Outer Banks Update

So much has been going on that I haven't been able to post updates. It's hard to believe that our two weeks is almost up. Tomorrow we will celebrate my birthday--hopefully with a trip on the ferry from Cape Hatteras to Ocracoke Island. Ocracoke is the only lighthouse here I haven't seen yet.

The water has been between 72 and 81 degrees our entire trip, but we had rain yesterday and most of today so far. When we went to the beach yesterday, we couldn't really swim much because of the riptides. The water was rougher the past two days than we've seen it since we've been here. I did manage to take the Lil Diva (10) fishing yesterday. I hope to bring both girls out again tonight. We bought the Lil Princess her own fishing rod this week.

Last week, we visited the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. We thought our 17-month-old nephew would get a kick out of it. The girls also enjoy going. They no longer have the inside waterfall in the lobby. It has been replaced with a huge aquarium full of sea life. They have also done away with their room dedicated to hurricanes. Instead they have a huge room dedicated to news about the planet, which also includes information about weather patterns. Another newer addition is the sea turtle lab, where computers help youngsters diagnose sea turtle ailments, learn how to treat them, and then release them back to the wild. These are rubber sea turtles, but the kids still get a ton of information. The tank of sea otters was a huge hit with everyone. Some of those sharks were scary, though.

We ate at Big Al's Soda Fountain and Grill for lunch before the aquarium. We ate there last year, and were so thrilled with it, we knew we wanted to share it with the rest of our family. It's set up like a 1950's soda fountain and burger joint. They have tons of Coca-Cola collectible items and other memorabilia in their gift store. You have to stop by even if you don't plan to buy anything. I had a scrumptious philly cheesesteak sandwich and classic fries. It was so-o-o-o-o-o good, I ate every last bite, but I couldn't even think about trying to fit in desert after that.

Here's hoping you've had a great week so far. I'll bring you more of our trip soon. I'll also discuss some of the places you need to see if you plan a trip to the Outer Banks--which I highly recommend. I'll probably save that last one for once we return.

Another Wonderful Day on the Outer Banks

This is the vacation where we've tried some new things. Maybe I'm just tired of doing the same old things every year or maybe the family is getting more adventurous. We headed out to Currituck Heritage Park where The Whalehead Club resides. We walked through the park, took some stunning photos, and saw the Currituck Lighthouse. We decided not to climb the lighthouse. Instead we traveled down the road to the Old Schoolhouse and Wild Horse Days. The girls got their faces painted and painted a wooden horse that was nailed to a tree. It was a bit expensive, but it supports the Corrolla Wild Horse Fund, so we didn't mind.

We stopped by Cosmo Pizzeria on the way back to the house. Awesome pizza and breadsticks. I have a feeling we'll be visiting them again.

After a brief thunderstorm, we headed out to a cheap supper at Taco Bell, then down to the beach to finish off the night. It's so much more enjoyable to sit and read when the sun isn't blazing overhead. The beach isn't crowded that time of day either, so the girls can horse around without disturbing anyone.

Today is our last day here. We're going out to the beach in a few and then the rest of the day is up in the air. The girls want to go down to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island in Manteo. We'll lunch it at the house and then find a restaurant for supper. Maybe we'll try La Fogata in Kitty Hawk. I've wanted to go the last few times we were down here, but the girls usually say no way.