Turks & Caicos

Childhood Remembrances

When I was little my siblings and I occasionally spent weekends with my Uncle Mike when he lived in Richmond. We always had a lot of fun when he took us bowling, to the movies, or playing pool and watching sports together in his bachelor pad basement. Thinking back, I have no idea how he fit us into his old red sports car! Three rambunctious kids was no joke and after a crazy incident at the bowling alley I wondered if he’d ever have us back again!

Around the same time my uncle got married and had kids, our weekends filled with social and sports activities, so we saw him less frequently. Eventually his family moved to Tennessee and he embarked on an amazing journey to start Safe Step tub and shower company. At the same time, I graduated from college and moved to Raleigh. Therefore, we’d only see his family during our annual Chinese Christmas gift exchange. Over the years I missed seeing his family because I could always count on some good stories and sports smack talk (he LOVES UVA).

After my mom passed away five years ago my uncle Mike committed to planning annual extended family vacations. His family still lives in Tennessee so it’s always lots of fun to get together with my cousins and catch up while we’re away together. For our most recent family vacation my uncle rented a large villa in the Providenciales region of Turks & Caicos. If there’s one place you need to visit in your lifetime, you must make it to Turks & Caicos! To think I was hesitant to go because the trip butted up against my kids’ new school year is crazy!

Turks & Caicos

So, sixteen of us hunkered down in a gorgeous villa for the week and embraced everything about Turks & Caicos. We swam in the crystal clear waters, attended a local festival, visited a brewery (yes, they have a brewery), kayaked, paddle boarded, snorkeled, grocery shopped, took a sunset cruise, drove on the left-side of the road and more.

Getting Around Turks & Caicos

Turks & Caicos is a developing country (British-owned territory) made up of several islands. They speak english and accept American money. We stayed near the Sapodilla Bay area of Providenciales (aka Provo) which is in the southwestern part of the region. The island of Providenciales accounts for most of the country’s development. It has decent infrastructure, stores, and accommodations but imports just about everything. Several locals we spoke to mentioned how expensive shipping is and the slow government processes. In my opinion, the island’s natural marine beauty easily eclipses those shortcomings.

The flight from RDU to Turks & Caicos was super easy. We had a short layover in Ft. Lauderdale and then took a smaller plane to the Provo airport. It took awhile to get through customs, but the girls were so excited to get their first passport stamp. We quickly retrieved our bags, rented a car, and drove off full of fear on the left-side of the road!

Driving on the left hand side of the car and road.

Bill did most of the driving for the trip including the initial drive from the airport to the rental house which took about 15-20 minutes. I attempted to navigate us, but the lack of road signs, plentiful traffic circles, and random traffic lights tested my abilities (and our marriage)! We finally made it to the house and received the warmest welcome from the host’s staff.

We stayed in the residential area of Provo. Therefore, we had to drive when we wanted to visit the beaches, go out to eat, grab groceries or do any exploring. It was pretty common to see stray dogs (and even livestock) walking along the sides of the road. Groceries were very expensive there so get ready to pay about $90 for a 24-pack of American beer.

The Beaches

Sapodilla Bay Beach

Sapodilla Bay Beach is a public access beach located along Chalk Sound Dr in the residential area of Providenciales. We expected to see signs for the beach and parking, but did not, so we relied on our car’s GPS location relative to the map to figure out where the beach was located. Chalk Sound Dr is a narrow two-lane road with little shoulders. Parking is limited to on-street and across the street. Be sure to lock your doors and take any valuables with you.

After you park, walk through the desert shrubs towards the beach area. After a short walk, you’ll discover the reasons people come to Turks & Caicos – the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters! It’s absolutely beautiful! This beach was hardly busy; only a few families and some locals selling drinks, grilled burgers, and jet ski excursions. Compared to some east coast beaches it felt like we had the beach to ourselves. The beach is in a small cove so the water stays calm and shallow, too. We stayed all morning swimming in the water, making sand castles and enjoying the breath-taking views.

Our rental house was located less than a five minute drive from Sapodilla Bay Beach, so some of us paddleboarded out and back one morning. The wind on the ocean is consistently strong, which made paddling extra hard in one direction. I loved the freedom of traveling by paddleboard though!

Grace Bay Beach

One morning we headed into Provo’s resort area to explore Grace Bay Beach. Grace Bay Beach extends for miles on the northern side of Provo. We parked in a public parking lot between the Seven Stars and Ocean Club West and walked a short bit to find a spot at the water.

The Grace Bay Beach area was pretty busy with tourists, jet ski riders, parasails, and resort traffic. The water on this side of the island definitely had a beautiful emerald and teal blue color to it. The waves were choppier than at Sapodilla Bay Beach, but still a very calm beach. The sandy bottom felt comfortable on our toes, but we had to watch the kids more closely because the water levels were drastically different.

After hanging in the water we walked along the beach to scope out the different resorts. They all looked beautiful and relaxing, and I wondered how our trip would’ve been different had we stayed in a resort. We hoped to find a casual oceanfront place for lunch, but after looking around it wasn’t obvious if we could walk into any resort with wet clothes. Finally, we decided on walking back towards the car to find a casual spot on the main street.

Taylor Bay Beach

Taylor Bay Beach is a hidden gem of a beach! Located within walking distance of our villa, it’s tucked away in small secluded cove. We walked out about 50 yards and the water was still only to our knees! The water was crystal clear and warm, making it another great beach for kids.

Water Excursions

Half-Day Boat Charter

While staying in Provo we really wanted to take advantage of exploring this new island. Early in the week we booked a half-day excursion with Silly Creek Water Sports, which got fabulous Trip Advisor reviews. They offer half-day and full-day small group boating excursions in the western and southern areas of Provo.

First, they picked us up from our dock in the morning and drove us to Bay Cay, known for their iguanas. Over ten years ago, people brought iguanas to this small uninhabited island, which now acts as a sanctuary. As soon as we got off the boat, several of the iguanas came right up to us. Our captain, Cynthia, walked us around the small island and introduced us to the iguanas, which she recognized by name. Tyrone was super friendly, and even our kids got close enough to pet them. After spending about 20 minutes on the island my sister and I jumped off a cliff into the turquoise water and swam back to our boat that was waiting for us. Even though it was only about 10-12 feet above the water, it was still super thrilling and memorable!

After cliff jumping we boated to Pirate’s Cove island to seek out old pirate markings. We climbed up a ladder through the cave and walked around the top of the island. Cynthia showed us the centuries old carvings, which our kids really enjoyed. From the top we gazed around, taking in the gorgeous 360-degree views of the ocean.

Then, Cynthia drove us to one of her favorite snorkeling spots. The water was calm and only about 12 feet deep in this area, so the girls wore life jackets. To prep for snorkeling we bought the girls their own equipment earlier in the summer and they practiced breathing with snorkels in our neighborhood pool. It definitely took some getting used to, but having practiced before hand really gave them an edge.

Snorkeling with my family was one of the coolest, most memorable moments of the whole trip. We saw a lot of colorful fish and coral, but seeing a huge school of purple tangs was the favorite! To see your kids (age 5 & 7) experience a brave new adventure is truly breath-taking and made us so proud! I only wish I had an underwater camera to preserve a photo!

After snorkeling Cynthia drove us back to the house. She drove slower allowing us to enjoy some much deserved beers, snacks and conversation. We loved this excursion because we were able to customize the trip to our group, Cynthia took us to some exciting places, and she shared some history of the country.

Sunset Cruise

My uncle is a sunset seeking savage! On vacations he frequently plans his dinners around the local sunset time so he doesn’t miss a moment of the sun’s golden descent. He’s also the only person (other than maybe my mom) who frequently wears binoculars around his neck on vacation. He’s always on watch for the “green flash” and sometimes drives far distances to find the ultimate westerly viewing spot.

On the second night of our trip my uncle booked a sunset boat cruise with a local tour company. All sixteen of us boarded the pontoon boat for a two-hour excursion. The captain drove us along the western shoreline of the vacation homes near our place. He noted celebrities who’d frequented the islands and told stories about some of the homes, but after awhile all his storytelling lost its pizazz. The ride was a beautiful way to see the islands, but a bit too expensive.

I captured some decent sunset shots from the boat’s upper deck, which, despite the super windy conditions, were the best spot for photo ops. We never witnessed the “green flash”, but still came home with fun memories and group photos.

Chalk Sound National Park

As an early birthday present, Bill organized some time for us to explore the nearby Chalk Sound National Park by kayak. The Chalk Sound National Park is located in the southwest portion of Provo right off Chalk Sound Drive. It was a short 5 minute drive from our villa. We rented two single kayaks from Las Brisas restaurant and set off for a two-hour adventure.

The guide at Las Brisas advised us on the best “path” to kayak to ensure the fierce wind worked with us for most of the trip. Chalk Sound National Park is a beautiful turquoise lagoon with several small rocky islands. We kayaked westerly from Las Brisas and stopped at a few islands along the way. The iguanas darted around the islands and poked their heads out as we came ashore. The wind and water are slowly eroding the underpart of the islands leaving small rocky holes. Bill and I cautiously walked around so as not to cut our foot on the sharp pockets of land.

We paddled really hard against the fierce wind to get back to shore. We definitely wanted to explore more of the sound, but feared going further would be too exhausting to get back. After getting back to shore, we headed to the outdoor seating area of Las Brisas for a few mid-day drinks.

Places to Eat & Drink

Las Brisas

We rotated cooking most meals at home each night because our group was so large. I love to cook, so I always enjoy making food for other people and trying meals that others cook. However, the first night we were all a bit too excited to cook so we headed out for a big group dinner.

The western side of Provo is mostly residential so our nearby dining options were very limited. Luckily we stayed only a few minutes from Las Brisas, which is located on the beautiful Chalk Sound. They sat us outside on the deck where we enjoyed the beautiful views of the turquoise lagoon. We enjoyed fabulous service, seafood, drinks and family – I’d definitely recommend!

Turks Head Brewery

As I mentioned earlier, beer from the grocery stores cost upwards of $4 per can. In an effort to save money and explore the area, we delighted in finding Turk’s Head Brewery, a local brewery within 10 minutes of our rental house.

Turk’s Head Brewery features regular style craft beers (IPA, Lager, Amber Ale, Wheat, etc) along with some seasonals. My favorite was the GON-TA-NORT amber ale which was well-balanced and full of flavor. We enjoyed chatting with the bartender who explained the brewery’s logo was designed to look like the turks head cactus, which grows natively on the island. Before leaving, we shopped the merch and bought several six-packs to take home at a fraction of the cost of the imported beer in the grocery store.

Downtown Grace Bay

The Downtown Grace Bay area is full of walkable restaurants and shopping. During our visit to Grace Bay Beach we walked across Grace Bay Rd for lunch. Surprisingly, there weren’t many lunch options so we settled for the first one we saw at Skull Rock Mexican Restaurant. It was very crowded, so they seated our group of 7 fairly quickly.

We ordered a variety of tex-mex food, including lots of kid menu items. The fish tacos were our favorite! Overall, the food was decent, but nothing we’d seek out again. The beers were cold, service was quick and location was convenient to our beach outing!

Thursday Night Fish Fry

On the Thursday night of our stay we drove to Bight Children’s Park for the city’s weekly fish fry. Located adjacent to the ocean and in Central Providenciales, this event features live music, and local vendors selling prepared seafood and chicken dishes and yummy drinks. First, we walked by the vendors scoping out their menus items before settling on some fried conch, fresh fruit, french fries, jerk chicken and grilled fish. Then, we dashed to a covered picnic table to reserve a small spot for our entire group – it was a blazing hot night.

busy festival in turks & caicos

While half the group stayed at the picnic table the other half (of adults) grabbed beers from the Turks Head Brewery beer truck or tropical drinks made from freshly hollowed-out pineapples. The local food tasted fresh and full of flavor. I’m glad to have tasted fried conch, but to me it was too chewy. If you’re looking to take in the local scene, the Thursday night fish fry was such a lively, beautiful spot to explore.

If there’s a vacation we continually dream about revisiting it’s definitely Turks & Caicos.

Thumbs up: the beautiful blues and greens of the water, shallowness of the water, water sports, snorkeling experience, beautiful weather, local festivals, friendly locals

Thumbs down: very salty ocean so bring goggles or a mask, previous hurricanes damaged a lot of the homes in Provo and years later it still shows

North Landing Beach RV Resort, Va

Last summer we met up with Virginia friends at a convenient campground with easy beach access. We needed a place with rental cottages and RV spots, and after researching places we decided on North Landing Beach RV Resort. If you haven’t been to North Landing Beach (aka the NLB), it’s a little slice of heaven you have to experience. With its family-friendly beach, mix of camping and cabin rentals, super fun on-site events and secluded location, this place has it all!

Getting There

North Landing Beach RV Resort is located about 20 miles south of Virginia Beach at 161 Princess Anne Rd just north of the VA/NC border. It’s part of a peninsula that stretches across the NC/VA border and sits between the North Landing River and a few bays that dump into the Currituck Sound. Usually when you hear Currituck Sound you think of the Duck/Carova areas of NC. However, this place is in VA, close to the remote coastal community of Knotts Island and a ferry ride from the Outer Banks.

Driving from Raleigh, it took about 3 hours to reach North Landing Beach. Because of the campground’s unique location we drove through small towns of Elizabeth City and Moyock, both we hadn’t previously seen. We felt perplexed seeing newer neighborhoods scattered among all the farmlands. After talking to locals in the area, we learned that many families live out this way and commute up to the VA Beach/Newport News area for work.

The Campground

After check-in, we meandered through the gravel roads underneath the pine trees to our campsite. Our campsite (spot #625) was by far one of the best spots in the park. Located next to a canal, we enjoyed lots of waterfront space so we had plenty of room to spread out for fishing and being loud exploring. We could also easily holler to our friends staying in a rental cottage across the canal.

Speaking of rental cottages, our friends raved about the 2 bedroom cottage they stayed in for the weekend. It featured a full kitchen, small living area, full bathroom, two bedrooms, and deck overlooking the canal. Their location was convenient for using their kayak, being close to us, and having easy access to the beach.

After setting up our campsite, we explored the recreational amenities, community gathering spots, and beach areas. This campground features a large pool, a variety of sports courts, bounce house, putt-putt golf, kayak rentals, easy river beach access, and organized events/activities. We participated in the watermelon-eating contest, which was hilarious and brought out a competitive streak I hadn’t previously seen in my kids. We also rode on the super soaker float where we squirted campground guests with water guns! Watch out – some campers hid behind their RVs and soaked us with hoses!

On Saturday night we attended the low country boil and live music concert at the pavilion. The event was crowded, but the food line moved fairly quickly and the live music was greatly entertaining. The staff worked tirelessly to keep the food fresh, hot and delicious! We listened to the band play great cover music for at least an hour while our kids played independently nearby – win, win! Another night, we watched the private fireworks display set off by the campsite and it was unbelievable!

Play & Hike Outside

When we weren’t enjoying planned activities at the campground we spent most of our time at the beach. From our campsite, we walked less than five minutes to the beach. Being on a large river, the water was much calmer than the ocean, making it great for young families. The water was also pretty shallow, so the kids could swim out pretty far before needing to come in closer.

Since we visited over Father’s Day weekend, the dads enjoyed lots of fishing, though they didn’t catch much. The kids had recently started using nets to dredge up murk and look for tadpoles in bodies of fresh water. They brought their nets and buckets on this trip and although they didn’t find many tadpoles, they loved the hunt, especially with friends.

On Sunday morning we explored the nearby Charles Kurwalt trail on Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge System manages lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants. The Mackay Island refuge and surrounding waters support many species of resident and migratory fish and wildlife. We first stopped at the Charles Kuralt Overlook on the left-hand side of Marsh Causeway. The overlook provides beautiful views of the nearby marshes and that’s about all. Feeling disappointed, we continued south about 200 yards and found a roadside pull-off spot for the Great Marsh Trail.

The Great Marsh Trail is an easy 0.3 loop trail around a marsh. Despite some whining from the kids, it was a beautiful hike. We heard lots of wildlife and spotted several turtles in the water. We saw berry bushes, cattails, and flowering trumpet vines. Mackay Island refuge features more hiking trails, a visitor center and a sure way to escape in nature.

During our campground stay we met several families who live nearby, which we thought was unusual. They mentioned they love staying at NLB on the weekends, a real tribute to the daydreaming and fun anyone can have here.

Thumbs Up:

  • variety and uniqueness of fun activities and amenities
  • mix of rental cottages and rv spots
  • beautiful and calm river beach
  • sunset views

Thumbs Down:

  • nothing to report

Emerald Isle, NC

After last summer’s sudden Bonner Bridge electric cable mishap cancelled our family vacation to Cape Hatteras we quickly jumped on a back-up plan and landed in beautiful Emerald Isle, NC. Having never visited Emerald Isle before we weren’t sure what to expect, but we were all blown away by the tranquility of the beach, beauty of the area, and convenient day excursions. Whether your family wants slow-down time at the beach or adventure at local parks, aquariums, or museums Emerald Isle has it all!

Fort Macon State Park

North Carolina has a long history of trying to protect its coastal harbors. Successive wars with Great Britain, France, Spain and pirates in the 18th and 19th centuries prompted the United States government to beef up its national defenses. After the War of 1812 the United States further improved its defenses with a string of Third System forts. Fort Macon was part of this system.

Fort Macon State Park is located at 2303 East Fort Macon Rd in Atlantic Beach, NC at the eastern end of Bogue Banks. Brig. Gen. Simon Bernard designed the fort and the US Army Corp of Engineers built it. Construction on Fort Macon began in 1826 and finished in 1834. They named the fort after statesman, Nathaniel Macon.

The Confederacy took over the fort at the start of the Civil War. In 1862, a year later, Brig. Gen. John G. Parke’s Union forces bombarded the fort using new rifled cannons. Col. Moses J. White and his Confederate troops surrendered and were held as prisoners of war. The Union army held control of Fort Macon for the remainder of the war and used it for coaling and naval repair.

After the Civil War, the fort served as a prison and then used again briefly in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. The fort became abandoned in the early 1900s until the state of NC purchased it in the 1920s. The State restored the fort and area and opened it as a state park in 1936. During World War II it was used as a lookout station for German U-boats.

Fort Macon State Park is surrounded on three sides by water. Though we didn’t explore much beyond the fort, the park features hiking trails and recreational beach areas. We spent some time inside the visitor center exploring the kid-friendly ecology exhibits before heading to the fort.

The actual fort itself is a pentagonal-shaped structure made of bricks and stone. It has an outer ring of defense, the covertway, and an inner citadel ring. A large grassy ditch separates the two areas. The inner citadel features 26 casements, many of which have been renovated to showcase different periods from the fort. The girls loved going into the different rooms and running in the tunnels. We visited nearly all the exhibits on our own, while Bill attended the guided tour, which they provide daily.

We climbed the stairs in the corners of the fort to access the top, where we saw beautiful views of the water and more closely saw the cannons. The ground is rather uneven and there aren’t guardrails at the top, so we closely monitored the littles’ movements. Overall, it was breathtaking to explore such a historic place.

NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort

After visiting Fort Macon State Park we took a short drive into Beaufort. Years ago an impending hurricane thwarted our long weekend trip to Beaufort. Thrilled to try again, we first stopped for ice cream in downtown Beaufort. After filling the girls with ice cream, we walked a few blocks to the NC Maritime Museum.

The NC Maritime Museum was much more kid-friendly than I anticipated. The girls loved finding hidden items in the scavenger hunt. The museum features exhibits on lighthouses, seafood industry, motorboats, marine life, history of boating, artifacts from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, and more. I look forward to visiting one of the two other NC Maritime Museums when we visit those areas.

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

Inevitably you’ll have at least one rainy beach day. For our rainy beach day we headed to the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores located at 1 Roosevelt Blvd on the Bogue Banks. This aquarium is similar to the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island in that it features indoor and outdoor exhibits. The girls especially loved seeing the owls, sea horses, sea turtles, and jellyfish. The aquarium features a large touch tank, scuba diving tank, imaginary sea turtle rescue and toddler play area.

After being inside, we walked along the nature trail to see the snake exhibit and watch the egrets over the water. Then, the girls spent a lot of time exploring the outdoor play area. They loved climbing the rope ladder, swinging on the tire swing and flying down the slide. Overall, I thought this aquarium had more interesting animals and exhibits than the aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Hiking & Biking in Emerald Isle

We brought our bikes to the beach and I’m so glad we did! We were able to hop onto our bikes from our house and get onto a divided bike path and bike for miles in either direction. The bike path runs 11 miles from Indian Beach to the Point at Bogue Inlet. One morning I biked about 4 miles down to the Point and felt as if I entered a natural beach preserve. The beach extended for at least 50 yards with beautiful crystal water everywhere, justifying the nickname, “Crystal Coast”.

Along my bike ride I passed a beer shop, the Holiday Trav-L-Park RV Resort and Emerald Isle Woods Park. Bill and I biked back to the beer shop for a mini day-date and added the RV Resort to our short list of campgrounds. Another day we returned with the family to Emerald Isle Woods Park. Emerald Isle Woods Park is located on the sound-side at 9404 Coast Guard Rd, just past where Route 58 turns to the mainland. This park features disc golf, hiking and birding trails, picnic pavilions and boating for beautiful sound access.

We hiked a short 1.0 mile loop trail that started at the main trailhead and followed blue trail markers along a twisty, loopy unpaved trail. We passed over bridges and saw green swampy areas full of croaking and bird calls. Eventually we came to a boardwalk that extended into the sound and it was a beautiful sight! The girls spotted oysters and crabs in the brackish water – a great ecological find! Though the trail signage was not great, we eventually made it back to the car with a beautiful appreciation of the hidden sights we saw.

Thumbs up: beauty of the beach, friendliness of Morehead City ER (true story for another time), hiking/biking opportunities, day excursions, great museums and parks, tranquility at the Point, photo ops

Thumbs down: nothing to report

Fort Macon State Park Gallery

 

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

 

Hiking at Emerald Isle Woods Park

Falls Lake: Rolling View Campground

Throughout my early childhood, my family spent several summers renting a weekly beach house in Cape Hatteras. We always went in mid-September because the pricing was just right for a large house that could fit grandparents, aunts, uncles and my family of five. Once we got busy with after school sports in middle school, our family stopped making the annual trip. So, when our family decided to head back to Cape Hatteras last summer after a 25-year hiatus, only a mandatory evacuation could stop us – and it did!

Hatteras Evacuation

Due to an unfortunate accident on Bonner Bridge, Dare County prompted a mandatory evacuation of Cape Hatteras island two days before our vacation was set to start. With family coming from CA, TN, and VA, my sister acted fast and found us an amazing last-minute house in Emerald Isle, starting a day later.

With the extra day’s wait and our kitchen in full demolition mode, we did what any sane family would do. We loaded up the Winnie for a nearby overnight trip to Falls Lake Rolling View Campground.

IMG_9853Falls Lake Rolling View Campground

Falls Lake Rolling View Campground is located at 4201 Baptist Rd, just north of 98/west of 50. Since my aunt arrived from CA the day before, she also ventured with us, excited to be the first overnight guest. We rented a back-up spot in Loop A, close to the bathrooms. Falls Lake does not have sewer hook-ups (as is the case of most state parks) so we used the surprisingly comfortable restrooms/showers. Overall, our shady camping spot was perfect for a late July Saturday.

Being only about 30 minutes from the house we arrived mid-morning to a quiet campground and swimming area. We enjoyed cooling off in the roped-off swimming area with the $5 tubes we purchased earlier in the season. Between splashing and exploring the nearby playground, the girls also played in the sandy beach. Overnight guests have access to the beach area with their rental fees. You can also just pay a “per car” fee to use the beach daily.

IMG_9858After a few hours at the beach, we headed back to the campsite for quick showers at the bath house. Then, we hiked a short trail through Loop B to access another playground. The girls spent at least an hour swinging on the tire swing – a big novelty to them. 

After the playground we explored the marina near the park entrance. The marina features boat launch facilities, a convenience store, snack bar, and water recreation rentals (kayaks and paddleboards). Then, we cooked hotdogs and sausages on the campfire and made mac n cheese on the stove. Though it sprinkled a bit, we quickly roasted some s’mores and had a nature scavenger hunt.

Early the next morning, we cooked a modest breakfast before packing up the trailer. We stopped at the dump house on the way out of the park, which was relatively quick and convenient. Then, thirty minutes later we arrived back at home with plenty of time to re-pack the car for Emerald Isle. Having Falls Lake within thirty minutes makes for fun family outings of all types – day, overnight, or multi-days!

Additional Resources

Thumbs up: peaceful campsite, fun beach area, clean bath house, playgrounds with tire swings, water recreation rentals at the marina, ease and convenience of renting, close proximity for last-minute trips

Thumbs down: nothing to report

Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve (Kilmarnock, Va)

IMG_9598It’s week three of an NC cold wave and I’m longing for our hot summer hike in Kilmarnock, Va. When traveling last summer we started looking for hiking suggestions with the All Trails app. Its helpful app lets you filter and search by distance, rating, suitability for kids, difficulty and more. With it being a hot July day and having small children we needed a shortish hike with easy water access. After a quick search we found Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve, which had a 2 mile trail and access to the Chesapeake Bay.

Location

The Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve is 200 acres of undeveloped land located on a peninsula on the Chesapeake Bay, about 15 minutes northeast of Kilmarnock off Route 605. It has a large sandy shoreline, marshy wetlands, forested areas, and is home to the federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle. Though we didn’t see any tiger beetles, we saw several shore birds, crabs, and bugs on our hike.

The Hike

IMG_9591After parking at the trailhead we walked along the wooden walkway through the forest. We soon saw a sign post, and turned left to follow the North Loop. Shortly after starting along the North Loop we arrived on the Chesapeake Bay’s beautiful sandy shoreline. The sudden change from forest to deserted beach was breathtaking. The girls immediately waded into the water, while the adults took in the beautiful views. Being a flat undeveloped area, every direction we looked gave different views of a sandy shoreline, endless bay water, or grassy wetlands. It almost felt like we were on a deserted island.

Despite the lack of signage, we headed south hoping the shoreline kept us on the right path. Because we hiked next to the water, the full sun beat down on us, making the little ones quickly tire. My sister and I, each, soon started carrying a little one on our backs. After walking about a half mile in the sand, we cheered as the trail met back up with the mainland.

IMG_9604We caught our breath at an observation deck where the swimming crabs distracted the little’s tears. This trail features a few observation decks that overlook the flat and vast wetland areas. After watching the crabs swim through the water we continued walking on the dirt trail back to the parking lot. Unfortunately, we ran into some dense bug families through the forested walk back. Since the girls regained their breath while watching the crabs, they miraculously sprinted through the dense bug fog, and made it back to the car in record time.

For this hike, I felt we arrived pretty unprepared. We didn’t anticipate half the hike being in full sun and sand, and we didn’t bring the necessary bug spray. The Chesapeake Bay’s beautiful views and undeveloped areas made up for our lack of planning. We treated ourselves to a quick stop at the Dog & Oyster Winery on our way back to Grey’s Point Camp. The girls munched on snacks, tried soft-shelled crabs and colored oyster shells while the adults tasted wines and grilled oysters – heavenly!

Thumbs up: breathtaking views, undeveloped land, crab spotting, bird watching

Thumbs down: signage, lots of bugs

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area: Poplar Point Campground

For our maiden voyage in the Winnie, we headed to Jordan Lake State Recreation Area for a quick 24-hr overnight trip. We wanted to get a small sample of camping while staying close to home. Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is located about 30 minutes west of Raleigh off US-64. Whether you’re going for a short trip or several days, Jordan Lake has lots of outdoor experiences and recreational activities to offer.

Camping

A few weeks before our trip we reserved a campsite online with electric and water hook-ups at Poplar Point Campground. The entrance for Poplar Point Campground is located at 558 Beaver Creek Rd in Apex. Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is enormous with over 1,000 RV and tent campsites scattered over five different areas. We chose Poplar Point Campground because it has many waterfront campsites available with water and electric hook-ups and a recreation beach at Loop E. We reserved spot 58 at Loop H, which is a back-in spot, like most at the park. The NC State Park registration system is very useful. You can search by amenities, whether you need a pull-through spot, and length of site. Similar to hotel room booking systems, it also shows multiple pictures of each campsite.

We arrived early on a Saturday morning and checked-in at the Poplar Point front gate. The ranger confirmed that we could switch our spot for the more popular first-come, first-serve spots at Loop E if we wanted. Loop E features a beach area, playground and more waterfront sites. But, after driving by our site at Loop H, we decided to stick with our original plan. We were anxious to set-up the Winnie and explore the campground. 

IMG_2418Our partially shaded campsite featured a flat gravel pad, picnic table and grill. There’s a short walk to the water, which we were hoping to use for fishing access, but unfortunately there was more poison ivy than we wanted to dodge. We found another access to the water, but the low-lying trees made casting difficult for the girls. Surprisingly, we didn’t have any neighbors during our entire stay. Though the girls were sad because they couldn’t play with new friends, it also meant they could run around like maniacs without worrying about traffic.

We spent about 45 minutes setting up camp by rolling out the rug, organizing the outdoor food station, hooking up the water and electric, and making sure the party lights hung perfectly. This park (and most state parks) features a dump station near the entrance, which we used on the way out to empty our gray and black tanks. For lunch, we quickly cooked hot dogs and grilled deli sandwiches on the griddle before heading to the beach. 

Recreation Area

4After lunch we headed to the recreation area to cool off in the beach. The recreation area at Loop E features a large sandy shoreline with designated swimming area. The water was refreshing and the boats racing by made fun waves for the girls. The girls loved catching the waves with their inner tubes and building sand castles on the shore. They enjoyed racing into the water and diving into the calm water. Even though the water was a little murky, they didn’t seem to mind.

The recreation area has a narrow forested area near the parking lot with picnic tables and benches. We spotted several fishermen fishing further down the shoreline. We also saw a pontoon boat selling shave ice and snacks on the shoreline. Even though we just missed the shave ice, we watched the boat motor to the recreation area on the opposite side of the lake.

Unfortunately we left several of our beach essentials (beach chairs, umbrellas, sand toys) at home, placing greater attention on our camping items. We bought inner tubes at the convenience store off US-64, which proved crucial beach toys. Despite not having all our regular beach things, we spent over two hours at the lake beach having a fabulous time.

Dinner Camping

IMG_2425After playing at the beach we headed back to our campsite for showers and dinner prep. The girls helped shuck corn for grilling on the fire pit while I made mac n cheese on the trailer range. We grilled chicken sausages, corn on the cob, hot dogs and cinnamon sugar filled apples for dessert. 

After cleaning up dinner we settled in for puzzles and Uno. I also taught the girls how to play the card game, War, which immediately became their favorite game! Once the sun went down, we chased fireflies around the loop and used our campfire to make s’mores. Then, we read a bit of Wind in the Willows around the campfire before tucking the girls into their bunks.  

Though it took the girls a little longer to fall asleep, they slept soundly until morning. Bill and I enjoyed some music around the campfire while listening to insects chirp near the water. Overall, our first overnight trailer trip was a big success! Camping in the trailer was an exciting, but relaxing experience while Jordan Lake offered lots of fun at a quick drive away. 

Thumbs up: campsite space, large beach recreation area, affordable family camping, 

Thumbs down: poison ivy down to the water near campground

Dowdy Park in Nags Head, NC

DSC_0057In May, we travelled to Nags Head for our annual trip with friends (and family this year, too) to run the Nags Head Preserve Yuengling 5k race. This year the race weekend coincided with the grand opening of Dowdy Park, located at the intersection of S Croatan Hwy & E Bonnett St. Near MP 12, the park sits on land that was once the home of Dowdy Amusement Park. Over the years, I remember driving by the abandoned theme park wishing someone would do something to clean up that area. It’s wonderful to see how land once used for fun and recreation has come full circle.

As a Raleigh resident, we are spoiled with parks and playgrounds around every corner. Though Nags Head has beautiful natural recreational areas (the beach, the dunes, the nature preserve), to say it needs more playgrounds is an understatement. Dowdy Park’s grand opening celebration and Artrageous Kids Festival was bustling with families, echoing the excitement for more outdoor parks.

DSC_0056Dowdy Park features several play areas where kids can jump, run, swing, climb and slide until their hearts are content! The older kid playground has wide wheelchair-accessible ramps to musical and periscope play items. The ramp connects to stairs for climbing higher along a net bridge or to the ground via a rock wall. The other side of the net bridge features challenging ladders, a climbing tree stump and a fast, twisty slide. A colorful climbing hill with curved bars, musical instruments, balance beams, surfboards, bench swing, and merry-go-round are also located nearby. With the large festival and park attendance, it was overwhelming to keep track of multiple kids bouncing between so many activities.

DSC_0074The smaller kid playground features short steps up to ramps connected to a double slide. All the kids thoroughly enjoyed the nearby rolling slide. They loved making rattling noises as they slid down the bumpy slide. Across from the small kid playground is a wheelchair-accessible ride. It allows folks in wheelchairs to reverse their chair onto a ramp and swing. And, a playground near the beach wouldn’t be complete without a little sand – just follow the sea turtle flipper prints! Short pier pilings line the sandbox area, which has a large climbing sea turtle in the middle.

DSC_0079Also near this area are hopscotch and twister games, checkers tables, another climbing hill, picnic tables and benches. On this particular day vendors lined the perimeter of the open green space area. Park-goers filled the open green space area watching the performances under the covered pavilion. Throughout the park you’ll find pieces of art, such as the nautilus stamps shells, temporary art pole exhibit, and wooden paintings. Even though Dare County is mostly known for its beaches, I’ve always been impressed with the local art scene. We’ve enjoyed local art galleries, shopping and art walks when they’ve overlapped with our vacation times.

Currently, small dunes, a split-rail fence and 20 yards of undeveloped park land separate busy the US-158 and sandbox area. According to the Town of Nags Head, phase 2 of development starts this fall for a garden, multi-use courts, restrooms and bocce ball court. It’ll be interesting to see how this area evolves over the years. And, I look forward to returning on a day that isn’t quite so busy.

Thumbs up: unique play areas, incorporating beach details into the park, accommodations for all ages and abilities, fun climbing hills and slides

Thumbs down: lack of shade

Neuse River Trail Beach – MP 4.5

IMG_6510Last summer Bill and I biked by this “beachy” section of the Neuse River Trail and vowed we’d make it back with the kids on a bike ride someday.  That someday was this summer, with Ashley leading the pack on her big girl bike and Claire chomping on snacks in the bike trailer.    The Neuse River Trail is our favorite spot for family bike rides with young kids because the trail is relatively flat and wide with several parking spots along the way making it easy to break your ride into small chunks.

For this bike ride we parked at the trail parking lot in the Bedford neighborhood at 10888 Bedfordtown Dr, biked down the access path and turned right onto the Neuse River Trail heading south.  We followed the greenway for about 2 miles before coming to milepost 4.5 where there’s an oxbow in the river that has created a wider sandy spot along the river bank.  Note: if you don’t want to bike/run the 2 miles, you can park closer to the oxbow at 6100 Thornton Rd and bike/run 1/2 mile. We parked and locked our bikes in a grassy spot off the greenway and walked down to the beachy area with our picnic supplies and towels (everyone already had
bathing suits on).
splashing in the neuse river beachIt hadn’t rained recently so the beachy area was actually wider and longer than I’ve seen it at other times and the river flowed slowly.  The water was pretty warm except in the middle of the river, which was over our heads in several spots.  We didn’t bring life jackets with us and the water wasn’t very clear so the girls mostly played near the shore line looking for tadpoles, playing in the sand/mud, or splashing in the water with the other young family that was there.  While we were there a few paddle boarders passed by including a father and young daughter out for a ride (next summer’s bucket list goal).

After playing in the water for awhile we enjoyed our picnic lunch on the beach before heading back to the car.  The bike ride north was a bit more uphill than the ride out, but the girls kept their cool and did great.  I look forward to returning to this secret spot again next summer!

Helpful Hints:

  • Wear shoes good for getting wet in the river
  • Bring life jackets for little ones
  • Be conscious of recent rains before coming out; river levels may be too high to safely play
  • Bring towels and small sand buckets
  • Parking options: 10888 Bedfordtown Dr (2 miles away) or 6100 Thornton Rd (1/2 mile away)

Thumbs up: fun bike ride/swimming activity, exploring the shore line for tadpoles and fish, lots of shady spots, very private area where you can’t see the beach from the greenway

Thumbs down: water was murky so be careful when swimming

Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC

IMG_3652Over New Years we spent time with dear friends at their parent’s new home in Murrells Inlet, SC. I’ve known Jennie since 6th grade and Bill and Jennie’s husband, Gary, became fast friends over a decade ago when we first met Gary. With growing families and distance (they’ve been in Columbus, OH) our time spent together has been few and far between. Lucky for us they are moving to the Greater Raleigh area this Spring so our families will get more time together, which is great news for us and our kids, as they’ve all become fast friends too!

IMG_3662The weather was unusually warm around New Years so shortly after arriving we took advantage of the remaining sun and made the short drive to Huntington Beach State Park, located at 16418 Ocean Hwy in Murrells Inlet. This park is named after Anna Hyatt & Archer Huntington who lived on the land and the adjacent Brookhaven Gardens (more on this in an upcoming mini-post).  After paying a small daily per person fee at the gate, we followed the road over the saltwater marshes to the main parking lot area near the Education Center (more on this below). This state park offers amazing beach access, an Education Center with live animals, fishing, hiking, camping and much more. With it being close to sunset we headed straight for the beach with kites. We parked in the large lot in the back of the park and within a short 50-yd walk we were on the beach. The beaches at this park are pristine and expansive, about 3 miles long and offer lots of space to plop down beach chairs, fly kites, or go for walks. The kids loved chasing each other around, running into the calm surf, and taking turns with the kites.  Before leaving we washed our feet off on in the convenient outside showers.  The 1930s Moorish-style winter home the Huntingtons lived in, Atalaya, is still standing near the back parking lot and offers regular tours.  Maybe we’ll catch a tour next time we’re in town!

IMG_3688The next day we returned to the park to explore the Education Center, which is only open during daytime hours and offers daily feeding times where you can watch and learn how they feed several of the animals.  With about two dozen animals to look at and learn about, we spent well over an hour in the center.  They have a touch-tank with a horseshoe crab and stingray, a star fish, baby alligator, terrapins, snakes, turtles, and some hands-on exhibits about the nearby environment.  The tanks are at perfect heights for little ones to get in on the action. After we exhausted the Education Center, the kids enjoyed a snack on the outdoor benches and we ran along the boardwalk overlooking the saltwater marshes.  We learned about the numerous inhabitants – spider crabs, stone crabs, snapping shrimp, oysters, alligators, and lots of birds.  Even though we didn’t see any of the 50-100 alligators living in the park we saw several oysters and lots of birds up close!

Speaking of oysters, this town is the place to enjoy oysters.  Both nights we visited we went to fabulous restaurants and had some of the freshest seafood.  Murrells Inlet is a jewel of a small town with a happening Marsh Walk area of live music, bars and restaurants.  Located about 15 minutes south of Myrtle Beach, it seems worlds away from the busy beaches to the north.

More resources

Thumbs up: beautiful beaches, super kid-friendly Education Center and variety of animals to see, easy access to beach area

Thumbs down: nothing to report

Sweetgum Swamp Trail in Nags Head, NC

IMG_5624Believe it or not, Nags Head has hills and I’m not talking about the sand dunes near the beach or at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.  During our annual end-of-summer Nags Head beach trip we decided to break up our beach days with a hike in the Nags Head Woods Preserve.  We also make an annual trip to the Nags Head Woods Preserve every May for the Yuengling 5k race, but we’ve never had time to explore the woods other than the gravel race trail we run.  I should’ve remembered how hilly that race can be and then better prepared myself (and family), but what fun would planning be?!

Nags Head Woods Preserve is located at 701 West Ocean Acres Dr on the sound side of US-158.  We like to use the local dive bar, Mama Kwans, as a reference point for where to turn from the main road when heading to the woods area.  And, turning by Mama Kwans makes us reflect on crazy silly late-night bar stories that involve Bill ordering a bottle of Veuve Clicquot because, “I’m getting a raise next week!”  But, I digress!

Follow West Ocean Acres Dr through a small residential area until you arrive on a gravel path, which you’ll continue on for 1/4 mile.  You’ll then see a sign for the Nature Conservancy and a small parking lot for the woods.  The Nature Conservancy owns and operates the Nags Head Woods Preserve, which is over 1100 acres of wetlands, dunes, ponds and marshes.  According to their website, “Working with the towns and other partners, The Nature Conservancy has succeeded in protecting this fragile ecosystem, overseeing both terrestrial and marine research and monitoring programs and providing trails for visitors to enjoy.”

After unloading in the parking lot, we walked up the boardwalk and the little ones scoped out the murky ponds while we decided on a trail to hike.  Being overly optimistic we decided on Trail #2 – the 2.25 mile Sweetgum Swamp Trail; with three little people (and only one carrier) and five big people we figured we could handle the trail.

IMG_5631So, we set off on the trail and before you knew it we were in a dense forest just minutes from the beach.  The unpaved trail is covered in pine needles, but well marked; Ashley was even able to follow the trail markings to stay on the path.  After heading straight for awhile, we climbed steps up a steep hill to what felt like the ridge of a mountain – the trees were shorter and all of a sudden we were walking down a sandy hill.  I quickly learned that kids love sand unless they have to hike through it.  After several moments of juggling kids on shoulders and in carriers and distractions of the colorful flowers, berries, and butterflies, the sandy trail base was replaced with the preferred compact pine needle trail.  We took a right to stay onto the looped portion of the trail.  Along the way we passed by several swamps (complete with croaking frogs), more steep hills with steps, spooky Charleston-like trees, and several different plant communities.  Halfway around the trail loop is access to Trail #3 (Blueberry Ridge), but we decided to save that trail for another time.

The second half of our hike consisted of more kid juggling on shoulders and in the carrier just so we could make it back to the parking lot in one piece.  There was a lot of kiddo melting down, but in their defense it was a hot morning and we had walked almost 2 miles by this point.  When we got back to the sandy portion of the trail (that was downhill on the way in), all I could do was laugh because I knew the kiddo melting down was headed to a new level as they had to climb the steep sandy hill.

But, we all survived and cheered enthusiastically when we saw the Visitor Center signs.  It really only took us about 1 1/4 hrs to complete this hike.  After getting very hot and sweaty from our hike we rushed over to the Bonzer Shack for a hearty lunch and much-deserved beers and milks!  Despite this hike being too strenuous for our girls, I look forward to coming back to explore other trails in the future – bring on the beach hikes!

Additional Resources:

Thumbs up: adventurous hike with lots of plant and pond life to see, contrasting landscape at beach, signage, well-maintained trail

Thumbs down: better suited for older children, hilly hike for toddlers