North Carolina's Outer Banks

[Miss Marty]

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

During our November vacation to Avon, North Carolina

We enjoyed two visits to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located off Hwy 12 at
46375 Lighthouse Rd., Buxton NC; www.nps.gov/caha).

The first Cape Hatteras lighthouse was built in 1803

The lens from the lighthouse built in 1854 can be found at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum located at the tip of Hattaras Island. (just pass the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry Terminal on Hwy 12). The light displays a highly visible black and white diagonal Daymark paint job.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the world!
It has 257 steps from the ground to the balcony level, equal to climbing a 12-story building. The narrow stairs have a handrail only on one side, two-way traffic, and a landing every 31 steps. It was closed for climbing since we were there off season.

Adjacent to the Cape Hatteras Light is the Hatteras Island Visitor Center and The Museum of the Sea, operated by the National Park Service, which is located in the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Double Keepers' Quarters.

Beach erosion forced the relocation of the Outer Banks' most venerable landmark in 1999. The move 2,900 feet saved the tallest (210 feet high) operating beacon in North America, but also changed the view from the lantern room gallery: Instead of looking down on the ocean, visitors now have a vantage of dense maritime woods, live oak, pine, and yaupon shrubs and a slightly set back perspective of the sweeping coast.

We were able to get some nice exterior photos of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, keepers quarters and grounds since the weather was warm with plentiful sunshine. The Cape Hatteras lighthouse may be America's most photographed lighthouse.

The sound of ocean waves, the starry night sky (no street lights)
learning about the lighthouse and the five species of sea turtles
found along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (the leatherback,
hawksbill (rarely seen), Kemp's ridley, loggerhead and green ).
made for an unforgettable timeshare vacation.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina is open year-round.

 

[Miss Marty]

One Arm Bandit Rod

Here is a local place with a Wings, a Tackle Shop and a Shell Station
Located near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Right On Route 12 in Buxton.

Don`t forget to stop and visit “The One Arm Bandit Rod" Steve Groves.
This United States Marine Corps veteran and his signature red Ford truck has been serving up made-to-order barbecue pork rib racks and chicken for Outer Banks customers only by word-of-mouth.

 

[Miss Marty]

Outer Banks

Sitting here looking at some of our Outer Banks pictures
Thought I would write about a few more places we visited.

 

[Miss Marty]

"Beachwoods a Four Season Outer Banks Resort"


BEECHWOODS - KITTY HAWK - OUTER BANKS

We visited Beachwoods Resort, formerly Barrier Island Station in November. The resort is located on Cypress Knee Trail in Kitty Hawk, NC behind the Walmart. There is a blue and white diamond shape sign with a red arrow to the right of the shopping center. Follow that sign/road to you see a sign with "Beachwoods a Four Season Outer Banks Resort". As you drive into the property you will see the Club House, Boardwalk, fountain & lake with blue color paddle boats, comfortable looking outdoor furnishings. The landscaping in the front of the Clubhouse area was very impressive.

The newly remodeled check-in area is very nice.
The staff at Beachwoods were extremely nice to us
as we were just stopping by to take a peak.

There is a new Owners Lounge with nice furnishings and a huge fireplace. We walked around the building and seen the unfinished recreation area with (indoor water park style tubes) and plenty of new white lounge chairs. Plenty of construction going on especially in and around the Welcome Center. We took a quick drive around and the buildings sit in a forest like setting.

Exteriors are tan color with green shutters, deck and parking.
We did not see any new timeshare buildings or model unit.

The buildings and grounds at Beachwoods
remind me of Disney Old Key West Resort
and The Summit at Massanutten in Virginia.

 

[pedro47]

Miss Marty how were you able to exchange into this resort ? The Club under DRI, RCI or II ?

 

[Miss Marty]

We stayed in Avon

We didn`t stay at Beachwoods
Just stopped by to check it out!
It is going to be nice when finish.

 

[pedro47]

We didn`t stay at Beachwoods
Just stopped by to check it out!
It is going to be nice when finish.

Thanks for the update on Beachwoods Resort.

 

[Miss Marty]

March 2016 NCDOT starts work on a new Outer Banks bridge

An Outer Banks groundbreaking ceremony marked the long awaited start of construction on a $246 million replacement for the old Bonner Bridge across Oregon Inletm North Carolina. The new bridge will have seven navigation spans, each about 300 feet wide (opening November 2018)

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article64624412.html

 

[Miss Marty]

Hatteras Island lighthouses open for climbing in April


The Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras Lighthouses
will be open for climbing beginning April 15, 2016.

 

[bendadin]

Can anyone update? I am looking at this but if it is behind Walmart then how far is it to the beach?

 

[pedro47]

Is the new owners lounges for owners to use or is it for DRI sales staff?

 

[SailBadtheSinner]

The driving distance to the closest beach is a little less than 1½ miles.


SBtS

 

[RonB]

I've never measured the distance, but I'd guess around a mile. But there is a lot of traffic in that area and I wouldn't want to walk to the beach.

 

[pedro47]

I think the resort runs a shuttle bus to the beach during the summers season.