Corolla is located in the Outerbanks of North Carolina. Kristen, John and their 16 month old son Ian hosted us for this holiday weekend. Joining us were Kristen & John's friends Steven & Clay as well.
Ian; 16 mos. with his Mom Kristen and his Dad John.
We flew from San Antonio on Saturday, May 26. We flew from SA to Norfolk, VA. As we had plans to arrive late in the evening; we decided to stay the night in Norfolk and drive out to Corolla the next day. We spent our evening at the lovely Hilton Norfolk Airport. Dave and I watched the SPURS game that evening from the luxury of our hotel room.
We flew from San Antonio on Saturday, May 26. We flew from SA to Norfolk, VA. As we had plans to arrive late in the evening; we decided to stay the night in Norfolk and drive out to Corolla the next day. We spent our evening at the lovely Hilton Norfolk Airport. Dave and I watched the SPURS game that evening from the luxury of our hotel room.
Welcome sign to Norfolk, VA
Picture of the Hilton, Norfolk Airport Hotel
Corolla, North Carolina. "In so many ways, America begins on North Carolina's Outer Banks! The land of beginnings, some call it. This is where England first attempted to colonize the Americas, with disastrous results for the 'lost' Colony. The Wright Brothers defied gravity from a sandy dune not far from the windswept beach and brought mankind into the aviation age. The northernmost accessible town on the Outer Banks, Corolla has seen rapid development over the past ten years. Up until 1984, when the state extended Highway 12 north from the Dare County line, the town was a sleepy seaside village. Today, multimillion dollar vacation homes dwarf the village proper and make Corolla one of the most desirable upscale vacation destinations in the country. Ironically, it was the opening of the road and the ensuing traffic that eventually led to the relocation of one of Corolla's most famous attractions, the wild ponies. At the center of the village is the Whalehead Club and Currituck Lighthouse complex. Millionaire industrialists built the Whalehead Club in the 1920's as a base for waterfowl hunting expeditions to the Banks. Today, the Club is being restored to its original glory and serves as a waterfowl museum. Next door, the red brick Currituck lighthouse towers over the landscape. The northernmost of the Carolina lighthouses, the 180-foot structure is open for climbing in the summer months and features a small museum and the restored lightkeeper's house." Courtesy: http://www.outerbanks.com/corolla
On Sunday we drove out to Corolla; approximately a 2 hr. and 15 minute drive from Norfolk. We drove through the Outer Banks passing by beaches and the town of Duck. We spent Sunday afternoon visiting and walking on the beach. Kristen & John's home is in a neighborhood that sits just a few minutes from the beach. On the way to the beach you have to pass a lake filled with turtles and more.
Boy feeding turtles in brackish water
Turtles 
Sandcastle on the beach
Monday, we visited the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. "On December 1, 1875 the beacon of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse filled the remaining "dark spot" on the North Carolina coast between the Cape Henry light to the north and Bodie Island to the south. To distinguish the Currituck Beach Lighthouse from other regional lighthouses, its exterior was left unpainted and gives today's visitor a sense of the multitude of bricks used to form the structure. The lighthouse was automated in 1939 when the United States Coast Guard assumed the duties of the Bureau of Lighthouses. At a height of 158 feet, the night beacon still flashes at 20-second intervals to warn ships hugging the chain of barrier islands along the coast." Courtesy http://www.currituckbeachlight.com
We decided not to climb the 214 steps (as we knew we could but we had on flip-flops and decided not to) but instead chose to walk the grounds and shop in the gift shop.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
After touring the grounds and gift shop; we drove through Historic Corolla Village. This part of town is really Corolla proper and was the original town center in the days of old Corolla. There are dirt roads and new stores nestled amongst the older shops. There's some interesting shopping areas in town as well. There's the TimBuckII Shopping Village with stores, dining, go-karting and bumper boating. Store names include "Corolla Book 'n Card", "Cotton Gin", "Try My Nuts" Nut Company as well as "Miss Kitty's Old Time Photo Studio". One of Dave's favorite spots was the "Brew Thru." Afterwards we worked our way over to "Wings Beachwear Store" which contained every single ounce of beach and tourist gift items you can think of. Here's me and Dave sitting outside in one of their over sized Adirondack chairs!
After shopping Dave and I ventured out on our own and made our way over to the Wright Brother's Memorial located in Kill Devil Hills, NC. "Kill Devil Hills is the Outer Banks' oldest township, established in 1952. But the landmark that lends the town its distinctive name has been around much longer. At one time, the northern Outer Banks was characterized by a series of sand mountains over 100 feet high. These dunes stretched from sound to sea, from Corolla south to Nags Head. Kill Devil Hill was one of the larger of the dunes, and stories about how the monolith got its name are varied and colorful; the generally accepted one is that it is named for ''Kill Devil," a brand of rum found washed ashore during the colonial period. Whatever the origins of its name, the dune was the site of the Wright Brothers first heavier-than-air flight in 1903, which placed Kill Devil Hills forever in the history books. In the 1930s, workers planted hearty grasses on the dune to prevent it from continually shifting, then constructed the impressive Wright Brothers Memorial which is visible for miles." Courtesy: http://www.killdevilhills.com
Kitty Hawk is another beach town which gets the recognition of where the Wright brothers took flight but in actuality it was in Kill Devil Hills where flight took place; four miles south from the base.
Description placard of the experiments of the Wright Brothers
Wright Brothers Memorial
View from where the flight occurred
Dave with bust of Orville Wright
Amy with bust of Wilbur Wright
Saturday night we picked up authentic North Carolina barbeque from High Cotton Barbeque. While they use hickory (and those of you who know how much I dislike Texas bbq with mesquite) this was quite good! After a finger-lickin' dinner we called it a night as we were off the next day.
Peek-a-boo with Ian!
Sunday we walked to the beach one last time and then made it back to shower and change and back on the road to Norfolk. It was great catching up with one another and enjoying a brief but pleasurable weekend.
Sunday we walked to the beach one last time and then made it back to shower and change and back on the road to Norfolk. It was great catching up with one another and enjoying a brief but pleasurable weekend.
Ajax the dog; heading out on the beach. Bye, bye!
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