This week the Carroll families are renting 124 Heverly Drive in Emerald Isle. A popular component of many Emerald Isle beach vacation rental properties is a guest book or renters journal. The property owners of Carefree Sandancer West offer such a journal for their rental guest. Curious to know what other renters have documented, I peeled back the pages to find some interesting observations about the unit and what activities visitors enjoy when they come to the Crystal Coast.

What’s on the Minds of Emerald Isle Vacationers

The format of this particular guest book went like this:

• Date you arrived
• Date you departed
• The weather during your stay
• Guest/visitors
• What we did
• New encounters (friends/creatures)
• Projects (started/completed)
• Favorite moments
• Notes (some used this section to leave feedback to the owners like what needed to be repaired or comments about the rental property)

Carefree Sandancer West Guest Journal Entries

Here are a few of the more interesting entries written in the Carefree Sandancer guest journal.

“I was a Carefree Sandancer. No husband, no sons. Spent the week with friends reading, talking and listening. It was a much needed break to rest and refresh. I feel like a beautiful woman again.” June 25, 2006.

“As I put pen to paper, it’s easy to know why Hemingway loved island life. The tastes from food, smells and seafood. It’s well worth the trek every year.” August 4, 2007.

Among the many family themed entries was this warm-hearted thought; “This is our 6th year. We have special memories every year. We are taking our youngest child off to college next week and this has been great to be together before her new adventure.” August 16, 2008.

I found this entry to be very interesting as it was offered by someone visiting from Northern Ireland. “Just loved this Emerald Isle. The color of the ocean is definitely emerald green but the weather is much better than it is on the olde sod“. August 18, 2007.

Our Entry in the Carefree Sandancer West Journal

Stay tuned when we let you know what our entry will be about our family vacation to Emerald Isle.

Bobby Carroll
Your Crystal Coast Blogger

I recently asked my five year old grandson to write his first blog. Below is what he typed on the computer and added to my Facebook page:

Guest Post by Taylor Cookman

What makes Nana and Papa’s house special is their toy’s and TV. I also like to go with Nana and Papa to the Farmer’s Market to eat chicken nuggets. Papa and Nana are fun to play with. Nana and me like to play crosswords. Me and Papa like to play trains. I also like to go to the Parade of Homes in Raleigh with Nana and Papa and Mommy and Daddy, and look in the homes.

My Favorite Things to do in Emerald Isle

I love to go to Emerald Isle and play with Ethan. I love to go to Grandma’s Toy Shop and buy toys! I like to eat the hushpuppies at Jordan’s House of Seafood. I also like the Lost Treasure Golf and the Emerald Forest Golf.

I love Nana and Papa,

Taylor Cookman

P.S. I also love Emerald Isle!

Annual Crystal Coast Seafood Festival is a Big Hit!

There was no hint of a financial downturn judging from the throng that filled the Morehead City waterfront for this years’ 2008 Seafood Festival. Beautiful fall weather greeted a shoulder to shoulder crowd. Great aromas filled the sun-drenched air as the throng munched on a smorgasbord of delicious foods. A crowd favorite was shrimp on the bar-bee along with the usual fair of elephant ears and roasted corn. The kids stood in line for their favorite carnival rides and moms and dads armed with video and digital camera’s snapped memorable photos.

2nd Largest Festival in NC

Proclaimed the 2nd largest festival in North Carolina, this years’ 22nd edition featured over 150 arts and crafts vendors and 4 primary stages for talent.

What Was Your Seafood Festival Favorite?

Was it the delicious samples of seafood, the outstanding entertainment or the rides? Tell everyone what you enjoyed most about this years’ 2008 North Carolina Seafood Festival.

Until my next post,

Bobby

Photos from the 2008 edition of the North Carolina Seafood Festival

Sand, Waves, Shells, Shopping, Putting and Food!

A typical week at the North Carolina coast for our family means lots of playing in the sand, riding the waves, long walks on the beach, and more time than you could imagine crouched in the shell seeking position. Time must always be allocated for at least one game of miniature putt-putt golf and a trip to the NC Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores. We always try to venture out and explore new areas, interesting shops and yummy restaurants. These are a few of our favorite Crystal Coast beach vacation traditions.

Some Traditions Are Hard to Break

When I was a child, a trip to the NC coast always meant comic books to read in the car, Hershey’s miniature candies, banana sandwiches and powdered mini doughnuts. Several of these traditions have continued through the years. While I’ve given up the comic books but I still can’t go to the beach without having powdered mini doughnuts for breakfast and banana sandwiches for lunch. For some reason, a banana sandwich just taste better at the beach.

Shrimps, Eggs and Dips Oh My!

Our family beach trip to Emerald Isle always includes at least one meal at Rucker Johns and one meal at Jordan’s Seafood. We also have to have one breakfast at Mikes and one at the Emerald Grill. A vacation would not be complete without at least one butterscotch dip from the Emerald Isle Dairy Queen. It’s amazing how effecient those kids can be at the DQ! If it sounds like a lot of my beach vacation traditions involve food, you’re right!. Maybe that’s why they are called comfort foods. Vacations are all about comfort. Don’t you agree?

Holding to Precious North Carolina Coastal Landmarks – Our Fishing Piers!

Our traditions do include more activities than just eating. Many sultry summer evenings are spent walking out on the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier. This is a tradition I hope we can hold on to for many years to come especially now that a number of the piers on the Crystal Coast have been torn down or destroyed by past storms. It’s shame to see them replaced by single-family oceanfront homes and condos.

The Girl’s Gotta Shop!

I have my favorite places to shop and visiting them while on vacation is a must. The Crystal Coast has lots of boutiques and gift shops with unique beach themed items. I am an avid reader too and while on vacation, I have to visit The Emerald Isle Books and Toys to select my reading material. Their selection of fiction and non-fictions by local authors is one on the largest I have found.

What family or personal traditions do you have when you visit the Crystal Coast?

Until our next post,

Pam

It’s Easier than You Think!

We all know the beach is a wonderful place to make memories. And what better way to document your time together than by taking awesome photographs. Believe it or not, beautiful photos can be taken on the beach and it’s easier than you think. We recommend you try these simple tips.

Fill in the Shadows – With a Flash!

While in times past, it was recommended all photos be taken with the sun “over your shoulder”. Newer technology integrated in today’s digital cameras now allows you to shoot your pictures with your subjects face in full shade. The next time you’re on the beaches of the Crystal Coast turn on the “fill flash” mode on your digital camera. This tactic is especially helpful if you happen to be shooting your photos of subjects under a tent, under the beach umbrella or under the pier. Use of the fill flash will require you move in a little closer to your subject. Unfortunately, most flash are only powerful enough to be effective within 8 to 10 feet or less.

Get Even Closer!

To often, people take photos of family members standing in the surf while the camera is positioned 100 yards from the subject. This shot will produce an unrecognizable person against the blue/green backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. Fine if the point is to take images of the ocean. With people, we recommend you always get closer! If the eyes are the windows to the soul, we say focus on the eyes!

The Vertical Edge

The reason some professional photos look so great – the pros occasionally shoot their photos on the vertical plain. To often amateurs forget to use this simple tip that really makes a strong impact on the quality and variety of the pictures we take. The next time you’re on the beach in Emerald Isle, try shooting several photos on the vertical. We think you will like your results.

Only the Shadow Knows!

If you really want high impact photos, shoot your photos in the early morning or late part of the day. Why – because the long shadows make for great pictures. Here again, try using your fill-flash mode to add some drama to your photos. Early morning and late day photos also offer rich color saturation and add greater character to our photographs.

Those Carolina Blue Skies!

We all know, it doesn’t get any better than to live in Carolina – especially in the summertime! If you happen to be on the Crystal Coast right after a cold front moves through to clear the air, you can take advantage of this opportunity by trying to capture your subject at a 90 degrees to the sun. For those who have a digital SLR, be sure to add that “polarizing filter” to your lens to really make that Carolina blue sky POP!

Try It – You’ll Like It!

So give these photo tips a try and let us see some of those great photos. Send your digital pictures to info@crystalcoastblog.com and we will pick some of our favorites and highlight them in our Crystal Coast Photo Gallery page late next month. Now go get “snap happy” and submit a comment of the tip that worked best for you!

From the “Picture Perfect” Crystal Coast,

Bobby

The Return Trip to Emerald Isle

By now it was approaching early afternoon and the wind had picked up. Obviously, a return by way of the Atlantic was out of the question. I asked my trusty navigator, Pam my wife, to plot a course for us to return via Taylor’s Creek on the Beaufort waterfront for our return trip back to Emerald Isle. Taylor’s Creek is a scenic trip and I highly recommend that trek. Just remember, all along the waterfront is a “no wake zone”, so take that into account when calculating your time. Beaufort is a pretty little town filled with neat shops, good restaurants and interesting homes. If you have time, check it out if you’re near Morehead City.

Past Radio Island

As we were leaving the no wake zone, we traveled past Radio Island. Back in my college days, I spent a weekend there conducting research. I was taking a class in Marine Biology and our professor arranged for us to spend a weekend on the Island at the Duke Marine Labs. You have to understand, in 1972 there was nothing happening around Beaufort much less on Radio Island. Classrooms, labs, a boat and a dormitory was about all that was there. Come to think of it, I believe that’s all that’s there now.

Atlantic Beach to Emerald Isle

One more no wake zone in front of the State Port and then we were off at full throttle in the ICW to Emerald Isle. All of a sudden I heard my daughter scream “whooooaaaa Daddy”! The pregnant one couldn’t handle the steady pounding our little craft was dishing out. I pulled back the trottle and we “cruised” our way back to the marina. About this time, Brad, my son, pointed to my gas gauge. We looked at each other as if to ask, “are we going to make it back”? With the boat barely plained out, Brad and I began to worry. Our speed restricted to make the trek less painful, we wondered if we could make it back to our marina at Emerald Isle.

Do You Sea Tow – I Don’t Sea Tow!

Because my little boat seldom “drank salt water”, I never thought to purchase a Sea Tow rescue insurance package. It just didn’t seem like a smart investment, until now! Armed with my trusty cell phone, I figured we could give them a ring if we gave out of gas far from port. Now that would be a really big bill. Once we shared our news about our lack of fuel, the boat became really quiet. Hope renewed, in the distance I could see “the cut” where we would make our left turn to head to the marina about a 1000 yards away…almost home! All of a sudden, my little 4 cylinder began to “spit and sputter” chocking on its last sip of gas.

Rescued By Angels

As our boat sputtered one last time, a family out for a late afternoon cruise pulled out of the cut and I screamed, “can we get a tow”? Fortunately, they were accommodating and accepted my tossed rope. Our newfound friends pulled us to the marina and refused our offers of reimbursement for the extra gas used pulling us in.

Back Safe and Sound

Back at the marina, we replayed our momentus excursion. Today, we retell that story and somehow the distance from Emerald Isle to the “Hook” and back seems to grow. Next time we make that trip, I’ll have a bigger boat with a bigger gas tank, a depth gauge, GPS, radio, and any other techie gadget I can afford to buy to help us get there and back. By the way, what’s Sea Tow’s phone number? :>)

We will always remember all the fun we had on that day we took our trip to the Hook and back!

What About Your Experience?

Have you made the trip to the Hook and back from Emerald Isle? What memories did you make?

Be safe and enjoy the trip,
Bobby

And We Live to Tell About it!

If you own a boat and live on the Crystal Coast, or maybe vacation here, no doubt you’ve traversed the ICW to the “Hook” of Cape Lookout. You may have even conquered the Beaufort Inlet out to the “deep water” and followed the shoreline of Shackelford Banks. I suspect you’ve spotted the ponies as you made your way to Cape Lookout. Or maybe you took the easier “path” via the inside passage to avoid the big swells of the Inlet. I assure you, each trip you take will be memorable.

“The Run to the Hook”

Five years ago, we departed Island Harbor Marina in Emerald Isle for our “run to the Hook” with a boat load of six adults. Aboard our 18′ Stingray open bow ski boat, we tubed the ICW and generally had a grand old time making our way to the calm waters that is the hook of North Carolina’s distinctive Cape Lookout.

A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing!

Having been raised on a Harker’s Island 20′ wooden boat and later a 17′ Larsen runaboutsince a young pup, I knew just enough about seamanship for us to get where we were going and not get anyone injured. We did run aground on more than one occasion – Pam – no comments from the peanut gallery. Next time I’ll take one of those Coast Guard Auxiliary Classes and buy a depth-finder. Possessing just enough good sense to remain clear of larger vessels, we tracked our way up the ICW past Indian Beach, Spooners Creek and finally to the bridge from Morehead City to Atlantic Beach. My first thought was to attempt to take the short cut and head out the Beaufort Inlet for deeper water. Of course here the tides run fast and the swells easily washed over our little craft. I quickly realized my little boat was no match for the swells of the Beaufort Inlet. Good sense prevailed and I tactfully did a u-turn all while the family looked on in complete horror. Talk about eyes as big as saucers.

Special Cargo Onboard

Taking the inside passage and calmer waters, we made our way to Cape Lookout protected by Shackelford Banks. During this particular trip, our daughter was about 6 months pregnant and petrified of sea monsters lurking below the depths. Each venture into the murky deep (4 to 6 foot of water in the ICW) was an adventure (no potty on board). Note to self…. pregnant women need to remain near the “facilities”. Never take them on a 6 hour tour of the ICW especially to the Hook. Other than finding bottom more often than I care to admit, all went well until we arrived at the Cape. My crew was ready to find their land legs again. As I drifted toward shallow water to access the shore, I helped myself to an area marked “off limits” to all boats except ferryboat operators. Thinking I could access the shore easier here (I’m trying to be considerate of my daughter’s fears of the deep), the family assaulted my pigheadedness with screams. With mutiny about to occur, I found another location to put ashore. After potty breaks, Kodaks moments and a brief rest, it was time to head back to Emerald Isle.

The Return Trip to Emerald Isle

Stay tuned for the second part of this adventure in my next post!

I’m still “hooked” on the Hook!

Bobby

Traveling to Hawaii

On our first trip to Maui, my husband Bobby and I walked up to the cabana at the Maui Marriott swimming pool to pick up a couple of towels. When we asked the attendant (Tom) stationed at the cabana for our towels, he immediately asked if we were from North Carolina. WOW! I guess our accents gave us away. We told him that we were from Raleigh. Tom exclaimed “North Carolina has the best beaches in the world”.

Say WHAT!

Picture this. We are standing 20 yards from the crystal blue Pacific Ocean on Kaanapali Beach in Maui. Tom works next to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and he says that North Carolina has the best beaches he has ever visited. Bobby and I looked at each other with an expression of YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

Love of the Crystal Coast

Tom went on to tell us how he had been stationed at Fort Bragg and loved to travel to Emerald Isle on weekends. He raved about the beautiful wide beaches and what fun it was to body surf and ride the Crystal Coast waves.

A Fresh New Appreciation

When Bobby and I returned and took one of our typical trips to the Crystal Coast, I began to “see” treasures that I had taken for granted all these years. A wide beautiful beach, warm water (the average water temp in Maui is 76 degree…brrrr…) with a sandy bottom and lots of interesting shells.

Dorothy Was Right!

What they say is true. “There’s no place like home and home has some of the best beaches from Emerald Isle to Atlantic Beach. The next time you visit the Crystal Coast, maybe you too will have a whole new appreciation for our beautiful beaches too.

Why don’t you share with us why you think the Crystal Coast is the best place to vacation.

Pam

The Crystal Coast – Decades of Memories

This summer my husband Bobby and I will celebrate 35 years of marriage. Over the past 3 ½ decades, some of our favorite memories are tied to the Crystal Coast. Prom weekend 1971, I went to Atlantic Beach with 6 of my friends. Bobby also went with his friends and we spent the weekend hanging out and enjoying the sun. The following summer, I went with his family on vacation at Emerald Isle. I will never forget being tossed in his father’s boat by the huge wake of a tug on the Intercoastal Waterway. Bobby was water skiing behind us and skied over the wake like a pro.

Family Ties Grow at The Crystal Coast

Our daughter Amy’s first trip to the beach was the summer of ’75 at Atlantic Beach. We even purchased her a baby walker at the Roses in Morehead City. The next few years were spent vacationing in Atlantic Beach. By the time our son Brad was born my Uncle had purchased a home in Emerald Isle so we began to spend our vacations at that end of the Island.

Development Comes to the Crystal Coast

In those days, the scenic view between Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle was an emerald green maritime forest of yaupon trees. They were so thick you couldn’t see the ocean from the road. Those trees now dot the landscape of beach homes and you get a great ocean view as you travel down the highway.

Jordon’s Seafood Restaurant, across from Bert’s Surf Shop was one of the few places to eat at Emerald Isle. We ate there or drove to Morehead City to eat at Sanitary Fish Market. If you wanted to eat in, you would have to bring most of your groceries with you as the (Food Town) Food Lion had not been built.

Spending Quality Time at the Crystal Coast

We continue to come to our beloved Crystal Coast and always look to our annual family reunion with kids and grandchildren. We seldom miss spending time at the Crystal Coast since we have been married. We have watched the area change, grow and become a popular tourist destination. Some things never change about the Crystal Coast, you can still shop at Fran’s Beachwear, eat a delicious meal at Jordon’s and buy a tee-shirt from Bert’s.

Come discover the Crystal Coast we dearly love. If you have a fond family memory of the Crystal Coast, please share your experience too!

Wishing you many Crystal Coast memories,

Pam