Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates Archives - Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates

Read All About It – “The Outer Banks”

One of the best things about vacationing on the Outer Banks is sitting back, relaxing, and reading a good book by the sea. But have you ever read a book about the Outer Banks while enjoying your OBX vacation? We at Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates would love to share with you books about the Outer Banks for adults and kids too.

Children’s Books

Book cover of Tammy Turtle by Suzanne Tate showing a sea turtle entering the ocean — Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Tate

Tammy Turtle – This book is great for kids who want to learn more about loggerhead turtles and how to help protect them. The author, Suzanne Tate, a local resident of the OBX has many other books about the beach and nature that will make your kids want them all. Other books include Salty Seagull, Sammy Shrimp, Spunky Spot, and Flossie Flounder. With so many books to choose from, which would be your favorite?

picture of a dog surfing surf dogs beach safety tips — Photo Courtesy of Kim Mosher Designs

Surf Dog’s Beach Safety Tips – If you have young children and are looking for a way to help them learn about beach safety, this book is for you! Surf Dog’s Beach Safety Tips is a book that will help them learn about safety when on vacation. The author is Kevin Mosher, and his wife, Kim Mosher, did all of the illustrations in the book.

Picture of a black cat on a beach ball on the beach with sand dunes behind it — Photo Courtesy of Tamara Hoffmann Shipp

Bosley the Cat – Bosley the cat loves adventures and has two books in the series, The Bosley Books. The first book is Bosley the Beach Cat, and the other is Bosley the Pirate Cat. These books take place in the Outer Banks and are so much fun to read for kids. The author is Tamara Shipp and illustrated by Sarah Glaser.

Photo of two children sleeping in beds with the outer banks lighthouse in the background — Photo Courtesy of Adam Gamble & Mark Jasper

Good Night Outer Banks – This book is a great book to read at bedtime for the younger kids and highlights several locations on the OBX. Those locations include Wright Brothers National Memorial, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, and Duck Town Boardwalk. Written by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper, this book will soon become a favorite for your kids every night!

Picture of book cover with young girl drawing and window in background showing people walking on the beach — Photo Courtesy of H.C. Friesen

Janey Olsen, Famous Artist of the Beach – This book was written and published by a long-time guest, H.C. Friesen. It’s based in one of our rental houses, unit 016, and back when it was yellow. This is a book to get and keep in your children’s book collection at home.

Adult Books

On This Day in Outer Banks History – This book is about the Outer Banks and how it’s so much more than a vacation destination. It tells the stories of the OBX and how amazing it is with all the history it holds. The author, Sarah Downing, is a former Joe Lamb Jr & Associates employee, and we couldn’t be any prouder of her success!

Hatteras Island, Keeper of the Outer Banks – Written by Ray McAllister, a regional author who visits the OBX often with this family. This book portrays the beauty and history of the Outer Banks and how it has remained like a secret vacation destination. He has another book about the OBX, Ocracoke, The Pearl of the Outer Banks, that you must also check out.

The Beach Lover’s Guide to the Outer Banks – If you’ve been searching for a guide on how to fall in love with the beach of the OBX, this is the book for you. Written by Tamara Shipp, you’ll find this series has two volumes. The first is The Beach Lover’s Guide to the Outer Banks Volume 1 focuses on Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head. Volume 2 focuses on Avon, Buxton, and Hatteras.

We hope you enjoyed this fun blog post on books about the OBX as much as we did writing it. If you pick up one of these books while on vacation and want to share it, be sure to check out one of the Little Free Libraries around the Outer Banks. Staying in one of our OBX vacation rentals will have you wanting never to return home!

Easter Happenings on the OBX

Bouquet of spring yellow tulip flowers and colorful Easter eggs top view on white wooden background. Easter background with copy space.

t’s hard to believe that Easter is less than a month away. Now is the time to start getting excited over your Easter vacation. Spending the week of Easter here on the Outer Banks has its perks, including all of the fun local events happening. Staying in one of our Kitty Hawk vacation rentals will keep you and your family close to the action. Let’s peek below at what fun things you can do this Easter on the OBX.

Fly into Spring & Easter EGGstravaganza

Portrait Of Five Children Wearing Bunny Ears On Easter Egg Hunt In Garden

One of the most awaited Easter events on the Outer Banks each year is the Kite Festival and the Easter EGGStravaganza. The kite festival is sponsored by Kitty Hawk Kites and will be on Friday, April 15^th, and Saturday, April 16^th, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Each day. As we’re headed into celebrating National Kite Month, Kitty Hawk Kites wants to share their love of kites with everyone. You’ll see demonstrations of different sized kites being flown over Jockey’s Ridge State Park. This festival will also include pictures taken with the Easter Bunny with an egg hunt. Admission to the Kite Festival is free for all, however there is a $5 fee for each child who wants to participate in the egg hunt.

Easter at Elizabethan Gardens

Another great event on Easter weekend is the egg hunt at The Elizabethan Gardens. This has been deemed one of the largest egg hunts on the OBX. It will include well over a thousand eggs! Additional activities for your family to participate in include, egg spoon races, hat contest, coloring contest, and more! You will need to purchase your tickets online in advance to participate in the fun event at the gardens. The event is on Saturday, April 16^th starting at 10:00 am and will end around 2:00 pm. Joe Lamb Jr & Associates is a proud sponsor of this event and The Elizabethan Gardens.

Easter EGGcitement at your Vacation Rentals

Joyful family wearing bunny ears headbands gathering at table in modern light kitchen and paining Easter eggs together

If you’re looking to explore Easter activities at your vacation rental here’s a short list.

Dying & decorating hard-boiled eggs with the entire family.
Filled plastic egg hunt around your vacation rental.
Baking & decorating Easter and Spring themed cupcakes.
Watch an Easter movie or your favorite family movie and just relax together.
Take an early morning or late night stroll on the beach taking in the sights and calming sounds of Outer Banks this holiday season.
Don’t forget to pack the kids Easter Baskets for the egg hunts.

There are many other things that you can do this Easter weekend, and the possibilities are endless, but we wanted to share these with you. Now is the time if you haven’t booked your next stay in one of our Kitty Hawk vacation rentals. We look forward to seeing you and your family this Easter!

Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates is one of the most trusted vacation rental managers in the local area by growing into a market leader in the Vacation Rental and Sales Industry. Joe Lamb Jr. and his family have played a vital and intricate role in the Outer Banks Community for decades.

Over the past 50+ years, Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates have worked diligently to help promote the Outer Banks for the amazing beach and family vacation destination that it is, helping to increase tourism in the area and grow our beautiful community.

Reasons Why Staying in a Small Vacation Rental is Perfect for Families

Colorful beach houses in Nags Head on the North Carolina Outer Banks, showing different sized homes on the Outer Banks, NC

Have you ever wanted to sneak away to the Outer Banks for your family vacation, but you’d like to stay in a smaller vacation rental? We understand that while many families love to stay in some of the larger homes we offer, many want to have a comfy & cozy home feeling too. We at Joe Lamb Jr & Associates have plenty of small to mid-sized vacation rentals that you can allow your family to enjoy. Let’s look below at three reasons why staying in a small vacation rental is perfect for all families of all sizes.

Budget-Friendly

female hands puts a coin in a pink piggy bank. The concept of saving money.

We know that going on vacation with your family can be expensive, especially if you stay in a hotel and must get more than one room. Between paying for individual rooms and daily food, most aren’t left with much money to spend on the extras. When you stay in a smaller vacation home, you’re not only saving money in the long run, but you’ll also have the extra space for everyone. We also have several specials that we run on our small vacation homes, so sneaking away from life at home for a weekend is doable and affordable.

Always More Space

Another great reason staying in a small to mid sized vacation rental is perfect is that you’ll still have more room to be comfortable than inside a hotel room. Depending on how many are in your family, we have vacation rentals that will fit your entire family for a short getaway year-round. You will also have a full-sized kitchen which can help save money as you can cook your meals right there at the rental. Plus, there should be zero arguments from the kids on how long one may be taking in the bathroom, as you’ll have more than one. Some of our homes also have rec rooms or outdoor space for you to enjoy together. We can’t forget about mentioning that many of our small to mid-sized homes are also pet-friendly, so don’t forget those four-legged friends too!

Relaxation is Key

Going on vacation with the family can seem overwhelming, especially if you have small kids. But when you stay with us in one of our 2-4 bedroom OBX Vacation Rentals, you’ll be able to enjoy some relaxation too. Several smaller vacation homes have great amenities to help the parents relax with a hot tub, pool, or even that soaking tub in the primary bedroom. Everyone in the family can take a deep breath and breathe a little easier when you stay on the Outer Banks. With the light breeze that comes off the ocean to the smell of the salt air, you know that once you are over that bridge, you’re on island time. Sit back and relax with the family on your little getaway.

There are so many other reasons why staying in a small vacation home on your next trip to the Outer Banks; we wanted to share these few. If you’re still looking for a great last minute special, always check our Facebook page or want to head out of town just for the weekend, call us today at 800-552-6257. We can’t wait to hear how you enjoyed your stay with us!

Over the past 50+ years, Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates have worked diligently to help promote the Outer Banks for the amazing beach and family vacation destination that it is, helping to increase tourism in the area and grow our beautiful community.

Get Ready for National Plan for Vacation Day on January 25th

Welcome to the New Year! As we all sit back and think of the new adventures we wish to seek in 2022 we know that advanced planning will help us achieve those goals.

Planners actually do travel more than non-planners. **More than half (56%) of Americans who typically planned their time off took an overnight vacation in 2021 compared to 33% of non-planners.

Senior african american woman reading a book while sitting on deck chair at the beach. travel vacation retirement lifestyle concept

If you have been dreaming of a relaxing vacation sitting on the beach and enjoying the sound of waves crashing, your children playing in the background, and the shorebirds singing in the air. We, however, have a very important question to ask you, have you booked your 2022 vacation to the Outer Banks yet? The National Plan for Vacation Day has been set aside for January 25th to encourage travelers to plan their vacations.

So save the date, January 25th and use that day to pre-plan your family vacation for 2022.

Why Vacations are a Good Decision for You

After we’ve all been through the past two years, it’s time to start thinking about you and your family’s health and wellbeing. Many Americans are still feeling burnout, and they’re ready for a change of scenery. But did you know that many Americans still are not utilizing all of their vacation days, and the majority of them are saying they’re desperate for a vacation. Instead of feeling burned out yourself, start planning your family vacation now to stay in one of our Outer Banks vacation rentals and don’t lose out on your time to relax & renew with loved ones.

More Reasons Why a Vacation is Important to All

Stress Relief – Relaxation and vacations go together, so it’s only natural that you’ll feel more relaxed once you’re enjoying time on vacation with your friends and family. Decompressing from everyday routines and taking time to read and bike allow you to clear your mind.

Better Sleep – Another reason you’ll find relaxing about vacationing on the Outer Banks is that your sleep will improve. There’s something about taking a vacation, sleeping in a new environment that will allow you to relax and have a better night’s sleep.

Better Mood – Vacations can not only relieve stress and allow you to sleep, but they can boost your mood too. Getting away from life at home, having new scenery, and making new memories can give you a better outlook on life and put you in a better mood.

Anticipation – After you’ve figured out how many days you can vacation in 2022 and you’ve coordinated with your family when would be the best time to go on vacation, comes the anticipation of booking your vacation. You will sense the anticipation of your time off from work growing and you’ll get to see your kids’ excitement build as the calendar draws closer as your vacation together approaches.

Book Direct Day – This year take advantage of both #PlanYourVacation Day on January 25th and #BookDirect Day on February 2nd, 2022. When you book direct with us you will receive better rates and from “time to time” some special offers. We want to make sure that you and your family have the best experience in booking your next vacation.

Silhouette Happy family people group celebrate jump for good life on weekend concept for win victory, person faith in financial freedom healthy wellness, Great insurance team support retreat together in summer.

This year instead of trying to decide where you should go and when you should take your vacation, you’ll be ahead of many Americans who haven’t taken advantage of the #PlanForVacation Day. Spending your time in one of our Outer Banks vacation rentals will allow you and your family to disconnect from life at home and enjoy your time together.

**Source: Destination Analysts, 2021

Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates is one of the most trusted vacation rental managers in the local area by growing into a market leader in the Vacation Rental & Sales Industry. Joe Lamb Jr. and his family have played a vital and intricate role in the Outer Banks Community for decades.

Eco-Tourism on the Outer Banks: What to Bring to Your Vacation Rental

Welcome back to our blog series on Eco-Tourism when visiting here on the Outer Banks. We hope you have enjoyed this fun series that we have at Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates have been sharing. In the past couple of months, we have learned how to keep our beaches clean along with some earth-friendly activities. Since this will be the final post on this series, we thought it was natural to let you know how you can bring eco-tourism to your OBX vacation rental and even your own home. We understand how important it is to make sure that our beaches are free of trash for you to enjoy and the wildlife. But let’s take a peek at how you can help bring eco-tourism to your vacation rental and even back to your home after your vacation ends.

Vacation Rental

Shower Head with Water Stream on Black Background

Did you know that eco-tourism is much more than keeping our beaches clean and finding earth-friendly activities? It also starts in your OBX vacation rental during your trip. You can help out by making sure that you can take advantage of the natural light within your rental. Many of our homes do have plenty of windows and doors to help bring in that natural sunlight. Just opening up the blinds or curtains within your rental can help save on the amount of electricity used. Another way that you can bring eco-tourism into your vacation rental is by conserving water. This can be done a few different ways, like watching how long the showers are, whether they’re indoors or outdoors, or leaving the hose turned on while you’re outdoors. And the last thing we wanted to share with you is making sure that you’re utilizing the outdoor trash cans and recycling bins.

Home Sweet Home

Recycling garbage such as glass, plastic, metal and paper

As you leave your vacation rental after you’ve had a wonderful vacation, why not bring some of the things you’ve learned during our eco-tourism tour home with you? Remember to reuse, reduce & recycle all products within your home. And finding fun, eco-friendly activities to do outdoors can go a long way. But it can also help you raise awareness around your community. Using energy-efficient light bulbs within your home can help save you some energy or by just turning off a light switch when you leave the room. Purchase things from a local store to support local businesses within your community. There are so many options that you can do to help bring eco-tourism back to your hometown.

There are many other options to help you bring eco-tourism into your vacation rental and your own home, and we wanted to share those with you. Remember we are still participating in the Plastic Bag Bench Project and we are still taking plastic bag donations at our main office. If you are still searching for that perfect OBX vacation rental for your next eco-friendly vacation, we have plenty to choose from. We hope that you enjoyed this blog series, and we hope to bring you more in the future.

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