Tag: North Carolina Aquarium

STAR Center Saves Injured Sea Turtles at the NC Outer Banks

STAR Center Saves Injured Sea Turtles

If you’ve ever seen loggerhead sea turtles, you know just how amazing they are. Endearingly shy and gentle, these graceful aquatic creatures have beautiful heart-shaped shells covered with gorgeous markings. No wonder they’re among the most recognized – and best loved – turtles on earth. READ MORE

Super-Cool Kid Activities on the Outer Banks

When you think of vacationing in the Outer Banks the first thing that comes to mind is probably beach related activities. What you may not realize is the Outer Banks is consistently ranked one of the best family destinations and offers some super-cool kid activities not found elsewhere.

Visit the Wright Brothers Memorial

The memorial is a tribute to the first flight completed by Wilbur and Orville Wright. When visiting the memorial kids are able to become a junior ranger. Once arriving to the park pick up a junior ranger booklet at the front desk. After the kids learn all about the Wright brothers they will be sworn in as a junior ranger. Children under the age of 16 are free!

Visit the Aquarium

Even though many places you visit will have an aquarium close by kids always seem to enjoy going. At the aquarium kids will be able to see otters, jellyfish, alligators, and one of the largest collection of sharks in the state. They will love the hands-on sea turtle rescue exhibit and the touching tank full stingrays. This is a great rain day activity but if you go while it’s not raining be sure to check out the sound side pier and nature trail.

Bouncing Off The Walls

This is the perfect activity for a rainy day or when the ocean is too rough to swim at the beach. Bouncing off the Walls is a party center full of inflatable fun. The interactive area has obstacle courses, slides, and moon bounces. There is also a nerf gun room and paint studio.

H2OBX Waterpark

Splash into fun at the new waterpark located right over the bridge in Currituck. H2OBX features more than 30 exciting attractions throughout the park. The kids will enjoy spending the day at Calico Jacks Cove. They will love the interactive play structures, splashing in the wave pool, floating on the lazy river, and looping through all the exciting slides.

See the Wild Horses

The wild horses are a beautiful sight that the entire family will enjoy. Bring your camera, rent a jeep or take a guided tour, and take off down the beach for an off-road wild horse adventure you will never forget.

Become a Pirate

At Pirate Adventures of the OBX, your kids can come aboard and experience a bit of the pirate life. This experience is designed to educate, expand their imaginations and enlighten their minds. They’ll learn the rules of the sea as they go in search of Pirate Pete and the map they need to find the sunken treasure.

Visit Jockey’s Ridge

What could be more fun than climbing a large sand dune?! Nothing! That is why visiting Jockey’s Ridge is on our list! Kids will love running up the large sand dunes and then rolling down. Be careful though! In the summer the sand can get hot. It is best to go in the evening to fly a kite while watching the sunset.

Visit a Lighthouse READ MORE

Outer Banks Visitor Guide

Outer Banks visitor guide
Heading to the Outer Banks? From our famous beaches to local dining, there’s plenty to see, do, and eat once you arrive. Here’s a sample of the excitement and local fare you can look forward to. See you soon!

Enjoy a Unique Natural Environment

Natural beauty is undoubtedly one of the biggest draws of the Outer Banks. If you’re a nature lover, rent a kayak and spend the day taking in quiet water trails that wind through the islands, along the shore, through maritime forests, salt marsh canals, and estuaries. Floating in the bay for sunset is an unforgettable experience, as is paddling through a sound as birds and river otters play around you. Of course, no Outer Banks tourism guide would be complete without a mention of the area’s pristine wildlife refuges. Visit Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve,

Currituck National Wildlife Refuge READ MORE

Top 6 Things To Do When It Rains in the Outer Banks

things to do when it rains on the outer banks
There’s nothing better than a sunny day at the beach. Unfortunately sometimes the weather changes in the blink of an eye and it ends up raining. Instead of getting upset and letting this rain hinder your Outer Banks vacation, embrace it! Here is our top 6 things to do when it rains on the Outer Banks.

  • Movies: One of the most common activities to do when it rains is to go see a movie. Located in Kill Devil Hills is R/C Movies 10, our local movie theater. From delicious popcorn and refreshments to comfortable seating, this movie theater will leave you with a very pleasant experience to share with your family. With 10 movies playing there is bound to be something for the whole family to enjoy.
  • Laser Tag: Here on the Outer Banks we have two different laser tag locations; Gearworks located in Nags Head and Destination Fun located in Kill Devil Hills. Laser tag is not only good exercise, it is also a great family experience. At Gearworks if you have kids or need a break from laser tag you can enjoy the arcade or the inflatable play area for kids. Destination Fun is not just known for their laser tag, they also have an indoor 3D mini golf course and an arcade. Both of these places will be sure to leave you with a unique experience.
  • Bowling: Located in Nags Head is our local bowling alley, OBX Bowling Center. From late night rock n’ bowl to league tournaments you are bound to have a great time with friends and family! If you need a break from bowling don’t worry they have an arcade and a delicious refreshment bar.
  • Aquarium: If you’re looking for an enjoyable and educational activity to do when it rains on the Outer Banks then be sure to head over to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. From alligators to sharks the aquarium will be sure to leave you mesmerized as you watch and learn about all of the exhibits. For kids there is a hands on experience between the touch tank and the sea turtle rehabilitation center, but let’s face it most adults will enjoy this too.
  • Shopping: Shopping is always a good rainy day option on the Outer Banks. We have a little something for everyone. Most people enjoy going to the Tanger Outlet in Nags Head. The Tanger Outlet has a wide variety of stores that will suit most everyone’s needs. The Outer Banks is home to many surf shops that offer a wide variety of products from clothing and accessories to surfboards and boogie boards. If you have anyone in your family that likes to fish, the Outer Banks has you covered. There are many great bait and tackle shops that stretch from Corolla to Hatteras. These bait and tackle shops will not only be able to provide you with the supplies you need but will also be able to provide you with an accurate fishing report of the area.
  • Staying At Your Vacation Rental: It’s nice to get out of the house when it’s raining on vacation, but it can also be just as enjoyable to stay at the house and spend some quality time with the family. Often times on vacation family members and friends are so excited to get to the destination and fulfill all of their plans that they overlook the most important part… quality time with the family. If it rains on vacation this is the perfect opportunity to really spend some time together. There are a number of activities to do when you stay at your rental. A great and popular way to spend time together when you stay inside is to break out the board games. Sometimes there is nothing better than having the whole family sitting around a table competing to see who will be the champion of the night. This tends to bring smiles, laughter, and happiness to all ages. After the board games are over you can all gather together in the living room and relax by watch a movie.

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    Top 10 Activities for Kids on the Outer Banks

    kids activties
    Every parent desires to build memories with their child and what better way to build memories than when you’re on vacation. Going on vacation can get costly especially if you have kids, but fun doesn’t have to be expensive. Here is a list of activities you can do with the kids for little to no cost while you are staying in the Outer Banks.

    Go Crabbing

    This is a fun activity for all ages. When I was a young child we would go crabbing in the sound all the time. There are a few things you will need for this activity. First you will need a bucket, a net, some raw chicken, and some string (strong enough to hold the chicken.) Once you have this you will want to cut the chicken into chunks and tie the string around it. After that you are ready to go. Once you get to the sound dump your chicken into the water while holding onto the string. Soon enough you will have a crab gran onto the chicken. Scoop the crab out of the water with the net and place it in the bucket with water. Once you have had all the fun you can handle you can release the crabs you have caught. You are able to keep them as long as they meet requirements. I would check with a local bait and tackle shop to see what the requirements are as they may change.

    Visit a Lighthouse

    Making a trip to the lighthouse can be both fun and educational. There are three different lighthouses to choose from here in the Outer banks. First you have the Currituck Lighthouse in Corolla, then you have Bodie Island located in South Nags Head, and last you have Cape Hatteras which is located in Buxton. The kids will enjoy climbing to the top and seeing the view.

    Visit the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

    This would be a fun rain day activity. Many places you visit will have an aquarium close by but the kids always seem to enjoy going. At the aquarium kids will be able to see alligators, otters, and the largest collection of sharks in the state. They will love the touching tank full of stingrays and the hand on sea turtle rescue exhibit. If you go when it is not raining make sure to check out the nature trail and the sound side pier.

    The Island Farm in Manteo

    After visiting the Aquarium make sure to stop by The Island Farm for a fun and educational experience for the whole family. Here you will be able to experience island life as it was more than 150 years ago. Children will get the chance to dress up, play with toys and games from the 19th century, and play and feed the farm animals. Be sure to check their event page online before going. They offer special programs such as ox-drawn wagons rides and wash day on the farm only certain days of the week.

    Visit Jockey’s Ridge

    What could be more fun than climbing a large sand dune?! Nothing! That is why visiting Jockey’s Ridge is on our list! Kids will love running up the large sand dunes and then rolling down. Be careful though! In the summer the sand can get hot.

    Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial READ MORE

    Fish Kiss: Memory Monday August 3, 2015.

    Fish Kiss

    Special thanks to Rachel Moore or Silver Spring, Maryland who provides us this week’s Memory Monday photo submission!   Rachel and her family stayed with Outer Banks Blue in Nags Head in the Vacation Rental property “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem,” and sends us this adorable picture from one of her crew visiting the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island and having an up close experience with one of the fish there.

    Thanks Rachel for sharing your photo memories.   We look forward to serving you and your family again soon.

    All the best from the beach!
    By Tim Cafferty, President, Outer Banks Blue Realty Services

    Surfing the Outer Banks: A Sport for (Almost) Every Season

    Did you know that Outer Banks beaches are famous among surfing enthusiasts? You don’t have to go all the way to Hawaii, California, Indonesia—or even Australia—to catch great waves. We have them right here off the North Carolina shore.A wonderful set of unique natural attributes combines to provide the swells necessary for excellent surfing, including:

    • the meeting of the Gulf Stream, coastal waters and Labrador Current
    • occasional seasonal stormy conditions
    • a narrow continental shelf that boosts great surfing waves
    • a low-lying topography that’s exposed to the elements 

    These are a recipe for surf-worthy waves. In addition to these ideal characteristics, here are some of the perks of surfing the Outer Banks.

    The Outer Banks: World-Class Surfing with a Small-Town Feel READ MORE

    Another 2 Fer Monday!: Memory Monday August 4, 2014.

    Another 2 Fer Monday!This week’s Memory Monday Photo Submission Contest brings us two more great photo memories of Outer Banks’ Vacations.Today’s first picture comes to us from Joan Lang who stayed with her family in the property “Caribbean Breeze” in Southern Shores.   That is one of Outer Banks Blue’s most popular vacation rentals and you can see this group certainly had a good time while they were here.

    “Cheese!!!”

    Thanks for sharing your shot Joan.The second Memory Monday photo we have for you this week is from Adam Olsen of Yardley, Pennsylvania who stayed with us a few weeks ago at the property “Toes In The Water” in Nags Head.

    Come back here Mr. Shark!

    This photo is taken at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island.   This is one of the many large sharks that are contained in the 285,000 gallon “Graveyard of the Atlantic” exhibit.   In the background you can make out a structure that is a replica of the Civil War Ironclad vessel Monitor which sunk off the coast of North Carolina some 150 years ago.    There are all kinds of deep sea creatures in the exhibit and Adam’s young friend here enjoyed seeing the big fish!Thanks to all who submit their photo memories to us for consideration in our Memory Monday Photo contest.  We post photos here every week (on Monday!) and we randomly choose a winner each month to get $100 off their next stay with Outer Banks Blue.All the best from the beach!By Tim Cafferty, President, Outer Banks Blue Realty Services