Outer Banks of North Carolina

After visiting Colonial Williamsburg we drove to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We planned on staying overnight so reserved a room at the Cameron House Inn on Roanoke Island.

The drive to the Outer Banks was very interesting and fun. Shortly after crossing into North Carolina from Virginia the road began to change to more beach like, that is, more rural and then many small shops on a narrow sand dune that seems to go on for mile after mile. Our first stop was the Wright Bros Memorial where the boys flew the frist airplane in 1912. Bev is standing at the exact spot they took off and in the distance you can see where they landed. They flew 4 times that day but it took many years before they turned it into a a financial success.

We stopped for lunch at Awful Arthurs Oyster Bar for a very nice sea food lunch. It was very good but not nearly as good as the restaurant we went to the next day. More about that later. We drove down the Banks until we reached Nags Head and the bridge to Roanoke Island. We found the Cameron House Inn and relaxed for a bit before going to the Waterside Theatre for "The Lost Colony". Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, The Lost Colony is performed summer nights by a company of more than 100 actors, dancers, singers and technicians in the historic outdoor Waterside Theatre. It was opening night for the season and we both enjoyed the play that went from dusk to after 11 PM. We were having so much fun we decided to stay another night.

The Cameron House Inn was booked so we drove down the street and found the Tranquil House Inn which had one room left. We booked it and took off again, this time for Ocracoke Island which was the hiding place for Blackbeard the pirate. We had to take a 40 minute ferry (free) to get to the island which was one of the things we looked forward to. The ferry ride was fun and when we got to the island we went directly to Teach's Hole which was a small museum at the little bay where Blackbeard hid his ships. Bev and I like lighthouses so we stop at every one we see. This lighthouse is the shortest on the Outer Banks and is on Ocracoke Island.

On our way back to Roanoke Island we stopped for dinner at the Lone Cedar Cafe which was recommended by the innkeeper at the Cameron House Inn. This is the restaurant I referenced above. The innkeeper recommended we try the "She Crab" soup and was it GREAT. Bev had the seared Flounder and I had a combination plate; We finished by sharing a piece of Key Lime pie. Wow, was it great! The Lone Ceder Cafe serves only local fresh seafood (they even list who caught the fish on the menu). They also have a garden in which they grow fresh veggies for use in their salads. The last few pictures were taken at the restaurant.