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

This is one family event you will not want to miss. The Emerald Isle Parks & Rec is hosting a “Friday Free Flick”, Friday, April 17. Checkout the details below. If you are planning a trip to the Crystal Coast, don’t miss the FREE movie “Bolt”.

Crystal Coast Event

Event Date: Friday, Apr. 17, 2009
Event Time: 7:00 pm
Friday Free Flick • Join us at Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation building at 7500 Emerald Drive on Friday, April 17th at 7pm for “Bolt”. The movie is rated PG and the admission is FREE!

All children, be sure you bring your parent(s). $1 = popcorn and a drink. Remember, no outside food or beverage is allowed.

For more information on this family-friendly Crystal Coast event, contact Laura Lee Davis.

Laura is the Program Supervisor with the Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation
Phone: 252.354.6350
Email Laura: davis@emeraldisle-nc.org

Why Emerald Isle is such a Great Place to Live and Visit!

The awesome part of residing (or visiting) a small NC Coastal town like Emerald Isle is the really cool family-friendly events the crew at the parks and recreation host. Besides the obvious scenic beauty and the recreational opportunities, what other reasons would you list for living or visiting the Crystal Coast?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Bobby Carroll – Your Crystal Coast Blogger

According to local media sources, only one final permit is required from the Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners for a new Emerald Suites hotel to be built. Planned for the corner of N.C. 58, Islander Drive and Crew Drive (see map below), the hotel project is being developed by a partnership of the two long-time Emerald Isle families, Larry and Daisy Spell and Paxon Holz. Ms. Holz is the daughter of W.B. McLean. Developer Larry Spell’s uncle, George Spell, and W. B. McLean were the original developers of Emerald Isle.

Room to Spare on the Crystal Coast

Three years in the planning, the three story, 53-room hotel will provide overnight accommodations for Emerald Isle vacationers in suite-style rooms. Each hotel room offers a separate sitting area providing plenty of space for visitors to the Crystal Coast. This is the first new Emerald Isle hotel to be built here in decades. The Crystal Coast had lost several hotels over the last few years including the old Holiday Inn, the Royal Pavilion, and the Triple S Hotel in Atlantic Beach.

Lounge by the Hotel Pool or Shuttle to the Beach

Offering amenities like a swimming pool and shuttle service to the nearby #4 Western Beach Access, construction on the project could possibly begin as early as late February or March. Pending issuance of the sewer permit, construction of the hotel is anticipated to take about a year to complete. An added benefit to the project is the creation of numerous new construction jobs required to make the hotel a reality.

More Choices for Emerald Isle Visitors

If you are a frequent visitor to Emerald Isle or even a permanent town resident who could use several rooms for a special local event, this new Emerald Isle hotel is sure to fill a big void.

Until my next post,

Bobby Carroll

P.S. It will be interesting to see what impact if any this new suites hotel will have on the Emerald Isle rental market.

It is painfully obvious that I have been a total slacker when it comes to posting regularly here at the Crystal Coast Blog over the last few months. I’m going to use an “excuse” I hear often from my real estate agent clients and friends, “I’ve been too busy to blog“. There, I used the excuse and it’s still a totally lame reason not to blog (IHMO).

Bloggers Need to Man-up!

What I believe we should do is “man-up” (women bloggers too) and say “I wasn’t disciplined enough to effectively manage my time to blog”. Plain and simple, that’s my reason for not blogging more frequently. So for 2009 I commit to blog more often and to offer even more value to our faithful readers. That’s one part of my “big plan” for the Crystal Coast Blog for 2009.

Big Plans – Bigger Changes!

In my next post (coming soon-I promise!) I’ll share with you a few of the big changes you will see here at the Crystal Coast Blog. Hint – it has to do with sharing more of my thoughts on the Emerald Isle real estate market, aspects of social media, real estate marketing and blogging!

In closing, I would like to wish you a joyous and prosperous New Year!

Your Feedback

If you have a topic you would like to see addressed here please leave a comment. Your feedback is always valued!

Bobby Carroll

P.S. To all my friends in the RE.Net, if you are attending Inman Connect, RE BarCamp and the Bloggers Connect in New York City next week, I’ll be there and hope to see you there as well.

As I sit in our warm North Carolina home, surrounded by family who enjoy excellent health, I am completely overwhelmed by just how wonderfully blessed we are. We give thanks today for the wonderful gift of the birth of Christ. We also give thanks for the gift of family, friends and our extended friends scattered everywhere who are a part of our lives on so many levels.

Here is Our Christmas Wish for You!

May you enjoy this special day and experience the wonder of the season in your heart. Please take a moment to say a prayer for our special men and women who bravely serve our country who are stationed around the world. To these courageous members of our armed forces we send a special holiday “Season’s Greeting”. We pray God’s grace over you and look forward to your safe return to your loved ones!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Bobby & Pam Carroll

Your Crystal Coast of North Carolina Bloggers

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!

Now that school is back in session, and the summer crowds are gone, you might be wondering what’s left to do on that quick weekend getaway to the Crystal Coast. Just remember, with less crowds and pleasant weather in the fall months, it’s an ideal time to visit Emerald Isle. If you’re coming for a weekend or maybe even a fall vacation and you’re not quite sure what you and the kids should do, here are my top 4 things every family should do when coming for your Crystal Coast fall getaway.

1. Play miniature golf! There are several Crystal Coast miniature golf courses located in and around Emerald Isle. My personal favorite is the Emerald Forest Putt-Putt “tract”. It’s located adjacent to the Pacific Beach Superstore at 8720 Reed Drive across from the Emerald Plantation Shopping Center. The course is still in fairly good condition. That means the bricks that outline each hole allow for the ball to remain on that particular hole. This is very important for those “junior golfers” who might find it a bit of a challenge to keep their ball on the course. Crystal Coast Blog secret: Local catalogs contain a $1 off coupon so be sure you have yours when you arrive. Call ahead for hours of operation: 252-354-5034.
2. Visit the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores! Rainy days at the Crystal Coast are common in the late summer and early fall months so why not take advantage of those rainy days by planning a trip to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Crystal Coast Blog secret: This is a very popular Crystal Coast attraction, so be prepared to get there early especially on those dreary days at the beach.
3. Go Fly a Kite! Scheduled for October 24th through the 26th, the Kite Fest is held at the Atlantic Beach Sheraton Hotel. It is a wonderful family friendly 2-day event with kite flying demos and activities held on the beach at the Sheraton. All events are organized by Kites Unlimited of Atlantic Beach. For more information, please call 252-247-7011. Crystal Coast Blog secret: This is another popular event and parking space can be difficult to find. Come early and avoid a long hike to the festival site.
4. Go Fish! The fall is the perfect time to take a kid fishing. Whether it’s casting your line from the shores of the Crystal Coast or from the Bogue Inlet fishing pier, the fall time of year is best time to land the big one. Crystal Coast Blog secret: Make your trip more convenient by simply renting your fishing gear from the Bogue Inlet fishing pier in Emerald Isle. For those families headed down to the beach from the Triangle area, many stop at the Neuse Sport Shop in Kinston, NC for bait, rods and reels.

What Are the Other Kid-Friendly Things to do on the Crystal Coast?

Be sure to leave a comment let our readers know what other fun things you have discovered on the Crystal Coast during the fall season.

We Don’t Own the Flip Flops Shop in Emerald Isle

I’m amazed at the amount of emails and comments I receive here at the Crystal Coast Blog from people who think I own the Flip Flops store in Emerald Isle. Then again, it’s really easy to understand. People “Google” the search term “Flip Flops in Emerald Isle” and my Crystal Coast Blog appears on page one (1) of the search results. Naturally, when people read my wife’s favorable comments posted here at our blog about Flip Flops, they assume that my wife Pam and I are the owners. Here’s the thing, we do not own the shop.

Flip Flops Needs Their Own Website

You see the store doesn’t have their own website. I’ve actually told Marcie (the REAL owner of Flip Flops) that she needs a website and that she is missing opportunities for sales over the web. I can only do so much. So the next time you drop in to that funky little beach shop attached to the convenient store on your way from Emerald Isle to Indian Beach, please tell Marcie that the guy at the Crystal Coast Blog said he is still getting emails from people saying they want to purchase another one of those cute little “fuzzy-bottomed coozies” or order more of those stickers you have on your counter.

We Love Our Crystal Coast Blog Visitors!

Don’t get me wrong, Pam and I love the fact that people are coming to our Crystal Coast Blog and we will continue to highlight our favorite things to do, awesome places to eat and unique shops to checkout here on the Crystal Coast. So if you want to leave a message for Marcie, the owner of Flip Flops, always feel free to leave a comment.

Until my next post,

Bobby Carroll

Good news! Tropical Storm Hannah was actually no worse than a strong Northeaster as they say here on the Crystal Coast and everyone weathered the storm with little fanfare. The storm did develop some pretty serious rip currents and the local surfers took advantage of the high surf otherwise damage was minimal.

Future Weather Updates from the Crystal Coast!

Stay tuned to the Crystal Coast Blog for more updates on tropical storms and hurricane advisories for the remainder of this hurricane season.

Did your Crystal Coast Property Experience any Damage?

While I’ve heard of no real property damage to speak of, did your Emerald Isle, Salter Path, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores or Atlantic Beach home experience any damage? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know.

Stay safe,

Bobby

Ok, I’m sure this post will get all the Blackberry “Crackberry” loving real estate agents fuming. As a former Moto Q owner, I joined the masses that crossed over to the dark side and purchased an iPhone in mid-July. According to several websites, since the introduction of the 3G generation of the iPhone, an estimated 3 million units have been sold. That’s a staggering number. Based on the many Twitter conversations I follow, a bunch of agents all over the US are new iPhone owners.

My Rational – Why Emerald Isle Real Estate Agents Should Own an iPhone!

So why would I suggest what many might think is such an outlandish recommendation that your next Emerald Isle real estate agent be an iPhone owner? It’s all about the ingenious applications this baby can provide. In fact, I point to a blog post written by Real Estate blogger Joel Burslem when he stated there are “5 APPs Every Real Estate Agent Should Have on Their iPhone“. Now Joel made no mention that agents should be iPhone owners. I believe he was simply highlighting which iPhone APPs would greatly benefit agents (and their clients) most.

4 Reasons to be Considered

Ownership of an iPhone in and of itself does not infer that your Emerald Isle real estate will be a technology “wizard”. If your agent has an iPhone and has downloaded these applications to their iPhone, more than likely, they have a basic knowledge how to use these applications and are well-informed agents. Because those individuals who own an iPhone (IMHO) tend to be ahead of the technology curve, I am convinced Emerald Isle home buyers and sellers will greatly benefit from an agent who truly understands how to maximize their iPhones and along with the other technology gear they own. Hence my 4 reasons you should think about selecting a Emerald Isle Realtor who owns an iPhone:

1. As I stated above, chances are better than average that your iPhone totin’ agent will be much more tech-savvy than his or her counterpart. This is especially true if they have surfed to web sites like Platial.com and created a profile. More to come on this in a later post!
2. More iPhone applications will be coming down the pipeline very soon to allow consumers to search for all homes for sale in the Crystal Coast towns of Emerald Isle, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, and Atlantic Beach. Agents with iPhones are sure to be on the lookout for applications that help them meet the needs of their clients. While I was visiting the Trulia office in San Francisco last month for the Inman connect Conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Rudy Bachraty, Trulia’s Social Media Guru. Rudy stated yesterday his company has now released an iPhone property search app. I downloaded the Trulia property search app and it’s one very cool app. Emerald Isle home buyers and sellers, I recommend you download this app and take a look at all the features and benefits it represents to your experience. To help convince you of the value of this neat tool, take a look at this video.
3. With an iPhone, an agent (and his clients) can view the Internet and see websites “formatted” correctly. When I owned my Moto Q, the Internet browser on my phone was a total mess and I could never view the site correctly. Plus, my download speeds were horrible! With my iPhone, surfing the web is a breeze! With an agent out showing homes, viewing Crystal Coast properties from an iPhone is very easy. Now that’s mobile computing at its best!
4. As more users of the iPhone visit Emerald Isle to search for homes for sale, come to the Crystal Coast for a family vacation, dine at the local restaurants and stop by a coffee shop, no doubt they will be using all kinds of apps that offer a map and social networking opportunities. Those tech-savvy Emerald Isle real estate agents who decide to embrace this technology and begin using it will surely set themselves apart.

Agree – Disagree?

Be sure to leave a comment and tell me what you think?

Until my next post,

Bobby