It's your friend's vacation too

Make sure you bring your four legged friend on vacation with you. Your devoted friend will surely enjoy it! For a list of dog friendly homes on Hatteras Island click here. Photo taken by Ann Wood of Surf or Sound Realty.

The lure of an oceanside stroll is certainly hard to beat, but for folks who love nothing more than a long, leisurely walk to relax and get a little exercise, there are plenty of places on and off the sand to discover. Think that nothing can beat that beach walk? Then you haven’t seen all the off-the-beaten paths that this vacation destination has to offer.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: Turns out, this destination is more than just the nation’s tallest lighthouse. The National Park Service grounds surrounding the lighthouse has three unique trails for walkers and joggers alike. The ¾ mile nature trail directly across from the lighthouse access is a beautiful, shaded introduction to a maritime forest. On this trail, you’ll encounter wooden bridges that span over saltwater canals, as well as pebble lined paths under a canopy of cedars and live oaks. Take your time and read the brown Park Service signs that indicate the creatures and foliage that call this sample of a maritime forest home.

Drive past the lighthouse towards Cape Point, and you’ll find two more trails that are ripe for exploring. One is an old concrete road that at one time functioned as a military and Coast Guard road to Buxton Village, so cargo and salvage finds could be easily hauled to the town. The other is a wide path through the woods that leads all the way to Frisco. Here you’ll find the relatively unknown British Soldier cemetery, as well as bits and pieces from old NPS projects, like cement or brick remnants from the lighthouse’s original foundation.

Frisco: Not for the map lovers, the paths that line the Frisco Woods are generally unexplored and offer a true adventure. The best way to find a weathered trail is to explore the soundside roads off of NC Highway 12 for sandy parking areas, as dozens of trails intertwine throughout this area. Explore cautiously, as these trails aren’t maintained by the NPS, but rather offer a unique opportunity to see the maritime forests just as they are: wild and untouched. Unlike a typical hiking trail, with the ever shifting nature of the island, it’s not unusual to spot a pine cone or a fossilized clam shell in these woods.

Kinnakeet Shores, Avon: Active walkers and joggers love this soundside community, both for its safe and relatively traffic free roads, and for its scenic beauty. Lovely ¼ mile boardwalks lead to the sound, or through the marshes of Avon, and the community trails offer small fitness stations along the way, with basic stretching equipment and instructions, so active folks can take a moment to stretch and flex their muscles during their route.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge: There’s no better trail for nature lovers, as the refuge offers paths and boardwalks that stretch deep into the heat of the sound, offering picturesque wildlife and bird views. The welcome center in between Rodanthe and the Bonner Bridge has information on the local species, access to trails, and public restrooms.

Springer’s Point, Ocracoke: This privately owned nature preserve tucked away in Ocracoke Village is open for anyone to explore. Wooded paths lead in a circular route to the sound, where shell collectors will find piles of scallops and clams. Little signs along the way point out the different attractions, including local and rare plants. Arguably, the best time to visit is in the late spring and early summer, when the flowers are in full bloom and the beauty of Springer’s Point is truly unparalleled.

Whether you embark on a full blown wilderness adventure, or simply take a leisurely stroll in your own backyard, be sure and keep your eyes and ears open. With a unique ecosystem that changes from the oceanfront to the calm waters of the sound, the animals, plants, and odd finds you come across are sure to be a surprising adventure all by themselves.

Naturally, if you’re a traditionalist, there’s always that nice long stretch of Hatteras Island shoreline, just waiting for your footprints.

Consider the following shell craft ideas as a launching point. Remember, the number of crafts you can create with your seashells is limited only by your imagination.

Holiday Ornaments:
What you’ll need: Seashells, clear nail polish, a glue gun or crazy glue, ribbon, and decorations like strings of beads, glitter, etc.
Best shells to use: Whole scallops, clams, moon snails, and arc shells.
How to do it: Paint all the shells with a heavy coat of clear nail polish so they look like they just washed up from the ocean. Once shells are dry, loop a ribbon or string of beads into a circle, and glue it to the back of the shell, creating a “hanger” for the ornament. (If you have two similar shells, you can even glue them together, with the loop of ribbon in between the two shells.) Then decorate each individual shell any way you’d like: add glitter, glue a string of beads along the edge of the shell, or even paint holiday designs on the shell.

Island Planters:
What you’ll need: Seashells, potting soil, small hardy plants like spider plants, ivy, cactus, and ornamental sweet potatoes.
Best shells to use: Big whelks and conchs: Shells with a large opening you can fill with dirt. (Holes on the bottom of the shell are preferable for draining.)
How to do it: Clean the shell out thoroughly to remove any sand and salt particles which can damage the plant. Then fill the mouth or opening of the shell with dirt and plant your favorite indoor or outdoor houseplants. Water as needed, and make sure you put a plate or bowl underneath shells with holes on the bottom for drainage.

Wall Hangings:
What you’ll need: A nice thin piece of driftwood, approx. 12” – 18” long, seashells, rustic twine, fishing line or strong thread, nails or tacks.
Best shells to use: Small decorative shells with tiny holes in them, large enough to pull thread or fishing line through.
How to do it: Create strings of shells by looping the fishing line or thread through each shell and tying a knot, creating an even 8” – 12” long string of a dozen shells or so. If the driftwood is sturdy enough, space tacks or nails along the piece of driftwood and tie on each string of shells. If not, simply tie each string of shells to the piece of driftwood. Essentially, you’re forming a “beaded curtain” of shells along the piece of driftwood. Once this is complete, add hardy twine to each side of the piece of driftwood, or around each of the nails, gathering and tying the individual pieces at the top, and creating a hanger for the wall hanging.

Beach Mirrors
What you’ll need: Lots of shells, a glue gun or crazy glue, clear nail polish, and a plain mirror with no frame, or with a frame you can decorate. (You can also get cut pieces of mirror at a hardware store, and simply add a hanger to the back.)
Best shells to use: Small, decorative shells, or pretty shell pieces.
How to do it: Glue the shell pieces around the mirror, overlapping each other so that there are no spaces of mirror visible. Once glue has dried, coat the shells with nail polish to make them shine.

Have fun and get creative, and don’t forget that these ideas are just the start of the number of projects you can do with your seashells. Grab a little glue, polish, paint, and there’s no limit to the number of remarkable, one of a kind craft projects you can create with these treasures.

A stroll on the beach

This time of year it is most likely that it will be just you and the nature on the beaches of Hatteras Island. Bird watching and shell hunting are fun and relaxing ways to enjoy a winter day on the seashore. Photo taken by Ann Wood of Surf or Sound Realty.

‘Tis the season to whip up a little comfort food after a chilly day of fishing, and on Hatteras Island, the signature soup of choice is, naturally, Hatteras Style Clam Chowder.

Unlike Manhattan and New England varieties, Hatteras chowder is a clear broth with just a few low key ingredients, but the simplicity of the soup really brings out the clam flavor. Most every restaurant on the island has their own spin on the recipe, and chowder cook-offs for local bragging rights are essential at Outer Banks festivals and events, like the annual Day at the Docks celebration in Hatteras Village.

The following recipe will give you a good start, but don’t be afraid to customize your chowder, by experimenting with a few extra ingredients, like Old Bay, parsley, green onions, or even extra veggies like cooked celery and carrots.

Also, if you don’t have fresh shucked clams handy, canned clams and juice (about 2 cans) can be substituted in a pinch, though fresh clams are always the best bet - this is, after all, Hatteras style chowder, so using fresh seafood is all but required.

BASIC HATTERAS-STYLE CLAM CHOWDER

4 cups of shucked clams and juice (about 24 chowder clams)
3 cups of diced potatoes
2 cups diced onions
1 cup of water
6 pieces of bacon, fried and grease rendered

Chop clams and drain juice and save it. In a large pot, add waters, clam juice, potatoes, onions and grease.  Bring to a boil until potatoes are tender crisp.  Add chopped clams and simmer for about 20 minutes.  Add salt and pepper to taste. Serves about 6.

There were Thirty-one parade entries, led by Dare County Sheriff Rodney Midgett, the parade’s grand marshal. The participants ranged from elaborate floats to vintage cars and motorcycles, and trucks from all of the island’s volunteer fire departments. The Hatteras Island Rescue Squad appeared with their truck, as did the Cape Hatteras EMC, and the Coast Guard made an appearance toting a boat along the parade route. In between the floats and big trucks, kids on bikes and dogs and their owners walked alongside the parade.

The parade also featured two bands: the marching band from First Flight High School and the Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies band, and all the entries displayed holiday decorations.

Standout floats included Buxton‘s Conner’s Supermarket, which celebrated their 50^th anniversary with a giant birthday cake and accompanying sign which read “On our 50th Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas” and the Cape Hatteras Angler Club’s float which reminded onlookers that “bingo and barbecues = community and scholarships.”

After the parade, most people, participants and spectators alike, headed to the Hatteras Village Civic Center for hot chocolate and sweets and the presentation of the awards.

The winners of the three $250 awards for floats were:

• Most Creative - Cape Hatteras Anglers Club
• Most Comical - Creative Balance for their “Dune Billy Queens” float
• Most Community Spirited - Cape Hatteras Middle School basketball teams for sponsoring the Hatteras Island Food Pantry

 Organizers agreed that the parade was one of the smoothest and best attended in memory, thanks to the chilly but beautiful weather, and everyone looks forward to doing it again in 2009.

Hatteras Island Christmas Parade

A true Hatteras Island Christmas Parade held in Hatteras Village. Lisa Latham of Surf or Sound captured the float of Hatteras Island Girl Scouts on camera.

Photo by Lisa Latham of Surf or Sound.

Targeting a number of species, the winners of this year’s tournament were announced and posted to the Cape Hatteras Angler’s club website. The official winners are listed below.

Plans are already underway for 2009’s tournament, scheduled for November 4-7, and you can visit the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club for tournament info.

First Place            F-Team                                     Southern Shores NC

Second Place        Sandfiddlers                             Buxton NC

Third Place           Outer Banks Sportfishers        Nags Head NC

TEAM SESSIONS WINNERS                       Fish            Points

Session 1        Knot Heads                                 22                140

Session 2        Island Girls                                   6                101

Session 3        F-Team                                       48               201

Session 4        Bald Hooters                               40                94

LARGEST FISH

Blue - Male        18-1/8″         Dennis Dill of The Mullet heads

Blue - Female    16-1/2″         Karen Cowell of the Showstoppers

Red Drum-Male  30-1/2″       Vinny Morris of the South Jersey Surf Casters

Red Drum-Female 27-1/2″     Nancy Giannotti of the Island Girls

LARGEST FISH (other than a blue or drum)

Male        23-1/4″ Black Drum        Larry Lewis of the F-Team

Female    20-1/2″ Speckled Trout    Carol Owens of the Showstoppers

The beauty of Hatteras Island does not change with the seasons. Winter is a great time for a secluded retreat and stunning early sunsets. Photo on the left by Shiralee Timmons of Surf or Sound and photo on the right by Joy Crist of Surf or Sound.

With miles of beautiful, natural background to choose from, it can be hard to decide on the perfect spot for your Hatteras Island wedding. You may want to keep the following locations in mind, but remember with so many miles of seashore, and dozens of dreamy vacation rental homes, your imagination is your only limit to choosing the ideal setting for your wedding and reception.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore: Find your favorite stretch of sand and say your nuptials Oceanfront or Soundfront. You can even choose a vacation rental home that’s just steps from the shore or a sandy sound beach for added convenience for the entire party. Just remember that as part of the National Seashore, some restrictions and a special use permit will apply. Visit the National Park Service website for more information.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: The breathtaking black and white candy cane striped landmark lighthouse provides the perfect backdrop for wedding photos. As part of the National Seashore, be sure you obtain a special use permit. Visit the National Park Service website for more information.

Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station: Want a ceremony and reception that’s truly unique? Explore the grounds of the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station. Built in 1874, the station provided 80 years of maritime service and history, and the property itself is a beautiful spread of the main station house, bordered by a white picket fence. Fees vary depending on the complexity of the wedding and/or reception. Visit the Chicamacomico station’s official web site for details and contact information.

Kinnakeet Shores Oceanfront Beach Club: One of Hatteras Island’s newest reception sites, the Oceanfront Beach Club is an ideal setting to host a larger wedding or reception. With enough room for a 100 person sit-down function, and a second floor observation deck for front row views, the beach club is one of Hatteras Island’s best wedding reception facilities. Visit Kinnakeet Shore’s web site for more information.

Local Community Centers: Many local couples rely on the town community centers for a laid-back, Hatteras style wedding reception. For a nice, simple reception with a hometown feel, contact the local community centers in the different villages for information on renting the site for an afternoon. These centers include:

Rodanthe Waves, Salvo Community Center

Avon Fire House / Community Center

Hatteras Village Civic Center

Local Restaurants: For an intimate reception, many Hatteras Island restaurants can accommodate small wedding parties. For a list of area restaurants, visit the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce web site or simply call or visit your favorite local restaurant for more information.

Vacation Rental Homes: Surf or Sound Realty offers a number of premier rental homes perfect for an intimate reception, and with all the amenities to make the festivities easy and enjoyable. Many homes have private pools, plenty of decking with views, spacious great rooms, first class kitchen facilities, wet bars, ice machines, and all the little features that comprise the perfect reception. Click here to view all of our homes that cater to weddings and special events.