions. TA (this forum) is great. However obxconnection is all about the Outer Banks and they are quite specific in their answers there. Many homeowners, return vacationers, and natives will help you.

Clam Bakes on the beach?

There are places that will provide you with a custom made clam bake (see Steamers Shellfish to Go) right in Corolla (Tim Buck II) - awesome stuff, very fresh. As for setting up a party on the beach itself, that%26#39;s something I haven%26#39;t heard of or seen in 20 years of visiting there. There are no bonfires allowed in Corolla, which would be a nice beach party element - sorry. I guess you could set up your bech chairs in a circle and bring coolers with your drinks and extras and then just haul the clam bake down to the beach with you. Personally, with the volume of people who are on the beach in the evening along with their pets (dogs), it%26#39;s nice, but not necessarily romantic in a private party sense. If you are in a large beach house, that might be nicer. If it has a pool, you could always set up the party around the pool. Just suggestion.

Here%26#39;s the link to steamers - http://www.steamersshellfishtogo.com/

Thank you for this great information. We do have a large house with a pool, that sounds like a better idea!

Local Seafood Prices

How much would one expect to pay for ';local'; seafood at places in the Northern Banks? Mahi costs upwards of $14 per pound here in Middle Tennessee and I am really, really hoping to catch a real deal on mahi and tuna for dinners at the rental in Duck.

Please if you have recommendations of seafood stores or groceries with the best prices in the Corolla to Kill Devil Hills vicinity I would greatly appreciate it.

I am only asking because trips to the Gulf beaches were met with even higher seafood prices than I get here.

Thanks Y%26#39;all.

Local Seafood Prices

You can find fresh seafood at the local Food Lion and Harris Teeter, you should be able to pull up thier websites and search thier specials to see prices or call them directly. I know that there is also a speciality seafood store in the Food Lion plaza; I cannot remember the name - but, a simple search should help you find it - they may even have a website.

I have found most prices to be comparable to where we live - NW PA.

Biltmore Estate: how to make the best of our time there?

Hello,

We will be in Gatlinburg the first week of June and we want to include a 1 day trip to Biltmore Estate in our vacation plan. We want to make the best of our time there and we plan on arriving no later than 10:30am in the morning. We will also buy admission tickets online, to save time and few bucks. I am thinking to add the audio tour, but are there any other extras we should consider adding (specialty tours?).

We want to see the interior of the house, but also have a chance to visit the gardens and the winery (we are not wine drinkers, but I still think it%26#39;s worth stopping by). I know the estate is huge and it is impossible to see it all in 1 day (or 5-6 hours), but do you have any tips that you can share to make the best of our time while visiting there?

Thank you,

Monica

Biltmore Estate: how to make the best of our time there?

Hi Monica-

Buying your tickets online is a great way to go. Definitely get the audio tour - self guided really leaves you wanting explanations of everything. As much as you want to see the winery, I don%26#39;t suggest you try to fit it in. It%26#39;s great, but the house is unbelievable and huge - the real reason to visit.

I would focus on the house first (make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes - there are lots of stairs and it%26#39;s a lot of walking in general). Once you%26#39;ve finished touring the house, focus the rest of your time walking around the gardens- they%26#39;re wonderful. If you ever have time to return, take time then to visit the winery and the farm village. If you%26#39;re planning a repeat visit down the road, make it in the spring (when the grounds are spectacular during the spring flower festival) or the fall (when the leaves turn) - both are fantastic times to visit.

Enjoy!

Tara

Biltmore Estate: how to make the best of our time there?

Great advice, Tara! We will tour the house with the audio tour, check out the gardens and save the rest for a future visit.

Personally I think you can do it all in 5-6 hours without being rushed. Definitely tour the house and get the audio. They have just updated the audio tour to not only tell you about the rooms, but to include stories of the people that lived there and their lives. (makes it a bit more personal so you can relate with the people of that time). The gardens are a must and then head over to the winery. You can grab some lunch at the Bistro and browse in the gift shop. You will have a great time.

We will definitely tour the house (with the audio tour) and the gardens, have lunch at the Bistro and if we still have time we will check out the winery too. It will be a long day considering that we also have to drive from Gatlinburg and back, but we will take it easy the next day :)

I just hope for good weather while we are there!

database

Anyone stayed at Sand Dunes in Myrtle Beach? Need to know.

Seen several bad reviews about this resort in myrtle beach and want to know if anyone has been recently and can give an update on the property and rooms.

Anyone stayed at Sand Dunes in Myrtle Beach? Need to know.

I think you should post this on the South Carolina Forum.

Anyone stayed at Sand Dunes in Myrtle Beach? Need to know.

I posted it there as well. Know lots of people from this area that go to Myrtle Beach.

scars

Looking for hotel in Asheville, NC with a kiddie pool

Anyone know of any hotels in the Asheville area with a kiddie pool, baby pool, children%26#39;s pool? We are looking one for a late summer trip.

Thanks!

Looking for hotel in Asheville, NC with a kiddie pool

I do not know of any kiddie pools at any of the area hotels, but there are several family friendly hotels that have pools. Let me know if you are interested in those.

Looking for hotel in Asheville, NC with a kiddie pool

Hello 88keees!

Unfortunately, I%26#39;m not sure either, but the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville and the Holiday Inn Biltmore East are both advertising a ';Children%26#39;s Pool'; so I would check with them.

Enjoy your stay!

Fishing

Does anybody know of any small private/public lakes, ponds nearby (Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Rural Hall, King) that would be a good place to take toddlers fishing? We loved Tommy%26#39;s Lake when they were around (Stanleyville).

Thanks.

Fishing

Try Salem Lake or the ponds in Tanglewood.

Oak Island Accommodations

Has anyone else had negative experience with this rental company

Oak Island Accommodations

I have always had great experience with them. I have rented small condos to large homes and even a motel room from them and have always had great service.

Oak Island Accommodations

Oh good that makes me fell better. After reading the negative postings I was a little worried. I am flying to NC from Oregon and then driving from Greensboro to Oak Island for week of MUCH needed vacation. As an Oak Island regular...any suggestions for activites, dining etc.

We have been going on vacation to Oak Island for 15 years and have rented from Oak Island Accommodations many times. I have to say I am astonished by the comments here, as our experiences all have been positive. I can%26#39;t say the same for another company on the island that has now gone out of business. Every house we have rented from OIA has been clean and maintained and I got an immediate response whenever there were problems with anything, such as burned out light bulbs.

As for things to do - understand this is a quiet place. People go here who really like to hang out on the beach, ride bikes, swim, boat, fish, etc. Don%26#39;t expect the carnival-like atmosphere of Myrtle Beach. What we%26#39;ve done in the past - kids love the mini golf course and arcade on the island. Off island we%26#39;ve gone to Wilmington and toured the Battleship North Carolina, and visited the really nice state aquarium, and toured Fort Fisher. There%26#39;s also a big wave-pool type place in Wilmington. A boat ride around Cape Fear is nice, especially in the evening.

Daisy - Thank you so much for your reply. The quiet is the main reason we are going to Oak Island area....at our ages 43 and 46 we have ';been there/done that'; with the busy scene. Thanks for the suggestions. REALLY looking forward to vacation...first one in almost 18 mos !!!!!

I just used them last week for the first time. I was initially apprehensive, because we arrived at 3pm for check-in and the house was not ready. Housekeeping finished at 3:45 and the house was in good condition. The pictures on the website accurately represented the house....thank goodness, no surprises. I think the prices were quite reasonable. I loved the fact that were no extra surchages, just the taxes.

Which rental property did you stay at? Were you ultimately satisfied with your rental? I have already paid for the week..I fly out next Wed (6/18) and will be staying week of 6/21st. I too was apprehensive after reading the negative posts.....Did you enjoy Oak Island? Any suggestions for things to do, places to eat etc.

We stayed at Red Wing Retreat. It is located way down on West Beach. The weather was absolutely beautiful. I planned all these side trips and then no one wanted to leave the beach. The water was quite warm for this time of year. It is amazing the water temperature difference between Nags Head, NC and Oak Island, NC. Every afternoon, the water becomes very calm. It is almost like swimming in a large pool. Perfect for kids. Oak Island is very low-key. There is not a lot to do. I saw one putt-putt course and a few restaurants. We went to a restaurant located at the Marina Point (I believe it is called Fish House) at the end of the island. My sister and I went to the movies one evening...left the husbands to watch the kids. Movie tickets were $6.50 each. I can%26#39;t remember the last time I saw those prices. We went into Southport one evening for dinner. It is very quaint. They have a park that overlooks the water. We ate at Cape Fear restaurant overlooking the water. I wasn%26#39;t overly impressed, but I was recommended Provisions. You may have better luck there. Have fun!

We have a terrible rental- and we are in it right now!! See my post on ';uncle ed%26#39;s';, 123 east beach drive. posted 6-10-08. OIA should be ashamed to represent this property as ';rentable';. This is a disgusting place that we rented from Oak Island Accomodations and I would not rent anything from them again. It is filthy, unkempt and dangerous; broken dishes, broken glassware, faucet knobs broken and rusty. See my posting for more negative details. Too bad for us. Don%26#39;t let it happen to you.

M - Tried to find your complete post under ';uncle ed%26#39;s'; but was unsuccessful. Can you help

I have stayed with Oak Island Accommodations many times and reccomended family members to stay here. They have always come through with excellent service and dependability. For those that have had problems, did you report them to the office at check-in? OIA will take care of any houskeeping or maintenance issues as soon as possible. The only thing they can not control as their homes are privated owned are the furnishings (decor).

Rental House opinion wanted

I am looking at renting Carolina Calypso from ResortQuest in Monteray Shores resortquestouterbanks.com/rental/house.html…

Does anyone have any insight into this it seems cheaper than most similar properties.

Thanks

Rental House opinion wanted

Hi sourw! For a soundside house that appears as it does in the photos, and with those ammenities, I think the rates seem about right. I have stayed in Monteray Shores, but not in that home. Let me know if you have any other questions.

MB

Rental House opinion wanted

If you are still looking for a rental, I highly suggest the Currituck Club. It is a beautiful soundside community with amazing views as well as amenities. This community boasts 3 pools for everyone%26#39;s use. Also most rental homes have private pools and spas. There is a fitness center, tennis courts and a golf course. A free trolley runs through the entire neighborhood to take you to the beach. Try Outer Banks Blue Realty(outerbanksblue.com) for homes that are available, particularly CC005 and CC008.

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

You can go to www.maps.live.com and get a bird%26#39;s eye view of the house. It looks like a very nice house. We paid $3400 for a soundside house with Corolla Light amenenties last summer and we really liked it. Keep in mind, the sound sunsets are absolutely breathtaking, but you really don%26#39;t want to get into the water there. It%26#39;s mucky and lots of creatures in it. You will have to cross Rt 12 to get to the ocean. It wasn%26#39;t a problem where we were and we only had to go about three streets to the beach, so it all depends on what you want. I don%26#39;t know how busy hwy 12 is there. It wasn%26#39;t bad where we were.

I want to make a quilt

Anniversary Dinner?

Where%26#39;s the best place for a nice anniversary dinner? Doesn%26#39;t have to be fancy but nice with good food. My husband is more of a meat %26amp; potatoes kind of guy but I love just about anything so a place with a good variety would work. We have tickets for the final dress rehearsal of ';The Lost Colony'; for the same night so something not too far away from Manteo would be best. Got any feedback on The Colington Cafe or Tale of the Whale? These two look to be possibilities. Any suggestions on those or any other place that might be better? Thanks.

Anniversary Dinner?

Colington Cafe is great, and would be a perfect anniversary dinner spot. I would substitute JK%26#39;s in Kill Devil Hills for Tale of the Whale. Much better food, and good atmosphere, too. In Manteo, there is also 1587..pricey, but really good.

Anniversary Dinner?

I agree with Kill, Colington Cafe is perfect. Ask for a private room or a small one rather than the big one upstair, but any are good. The food is wonderful and they take reservations.

Tale is good, I go there a lot but JK%26#39;s would be better if you like steak. Owens would be a better choice in my opinion, it%26#39;s always great. 1587 is over on the waterfront in Manteo but I have never been a big fan of it or any restaurant Donny runs.

Avoid Basnight%26#39;s Lone Cedar at all cost unless not being able to talk across the table because of the noise is desired, which I doubt it is.

i absolutely agree w/ Colington Cafe. It would be my 1st choice. Tale of the Whale would be good too (i%26#39;ve never had a bad meal there).

Colington Cafe would be my first choice, Owens%26#39; Restaurant would be second and Tale of the Whale would be third.

Colington Cafe - most definitely.

Colington Cafe, Flying Fish, or Owens. I would say Blue Point, but its too far away. You get a beautiful sunset at the Blue Point, and the food is outstanding.

Sound side beach suggestions...

We discovered today that the sound water is MUCH warmer than the ocean. Do you have any suggestions on beach areas along the sound? We are staying in Duck. Thanks.

Sound side beach suggestions...

It is warmer because it is very shallow, maybe 2-5 feet. There is very very little beach there and the mud and weeds and marsh will not be to your liking, that is why not many go over to the sound. You can find an area here and there where there is a little beach but much of those areas are privately owned and not open to the public. Duck has a new city dock on the sound but I have been out there in my jet ski and there is no beach, just grass and weeds.

Sound side beach suggestions...

We stayed soundfront in Corolla a few years back and while it was great for kayaking and sunsets - I wouldn%26#39;t suggest it for swimming. I don%26#39;t know of any beach areas on the soundfront in the northern areas...

If you are looking for a nice sound-side with actual beach and nice water, the sound on Topsail Island is nice. There is a public beach access at the very southern end of the island on the sound side and a lot of people go there with small children for swimming.

I agree though, if you are looking to stay up north at areas round the OBX, the sound up there is mucky and not nice for swimming.

I grew up going to the sound when I was a kid, and took our kids there. Its fine, but we had a house in Southern Shores, where there is a beach for residents and guests. I%26#39;ll bet there is one somewhere on the north beaches.

scars

Best/most scenic Mountainous area in NC?

Hi. I am thinking about taking a weekend trip to NC, but I%26#39;m unsure of where the best mountain area for scenic beauty and stuff to do like eating BBQ, etc. Can anyone please tell me which part of NC is best for this? If you can recommend lodging I%26#39;d greatly appreciate that too. Thanks

K

Best/most scenic Mountainous area in NC?

Just about anywhere in the mountains offers scenic beauty. A few standouts are the Linville Gorge area, the Black Mountains (includes Mt. Mitchell), the Great Smokies National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway (a must, IMO), Nantahala Gorge, and the Pisgah National Forest, along with many others (just google any of the above for more info).

You can pretty much forget about good barbecue in the mountains. I love the mountains, but for some reason those people just never figured out how to cook a pig properly. Sorry, but you%26#39;ll have to travel to eastern NC to get the real thing. :)

Best/most scenic Mountainous area in NC?

Give us a little more info - are you driving here? From where? Flying in? To which airport? How much time will you have? Thanks.

Where will you be coming from? My two favorite areas are the Blue Ridge Parkway from Blowing Rock south and US #64 from Brevard to Highlands. There are plenty of attractions in either area and the towns of Blowing Rock, brevard and Cashiers/Highlands can serve as a good base with all kinds of accomodations and plenty of good restaurants-but, as ARBYUNC so correctly stated-none serving good barbeque.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a beautiful drive, especially around the Blowing Rock and Asheville areas. Some of it is closed, due to repair, but not much.

North Carolina Bar B Que is different, so this answer would depend on what you like and what kind you are looking for. It is a personal preference. If you are in Blowing Rock, the best is Woodlands.

A little more information, would help us---- help you!

Whaleshead Beach

Just booked a house for August in Whaleshead Beach.

Located at 1006 Corolla Drive.

Is anyone familiar with the area?

Anything you can tell me about it would be much appreciated.

Whaleshead Beach

Here%26#39;s a link to a bird%26#39;s eye view of this place.

…live.com/…

If that doesn%26#39;t work, go to www.maps.live.com and then type in the address. It looks like it%26#39;s about three streets from the ocean. Whalehead is a little south of the actual town of Corolla. You will be near Timbuk II shopping and close to the Food Lion and Harris Teeter grocery stores. If you go to obxconnection.com, you can get lots of help from locals and frequent visitors. We went to Corolla for the first time last summer and loved it.

Whaleshead Beach

Wow- thanks for the great info. I will definitely check out that website. The map was great to see how close we%26#39;ll really be to the beach!

Thanks.

Fresh Seafood to Cook at Home

Where is the best place to buy fresh seafood that we can cook at home?

Fresh Seafood to Cook at Home

When are you visiting and what seafood will you be looking for? Try Holden Beach Seafood on highway 130. Also, sometimes shrimp / fish can be purchased from roadside vendors at reduced prices depending on timing. Local oysters only in Fall / Winter months. Making me hungry...enjoy!

Fresh Seafood to Cook at Home

Captain Pete%26#39;s is on Holden Beach and they have the best. They are kind of under the bridge underneath the causeway.

Yeah...forgot to mention Captain Pete%26#39;s...excellent choice.

server

Betty's Waterfront Restaurant

Is this place still open? I tried calling to see what time they opened and no one answered.

Betty's Waterfront Restaurant

Yes, they are still open. They may be closed right now for the season, but most of the restaurants opened up around March 1 for the season. Hope this helps!

Lisa

Betty's Waterfront Restaurant

Thanks! I%26#39;m asking this cause I am going down to visit Holden Beach and this is my favorite restaurant. I noticed that there is a listing online saying that they are for sale. Thanks again!

yes they are still open. the thirsty turtle, the bar, opens at 4pm, as does te restaurant i think. great crab here, most other selections are fried, but it%26#39;s all good!

That is great news! I am going down to Holden Beach this week and I really wanted to eat there. Thanks!

have you alos tried the crab cakes at the provision company or the bucket of oysters at blackbeards?

I%26#39;m actually gonna try the crab cakes at Provisions. The weather doesn%26#39;t look to promising this week. I haven%26#39;t been down there in 4 years. It looks like nothing has changed. I ask about Betty%26#39;s cause there is a website that has Betty%26#39;s for sale and when I tried to called them, no one answered. Thanks.

Run, don%26#39;t walk away from Betty%26#39;s!! We%26#39;ve been coming to Holden beach for 15+ years, Betty%26#39;s used to be the place to go but the last two visits were awful.

Last visit could not get a glass of wine, something about permits, but could get a beer??? Crablegs had to be sent back - inedible, too long in the freezer I think.

What a shame it used to be the place to eat at Holden Beach, but I will never go again.

I would not write off ANY restaurant based on one bad trip. Lived @ HB for 20 + years and I have had good and bad at all of them.

I walked out of one of my favorite lunch spots a week ago because no one would wait on me. Went back a few days later and service and food was great. WE ALL have our bad days.

We%26#39;ve eaten at Betty%26#39;s since 1993, many, many times. The time before last, they had no tequila and food had to be sent back. Our fault for trying it again two weeks ago.

Sooo.....just to let folks know it%26#39;s not as good as it used to be

We have been going down there for 20+ years and Betty%26#39;s has been terrible for at least 20 years. Maybe if you like greasy calabash seafood, but you can%26#39;t beat Provision - awesome fresh seafood.

Birthday Celebration in Asheville area for 5 year old boy

We will be on the road traveling towards a reunion on the Outerbanks this weekend. We will be traveling from the southern part of Great Smokey Monutain Park to Asheville. On Monday 6/1 is my son%26#39;s 5th birthday. We would like to celebrate in a special way. Do you know of any resturants along that route or in Asheville that might be good? Or offer any freebies -- like a free ice cream sundae or dessert?

Thanks much!

Birthday Celebration in Asheville area for 5 year old boy

hmmm I think Asiana Buffet (HUGE) buffet spots does free dinner for kids on b-days.

Restaurants in Boone or West Jefferson

We are staying in a cabin near Boone in June. Where would you suggest we eat besides the typical chains? Thank you in advance for your help!

Restaurants in Boone or West Jefferson

I can recommend and couple of places:

Daniel Boone Inn, one of the best ';home cooking'; restaurants in the state IMO: http://www.danlbooneinn.com/

Mellow Mushroom is a very good pizza joint. I guess it%26#39;s technically a chain, but their pizza is very good and the beer selection rocks (although unfortunately Boone is a dry town). There%26#39;s one in Boone and in Blowing Rock.

Restaurants in Boone or West Jefferson

You did mention exactly what you were looking for, so I will make mention several in the Boone//Blowing Rock area. They are close and Blowing Rock is well worth visiting.

1) The Best Cellar Blowing Rock $$$

2) Bistro Roca Blowing Rock $$

3) Knights on Main Blowing Rock $

4) Twigs Blowing Rock $$

5) Pssghetti%26#39;s $$ Blowing Rock HWY 321

6) Moonshine $$ Boone

7) Char $$ Boone

I appreciate the suggestions. :)

scars