A Happy Thanksgiving Wish from Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates

happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, we have decided, has a very good case for being our favorite holiday. The requirements are simple—spend time with the people we care about the most and eat a lot of food, and be thankful that those people are in our lives.

As a requirement for a successful holiday, it doesn’t get much simpler than that.

For those of us lucky enough to live on the Outer Banks, well, we generally feel as though there are some additional reasons to be thankful.

Surrounded by the beauty of nature and living in communities that seem to naturally care about our friends and neighbors, is one of those things we agree makes the Outer Banks special.

As a celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Outer Banks is much like the rest of our country—for the most part it’s day to relax and reflect on those things we are most grateful for—and, of course, to eat a lot of food.

Turkey is, naturally, the number one item on the menu with ham a very close second, but there are a couple of southern twists to the other dishes.

Collard greens are really popular. Although it’s been chilly, we haven’t had a freeze yet, so they’re not quite at full flavor yet, but what we’ve sampled has been awfully good. It takes a while to to cook them right, and every kitchen has their own recipe, but when done the way they should be, they are wonderful.

Sweet potatoes are an important part of the sides as well—makes sense since North Carolina grows more of them than any other state and the Outer Banks borders where they’re grown.

Biscuits take the place of bread a lot of times—and sometimes sweet potato biscuits, which are a true southern treat.

Overall, though, someone from any part of our country could sit in at an Outer Banks Thanksgiving table and feel right at home. And it wouldn’t be just the food that made them feel that way—it’s the Outer Banks welcome that would make it special.

From Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates to all the friends we’ve made over the years, may your Thanksgiving be all you wish for.

Three Outer Banks Parks for the Whole Family

Sandy Run Park in Kitty Hawk is an ideal place for a family to introduce children to nature.
Sandy Run Park in Kitty Hawk is an ideal place for a family to introduce children to nature.

The Outer Banks prides itself in being a family oriented place for a family to visit and there is a lot for the whole family to do while here.

There are the obvious things…going to the beach, checking out the Wright Brothers Memorial, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island.

Sometimes though, it’s the small things that make a place special and the Outer Banks does that well too. Especially the town and county parks that often offer a break from the regular vacation things to do.

Here are three Outer Banks parks, all of them absolutely suitable for families

Whalehed Club, Corolla
The Whalehead Club seems to have something for the whole family.
The Whalehead Club seems to have something for the whole family.

The Whalehead Club, which is part of Currituck County Heritage Park, isn’t so much a park as it is a place to visit.

With a large, expansive lawn kids can run until they drop; the setting is exquisite so Mom and Dad can spend some time just enjoying the view.

Lots of activities here too, with a tour of the Whalehead Club available, the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is a wonderful small museum and of course Currituck Beach Lighthouse begs to be climbed.

Sandy Run, Kitty Hawk

Located on the Woods Road in Kitty Hawk, Sandy Run Park is a beautiful example of

a maritime forest and wetlands.

A boardwalk circles the pond and wetlands and in the summer hundreds of turtles like to sun themselves on logs that are on the surface of the pond. Kids will love that.

There is also a catch and release area for fishermen.

Local families make this a regular spot to bring their children because of its beauty and the chance to talk to kids about the natural environment.

Dowdy Park, Nags Head
Dowdy Park--a great playground for kids.
Dowdy Park–a great playground for kids.

The newest edition to the Outer rBanks Park scene, seems like it has something for everyone.

There is a beautifully designed playground with some really innovative concepts—a swing designed for a child who is in a wheelchair is just one of the design features that make this a must see place.

For the adults , there is a fitness trail. For everyone, there are picnic pavilions, covered tables and grills.