A Great Time with Good Friends

We moved away from the Philadelphia area about seven years ago to be closer to family.  We miss our friends in Philadelphia.  We often get together for special occasions and to take vacations.  We met them for a vacation in the Outer Banks.  As usual, we had a wonderful time.  Here are some photos from our trip.

My philosophy, and I follow it as often as I can:

"May you always have a shell in your pocket and sand in your shoes."

Existentialism

Exploring A Restored Village

One day we explored Historic Corolla Village.  Original village buildings have been restored and have become series of shops, museums and a school.

Village Schoolhouse:

Island Bookstore:

Old Boathouse:

Places to rest for a moment:

Shops full of interesting things:

A shop that supports the Wild Horse Fund:

So much to see and do.  I took so many photos.  I still have a few more left... for later.

My Outer Banks

Our Outer Banks vacation: 

This is where we stayed in Corolla.  Three story townhouse with four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a hot tub.  A short walk to the beach.

Our bedroom, very sunny and spacious.

The living area:

The first day we walked around to get the lay of the land.

We walked across the street to the Currituck Heritage Park.  It's a 39-acre park set on the Currituck Sound.  The park has walking paths, nature trails and boat docks.  The Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the Whalehead Club and the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education are all located here.

This is the Whalehead Club with the Currictuck Light House in the background.

I took this photo from the porch of the Whalehead Club.  It was built in the 1920s by Edward Collings Knight, Jr., a wealthy man who was a waterfowl hunter and nature lover.  He bought a 4.5 mile section of the northern Outer Banks and created the Lighthouse Hunt Club.  After the owners' deaths in 1936 the building was used for various purposes.  During World War II it served as a bunker for the U.S. Coast Guard.  After the war it housed the Corolla School for Boys.  During intervening years the property was abandoned and was in danger of being torn down. However, the county was able to purchase it in 1992 and it has been completely renovated.  It is now open to the public for tours, weddings and wine tastings.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is also located in the park.  Its unpainted brick exterior makes it unique among Outer Banks lighthouses.  Visitors can still climb to the top and enjoy the view.

Here are some photos I took as we walked around and explored the park:

Most of our days were spent relaxing on the beach.

This was our walkway to the beach.

 Little boy playing in a tidal pool.  At the top you can see him from far away; closer below.

I loved seeing people with their dogs on the beach.  The dogs all looked so happy.  They had "doggie smiles" on their faces.

Sand sculpture:

I also love watching the birds skittering in and out with the surf. 

Lots of people were flying kites from the beach.  It was difficult to take photos because the sun was creating a glare when I looked at my camera screen, but here is one colorful one.

Is it the Unabomber?  No, it's our friend Matt, hard working police officer on vacation!

Tomorrow... The Historic Village of Corolla.