Outer Banks Family Vacation ~ September 2nd -5th 2011

October 27, 2011

Friday around noon Aaron decided we'd go to the beach one last time this summer. We had never been to the Outer Banks so off we went around 3pm. It took us about 7 hours to drive there, but we had some fun stops and were nice and comfortable in our new Honda Odyssey Tourning. We loved our Rav 4, but the lease was up. We wanted space for everyone to sit when our parents came to visit and still be able to hold all our luggage. I love it! Anyway, we stayed in Kill Devil Hills.

Saturday morning we found a nice place on the beach and played. The water was a lot cooler then we expected but that didn't stop AJ from jumping in the waves and hunting for shells. Audrey played most of the time with her new bucket and shovel Aaron bought for her since I somehow forgot the sand toys???

AJ did lose the truck he's playing with in one of the ocean waves. He was pretty sad, but didn't stay that way too long because the beach is just too much fun!

For dinner we had an hour forty-five minute wait, so we went to a pirate themed mini golf course instead of standing in line. We rode on a little train to get to the first hole. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the scenery. Afterwards we had a yummy dinner at Tortugas Lie.

We ate clam chowder with a clear broth and some caribbean spices that were so good, crab cakes fried and in the shape of a ball, and yellow fin tuna with lump crab. Yummy!

The best place to fly a kite is at the Wright Brothers Monument in Kitty Hawk. We bought AJ an awesome 3D jet kite and enjoyed flying on a beautiful windy hill.

Aaron is teaching AJ how to fly the kite. It is a really cool kite. Kite flying competitions are held here yearly.

This is a replica of the first airplane the Wright Bros actually flew.

After flying the kite we drove to the Oregon Inlet by Hatterus sea shore but the National Guard wouldn't let us go further because of the damage left from the recent hurricane. We drove to Pirates Cove where Aaron and AJ would be fishing the following day. We did some shopping and headed to Aweful Aurthur's where we ate lobster bisk, shrimp cocktail, steamed shrimp and crab legs, fish and chips.

Bright and early Monday morning AJ and Aaron boarded the Crystal Dawn head boat for a 5 hour fishing trip. On the boat AJ played with squid and minos and used them for bait. He caught several blue fish and was the only one on the boat to catch a puffer fish. They had a great time.

Above AJ is holding the fish he caught in the bag. Below the captain is cleaning our fish so we can take them home and have our first fish fry. On the drive home we stopped by Mackey's Ferry Peanut shop and bought "blister fried" peanuts, "sugar coated" peanuts and peanut brittle. They are all amazing!Unfortunately we got home super late and weren't very hungry since we ate food and peanut during the long drive, but we fried up the fish anyway and ate what we could. It was a great trip to the OBX!