Looking Back at 2014, Ringing in 2015

My apologies for the longer silence! The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of busy. Without further ado, I present a quick review of 2014.

Best Family Event

• Christmas in Michgan: A total of 17 people, two cats and one dog at its busiest, this extended family Christmas celebration was a wonderful opportunity to get together. A big thanks goes to my sister and brother-in-law for hosting this large and sometimes rowdy gang!

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Almost everyone!

Best Non-Family Event

• Garezers Summer High School 50th anniversary celebration in July was So. Much. Fun.

Best Trips

• The two weeks I spent in Latvia and Lithuania in May were just fantastic: seeing lovely nature, visiting new and already beloved places, meeting family and friends, experiencing culture, and commemorating history. I was particularly happy to visit Riga while it was European Capital of Culture. The time was so full of wonderful experiences that it took me weeks and many posts to write about it.
• A long weekend on the Outer Banks, North Carolina in October was a welcome respite from daily life, and an excellent opportunity to finally visit that state, my 35th.

Biggest Purchase

• In the closing days of 2014, after much researching, hunting, and test driving, I finally bought a new set of wheels! Now I have plenty of room to ferry tall (or short) family and friends, plus I'm ready to start planning some road trips in the new year. Any suggestions?

Best Book Read

Best Restaurant Meals Enjoyed

• High Cotton BBQ on the Outer Banks 
• Terra in Grand Rapids

Best Wine Enjoyed 

• Chardonnay Sur Lie from Zephaniah Farm Vineyard

While 2014 had many ups, it certainly had its share of downs. I'm looking forward to 2015 and what it brings, hoping it will be a more peaceful and happy year for our world. May your new year be filled with health, happiness, and fun adventures!

Weekend on OBX, Part II

The next morning began with a simple yet beautiful sunrise on the Atlantic.

Many Midwesterners are familiar with the sand dunes found on Michigan beaches, but Jockey's Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks features the East Coast's highest sand dunes. I was thrilled to find out they are not as tall and intimidating as many of the dunes I've seen in Michigan, plus the weather was far more forgiving than on hot humid summer's day. I enjoyed climbing the dunes, spotting the ocean on one side and the sound on the other, watching kids roll down, and observing people taking hang gliding lessons.

Yes, if you have ever wished to try hang gliding, Kitty Hawk Kites offers three-hour long lessons for $110. On the day I watched, it seemed that the kids (aged approximately 10 - 12 years) were more successful than the adult students in getting off the ground for slightly longer periods of time. 

Another area worth exploring is Roanoke Island. A visit to Fort Raleigh National Historic Park means being left to wonder, "What really did happen to the Lost Colony?" In case you are not up on your early American history, the Lost Colony of Roanoke is one of this nation's oldest unsolved mysteries. In 1587, a group of slightly over 100 English colonists settle on Roanoke Island. Later in that same year, John White, the governor of this new colony, returned to England for more supplies. However, he was unable to sail back to Roanoke quickly due to a naval war that broke out between England and Spain for which Queen Elizabeth needed all available ships. When White finally did cross the ocean three full years later, in 1590, he found no one on the island. The only clues left behind were the word "Croatoan" carved into a log, and the bones of one individual. To this day there are numerous theories regarding what happened, but nothing is known for certain.

Located in the park area are the Elizabethan Gardens, which are a tribute to the first English Colonists in the New World. Admission to the Gardens costs $9 per person, and they were quite lovely in October, although are likely even more beautiful in the spring and summer.

 

Again querying a local for a restaurant recommendation resulted in a nice dinner. Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant is located right on the water on the north side of the island and features a variety seafood dishes. Be forewarned, however, that some of the dishes might not be prepared in the most healthy manner - I had not expected my "Captain's Trio" of scallops, crabmeat and shrimp to be swimming in butter. I did greatly appreciate the fact that the vegetable of the day was a step up from what many such restaurants offer, as the offering of squash was sauteed with red peppers, onions, and white wine.

A gorgeous sunset afterglow combined with a rising crescent moon finished off the day.

Before heading back to DC, an excursion to the northern parts of the Outer Banks was warranted. A stop at Currituck Lighthouse and strolls along two nature trails proved that the Corolla area of the OBX is also worth visit.

The weekend was well spent, and I am glad that I chose the Outer Banks as the place to see on my inaugural visit to North Carolina.

Only fifteen states left!

October Weekend on the Outer Banks, North Carolina

Although it was late October, I stretched summer into fall by spending a couple of days on North Carolina beaches. My first trip to that state was marked with gorgeous sunny weather, authentic barbeque and local seafood, beautiful scenery, and interactions with friendly locals. 

Can you tell it's election season?

The Outer Banks, or OBX for short, are North Carolina coastal barrier islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and a popular summer vacation destination, particularly among families or groups who typically rent large homes for a week or two in July or August. Even in the autumn it is a much-visited area, as evidenced by license plates from at least two dozen states and two Canadian provinces spotted there over just a couple of days.

Parts of the Outer Banks have thousands of rentals homes, along with restaurants, shops, and hotels, while other areas are quite wild. The best known park is Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which spans a great distance, and includes Bodie Island in the middle of OBX, Hatteras Island further south, and Ocracoke Island even further. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, a separate entity, is located on the north end of Hatteras Island.

For an important bit of American and travel history, the Wright Brothers National Memorial in the town of Kitty Hawk should be visited by anyone who appreciates individuals with crazy dreams or just the convenience of modern air travel. Orville and Wilbur Wright lived in Dayton, Ohio, but found the dunes and winds of the Outer Banks to be suited for their attempts at flight.

Toward the northern tip of the banks, the Currituck Banks Reserve offers a boardwalk and a maritime forest hiking trail, while on the nearby beach wild horses can sometimes be spotted.

Instead of more verbiage, I'll get right to the photographs so you can see why this area is so beloved by beach goers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Replica of airplane garage & camp house the brothers set up in Kitty Hawk

Winds at Wright Memorial are also perfect for kite flying!

Bodie Island Lighthouse was recently beautifully restored.

Sign I'd rather not see, but thanks for the warning and walkway!

Boardwalk to viewing platform behind Bodie Island Lighthouse.

A short drive from the lighthouse is the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center. Stop at the center to find out what wildlife you might spot in the refuge, ask the friendly fellow behind the counter if you can borrow binoculars and a field guide, then head out to the trail, stopping at the overlooks for sweeping views of marshes that attract many varieties of birds and other wildlife.

This bird just didn't wish to show its face!

This butterfly posed rather nicely.

Craving barbeque for dinner, the Outer Banks' best BBQ joint was found in Kitty Hawk. High Cotton served up tender meats and delicious sides. If you are ever in the area, it is highly recommended! 

More about the trip and the lovely scenery in my next post!

Outer Banks Sunrise

A relaxing weekend trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina means that I have finally visited that state, and thus I have set foot and seen something in 35 states. Only fifteen states remain!

The Outer Banks are beautiful, and any time spent on the water and out in nature seems to be refreshing. Having time to witness a peaceful sunrise over the ocean was just one of the activities I needed to help recharge my batteries.

Late October sunrise on Atlantic Ocean in Nags Head, North Carolina

More photos and impressions of my inaugural North Carolina visit to follow in the coming days...