Spring Break - Outer Banks, NC

Spring Break @ Outer Banks, NC

We decided to take a quick trip down to North Carolina for Spring Break - very last minute, which is par for us. I had been wanting to take the boys someplace for vacation. As Collin is a junior, and Ben already a freshman, we are aware how quickly these next few years will go.

So, we booked a hotel - Hampton Inn and Suites Corolla/Outer Banks

 This was the first evening we arrived, we walked down the short boardwalk over the dunes to the beach. It was cool and very windy. We missed the sunset, but there was enough light for us to see a bit.

 This was the first morning on the beach - disappointingly cloudy, cool and intensely windy! We didn't stay long this morning.

We found this really lovely trail in a sanctuary for birds, wild horses and animals. It was about a mile long, so not a long hike - and near the beach. The trees evidenced how much of a struggle it is to survive by the shore.

We visited the Currituck Beach Lighthouse - Collin and Ben climbed it, but Bill stayed with me on terra firma!

Collin took photos from the inside of the lighthouse after climbing to the top.

More beach photos - these are in Corolla. Corolla is the quieter end of the Outer Banks; it is the most Northern end of the strip before you get to Virginia.

 My three most favorite people in the entire world! We had so much fun just hanging together.

 Sunset over the sound created really lovely light on the water of the Atlantic.  The wind was really strong the first few days we were there, and it was out of the North, so quite cool as well. But, most of the time, it was not cloudy and so we still were able to enjoy the sun!

 These are pics taken on the Wild Horses Tour. There are Spanish Mustangs that have been on the Outer Banks for 500 years. As the area developed more and more, the area they could safely roam gradually got smaller and smaller until now, they are confined to the sanctuary.

 An osprey nest built on top of a telephone pole in the sand dunes of the sanctuary.

 There was a wedding earlier in the day on the beach of the hotel. There is a canopy and streamers affixed to bamboo poles in the sand. It was a windy, cool, but sunny day.

 Collin - dressed like summer in 50 degrees! Bbbbrrrrr!

Ben and Bill walking on the beach - away from the camera, of course! Ben is catching up to Bill in height quickly!

 Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Cape Hatteras, NC. It was a very sleepy day - Easter Sunday. Not much activity and not many places open. So, we went to the beach - in sweatshirts and blanket!

 Sunset over the sound. This was the evening of Easter Sunday.

 An osprey on her nest at sunset - so pretty!