Outer Banks Vacation Rental Beach Blog by Joe Lamb Realty

Duck Town Hall Grand Opening Tonight

2012-02-16T18:03:19Z

This year is the tenth anniversary of the Town of Duck, and as a testament to their growth they built a new, spacious Town Hall. If you get the chance, tonight at 6PM is the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting. Enjoy light refreshments, check out the new digs and mingle with the people of Duck. The opening of the Town Hall marks the completion of the Town of Duck's four part Municipal Property Master Plan. Phases 1-3 were the soundside boardwalk, canoe/kayak launch, parking area, rails, picnic shelter, gazebo, playground, and amphitheater.

The Town Hall is located on 1200 Duck Road.

Happy 10th birthday, Duck!

10th Annual Outer Banks Bike Week

2012-02-08T20:15:14Z

Spring is almost here, and that means a lot of really fun Outer Banks events are right around the corner. You won't want to miss the 10th Annual Outer Banks Bike Week this April 21-29. This year there will be live bands, bikini contests, poker runs, guided tours, bike shows, tattoo contests and plenty of great prizes. This year boasts a lot of great party spots for bikers, from Lucky 12 Tavern in Nags Head north to Longboards in Kitty Hawk and plenty of places in-between. Vendors from all over the country will be set up along the stops to make sell the latest biker must-haves.

Call Joe Lamb, Jr. today to book your Bike Week getaway and make this your Outer Banks tradition.

Permits Required for Beach Driving

2012-02-06T17:55:08Z

On February 15, a new law will go into effect requiring permits for driving on the beach. Up until now driving on the beach has been free, but as traffic has increased and environmental groups have gotten vocal, it seems that enacting a fee was the only compromise.

Fees will be $50 for a one-week permit, or $120 for a full year permit. Of the 67 miles of Hatteras National Seashore, 41 of those miles will be open to vehicles. 28 of those miles will be open year round, and 13 open only seasonally. Commercial fishermen may be allowed to purchase special permits to allow them in the restricted areas.

Permits can be purchased at the three National Park Service ORV permit offices--at Coquina Beach, at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Visitors Center, and the Ocracoke Visitors Center. Yearly permits are valid for the calendar year, and the week permits are valid for the seven days from the date the permit is issued.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/caha.

Lost Colony Silent Film from 1921 - Found!

2012-01-31T15:58:21Z

Years before there was "The Lost Colony" musical, there was "The Lost Colony" silent film. Back in 1921, the state of North Carolina appropriated $3,000 for the making of the film, which was to be used as an educational tool. The silent film's cast had over 200 actors, mostly local Manteo folks playing the roles of both Indians and colonists.

But as time went on, the 46-minute 16mm silent film went missing. Decades passed and only one version of the film was known to exist, but it was part of a private collection. Just last year the version belonging to the Roanoke Island Historical Association was found during a clean-up of an old storage room. The film was sent to historians and was digitally remastered so that it could be viewed again by the public.

The Pioneer Theater in Manteo is showing this historic gem of a movie for FREE on Sunday, February 5 at 3PM. For more information, contact The Lost Colony at 252-473-2127.

Reason #176,238 To Love the OBX

2012-01-31T00:11:48Z

Even though I am a resident of the Outer Banks, I still find myself on a pretty regular basis marveling at this beautiful place. This whole month of January is the perfect example. We had so many days in the 60s... even brushing 70 degrees on occasion... that I had to break out the flip flops. I just love being able to turn off the heater in the middle of winter, while the rest of the country braces for snowstorms, and opening my windows to let in the breeze. It's felt more like April than late January.

If you're reading this somewhere and wearing a sweater or are fighting a winter cold, remember that even though it's winter it is still the perfect time to take an Outer Banks vacation. Give us a call and book a house for a nice, long weekend. After all, Valentine's Day is right around the corner... what a perfect romantic getaway!

Roanoke Island Festival Park

2012-01-24T17:28:47Z

Roanoke Island Festival Park is located on the Manteo Waterfront on Roanoke Island and is best know for the 69 foot Elizabeth II. The Elizabeth II is a representation of a particular 16th-century English merchant ship, Elizabeth, one of seven in Sir Walter Raleigh's 1585 expedition fleet to establish England's first New World colony. As you tour the ship, living history interpreters roam about engaging guests with sea tales, legends and historical facts.

There is a settlement site on the grounds where interpreters shed light on how life must have been for both the English settlers and the Native Americans that lived on Roanoke Island. Also onsite at the Festival Park is the 8500 sq. ft. Roanoke Adventure Museum featuring interactive, hands-on exhibits, bringing to life the rich history of this area. In the film theater, guests can watch The Legend of Two Path, a 50-minute film telling the Native Americans’ perspective of the English colonists’ arrival and the story of how the arrival of the colonists changed their lives.

Here you will also find the museum gift shop, where historically themed gift merchandise is categorized into an Elizabethan section, a nautical section, a Civil War section and a Native American section, but there’s so much more than that. Fun and educational toys and books, beach décor, jewelry, candy, fine teas, food items, soothing music, as well as a large selection of fascinating local interest books by local authors.

The outdoor Pavilion and surrounding grounds offer a perfect place to enjoy a picnic and concert. Special events are ongoing at Festival Park all summer long. The Summer Children’s Performance Series is a favorite. At the outdoor amphitheater on the park grounds, special concerts and cultural events are held year round.

The Roanoke Island Festival Park is a gathering place for many special events including art exhibits, concerts, book signings and much, much more! It is a must on the to-do list for all visitors to the Outer Banks of North Carolina!

"A Salute to Love" by OBXbrides.com

2012-01-18T19:57:11Z

It's no secret that the Outer Banks is a wonderful destination for weddings. In fact, I've heard that we're second only to Las Vegas as a wedding destination in the United States. The Outer Banks Wedding Association hosts a very popular wedding Expo every January so that future brides can meet with local wedding vendors. As the Outer Banks has grown in popularity, so has the number of wedding vendors. OBXbrides.com is a website started by a few local wedding professionals that acts as a forum for brides to share their experiences and for future brides to learn about local wedding vendors. This March, OBXbrides.com is hosting their very first wedding show at The Sanderling in Duck on March 24. Visit OBXbrides.com to buy tickets and view a list of the vendors who will be on hand.

I just recently learned about the OBXbrides.com's "Salute to Love", which was a FREE wedding donated by the members of OBXbrides.com to one lucky and deserving military couple. The couple, John and Megan, will be marrying on the Outer Banks in April. I absolutely love the idea... one of the owners of OBXbrides.com wanted to do something to "give back" to our military. She decided to do what she does best... give them a wedding of their dreams. The couple couldn't be more deserving; he's a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and she's an Olympic athlete recovering from cancer. I can't wait to read about their wedding after it happens in April. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Outer Banks Sounds: The Local Music Scene

2012-01-11T10:58:41Z

The Outer Banks is home to quite a few talented musicians, some who play nightly in bars and restaurants, others who work the wedding scene and a few who travel regionally and nationally to perform. We even have a local celebrity musician here on the Outer Banks, Tim Reynolds of the Dave Matthews Band. When not touring the country, he performs from time to time around the Outer Banks with his other band TR3 (Tim Reynolds 3).

In support of the local music scene, the Dare County Arts Council and 99.1 The Sound radio station are hosting "Outer Banks Sounds", a monthly concert at Kelly's Restaurant and Tavern. Local singer/songwriters will perform from 7-10PM, every third Thursday of the month through April. The event will culminate in an "Outer Banks Sounds" CD. All proceeds from the CD will go towards the Community Music School, a Dare County Arts program that provides affordable music instruction to local youth. For more information, contact the DCAC at (252)473-5558.

Don't miss the next Outer Banks Sounds concert-- January 19th at Kelly's!

Don't Miss the Wedding Weekend and Expo!

2012-01-04T15:46:40Z

If you are a bride thinking about getting married on the Outer Banks, you're not going to want to miss the annual Wedding Expo put on by the Outer Banks Wedding Association. This weekend, January 6-8, will be jam-packed with fun, informational and educational events all put on by the Wedding Association.

Meet David Tutera of WE TV's "My Fair Wedding with David Tutera" at a special cocktail reception at the Duck Woods Country Club on January 7th, from 7-10PM. Complete with heavy hors d'oeuvres, live music, a chance to win the Dream Wedding giveaway, the cocktail reception will be an event not to miss!

The Expo will be all day on Sunday, January 8th, at the First Flight Middle and High Schools from 10AM-4PM. Check out local wedding professionals, sample cakes, listen to musicians, and get a chance to win the Dream Wedding, valued at over $45,000.

For tickets and more information, visit: outerbanksweddingassoc.org.

Don't Miss the Wedding Weekend and Expo!

2012-01-04T15:46:19Z