Tag Archives: Roanoke Island

02/24/13

Stroll Down Memory Lane at the Outer Banks History Center

Located in Manteo within the Roanoke Island Festival Park complex is the Outer Banks History Center, a true gem for anyone who reserves a special place in their heart for the Outer Banks. The center came to fruition in 1986 when local writer and historian, David Stick, author of Graveyard of the Atlantic: Shipwrecks of the North Carolina Coast and several other works, donated his personal library and research materials to the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.

The History Center is home to many collections including manuscripts, maps, photographs, books, personal and organizational papers, natural history, environmental sciences and so much more. Spend a day in the reading and reference room of the center where you have access to several worktables, an online catalog, audio-visual equipment, a microfilm reader-printer, and a photocopier. Each year the center responds to thousands of research requests from the general public to national media outlets, such as the History Channel, so contact them today!

During your upcoming vacation, make plans to attend the exhibit, “Dare County in the 1930s: Decade of Determination,” starting March 1st and running through October 14th!

The History Center is open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm (excluding state holidays and weather emergencies) and be sure to visit the Outer Banks History Center Gallery 7 days a week from 9am-5pm. (Check with Roanoke Island Festival Park for up-to-date information and hours concerning the gallery).

Visit the Outer Banks History Center for a true understanding of the Outer Banks culture and its people!

11/10/11

Surf or Sound Realty is Set to Sponsor the Outer Banks Marathon

Surf or Sound Realty Volunteers at the 2010 Outer Banks Marathon

Surf or Sound Realty Volunteers at the 2010 Outer Banks Marathon

Surf or Sound Realty is set to man Mile Marker 25 once again for the 6th Annual Outer Banks Marathon. It will be held November 13th with more than 5000 runners from all over the country and world running and walking the 26.2 mile stretch of beautiful scenery from Kitty Hawk to downtown Manteo on Roanoke Island.

Mile Marker 25 is near the finish line, and volunteers from Surf or Sound Realty, along with their friends and family, will encourage all of the runners and pass out water and Gatorade to the marathon participants. We have created signs with encouraging statements on them that we will post leading up to our station, and the signs will be paired will pink flamingos! You can rent 12 pink flamingos for a minimum donation of $25 and the funds go to Hatteras Island Meals. HI Meals is a non-profit organization staffed by volunteers that delivers a hot meal to nourish and enrich the lives of homebound and other people in need in every village on Hatteras Island.

The Outer Banks Marathon is one of the events organized by Outer Banks Sporting Events (OBSE). The mission of OBSE is to organize and promote sports competition and healthy living resources, provide financial resources for needed relief and support for education while contributing to economic development for the Outer Banks of North Carolina. 100% of net proceeds are split 50/50 by the Dare Education Foundation and the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.
For more information on races and sporting events on the Outer Banks throughout the year, visit www.obxmarathon.com.

07/15/11

Day Trip to Roanoke Island: Outer Banks Family Fun

Vacationing on Cape Hatteras is a wonderful treat for the whole family. From playing in the ocean waves, kayaking the sound, fishing the shoreline or just relaxing in a beach chair with a good book, your Hatteras Island vacation is sure to be filled with fun, sun and relaxation.

For those visitors who want to take one day and explore more than the shore, a visit to Roanoke Island may be what you are looking for! Follow us to Roanoke Island for our top recommendation for what to do, where to eat and what to see to make the most of your family vacation.

What to Do:
The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is a popular attraction on the Outer Banks.

The aquarium is the perfect place to bring kids of all ages who seek to learn more about the amazing aquatic marine life under the sea. The aquarium presents daily dive shows, films, animal encounters and feedings. It is one of the single best rainy day activities on the Outer Banks. (But take our local’s tip: for a less crowded aquarium experience, visit the North Carolina Aquarium during one of the sunny days on your vacation.) For more tips and information, visit: The North Carolina Aquarium. We hope to “sea” you there!

Where to Eat:
Big Al’s Soda Fountain and Grill is a blast from past!

Big Al’s is a great restaurant for families and is a unique dining experience! Take one step inside Big Al’s 50’s style diner and discover the thousands of coke memorabilia that line the walls and shelves.

Would you like to sit at a table, or the soda fountain? The soda fountain counter, which can seat twelve people, offers the full 50’s experience, including your own soda jerk to wait on you. The restaurant includes separate party rooms that can be reserved for any special occasion. Don’t forget about the juke box! Pick from hundreds of your favorite 50’s and 60’s hits. Out of all the dining experiences of your vacation, Big Al’s Soda Fountain and Grill will be one to remember. Don’t forget to order a milkshake to go, and stop by the gift shop on your way out and bring a little bit of the 50’s home with you!

What to See:
The Lost Colony is a beloved Outer Banks attraction and the ultimate history mystery!

As the sun begins to set, there is no better way to wrap up a fun-filled day than with an exciting live show, performed outside under the stars at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. Here, you will discover the Waterside Theatre, home to world famous “Lost Colony” outdoor drama. Join actors from all over the country as they sing and dance their way through the dramatic and historical story of America’s beginning here in the new world. The Emmy nominated Lost Colony has been impressing audiences for 74 years.

During your Hatteras Island vacation, a daytrip to Roanoke Island is a glimpse into all of the fun things to do, see and discover in the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina.

10/1/09

Local Photographer Daniel Pullen featured in Outer Banks Art Show

Photo by Daniel Pullen Photography

Photo by Daniel Pullen Photography

Hatteras Island photographer Daniel Pullen will open a joint art show with Stephanie Kiker on Oct. 3 at Roanoke Island Festival Park in the Art Gallery. Pullen’s photography is featured in Surf or Sound Realty’s website and vacation home catalog, and he works with Surf or Sound rental guests on family portraits and special event photo sessions. Continue reading →

06/12/09

Free Things to Do on Hatteras Island

One of the best aspects of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is that a day at the beach on Hatteras Island doesn’t cost a thing. There are plenty of free public accesses all along the 70 miles of National Seashore, with lots of parking, and even shower and restroom facilities. Most folks can also find free easy beach access right outside the door of their vacation rental home, but no matter where you hit the beach, you’ll never have to pay for a long, sunny day on the sand. Continue reading →

05/22/09

Free NC Symphony Concert on the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks welcomes for the eighth year the North Carolina Symphony Summer Pops Concert at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo on June 19, 2009. Once again, this event is free to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend.

Gates open at 6 p.m. with a pre-show program by the Concert Chorale of the Outer Banks at 7 p.m. The NC Symphony program begins at 8 p.m. Continue reading →

02/23/09

North Carolina Symphony Outer Banks Summer Concert

The Dare County Tourism Board welcomes for the eighth year the North Carolina Symphony Summer Pops Concert to Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo on Friday, June 19, 2009. Once again, this event is free to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. The performance is underwritten by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at a cost of $28,000 and Roanoke Island Festival Park donates the venue. Continue reading →

10/21/08

Trick or Treating Island Style

Planning a late October Hatteras Island vacation, but don’t want to miss out on trick-or-treating? No problem. There are actually plenty of family friendly neighborhoods and unusually fun trick-or-treating destinations that offer a little touch of the Outer Banks charm, but more importantly, plenty of candy. Continue reading →