For a good many years we owned a condominium in the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina where we spent countless summer weeks enjoying the sun and surf and also rang in the New Year on several occasions. The Outer Banks are a series of barrier islands entirely made up of undersea sand bars which covers approximately half of the northern North Carolina coastline and separates the Currituck, Albemarle, Roanoke, Croatan and Pamlico Sounds from the Atlantic Ocean. Known for its stunning natural beauty, miles of pristine beaches, and unique wildlife, these barrier islands are also famous for their towering lighthouses which for centuries have guided the way for ships and sailors passing nearby. Peace and quiet is endemic to the region which accounts for its becoming such a beloved destination for so many people. Its natural beauty, rich history and culture, combined with its friendly communities have made the Outer Banks the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Thanks to the utility of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk we used to own, the time spent traveling from our former hometown in south-central Pennsylvania to the northern Outer Banks was only about two hours. I’d normally file a flight plan and fly through Baltimore, Washington and Norfolk airspace with the Dare County Regional Airport (MQI) as my destination. It’s a public use airport located on Roanoke Island one mile northwest of the central business district of the town of Manteo. We even kept a Jeep Wrangler at the airport so we’d have transportation waiting for the 45-minute drive up to the condo. On one occasion, a friend and I booked a ride on “Big Red,” a 1942 open-cockpit biplane offered by Barrier Island Aviation which operated out of the Manteo Airport. What a thrill it was to soar out over the ocean with the wind whipping through our hair observing so many of the popular area landmarks from the best perspective there is - that of the sky.
The Outer Banks holds sacred ground for us AvGeeks. The Wright Brothers Memorial is just off the Croatan Highway in Kill Devil Hills. From these very sand dunes, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the world’s first heavier-than-air, powered, controlled flight on December 17, 1903. Administered by the National Park Service, the Memorial is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is well worth a visit. A replica of the Wright Flyer is inside the Visitor Center (the original is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC) and two wooden sheds, based on historic photographs, recreate the world's first airplane hangar and the brothers' living quarters. The brothers made four flight on that December day following three years of gliding experiments. It’s possible to walk along the actual routes those four flights took, with small monuments marking the starts and finishes. Interestingly enough, the first flight at 10:35 AM lasted only 12 seconds and covered a distance of 120 feet. That would fit within the fuselage of a B747. I was privileged to be in attendance during the Centennial of Flight celebrations there on December 17, 2003 attended by then President George W. Bush who arrived via Marine One from Elizabeth City Regional Airport. Unfortunately, bad weather prevented the specially constructed replica of the Wright Flyer from becoming airborne and I was saddened to note the president departed early. As the disappointed crowds dispersed, my friend and flight instructor said, “George, look up.” I was amazed to see a great, big beautiful B747 emblazoned with the words “United States of America” across its fuselage make a low pass over the nearby First Flight Airport, tip its wings in salute to the Wright Brothers and scream off into the sky on its way back to the nation’s capital. You could have heard a pin drop among the departing crowd and that’s a moment I will never forget!
Farther north along NC12 towards our condominium, we’d pass through the charming town of Duck. The population of this town swells from about 750 in the winter to roughly 20,000 during the summer season. It seems everyone likes Duck. With one of the most family-friendly beaches in all of North Carolina, it’s no wonder as the town has any number of reliably delicious local restaurants and an easygoing vibe. Duck lives up to its reputation as one of the best small towns to visit on the East Coast. Those enjoying a vacation here can walk or bike to many local restaurants, shops, and a sound side community boardwalk for a prime view of the famous Outer Banks sunsets. Just outside the town is the community of Sanderling, made famous by the four-star resort of the same name. The Sanderling is well known for its welcoming hospitality and the high quality of its spa.This resort's expansive oceanfront property comes complete with charming decor and ample activities. It's location between the Atlantic Ocean and the Currituck Sound means that views of the water are available from nearly every room. The property has an award-winning spa, an adjacent beach and three pools from which to choose. And the on-site restaurants offer a variety of cuisine options from steak and seafood to casual burgers and sandwiches to wintertime s'mores toasted over an outdoor fire pit.
Our condominium was located in the unincorporated community of Corolla in Currituck County. In addition to its gorgeous beaches and proximity to the sound, this area boasts a number of unique treasures that set it apart from other Outer Banks locales. Among them is the Historic Corolla Village with its sandy streets and small collection of historic buildings and interesting shops selling everything from local art, food and home goods. Here, you’ll find the old Corolla Schoolhouse which was constructed in the late 1800s and now operates as a charter school. Nearby is the Island Bookstore, a small independent business with a fantastic collection of reading material and a welcoming attitude that encourages customer browsing and relaxing. Right next door is the Corolla Chapel built for an inter-denominational community first served by circuit-riding preachers in 1885 that still thrives today. And I shouldn’t fail to mention the Whalehead Club. Set on 39 pristine acres along the Currituck Sound in Historic Corolla Park, it's a beautifully restored 1920s-era Art Nouveau-style mansion-turned-museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Corolla is also fortunate in being home to the first of the five famous lighthouses on the Outer Banks. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse still functions as a guide for passing mariners. At 162' feet tall, the lighthouse's First Order Fresnel light, (the largest size available for American lighthouses), can be seen for 18 nautical miles as the light rotates in 20-second increments.This lighthouse stands out for its distinctive red exterior. The design was intentional, to set the Currituck Lighthouse apart from its Outer Banks neighbors and after completion, it was left unpainted, allowing visitors to marvel at the sheer number of bricks involved in its construction. For centuries, hundreds of ships were lost in the treacherous waters off the Outer Banks. In fact, the waters off North Carolina's coast have been called the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the great number of ships that’ve wrecked there, thousands since the Sixteenth Century. In the Northern Outer Banks, ships traveling close to shore to avoid the swift and tumultuous Gulf Stream could easily get shipwrecked against the shoreline, as the miles of Currituck's barrier island was relatively uninhabited, with nothing but dark coastline to confuse and disorient the passing sailors. In response, construction began on the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in 1872, and three years later on December 1, 1875, the lighthouse first cast its glow as a beacon to passing ships.
For a change of pace, the Corolla wild horses can be found on the northern beaches in Carova. Descendants of the original colonial Spanish Mustangs, the Corolla Wild Horses have 7,500 pristine acres to roam on the “four-wheel drive only” beaches.The exact origins of the horses that still live here on the Outer Banks aren't entirely known, but experts have a pretty good idea. The horses we know today aren't native to North America at all.They were brought over by the Spanish during the Colonial Era. And while these herds are technically wild now, they're descendants of domesticated horses that were brought to the area sometime in the 1500s and left behind, either by choice or by accident. The non-profit Corolla Wild Horse Fund protects, conserves, and manages the herd of about 100 horses that continue to roam these beaches to the delight of visitors. Tours of the area in open-air vehicles are easily arranged by any number of vendors. I can recommend Corolla Wild Horse Tours as being one of the best.
For aviation and nature enthusiasts, history buffs and those seeking fun in the sun with activities like surfing, kiteboarding and fishing, the Outer Banks fills the bill.
Until next time…safe travels.
Kommentare