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Hi everyone. We are back from a wonderful vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As some of you may know, we go down there every year. I just love it there. We have always stayed in South Nags Head which is quiet and peaceful--gotta love that. I was a bit worried that the rain from Southeastern PA was going to follow us down, but it didn't it stayed put in PA while we enjoyed beautiful sunshine.
We had a wonderful new experience this year that I wanted to share as it is great fun for little ones. We took our youngest on a pirate adventure this year and we had a GREAT time. The trip is oriented for children 3-10. We were going to take our 10 year old, but decided against it. Personally I think 8 might be top age for this adventure.
The children first dressed as pirates, then got some pirate paintings on them. They then snuck down to the dock to board the Sea Gypsy. Captain Chum was awaiting our arrival. After instructions were given we headed out to "sea." You actually just keep circling in the sound, but the children don't know that. The first mate has some fun instructions for the children; they have to find the treasure map on the ship, some keys, look for Pirate Pete in his boat, find the floating X, pull up the treasure, share the treasure, and have a party afterward. It was so much fun. Taking down mean old Pirate Pete with the water cannons was a favorite part.
If you go down there with a child, you might want to give this adventure a try. We paid $15.00 each for the trip because it was a Sunday. During the week tickets are $20.00. I truly believe it was worth it though. It was about a 15 minute drive for us from South Nags Head. You go over the Causeway onto Roanoke Island and head into Manteo on the waterfront.
My second most favorite part of the Outer Banks is Jockey's Ridge State Park. This is something we do every year, and it has yet to get old for me. It is a most amazing natural wonder. The kids just love to climb the dunes. Sometimes you feel like you are in a movie where you are in the desert and each time you climb the dune, you find another one. We usually go in the evening after dinner so it's not too hot. It is a magnificent site and the children find it as much fun as I do. (That's probably not saying much since we already know my mind works much like a preschoolers :).
One other thing that is great fun is searching for sharks' teeth. We have a membership to the aquarium so we go there every year. They have a fossil pit where you can dig up lots of fun fossils, but the sharks teeth are always the best loved in our family.
I think he is actually enjoying me finding the sharks teeth. To be honest, I'm the one they usually have to pull away from the pit.
Well, it's great to be back. I have a lot of catching up to do.