Christmas at Owens Restaurant, an OAR Tradition

A great time was had by all this season at the Annual Ocean Atlantic Rentals Christmas Party held at Owens Restaurant in Nags Head, NC  27959.  The party began with drinks, friends and thoughts of those missing from our group.  We told stories, laughed and got merry.  An awesome spread was laid before us:  Prime Rib, Stuffed Flounder, Shrimp & Scallops Napoleon, the Best Fried Oysters Ever!, and all the trimmings.  When the plates were full and on the table the room grew silent as we blissfully stuffed our faces will all the goodness.  We feasted like pirates that blasted into town and took the best of everything for themselves.  When we were full more stories and laughter filled the room again until it was time for us to head out into the cold so we could get home to our beds.  We would like to thank everyone at Owens Restaurant for making our Christmas Tradition wonderful again this year.

Tis' the Season

Tis' the Season....Check it out!

Have a Merry OBXMAS

Have a Merry OBXMAS!

Christmas Lights: Outer Banks Style

At the west end of Ocean Acres Drive in Kill Devil Hills, an ordinary gravel road becomes a holiday wonderland that delights local Christmas lovers. Every year for the last 42 years, the Poulos family has transformed their home into a Christmas paradise for all on the Outer Banks to enjoy.

It has now become an Outer Banks tradition to make the trip to the end of Ocean Acres to get a dose of the holiday spirit. As the road widens, colorful arcs of light guide visitors to a home that would put Clark Griswold to shame. Multiple sets of inflatable Santas, vintage toy trains, brightly lit nativity scenes, reindeer, snowmen, and elves line walkways and fill the lawn. Children delight in the garage-turned Christmas museum filled with stuffed toys and holiday village scenes.

It takes 12 weeks to prepare for the holiday light spectacular but all the effort is definitely worth the reward. The Poulos family agrees they continue with the tradition year after year because they love to see the smiles on visitor’s faces. The lights are turned on every night at dusk from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Santa Claus is known to make appearances at the home throughout the month so make sure you stop by and see this award winning home. (In 2005, it was named the Best Decorated Home in America by the Today Show on NBC.)

You can walk or drive through the winter wonderland. However, driving by will only give you a glimpse of the thousands of twinkling lights. To get the full experience, park before the holiday lights begin, (you’ll see plenty of parking before the lighted arches) and walk through the winter wonderland and see Christmas Lights, the Outer Banks style.

From # Sara's blog

Why The OBX?

Beach houses are booked and teeming with family reunions, hotels turn on “No Vacancy” signs, rentals shops are out of umbrellas and chairs, restaurants are jam-packed with vacationers waiting for fresh-caught seafood, traffic crawls … ahh it’s summer in The Outer Banks. For the past fifty years The Outer Banks (OBX) has been a popular beach vacation spot and its popularity has only grown over the years. With it’s big beaches, clear blue water, surf break, and sound-side activities it’s no wonder thousands flock here each summer to enjoy a week of relaxation in the sun.
The Outer Banks is a barrier island off of the coast of North Carolina stretching from the Currituck lighthouse to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, both of which are also well-known attractions. The beaches along the coast promote a laid-back beach experience allowing dogs on most beaches, surfing, kiting, and kayaking. Families flock to the beaches each day with beach games, chairs, umbrellas, rafts, surfboards and boogie boards to get the most out of a day at the beach. Other attractions aside from the beach include The Wright Brother’s Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, which marks the location of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first flight. The OBX has also become a popular spot for those who wish to learn kite boarding, surfing, and windsurfing as the wind tends to be strong and there tends to be a good break. There are also numerous businesses that offer the instruction and equipment rental for all of these sports.
Over the years the OBX has also become a hot spot for beach weddings. With the clean sand and blue water, a wedding at sunset is absolutely picturesque. What better place could you think of to say your vows with your toes in the sand?
With a great mix of history, beach time, putt-putt golf and thousands of restaurants it’s no wonder that the OBX is a great destination for people looking to get a breath of fresh sea air and escape the inland humidity. Come down to the beach for a great time!

Walking on Water

Sunrise, water so flat and glassy it’s like walking on water. Standing six feet above the water you can see farther and deeper into the water - a birds’ eye view of what’s swimming under right under you. This is what you will experience if you get out on the water via paddleboard. All you need is a paddle and a board and the adventure begins. This is one of the few water sports where the participant doesn’t necessarily need certain weather conditions to enjoy the sport. Whether it’s flat water, gnarly waves, or even raging river rapids stand up paddle boarding is versatile for many conditions.

Stand up paddling boarding is not a new invention, in fact it has been around for hundreds of years, but it is an up and coming sport as well as a more popular leisure activity. In the past few years it can be increasingly seen in rivers, lakes, sounds, waterways and oceans either for relaxation, exploration or adventurous endeavors.

Paddle boarding was first used for functional purposes. The ancient Polynesians used to stand on long boards or rafts and paddle around the narrow canals to transport goods or simply to navigate around the compact city. Hawaiians then adopted the method of standing on long boards in order to photograph the beach and tourist learning to surf. Surf instructors also used paddle boarding to paddle around their students and give them pointers; it was useful to see the incoming swell.

In more recent years paddle boarding has been considered more of a sport. There are now competitions in speed, wave riding, river rapid riding and distance. Of course anyone can stand on the board and paddle, but there is a technical side to the sport that can be developed to master any one of these types of boarding. On the flip side to developing your skills as a paddleboard competitor, the sport can also be as leisurely as you want to make it. On a flat day all you really need to do is paddle around and check out the scenery. With virtually no draft (six to eight inches) you can paddle where boats may not be able to go and check out undisturbed wildlife.

Whether you are into the competitive side of paddling or the more relaxing side, paddle boarding provides a great core work out and always many adventures. So get out there and paddle!

2010 Ocean Kayaks are here!

We received our shipment of 2010 Ocean Kayaks yesterday! The new models include the two person Malibu, the single seat Frenzy, Scrambler and Big Yak. I highly recommend adding the backrest if you are riding waves, going for a 2 hour plus paddle or if you are over 30 years old. Stand Up Paddle Boards will be in soon so get your sea legs on...