Outer Banks family vacation – Outer Banks Blue's Vacation Tips

The Best Outer Banks Rentals and Why Early Booking is a Must

Booking early will guarantee a better vacation

The Outer Banks is a sought-after destination for families looking for a coastal getaway. With its miles of pristine beaches, sparkling blue and green water, and an abundance of outdoor activities, it’s the perfect place to create memories that will last a lifetime. But with so many families eager to spend their summer vacations on the Outer Banks, it’s important to plan ahead to make sure you get the rental that’s right for you. That’s why early booking is the smart way to plan your family vacation on the Outer Banks. READ MORE

First Trip to OBX – Memory Monday 8/5/19

Good morning. This Monday, the first Monday of August is another great day on the Outer Banks. The weather has been glorious this summer on the beach. Temperatures have been fantastic, rain has been politely staying away, and people have enjoyed their time here. READ MORE

Mike’s Memories – Memory Monday 8/20/18

Greetings from the Outer Banks on this beautiful Monday. The summer is getting shorter each day, but the beach is bustling this week as many folks are enjoying all the beach has to offer. This week on Memory Monday we share with you the Mike’s Memories who shares with us several pictures from his recent stay with Blue.

Michael Barbier of Lunenburg, Massachusets stayed with Outer Banks Blue in the Duck area vacation rental property Sea View II. The oceanfront property gave the family a great opportunity to see all the Outer Banks has to offer. The living room view each morning was something that they all enjoyed.

They also enjoyed an evening thunderstorm that rolled through on one of their nights at the house.

But we all know that no matter what individual attractions people enjoy on the Outer Banks the one thing that Mike’s family and everyone comes to see while they are here is our fabulous beaches! Here’s some pictures of great memories made on the beach. There’s this guy enjoying the sand in his toes.

And this memorable shot of two handsome young men posing for the camera.

But then the picture we like best is the one where everyone is pictured on the beach. We are betting that this picture is on a prominent spot on someone’s wall back at home. What a great family photo!

As there are just two weeks left between today and Labor day we encourage you to think about a last minute summer getaway. We still have limited availability for next week at Outer Banks Blue, and the week of Labor Day has some openings as well. Check out our specials page for any properties offering special promotional pricing too. You can still make your family photo memories come true this summer.

Thanks Mike for sharing your photos. We look forward to serving you and your family again soon.

All the best from the beach.

Sunrise: Memory Monday September 25, 2017.

Greetings from the Outer Banks where all eyes are looking to the south and east today in anticipation of the passing of Hurricane Maria. The sunrise this morning had some red tint to it which is never a good thing.

“Red Sky at Night – Sailors’ Delight, Red Sky in the Morning – Sailors’ Warning.” That is the old “hoy tiderz” saying around these parts, and it is almost never wrong. The meaning of course on a day like this is that a red sky means bad weather is coming. Like I mentioned in the opening paragraph that can only mean that Maria is about to make for some rough seas off of the Outer Banks.

At this point it appears the storm will be well off of our coast, and once it gets to within about 200 miles it will take a hard right turn and head out to sea. That doesn’t mean however that we won’t have some rough surf, rain, and heavy wind over the next couple of days.

That makes a photo like this one more special. What a great shot we have today to share with you from Ronda Bagett of Jamesville, North Carolina who stayed with us last week at the Kitty Hawk vacation rental property “Hokie Haven.”

I think we will look forward to another great sunrise just like this later in the week after all of this crazy weather moves away from us.

Thanks Ronda for sharing your photo memories. We look forward to serving you and your family again soon at Outer Banks Blue!

All the best from the beach.

13 Beach Hacks for Your Next Outer Banks Vacation

beach hacks for your Outer Banks vacation

Days at the beach are one of the best parts of an Outer Banks vacation. Warm sand, picnics, and hours to read, nap, and gallivant in the surf are the main ingredients for a relaxing break. A perfect day at the beach takes a little planning, so here are 13 clever beach hacks to help make your next Outer Banks vacation even better:

Bring a Yoga Mat

Yoga mats are much more comfortable than just lying on beach towels on hard-packed sand, plus sand doesn’t stick to yoga mats the way it does to towels.

Invest in Towel Anchors

If you are using beach towels, invest in towel anchors before you leave home, buy them online, or pick them up when you arrive in the Outer Banks. Towel anchors are like tent stakes with clips on the top. Just push the stake into the sand, clip the corner of your towel in, and it will stay put while you swim or stroll.

Hide Your Cash in a Sunscreen Bottle

Next time you stock up on sunscreen, buy a jumbo-sized bottle with a lid that snaps on instead of screws on. When the lotion is gone, clean out the bottle, cut out the top, and snap the lid back on. Use your clean bottle to hide money, keys, and even your cell phone while you swim.

Fix a Broken Flip-Flop with Bread Clips

Don’t throw out the little square clip that ties your bag of sandwich bread. Keep it in your beach bag in case the toe post pulls out of your flip-flop. Slide the clip on the bottom of the flip-flop between the round post and the shoe for a fast fix.

Keep a Whisk Broom in the Car

Unless you want to vacuum your car for the next several months, it’s best to brush off sandy feet and gear before you load up after a day at the beach. Use a soft, handheld dust broom to whisk away sand before you get in the car, and you’ll keep your ride much cleaner throughout your vacation.

Sprinkle Baby Powder to Remove Sand READ MORE

March Madness: Memory Monday March 13, 2017.

March Madness…

So have you been feeling the symptoms of March Madness? It started for several of our staff members around here last night with the announcement of the teams selected to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and we believe work production will be diminished around here at Outer Banks Blue starting this Thursday as everyone starts watching their brackets and cheering for teams they have never pulled for before.

A different kind of March Madness has been going on around the Outer Banks over the last few weeks with the weather going from the 70’s one day to the 30’s the next. Unfortunately this morning we are experiencing temps closer to 30 than 70, but we are sure it will turn around before the week is over.

Today’s Memory Monday photo submission reminds us of why the spring is a great time to come to the Outer Banks. Here’s a shot provided to us by Steph Reimert, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania.

Steph and her family stayed in the Kitty Hawk vacation rental property “Bama Breeze” and when they went to the beach they posed for this picture from one of the public beach access areas in Kitty Hawk. Note the uncrowded beach behind them from their perch.

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

All the best from the beach!

Two Memory Monday Photos: Memory Monday August 15, 2016.

Two Memory Monday Photos

This week on Memory Monday we are starting the process of clearing out the attic stored with so many of your photo memories. We are so happy to get scores of photos from you each month here at Outer Banks Blue, and we apologize that we can’t get them all posted, but this week we will start looking deep into our archives and, starting today, we will post two photo memories each week!

Thanks for your patience goes to Karen Caywood, of Louisville, Ohio, who passed along this photo of she and her family reunion that too place at two of our vacation rental properties in Southern Shores. “Caribbean Breeze” and “Green Iguana” was the site of the family gathering that had 43 people in all to celebrate a week together. Among the group was her 83 year old parents, all of their children, grand children, and great-grandchildren!

Thanks Karen for sharing your photo memories.

Also this week we thank Jennifer Horn of Mount Airy, Maryland who stayed with Outer Banks Blue last month in the property “Sandy Claws” in Corolla. Jennifer also shares with us a group photo of her vacationing crowd that will bring many years of great memories to her and her family.

Thank you again Karen and Jennifer for sharing your photo memories. We look forward to serving you and your families once again soon.

All the best from the beach!

Fishing on the OBX!: Memory Monday March 30, 2015.

Fishing on the OBX!

Thanks to Craig Smith who sends along this week’s Memory Monday Photo submission. One his stay with Outer Banks Blue last fall he enjoyed a day on the beach with his truck! One of the unique things about the Outer Banks is the ability for those with a sturdy 4 wheel drive vehicle can actually drive on certain designated areas of the beach, and Craig did just that last Fall for a great day of fishing.

Temperatures are warming up on the OBX and the fishing is too. Maybe it is time for you to consider a getaway to the Outer Banks in your four wheel drive vehicle! Just make sure you operate your vehicle safely (lower the air pressure in your tires, and drive slowly), and obey all regulations and laws that are applicable.

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

Beautiful beginnings: Memory Monday January 13, 2015.

Beautiful beginnings

This week’s Memory Monday photo submission comes to us from Kelsey Rudd who brings us this photo of “Sister Love.”

There is nothing like connecting with family on the Outer Banks, and this picture of these two embodies the connection that we all share with siblings in a relaxed atmosphere. Outer Banks Blue loves bringing families together.

Thank you Kelsey for sharing your Outer Banks Blue vacation photo memories.