Outer Banks Valentine’s Day Getaway

outer banks valentine beach

‘Tis the season for love! Valentine’s Day this year is all about romance on the Outer Banks. Your favorite seaside destination is perfect for a romantic couples’ getaway. Whatever you plan to do on Valentine’s Day, we know all the things to do to make it extra special.

Rent a beach house

To start off your Valentine’s Day, there’s nothing better than a scenic view from your front porch. With one of Joe Lamb Jr.’s beach houses, everyone is welcome, whether it is with a partner or the whole family.  The beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina are the perfect place to spend Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart. Whether you’re staying for a long weekend or an entire week, you’ll have a great time.

Watch Sunrise on the Beach

outer banks sunrise

The sunrise on the Outer Banks is unmatched. Stroll the island’s eastern side to watch a spectacular display of light shine across the Atlantic. Give your date a lifetime memory by sharing this experience! Enjoy the sunrise from the romantic comfort of one of our oceanfront homes while you catch a glimpse of the sunrise.

Watch Sunset at Jockeys Ridge

outer banks sunset

Jockeys Ridge is the largest sand dune on the east coast. Allowing for panoramic views of both the sound and the ocean. This time of year, there are fewer crowds on Jockey’s Ridge, which makes it an ideal spot to watch sunsets over the Roanoke Sound. During sunset, the sand dunes are unmatched.

Romantic Dinner

There are a number of different culinary experiences that you can enjoy on the Outer Banks. A wide range of dining options are available on the island, so you can choose the one that suits you best. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, many restaurants offer special dinner menus for their customers. We recommend making reservations (if possible) for your favorite local restaurant in advance.

Take a Stroll in the Gardens

The Elizabethan Gardens are located in Fort Raleigh National Park.  This garden has become one of America’s most beautiful and unique gardens since the first attempts to colonize America by England under Queen Elizabeth I. The Roanoke Sound’s tranquil setting makes this scenic year-round garden a perfect spot for a Valentine’s Day stroll. Find out more about the fascinating beauty of camellias as one of the featured flowers in February.

Star Gazing

outer banks stars

Observe the Milky Way and shooting stars! Among the most popular things to do on the Outer Banks is stargazing. The Outer Banks have dark skies and limited light pollution, and are a romantic place to stargaze with your loved one. Valentine’s Day beneath the stars.

Outer Banks New Year Resolution

Now that we are in 2023, people are starting to make changes. Spending time with family, learning new skills, relaxing more, or creating new memories might be on your list of resolutions. An Outer Banks vacation allows you to accomplish all of these things. Contact us today to reserve your 2023 vacation!

Learn to Surf

Besides its picturesque beaches, the Outer Banks is an ideal destination for surfers. World-class surfing spots are found around the Outer Banks, attracting surfers from all over the globe. However, these waves are not just for professionals but vacationers looking for water fun. Various surf schools offer lessons for vacationers of all ages. Try dancing on the water this year as a new year’s resolution.

Visit all 5 Lighthouse

There are five lighthouses on the Outer Banks, which protect its shores. Driving along the barrier island coast will allow you to see these lighthouses. Reach the top to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the island. Take an Outer Banks lighthouse road trip this year and visit them all!

Try a New Local Spot

Local restaurants, shops, and attractions are plentiful along the Outer Banks. This year try something new that you have never experienced before. Embrace a first experience this year!

Buy your Own Vacation Home

Buying a beach house has always been a dream of yours. Find that perfect beach home with the help of one of our real estate agents. Get in touch with an agent by clicking this link.

Reel One In

A favorite fishing spot has always been the Outer Banks. Known as “The Billfish Capital of the World,” fishermen travel far and wide to catch a bite. Perhaps you can fish deep sea, from the pier, or even from the beach. If fishing piques your interest, make this your destination. There may be a record catch this year.

Spending time with family

A vacation on the Outer Banks is the perfect way to spend quality time with your loved ones. Aside from the beach, there are plenty of activities to be enjoyed by the whole family. It’s an enjoyable way to spend time together, experience new things, and create new memories.

Go somewhere new

There is always room for new adventures. This year, why not spend some time on the Outer Banks beaches? Vacations are a great way to relax, have fun, and appreciate nature. Relax at the beach as you deserve it.

 

 

Fall on the Outer Banks – An Event for Everyone

Scene from Crabdady Festival, Sanctuary Vineyards, Jarvisburg.
Scene from Crabdady Festival, Sanctuary Vineyards, Jarvisburg.

Fall is the best time to be on the Outer Banks. Summer is wonderful, but when fall arrives the magic happens. The days are still warm but the summer heat has backed off a bit; ocean water temperature is very manageable and there aren’t quite as many people here as the summer, but still enough that all the businesses are open.

But what really makes fall so special was that’s when the event calendar explodes.

We’ve compiled a list of events through October and included some remarks about three of them.

Be sure to schedule a visit at one of our Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates homes and check out all there is to do on the Outer Banks.

11th Annual Surfalorus Film Festival

surfalorus film festival logo 2022

September 18-21, 2022

Sponsored by the Dare County Arts Council, this three day film festival includes some great surf films from five minute shorts to feature length movies.

 

At various locations. Don’t forget to purchase your passes today. 

*Face masks are required for access to all Surfalorus venues due to the continue threat of COVID-19 and its variants.

CrabDaddy Wine/Beer Festival

picture showing 2022 crabdaddy wine and beer festivalSanctuary Vineyards, Jarvisburg

October 8, 2022

Wine, crabs and music. We probably don’t have to say much more than that. But just to make a visit even more enticing, the setting is beautiful undertone tall trees on the north end of the Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg and the event is very family friendly.

Grab your tickets today for general admission into this fun & exciting event. You can also get a VIP Table that includes: seating for 8, table service, 3 bottles of wine & a charcuterie board.

Events

WRV Outer Banks Pro Surf Contest

Jennette’s Pier

Nags Head

August 31- September 5, 2022

Outer Banks Stunt Kite Competition

Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Nags Head

September 9 – 11, 2022

Outer Banks Triathlon

Old Swimming Hole

Manteo

September 16-17, 2022

ESA-Eastern Surf Finals

Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head

Sept 18 – 24, 2022

Pridefest

Nags Head

September 16-18, 2022

Dare County Motorcycle Toy Run

September 24, 2022

Outer Banks Jeep Jam

Soundside Event Site

Nags Head

October 7 – 9, 2022

Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival

Roanoke Island Festival Park

October 20-22, 2022

Outer Banks Parade of Homes

October 6-9, 2022

First Friday

September 2, 2022

Manteo

Duck Jazz Festival

Town of Duck

October 8-9, 2022

Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival

October 18-23, 2022

Fall Restaurant Week

Outer Banks

October 10-16, 2022

Outer Banks Seafood Festival

Soundside Event Site

Nags Head

October 15, 2022

The NC VIP Fishing Tournament

Jennette’s Pier

Nags Head

October 17-19, 2022

Brewtag

Soundside Event Site

Nags Head

October 22, 2022

Roanoke Island Maritime Museum Boat Show

Roanoke Island Maritime Museum

Manteo

October 29, 2022

Harvest HayDay

Island Farm

Roanoke island

October 29, 2022

As you can see the Outer Banks is full of events this fall and we can’t wait to hear which event or events you went to. If you’re still searching for an Outer Banks vacation rental to stay in this fall, give us a call today!

Explore Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Manteo

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a unique wetland habitat where you can see and experience all types of wildlife located here on the Outer Banks. Located on Roanoke Island is where you’ll find this great refuge that is a little over 152,000 acres of reserved & protected wetlands.  Established on March 14th, 1984 this is one of the largest wildlife refuges located on the coast of North Carolina and is home to waterfowl & migratory birds, numerous endangered species, black bears, and other diverse wildlife. We at Joe Lamb Jr. & Associate wanted to share with you a few things to know before heading over to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge to explore it. 

Why a Wildlife Refuge?

Explore Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Manteo

Many people have questioned why there was a need for a wildlife refuge on the Outer Banks, and the answer is simple, to protect not only the wetlands but the wildlife too. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge was set up to preserve the many endangered species known to the area, such as the American alligator, red wolf, and red-cockaded woodpeckers. While the red wolves have recently been re-established in the area, they are still endangered. Some of the documented efforts made during this re-establishment is increasing the total count of red wolves in 2011 from 89 to roughly a new population total of 130, current day numbers. To keep accurate data on the re-establishment project there are 10 known red wolves that are on active radio collars to keep up with any pack changes. How cool is that?! The mountains aren’t the only place where you’ll see a black bear, as it’s common to see them on the coast of North Carolina. Protecting all the wildlife, whether they are native to the area or they’ve migrated to the OBX, this National Wildlife Refuge is the perfect place for them.

Visiting the National Wildlife Refuge

On regular occasions, the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge’s Visitor Center would be open. Still, due to the safety measures that have been put into place, it is closed at the moment. However, the visitor center is typically open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday – Saturday and 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sundays. It is free to explore the visitor center, and it has many different exhibits that you may not get to see elsewhere. However, the land is open for all to explore as there are many various activities you can do there.

Activities You Can Do

Explore Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Manteo

If you’re looking for some fun things to do while you’re at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, there are plenty of available items. Wildlife Drive is where you will find the black bear, waterfowl and you may get to see the red wolves. Two trails are open for you to explore and hike for all the outdoor junkies in your group. If you’re looking for more adventure, then maybe Habitat Geocaching is what you and the kids can do. Be sure to bring your camera as you can capture the beauty of the wildlife at the refuge.

After exploring the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, head back to your Outer Banks vacation rental as you relax. We look forward to seeing you and your family on your next visit to stay with us and explore the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge!

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.

Experience the Elizabethan Garden in Manteo in the Outer Banks

Vacationing to the Outer Banks any time of the year has its perks for many different reasons. One of the reasons is the many various parks that are located on the island. Staying in one of our Outer Banks vacation rentals will allow you and your family to enjoy all the beautiful parks and wildlife refuges located on the OBX.  From Pea Island Wildlife Refuge near Hatteras Island to exploring the Elizabethan Gardens just over the bridge in Manteo. The Outer Banks is bursting with natural history for you to share with your family. So grab your camera and start exploring this unique barrier island located off the NC coast. 

The Outer Banks Secret Gardens

If you have ever read the book “The Secret Garden,” you know that within the walls stood a beautiful garden hidden from the world. The Elizabethan Gardens happens to be just like that garden only located here on the Outer Banks. The gardens are lush with beautiful greenery with flowers and bushes you may not have seen before. Take a stroll down one of the many paths that the gardens have to offer or sit on one of the many carved marble benches. Treat yourself to a day to explore the park a little with the family.

What to Do in the Gardens

The Elizabethan Gardens is part of the NC Birding Trail, and if you’re lucky you’ll be able to see some incredible birds native to our area? Not only are there birds to spot and photograph, but you can see some history as well.  Some of the other extraordinary exhibits that you will find at the gardens are the Virginia Dare statue, or the bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth I. Take a stroll beneath the Crepe Myrtle trees as you listen to the water in the fountain nearby. There are so many different options and things to explore when you visit the Elizabethan Gardens. 

A Little More Information on the Elizabethan Gardens

Visiting the Elizabethan Gardens can be one of the highlights of your trip as you explore the land and sea here on the Outer Banks. The gardens are located a little north of Manteo over Roanoke Island and are within the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. It’s just a hop, skip and jump over to the Elizabethan Gardens from Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and Kitty Hawk. Admission to the park is $9 plus tax for adults, $6 plus tax for Youth (6-17), $2 plus tax for Children (5 & under) & $3 plus tax for 1 Pet per owner. Imagine how many memories will be made when exploring the exquisite grounds of the Elizabethan Gardens!

We here at Joe Lamb, Jr & Associates are proud sponsors of the Elizabethan Gardens, and we invite you to explore the garden on your next stay with us. By staying in one of our Outer Banks vacation rentals will find your next vacation relaxing and restful. We look forward to hearing all about your visit to The Elizabethan Gardens on your next trip!

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.

Home Sweet Sandy Home–Life on a Barrier Island

Section of an 1822 map of coastal North Carolina showing three inlets that no longer exist, and no inlets where two are now located.
Section of an 1822 map of coastal North Carolina showing three inlets that no longer exist, and no inlets where two are now located.

Welcome to the Outer Banks where, as the saying goes, we live on island time…except we don’t really live on islands. More like sandbars that have managed to rise from the sea. 

That really is what a barrier island is and the Outer Banks are barrier islands and like all barrier islands they are not a permanent land mass. Left to their own devices, barrier islands migrate, generally to the shore.

The process is well documented. A large storm overwashes the sandbar. Sand is picked up from the ocean side and deposited on the landward or estuary side. 

The evidence of that process can be clearly seen if you know what to look for.

Where the Inlets Lived

On barrier islands, inlets open and close all the time and as they do so they leave a very clear footprint of where they have been.

At the north end of Duck, looking out across Currituck Sound, the water is dotted with small muddy islands. That is the remnants of Caffey’s Inlet that was open from about 1770-1811. The small islands are sand deposits from when the inlet was open.

More evidence? Check out the whole north end of Currituck Sound.

Currituck Inlet was so well known and so well defined that at one time the fledgling US Government established a customs house at what is now the town of Currituck. The customs house closed in 1828, as did Currituck Inlet.

The process continues to this day.

On Pea Island, in 2011 Hurricane Irene opened a passage to the sea that has historically been an inlet. The area is called New Inlet and since it was first noted by European explores in 1656 it has spent far more time open than closed.

Nonetheless, the processes that allow for the ocean to overwash the sandbars and move the Outer Banks to the west have been dramatically slowed by human intervention. 

Although the Outer Banks are barrier islands, there are a couple of true islands that are a part of what is typically included in a description of the area. It should be noted, though, that they are not directly on the shoreline.

Two Real Islands

Roanoke Island, where the Lost Colony tried their luck in the 1580s is now the home of Manteo and the fishing village of Wanchese. It’s unlike any other island in the Outer Banks area.

It was probably an island before the Outer Banks formed some 10,000 or 12,000 years ago. Geologists how have looked at its history feel there were rivers that flowed northward toward what was at one time the Roanoke River Delta. At that time the eastern shore of the Untied States was at least 40-50 miles to the east.

Roanoke Island’s nearest island neighbor is Colington Island about four miles north across Roanoke Sound.

Colington Island, at the end of the road that goes by the Wright Brothers Monument in Kill Devil Hills, is mostly a residential area. It actually is much more similar to the Outer Banks than Roanoke in a lot of ways.

It is actually a series of relict dunes, so it was probably either part of the coastline at one point or very close to it. The soil of the island is very sandy in keeping with its geological history.

Because it was once part of the shoreline and is made up of once upon a time dunes, the terrain is far more varied than Roanoke Island, which is pretty flat.

Interesting little fact—Roanoke Island was the first attempt by the English to colonize North Carolina. Colington Island was the first permanent settlement—1663.

Roanoke island and Colington are fairly close to one another, and for the most part, especially in the northern Outer Banks, things are clustered fairly close together. There is an exception to that though.

Hatteras Island Farthest From Mainland

Very few, if any, barrier islands are as far from the mainland as is Hatteras Island. It’s so far across Pamlico Sound—18-20 miles—that one European explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano first entered it in 1529, he thought he had discovered a passage to the Pacific Ocean.

He probably didn’t sail too far into the sound. If he had, no doubt he would have noticed that the waters were just too shallow to be an ocean. The maximum depth of Pamlico Sound is only 26’.

There is so much to explore and learn about the Outer Banks that it could be the study of a lifetime. Spend a week or so with Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates and begin your journey of discovery.

Frank Stick Memorial Art Show Sets Record for Artists and Attendance

Eure Best In Show: Matthew Grimes "Lagrimas Negras" (mixed media)
Eure Best In Show: Matthew Grimes “Lagrimas Negras” (mixed media)

Held the last weekend of January every year, the Frank Stick Memorial Art Show is one of the must see and do events on the Outer Banks.

The 2020 show marks the 42nd annual Frank Stick Show and for some time it was held at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head. But the show kept getting bigger and a few years ago it was moved to the Dare County Arts Council Gallery in Manteo.

Good thing it had moved, too. 

With 122 artist bringing their work to the Gallery this year, it was the largest ever.

What makes the Frank Stick Show so wonderful is how diverse the representation of art is. There is mixed media, sculptures, paintings, photography. It makes for a marvelous representation of the creative scope of local artists.

Another feature of the show that sets it apart is that it is a non-juried show. Another words, a show committee doesn’t sit and decide who’s in and who’s not before the show. The show is open to any member of the DCAC who wishes to show their work.

Because of that, over the years, quite a number of young artists have gotten their start at the Frank Stick Show.

The Saturday evening opening reception is always very well attended and this year more so than ever. It’s difficult to say just how many people were there but that upstairs gallery was packed.

Need a break for the routine? Come stay with us at Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates for a week or two. Make your reservation today.

Manteo New Year Celebration Perfectly Outer Banks

The New Year ball drops and confetti flies at 8:00 p.m. in Manteo so the younger set can join in the festivities.
The New Year ball drops and confetti flies at 8:00 p.m. in Manteo so the younger set can join in the festivities.

There is something so perfectly small town life about the Manteo New Year’s Eve Celebration that once it is experienced it almost always becomes an annual tradition.

Maybe it’s the 8:00 countdown and ball drop for the kids; maybe it’s the street fair atmosphere with food trucks and local charities serving hotdogs, hamburgers, Reuben sandwiches and funnel cakes. 

Perhaps it’s the music that was outstanding this year with local band Formula starting things off at 8:00 followed by Urban Soil and their hard driving combination of urban blues, jazz and hiphop that played until it was time for the New Year.

Maybe it was the fireworks that were really spectacular this year.

Or the lighting of the new year, blazoned in luminescent blue number, “2020” from the deck of the Elizabeth II.

It’s hard to say, but the combination is irresistible.

Starting things off with the kids and the 8:00 o’clock ball drop is magical though. 

OK…it’s not fancy. In fact, it’s kind of quaint and Rube Goldberg, with the ball that lights up a ten seconds minus 8:00 p.m. It’s attached to a rope on the balcony of Dare County Arts Council Gallery. That’s the building that was once the County Courthouse. 

The rope descends in one second increments with the kids, and some parents, counting down “…ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five…”

It doesn’t matter if it’s unsophisticated and low tech. It works and the kids love it.

Who know exactly what it is about the New Year’s Celebration, but whatever it is, it is so perfectly Outer Banks that it is perfect.

It’s a New Year so new plans are being made. Be sure to include Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates in your vacation plans for 2020.

Manteo New Year in New World Place to Be on New Year’s Eve

There are a lot of ways to bring in the New Year. Some people sit at home contemplating the year gone by. Sometimes friends gather to spend a special evening with the people who mean the most to each other. Others head out to a favorite nightspot, especially if there is entertainment and sparkling wine involved.

We have to admit, though that the New Year’s Eve celebration that has taken a special place in our hearts is Manteo’s annual New Year in the New World celebration.

When Manteo puts on a celebration it is very much all about family and the NYNW evening is no exception.

Think back to childhood and how long the wait was for the ball to drop on TV at Time’s Square. When you’re seven or eight, midnight can be a long time coming. 

Manteo has solved that. They drop a ball at the old County Courthouse—now the Dare County Arts Council Gallery, at 8:00 p.m. OK, it’s not Time’s Square, but the ball drops and in the past the kids have loved it.

The entire event takes place on the Manteo Waterfront, in a street fair atmosphere with music right up to the stroke of midnight.

And then the fireworks light the sky, welcoming 2020 with with a burst of light over the Elizabeth II, the replica ship of the boat that brought the English settlers to the Lost Colony in 1585.

The weather is looking like it’s going to cooperate this year. Last year it was great but two years ago, it was bitterly…very bitterly…cold. Not this year at all. Perhaps a bit chilly but the low temperatures are forecast to be well above freezing with any rain falling earlier in the day.

Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates is your source for the best time there is on the Outer Banks. Reserve your Outer Banks home today.

Christmas–and Santa–Come to the Outer Banks

Santa arrives at Duck to the delight of children of every age.
Santa arrives at Duck to the delight of children of every age.

Christmas has come to the Outer Banks. We know that because the tree lighting was held in Manteo last night and today Santa Claus hopped off a fire truck in Duck to the delight of a lot of kids…and adults too.

In a lot of ways, the Manteo tree lighting and the Duck Christmas celebration are two different ways of ringing in the holiday season. But at their heart, they are very much the same.

Both go to great lengths to celebrate children, family and the true spirit of the season.

And both have lots of hot chocolate and cookies. Manteo does get a nod for the wonderful Brunswick stew the Manteo United Methodist Church hands out every year, but for the kids there’s not a lot of difference.

The Manteo celebration is really all about all things wonderful about small town life. Local dance schools take to the stage. A five member women choir sings a capella Christmas music. The Manteo elementary, middle school and high school choruses take to the state. And of course there is Santa who counts down the lighting of the tree and then hangs around to talk to the kids.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two celebrations is the Christmas tree, or in Duck’s case, the crab pot pyramid in the shape of a Christmas tree.

It is a recognition of the town’s heritage. Long before the first visitor came to the Duck, there was a cluster of homes arranged along Currituck Sound and everyone lived by fishing, hunting and substance farming.

Certainly a far cry from today.

Even though Duck does do many things differently, what happens on the first Saturday of December every year is actually very traditional. There’s live music from Just Playing Dixieland. The First Flight High School Advanced Choir strolled around the town caroling. 

And, of course, Santa showed up, in this case in a fire truck.

Santa always seems to be a wonderful, jolly elf, but honestly the Duck Santa may be the best ever. He seems to listen carefully to every child and the children respond remarkably well to him.

There is so much to do on the Outer Banks. Stay with us at Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates for a week or two and discover why life on this sandbar is so wonderful.