I Heart OBX.

Ever since we moved to Virginia (eight years ago!) I have seen many a "OBX" stickers on the back of people's cars.  Still, we have made the 14+ hour trek back to the gulf most years for our beach vacation.  Well, this year Adam had a conference at Kill Devil Hills in the Outer Banks so we decided to skip the Gulf and make a week of it, OBX style.  While I didn't come back with a "OBX" sticker for my car, it is not because of a lack love for the sliver of beaches on North Carolina's coast.  We had the most amazing week.  Seriously, a wonderful family vacation, even if work was involved at the beginning! 

Here we are on the first day...checking out the ocean.  Carter was instantly wet.  Ben very timid.



That didn't last long...



The next morning we got busy building...



One night on the way home from dinner we stopped at Jockey's Ridge State Park...home of the largest sand dunes on the East Coast. It was kind of a magical experience. BIG sand hills. When you got to the top you could see the ocean on one side and the bay on the other. And the sun was setting. It was one of those trip highlights I just don't think I will ever forget. I hope the boys remember it too.



Carter and me at the top of one of the dunes.



Family pic at the dunes...



The boys running down a big dune...



Final dune shot...



On another day we took a drive down the coast all the way to Hatteras Island until the road ended. Then we took a ferry to Ocracoke Island. Each ferry would carry 25-30 cars. There was a pretty good line...we had to wait for the 4th ferry.

Here we are about to get on the ferry...



Once on the ferry the boys had a blast exploring the boat that was carrying Mommy's car!





On Ocracoke we found a yummy spot for lunch in Blackbeard's Cove.



Thankfully the line wasn't as long to catch the return ferry. On the way back we stopped at a deserted beach as the sun was setting and had a great time running, looking for crabs, and enjoying the sunset.












Here are some condo pics. One big difference between the OBX and the Gulf is the rental properties. At the gulf, there are PLENTY of high rise condos beach front. At the OBX there are PLENTY of big houses for large groups beach front. We found a 3 story condo unit that worked perfectly for us...but it was surrounded by HUGE houses on either side.

Breakfast on the balcony...



Our view..



Our neighbors...



Sunrise...



I took the boys to the local aquarium while Adam was working one morning. The boys enjoyed the shark tank show.



More beach fun...



Driving trucks around on our beach roads...



Adam made some delicious mahi mahi fish tacos one night! YUM! (and we went through several pounds of steamed shrimp too!)



Lots of beautiful lighthouses along the shore...



A few more beach pics...









Sorry all of the above is so random...hope you enjoyed the pics!