Carolina Beaches

2010-05-21T10:36:00.000-04:00

SAVING THE LIFESAVER

When Gary and Judy Studer relax in their Caswell beach home enjoying the sounds of the surf just outside their back door, they occasionally hear a tentative knock on their front door. Typically, they welcome it. If it’s not one of their many new friends, it’s often just another curious visitor wondering what the heck they’re doing living in such a strange house on the North Carolina coast--lookout tower and all!

The Studers love sharing their lives with anyone who wants to know what it’s like to live in a 115-year-old former life-saving station. Now, it has become their mission to save it. For the Studers, it’s all about keeping a legacy alive--and living right in the middle of it.

Originally published in Southern Living

From the Midwest to the Atlantic Coast

When the Studers saw the former U.S. Life-Saving Station for the first time, they never imagined it would become their home. However, when they learned it was on the market, the long-time St. Louis residents and history buffs saw an unusual preservation opportunity.

“We had never been to North Carolina", Judy says. "In fact, we thought our next chapter would take us to Vermont or Maine where we would find an old grist mill or schoolhouse. Instead, we found the romance of the sea irresistible. We didn’t even know what a life-saving station was. More than a chapter, we’ve opened an entire book!”

That book includes chapters about moving Gary’s printing sales office to the East Coast, as well as transferring Judy’s consulting business (now called BTDT Group--as in ”Been There, Done That”). Judy shares her new office and work with another St. Louis transplant, Larry Parker, who introduced the Studers to the area and also to the realtor who showed them the lifesaving station.

With both of their offices nearby, the Studers can enjoy their unique house seven days a week. Their life is immersed in the history and memorabilia of lifesaving stations. They've furnished their home with eclectic items from their extensive world travels and established a new network of friends who share their passion for themed dinners.

Saving the Station

The building the Studers purchased back in 1999 was originally part of the U.S. Life-Saving Service’s network of 279 stations on the Atlantic and Pacific, and the Great Lakes. Founded in the 1870s (a pre-cursor to today’s U.S. Coast Guard), the Life-Saving Service continued until 1915. Either the sea or the wrecking ball has claimed many o fthe stations, but several survived and now thrive in other uses.

Built in 1889, the Studers’ home was originally located across the street near the Oak Island Lighthouse, where crews watched for ships in distress from the lookout tower. Braving hurricane-force winds and huge waves, the men rowed out to shipwrecks and saved passengers and crews of every nationality.

The Life-Saving Service and the Coast Guard occupied the building until the early-1940s. That’s when, the Studers suspect, the new owner moved the station across the street, turned 90 degrees, and situated it on the wide beach. From then on, it generally served as a second or third residence for a variety of owners who, didn’t become enmeshed in its history as much its new caretakers.

However, because the station had already served as a home, the Studers moved in before undertaking much renovations. “Our vision was not to transform it, but to preserve it,” says Gary. “In its early days, crews lived in the station only seasonally. As the first people to live here year-round, we prefer to think that we are bringing the life-saving station back to life!”

The Studers had to replace much of the salt-corroded siding and all 29 sets of the original shutters, each of which was a different size. From paint colors to the original floor in the lookout tower, they've mainted the building much as it's always been.

Touring History

Visitors enter the house through a narrow door, where a plaque identifies the building as listed on the National Register of Historic Places (a designation Gary worked diligently to achieve). Inside is a virtual boatload of memorabilia about the building and the U.S. Life-Saving Service.

Upstairs, the three original rooms where seven or eight surfmen spent nights have been combined to create the master bedroom. Overnight guests stay in the smaller keeper’s room, which offers a beautiful view of the lighthouse and the ocean. What was once a second-floor storage area now serves as a modern bathroom.

Worn steps lead to the third floor lookout tower. The Studers love taking visitors up to this cozy spot for the view and a little slice of the past.

Learning about their home's history brought Judy and Gary into a focused group of preservationists. “We even joined the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association, where we’ve found many others interested in this part of our maritime history,” says Gary.

The house is now furnished with antiques gathered during the Studers’ extensive travels, and many items specifically relate to their house. “We were fortunate that this was a government building, because we now have framed copies of logbooks, photos of the original building and crews, and much more,” says Gary.

The last surviving surfman passed away this past spring, but not before the couple invited him to spend a morning touring his former workplace. He shared his recollections, and the Studers honor his legacy with a picture of him in uniform hanging in their dining room.

“We consider it a rare privilege to live in a place with this much documented history,” says Judy. “We feel we are just passing through, as many before us have done. In the living room, we have a time capsule that will ultimately chronicle our existence here.” Future owners will then better understand how the Studers saved a lifesaving station.

2010-05-21T10:25:00.001-04:00

MYRTLE BEACH:

It's Grand on the Strand

Called the “Grand Strand” by locals and veteran visitors, Myrtle Beach has evolved from a seasonal resort town into a year-round, multi-faceted destination and residential community, welcoming more than 13 million visitors annually and boasting a permanent area population of about 250,000. Of course, the beach and weather have played a big part in the area's success, with additional lures like abundant world-class golf (more than 100 courses and counting), star-studded entertainment, super shopping, and creative cuisine also playing feature roles.

The greater Myrtle Beach area stretches for 60 miles along the South Carolina coast, and is actually made up of several distinct communities. While Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach attract the most visitors, other oceanfront draws include Atlantic Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, and Pawleys Island. Away from the coast, charming inland possibilities include Aynor, Conway, Little River, and Loris.

Originally published in Skylights Magazine

A LITTLE HISTORY

Modern Myrtle Beach actually has a long and storied past. Kings Highway, a major Myrtle Beach thoroughfare today, began life as a Native American trail long before European settlers arrived. It later became the major road linking Savannah and Charleston to the northern U.S..

The area (especially around nearby Georgetown) eventually became the center of the nation’s colonial rice empire, with sprawling plantations sprouting up in the 1800s. This history is still alive at Hopsewee Plantation, Georgetown’s Rice Museum, and Brookgreen Gardens. Before the Civil War, plantation owners turned Pawleys Island into one of the Atlantic coastline’s first summer resorts, and some of the area's historic beach cottages still exist.

In the early-1900s, Burroughs & Collins Company, a timber-turpentine firm with extensive oceanfront holdings, began developing the Myrtle Beach area (then called “New Town”) as a resort community. The company built the first beach hotel, the Seaside Inn, in 1901. Back then, oceanfront lots sold for $25 and buyers received an extra lot if they built a house valued at $500 or more!

The county paper ran a contest to name the area, and the wife of the founder of Burroughs & Collins won with the name of Myrtle Beach--so chosen because of the many wax myrtle trees growing wild along the shore.

Development continued through the 1950s, with the opening of the Intracoastal Waterway in 1936, exposing many boaters to Myrtle Beach. However, the pivotal 1960s really put the area on the map, with dozens of new golf courses luring many duffers. The 1970s saw new construction top $75 million and a tripling of the population.

The growth continues today. This year will see the development of the world’s only Hard Rock Park, the Market Commons (a mixed-use retail and housing village), and a major $200 million airport expansion to welcome all those visitors (including many who checked golf clubs).

A WHOLE LOT OF GOLF

Quite simply, golf remains a major driving force in Myrtle Beach--more than four million rounds are played annually. From oceanfront holes to moss-draped fairways, designers like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Greg Norman, Gary Player, and Pete and P.B. Dye have all left their signatures.

The grand game also influences 19th hole activities. The possibilities include restaurants like Greg Norman’s Australian Grille and Murray Bros. CaddyShack (“Eat, Drink and be Murray”), dayspas to soothe sore muscles (like He’s Not Here), and lots of shopping options (including two huge Martin‘s PGA TOUR Superstore locations), Myrtle Beach means golf 24/7. And we aren't just talking about the 18-hole mega-courses. Myrtle Beach is also considered the miniature golf capital of the world, with more than 50 courses featuring man-eating dinosaurs, lava-spewing volcanoes, pirate ships, and more.

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

With growth rivaling golf, the theater and entertainment scene is reaching for the stars. Eight modern showplaces feature music, dance, comedy, dinner shows, special seasonal offerings, and many celebrity concerts.

The options currently include: The Alabama Theatre (a regular show, plus lots of concerts); The Carolina Opry Presented by Calvin Gilmore (the best in Carolinas music and more); Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede & Dinner Show (including 32 horses); House of Blues (big name concerts and regular shows like the Sunday Gospel Brunch); Legends in Concert (Elvis and Little Richard are in the house); Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament (a night of knights); and Le Grande Cirque at The Palace Theatre (more than 50 world-class acrobats, jugglers, and performers take center stage).

“I love living in the area and making music here,” says country music legend Calvin Gilmore, whose Carolina Opry has been on the Myrtle Beach entertainment scene since 1986. “It’s a great combination of big city amenities and small beach town atmosphere.”

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

From boutiques to factory outlets to sprawling mixed-use shopping and entertainment complexes, shopping doesn't wait for a rainy day in Myrtle Beach, home to Barefoot Landing (more than 100 shops, 15 waterside restaurants, and several attractions); Broadway at the Beach (350 acres of shopping, dining, and entertainment); quaint Pawleys Island Hammock Shops; several huge malls and more.

And with more than 1,800 full-service restaurants in the area, visitors never go hungry. Seafood is seen on many menus and restaurant-lined Murrells Inlet is known as “The Seafood Capital of the World.” Those with an appetite for other types of cuisines will find barbecue, home-style Southern cooking, international fare, and a booming restaurant platter that ranges from behemoth buffets to a burgeoning upscale dining scene.

From great golf to great grub, the Myrtle Beach area continues to evolve into a destination suiting every taste. The Grand Strand is truly a grand destination.

PSST....

zzzz…

Caravelle, 600 units (340 renovated), $$, 6900 N. Ocean Blvd, 877-784-6835, www.thecaravelle.com. Kid-friendly with new water playground, lazy river, and pools.

Island Vista, 149 units, $$$, 6000 N Ocean Blvd, 843-449-6406, www.islandvista.com. Luxurious oceanfront suites with award-wining dining and amenities.

The Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, 230 rooms, $$$, 8121 Amalfi Place, 877-913-1333, www.marinainnatgrandedunes.com. This new luxury hotel is right on the Intracoastal Waterway. Eat at WaterScapes.

Myrtle Beach Marriott at Grande Dunes, 407 rooms, $$$, 8400 Costa Verda Dr., 843-449-8880, www.myrtlebeachmarriottresort.com. Oceanfront and business friendly. On-site spa and great pool.

________________________________________________________________

mmmm…

Louis’s at Pawleys, $-$$ (lunch-dinner), Pawleys Island, 843-237-8757, www.louisatpawleys.com. Louis Osteen cooks up creative cuisine with a southern accent. The adjacent Fish Camp Bar is a great place to meet locals.

SeaBlue Tapas Restaurant & Bar, $$ 501 Hwy. 17 N., North Myrtle Beach, 843-249-8800, www.seablueonline.com. A tasty example of upscale Myrtle Beach dining (enjoy several small portions).

Sea Captain’s House, $-$$ (lunch-dinner), 3002 N. Ocean Blvd., 843-448-8082, www.seacaptains.com. Located in a beach cottage that was built in 1930, this oceanfront spot (think seafood with a view) has been a tradition since 1962.

________________________________________________________________

ahhhh…

Brookgreen Gardens, $, 1931 Brookgreen Dr., Murrells Inlet, 800-849-1931, www.brookgreen.org. The world’s largest sculpture garden.

Family Kingdom Amusement Park, $$, 843-626-3447, www.family-kingdom.com. Myrtle Beach’s only seaside amusement park features the legendary Swamp Fox wooden rollercoaster.

The Hammock Shops, 10880 Ocean Hwy., Pawleys Island, 843-237-8448, www.thehammockshops.com. Home of the world-famous Pawleys Island rope hammocks (and Louis’s at Pawleys--see above)--this is shabby chic shopping (and dining) at its best!

He’s Not Here, 513 W. Broadway, 843-839-5595, www.hesnothere.biz, This “barberspa” caters to men, but women are welcome (and appointments for all are highly recommended).

__________________________________________________________________

???…

Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1200 N. Oak St., 888-MYRTLE 1, 843-626-7444, www.myrtlebeach.travel

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HOTELS: Standard double room, excluding tax

$ = under $100 $$ = $101-$225 $$$ = $225 and up

ATTRACTIONS: One day adult admission

$ = $15 and under $$ = $16-$30 $$$ = $31 and up

RESTAURANTS: One dinner entrée

$ = under $15 $$ = under $25 $$$ = $26 and up

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Spirit Airlines now flies non-stop from Myrtle Beach to Atlantic City, Boston, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale and New York, with convenient connections available to Las Vegas. Myrtle Beach is also connected to the Caribbean through Fort Lauderdale.

2010-05-21T10:18:00.006-04:00

OCRACOKE ISLANDS' SAND AND SEA WORK MAGIC

Accessible only by ferry, North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island is a classic island getaway, thanks to the quiet streets, friendly locals, award-winning beaches, one-of-a-kind shopping, varied accommodations and fresh seafood. Any time is a great time to visit Ocracoke, although it can get crowded in midsummer. Spring and fall bring fewer visitors, mild weather and generally lower prices.

Best beach

Once a fairly well-kept secret outside the Southeast, Ocracoke Island landed on the GPS scene in 2007 when the island’s Lifeguard Beach was named Best Beach in America by environmental scientist and coastal expert Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman. He gave Ocracoke’s pristine beaches top scores for water and sand quality, facilities and environmental management practices. What more could a man or woman ask of an island -- or a beach?

Originally published in Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Regular Ferry Service

The North Carolina Ferry Division has offered service to the island since the 1960s, providing both passengers and vehicles relatively frequent access. With additional service added to the ferry schedule last year, getting to Ocracoke is easier than ever.

Ferries currently run between Ocracoke and three “mainland” locations: Hatteras, Swan Quarter and Cedar Island, the latter being the one most often used by road-trippers from Atlanta. Departures are more frequent from mid-May to mid-September (the island is busiest in midsummer, making shoulder season ideal crowd- and price-wise). One-way fares are $1 for pedestrians, $10 for motorcycles and $15-$45 for vehicles, depending on length. For details see www.ncferry.org.

Once there, Ocracoke Island has something for everyone. From strolling around the quaint village to lolling on the beach, this island beckons as an old-style coastal destination.

The island is about 16 miles long (including 15 miles of beach) and generally just a half-mile wide. Ocracoke Village (where the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter ferries dock) was recognized as a town in 1753, when 20 or so families were living there. Today, about 700 people call Ocracoke home year-round. The village is on the National Register of Historic Places, with more than 150 homes and buildings on the list.

It takes a village

With most accommodations and dining options based in the heart of the village, it’s the center of island (and visitor) life. Built in 1823 and among the oldest continuously operating lighthouses on the Eastern Seaboard, Ocracoke Lighthouse serves as a beacon to village explorers and a few fishermen and pleasure boaters (the squat lighthouse is just 75 feet tall and the light can be seen only 14 miles out at most).

Village highlights include:
Shopping: Ocracoke Island Trading Co. (486 Irvin Garrish Highway) sells everything from sarongs to toe rings; Island Artworks (89 British Cemetery Road) offers artwork by North Carolina fine artists and artisans; and Secret Garden Gallery (80 Back Road) features contemporary crafts. Note that some businesses close or have limited hours during the winter.

Dining: Fresh seafood and lots of variety flavor the village dining scene at spots like Howard’s Pub, Cafe Atlantic, Back Porch Restaurant, and Back Porch Lunch Box.

Biking: The village is easily explored on two feet, but two wheels are also fun. Besides offering ice cream and other treats, Slushie Stand (73 Irvin Garrish Highway, www.ocracokeisland.com/slushie_stand.htm) rents bikes (as do several other spots in the village). Since the village is so compact and the beach is nearby, a visitor could park the car upon arrival and not use it again until departure.

Howard Street: The picturesque sandy lane is bordered by picket fences, small cemeteries, historic homes and the Village Craftsmen shop (170 Howard St.).

The British Cemetery: The final resting place for four British sailors who were killed aboard the H.M.S. Bedfordshire by a German sub in 1942. British Cemetery Road/Boos Lane.

Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum: Learn about the island’s history in the former 19th century home of Coast Guard chief David Williams. Across from the ferry docks, www.ocracokepreservation.org.

Teach’s Hole Blackbeard Exhibit and Pirate Specialty Shop: Explore exhibits about Blackbeard (Edward Teach) and other pirates with Ocracoke connections. West End Road/N.C. 12, www.teachshole.com.

Ocracoke Fish House: The last commercial fish house on the island serves as a visitor education center. 416 Irvin Garrish Highway, at the harbor.

Deepwater Theater: This unique venue is “home” of renowned bluegrass band Molasses Creek, as well as a fun pirate show and the Ocrafolk Opry show. School Road/Howard Street, www.molassescreek.com.

Natural beauty

Most of the island is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This haven for recreation and reflection includes beaches, maritime forests, camping, swimming, fishing and more. Nature lovers will want to hike the 3/4-mile Hammock Hills Nature Trail through forest and marsh or explore Springer Point, 120 acres of ancient tidal red cedar forest, salt marsh, wet grasslands and sound-front beach protected by the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust. And keep an eye out for the herd of wild ponies that have roamed the island since the 1730s.

2010-05-21T10:09:00.000-04:00

YOU’RE A LIFE-SAVER

Long past their heyday as the base of operations for rescuing shipwrecks, some North Carolina stations are getting a little lifesaving of their own.

The United States Life-Saving Service took shape in the early 1870s with the construction of lifesaving stations to house crews, boats, and equipment that might be needed for often-daring shipwreck rescues. In all, a network of 279 life-saving stations were built on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as along the shores of the Great Lakes.

The spartan lifesaving stations were typically built at regular intervals (often seven miles) along the shoreline. North Carolina would eventually have 29 in service along its jagged coast, the shallow shoals of which earned the area the moniker “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” The North Carolina lifesaving stations played an important role in saving lives, cargo, and vessels. The service’s slogan, which was supposedly created on Hatteras Island, was, “The book says we gotta’ go out; don’t say nothing’ ‘bout comin’ back.”

Originally published in Our State Magazine

Rescues were typically accomplished by brave station crews (called surfmen) pulling a surfboat across the beach and into the turbulent ocean. They would then row out to the wreck to save people and property. If the shipwreck were close enough to land, they would often throw a line with a device called a “breeches buoy” used to haul people ashore. Much of the equipment they used can be seen at the restored Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe.

The Life-Saving Service continued until 1915, when it was merged with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service to become the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard continued operating some of the stations; rebuilt, moved, and added a few; and closed many. Although some were lost forever, several of North Carolina’s historic lifesaving stations were saved, restored, and put to creative use for a variety of new purposes.

Saving the Stations

There’s perhaps no better place for exploring lifesaving station history than the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site.

Commissioned in 1874, the Chicamacomico Station was one of the original seven lifesaving stations in the state built by the U.S. Life-Saving Service. The station was decommissioned 80 years later and was then placed under the management of the National Park Service. In 1968, the historic--but dilapidated--stations and outbuildings were purchased by Walter Davis, who generously donated the property to the newly formed nonprofit Chicamacomico Historical Association. With that, the slow process of restoration began.

Now open to the public as part of the “village,” the 1874 station includes an original surfboat, a beach wagon (to haul the boat), and a practice version of the cart that employed the breeches buoy. There’s also an original freshwater tank and the station cookhouse, which is still undergoing the restoration process.

The historic site also features a 1911 station, which was built nearby to replace the 1874 station. It was from this station that the famed Mirlo rescue was launched in 1918.

This much-larger station now contains a fascinating multiroom museum filled to the gills with lifesaving memorabilia. It also houses an excellent gift shop with books, replicas, and many shipwreck “treasures” for kids and kids at heart.

The 1911 station complex also includes a cookhouse, two restored water tanks, and a soundside boathouse with additional exhibits. The cookhouse is arranged to appear as if the station’s crew had to leave their breakfast quickly to pursue another rescue (complete with spilled coffee and a toppled chair).

A 1907 house, which was moved to the site to depict life on the Outer Banks in another era, enhances the village. The restored two-story house provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the lifesavers’ wives and children, including a well-stocked kitchen, a furniture-filled living room, and several bedrooms packed with period pieces.

Saving these buildings has been a labor of love for many locals and lots of volunteers. The village is now a nonprofit organization with two full-time staff members, the husband-and-wife team of James Charlet and Linda Molloy. They can often be seen in period costume interacting with visitors. “We love sharing this special part of North Carolina history in any way we can,” says Molloy.

One loyal volunteer, Ken Wenberg, has been diligently restoring various components of the village since 1996. "It’s nice to see them saved for future generations," he says. "I definitely hate to learn of losing anything from the lifesaving era.”

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site is typically open from mid-April through November, but the summer months provide an especially good time to explore living history. The possibilities include weekly beach bonfire programs, roaming re-enactors (including the aforementioned “station keeper” and his wife), and very popular rescue re-creations that are performed by modern-day Coast Guard members.

Living the Life

When Gary and Judy Studer saw Caswell Beach’s former Oak Island U.S. Life-Saving Station for the first time in the late-1990s, they could never have imagined that it would become their home. However, when they found out it was on the market, the longtime St. Louis, Missouri residents and history buffs saw an opportunity to keep a legacy alive--by literally living in it.

Built in 1889, the Studers’ home was originally located across the street, near the site of the present day Oak Island Lighthouse. Crews watched for ships in distress from the still-present lookout tower. The Coast Guard, after building a new station in the 1930s, moved the original station across the street, turned it 90 degrees, and situated it right on the wide beach. The station was decommissioned in 1942. It then generally served as a second or third residence for a variety of owners.

These previous uses as a part-time residence meant there really wasn’t too much renovation work for the Studers to pursue before moving in full-time. “Our vision was not to transform it, but to preserve it,” says Gary. “In its early days, life-saving crews lived in the station only seasonally. As the first people to live here year-round, we prefer to think that we are bringing the life-saving station back to life.”

The Studers did have to replace much of the salt-corroded siding, but--from paint colors to the original wood floor in the lookout tower--they’ve kept the building much as it’s always been. They also had to replace all of the original shutters and found that each of the 29 sets was a different size.

Visitors enter the house through a narrow door, where a plaque identifies the building as listed on the National Register of Historic Places (a designation Gary worked diligently to achieve). Once inside, a cozy dining room has a virtual boatload of memorabilia about the building and the U.S. Life-Saving Service.

Just off the dining room, their large living room once served as the boat room, where surfboats hung from the ceiling. Indentations still mark the spots where the boats were hung, and the woodwork and most of the windows in the former boat room are original.

Upstairs, there are three original rooms. The Studers converted the former sleeping quarters, which slept seven or eight surfmen, into a master bedroom. The smaller keeper’s room is now a guest room, offering lucky visitors a beautiful view of the lighthouse and the ocean. What was once a second floor storage area is now a modern bathroom, and time-worn steps lead to the third floor lookout tower.

Along with working for designation on the National Register of Historic Places, the Studers have thoroughly researched the history of their house and the U.S. Life-Saving Service. They even joined the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association.

The house is now furnished with an eclectic combination of antiques and many items specifically related to their house’s history. “We consider it a rare privilege to live in a place with this much documented history,” says Judy. “We feel we are just passing through, as many before us have done.”

Bon Appetit

Many people enjoying a wood-fired pizza or fresh seafood at Kitty Hawk’s Black Pelican Oceanfront Cafe may not even know they’re dining in the midst of history: the heart of the Black Pelican is a renovated 1874 lifesaving station, complete with the original and unmistakable roofline.

Now surrounded by several additions, the 1874 part of the Black Pelican has a fascinating history. It was originally the Kitty Hawk station (No. 6) and was first located beachside a few miles north of the existing location. It was decommissioned as a life-saving station in 1915.

There are many tidbits diners will learn at the Black Pelican. The one serving staff will most likely share is that the telegraph announcing the Wright Brothers historic first flight in 1903 was actually sent from Station No. 6, which also servied as a telegraph office.

The building was moved across the street in 1962, after a huge Ash Wednesday storm. Over the years, it would serve as a bed-and-breakfast and a private residence before eventually becoming a restaurant called Station Six in the late 1980s.

Developer Paul Shaver bought the property in the early 1990s and turned it into the Black Pelican. According to the legend (printed on each menu), a mysterious black pelican used to warn of impending storms by swooping down on the station and even led shipwrecked people and lifesaving station surfmen back to the safety of land.

Shaver, who died in 2006, was fascinated by the history of the building and highlighted that history through the many pictures and other memorabilia adorn the walls.

Along with wood-fired pizzas and lots of fresh seafood options, the ever-evolving menu features various steaks and specials. Steamed shellfish options (particularly shrimp and oysters) have become a Black Pelican tradition, with the “Frogmore Clambake” a popular option--including mussels, clams, oysters, shrimp, andouille sausage, red potatoes, and corn on the cob.

The Black Pelican is also very popular year-round with the lunch crowd: locals swear by the crab cake sandwich and the new seafood po’ boy. Veteran visitors who like others to cook for them when they’re on vacation also swear by their catering and personal chef services. In addition, right inside the entrance, there’s a large gift shop that sells, among other things, a map of North Carolina’s lifesaving stations and a postcard with a black-and-white picture of Station No. 6.

“Paul loved sharing this history with first-time and veteran visitors,” says general manager Kevin Looney. “Our entire staff continues that tradition as best we can. It’s a special place and we’re glad he saved it.”

If you 're Going
*Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site
23465 NC Highway 12
Rodanthe, NC 27968-0005
252-987-1552
Hours: Mid-April-November, Monday-Friday, noon-5pm

*Black Pelican Oceanfront Cafe
3848 Virginia Dare Trail (Milepost 4)
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
252-261-3171
Hours: Summer hours, Sunday-Wednesday, 11:30am-9:30pm; Thursday-Saturday, 11:30am-10pm

*The home of Gary & Judy Studer is located on 217 Caswell Beach Road on Oak Island’s Caswell Beach. It can be viewed only from the road or beach,
and visitors should respect the Studers' privacy.

*For links to Chicamacomico's and the Black Pelican's websites, go to www.ourstate.com, and click on "This Month's Issue."

Other life-savers

Although many lifesaving stations were lost to the sea or demolished, numerous other structures along the North Carolina coast were saved, including the Lifesaving Station restaurant at The Sanderling Resort near Duck; the Twiddy & Company real estate office along N.C. Highway 12 in Corolla; and several other private residences from the remote Carova area of the Outer Banks down to Bald Head Island. In addition, the Pea Island Art Gallery in Salvo was built using the original plans for the 1874 Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station.

2010-05-21T09:57:00.002-04:00

SUN, SURF, SAND TRAPS...AND DAYSPAS

Broad appeal has made Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina, a growing hot spot for a wide variety of spas

Called the “Grand Strand” by locals and veteran visitors, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has grown into a year-round resort destination and residential community, welcoming more than 13 million visitors annually and boasting a permanent population of about 250,000, with consistent projected growth. What's the secret to Myrtle Beach's popularity? Of course, the beach and weather have played a big part in attracting both visitors and residents, but additional lures like abundant world-class golf (more than 110 courses and counting), plenty of entertainment, and fine dining also play star roles.

And spas? Most certainly. “Thanks to our status as a premier golf and beach destination and place to live, the spa scene has blossomed along the Grand Strand,” says Brad Dean, president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce (www.myrtlebeachinfo.com). “The number and diversity of spas has become yet another attraction for both visitors and residents.”

Originally published in DaySpa

Who comes to Myrtle Beach? Vacationers who seek sea, surf and sand, naturally. Golfers. Middle-age professionals. Retirees seeking wellness as they enter their later years. When do they come? All of the time. While the area's "season" used to run from spring to fall, year-round golf and other activities have turned it into a four-season destination--and place to live.

Unlike other beach communities, Myrtle Beach is economically accessible, making it a suitable vacation spot or permanent home for many. According to the Chamber of Commerce's 2004 figures, 73% of visitors to the area earn $74,000 per household per year or less. Housing costs are about one-fourth those of Manhattan and one-half those of Washington, DC.

All of this points to the conclusion that in Myrtle Beach, there are as many formulas for spa success as there are forumlas for breaking par out on the Grand Strand's fairways.

The variety of potential clients has led to many unique dayspas in the area. The options include resort spas, traditional dayspas, a males-only dayspa, and long-time salons that have added limited dayspa services to meet demand. In Myrtle Beach, there are as many formulas for dayspa success as there are formulas for breaking par out on the Grand Strand’s fairways.

Resort Crowd

Myrtle Beach's resorts attract golfers and spa-goers, and on occasion the two groups intersect. The area's resort spa directors know they need to capitalize on the number of clients who come in with golf-induced sore muscles, as well as their long-suffering golf widows (or widowers) with time on their hands. These client groups can be vacationers or locals, so the resort spas must be prepared to cater to both.

Opened in 2003 as part of the grand opening of the 407-room Marriott and part of the 2,200-acre Grand Dunes resort and residential development, The Hibiscus Spa (www.marriott.com/myrgd) attracts locals and vacationers with a very specific yet all-encompassing marketing strategy. “We actively target year-round and seasonal residents,” says spa manager Ann Sammons. “We’ve created a variety of features and programs that the locals love.”

Sammons reports that locals always receive a 20% discount on services and 10% on retail purchases at Hibiscus. They can also utilize all of the resort’s facilities during the entire day of their appointment (and even receive lunch in one of the spa’s two soothing relaxation rooms). Sammons created and maintains a list of more than 300 local clients and prospects, all of whom receive emails about monthly specials, packages, and new services.

Another creative program Sammons designed to attract local, group, and resort business is called the “Spa Experience.” With this, Sammons takes the spa out of the spa by using one of the resort’s banquet rooms to create a spa-like introductory experience. Offerings at these popular programs have included massage, facials, nail services, yoga, aromatherapy, health lectures, and much more.

The Hibiscus Spa at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes
Size of spa: 8,000 square feet
Spa areas: Reception area that features artwork from a nearby restaurant/art gallery, Collector’s Cafe (they exchange referrals); six massage rooms; two Vichy rooms; three facial rooms; two nail rooms; separate makeup room; large locker rooms with separate steam and sauna; two relaxation rooms.
Employees: 25
Signature treatments: Hibiscus Signature Massage (60/90 min., $100/$150); Golf and Fitness Massage (60/90 min., $100/$140); Hibiscus Awakening package (Vichy shower, salt glow, massage, lunch, manicure, and pedicure, 5 hrs./$290).

Mostly Women

Her Body & Soul (www.herbodysoul.com) is located on the south part of Myrtle Beach, just off a bustling highway and at the entrance of a residential community. This stand-alone day spa is a true testament to growing a business by listening to clients' wishes.

“I opened Her Body & Soul back in 2001 when I realized that Myrtle Beach wasn't providing enough activities women could enjoy while their loved ones were out playing golf,” says owner Beth Marcis. The immediate success of this upscale day spa proved her right. Since then, Marcis has also added many amenities and services to further meet the needs of her clientele.

Her Body & Soul started out as a fitness facility offering a few day spa services, but when demand for beauty treatments grew, Marcis took space away from her workout room to add a full-service hair salon. However, it’s the day spa side of the business that has been the true driving force behind Her Body & Soul’s continued growth. Locals and visitors flock to the facility (the locals-to-visitors ratio is about 60/40, smoothing out any seasonal swings in Myrtle Beach visitation), with several area hotels consistently sending guests for treatments.

Showing the trademark success characteristic--flexibility--Marcis began offering day spa services to men last year. (The fitness facility also now allows men after 2 p.m.). “Quite simply, women wanted their men to enjoy the same services they were enjoying,” Marcis says. “Being able to include more gift certificates and couples massages has made this a very successful transition. We've sold an incredible number of gift certificates, packages and products to men and women during the holidays and leading up to Valentine’s Day.”

The success of Her Body & Soul led Marcis to launch another day spa, due to open next year. “One of our loyal clients told her developer-husband about us,” she explains. The yet-to-be-named 10,000+-square-foot spa will be located across the street from a major Myrtle Beach resort, ensuring that Marcis benefits from a nice mix of locals and visitors.

Her Body and Soul
Size of spa: 6,000 square feet
Spa areas: Three massage rooms; two facial rooms; Vichy shower room; pedicure/manicure area; large women’s locker room with steam room and separate makeup area with four sinks; two relaxation rooms (one for women, one for men); hair salon; fitness facility; "Health Cafe” offering complimentary snacks and drinks.
Employees: 15
Signature treatments: Body wrap/Vichy shower treatments (60 min/$130); Surfer Treatment facial for men (60 min/$125); Pregnancy massage (60 min/$80); Cystal Energy Balancing post-massage add-on (10 min/$30)
Treatment products: Eminence

Mostly Men

Many men love golf and water sports; hence, many men go to Myrtle Beach. When it's time to unwind, locals in the know are heading to (or sending visitors to) He’s Not Here Barberspa for Men (www.hesnothere.biz). Opened in mid-2004 by husband-and-wife team Patty and Gordon Hirsch, He’s Not Here is a uniquely male spa concept that’s been very successful in the area. “Both local and visiting males--as well as their wives or significant others--were obviously looking for a day spa like this,” says Patty, who had a thriving freelance massage practice before developing this concept with Gordon.

As a massage therapist, Patty had noticed that many male executive clients were coming to her for massage, going elsewhere for hair services, and possibly even heading to a third location for manicures or pedicures. “That’s when we knew we had a day spa concept that could work in Myrtle Beach,” says Gordon. The couple explored and developed their idea with the help of male-specific product manufacturers and visits to other males-only spas.

Though there are three old-world leather and mahogany barber chairs in the front of He’s Not Here and hair services get many men in the door, this is most definitely a full-service day spa. Still, the requisite treatment and common areas sport a decidedly male point of view in decor and amenities. People need only witness the three large flat-screen monitors--typically tuned to sports and business networks--in the reception area to know that this isn't their mother's spa.

He's Not Here has developed a loyal following consisting of both locals (60%) and first-time or veteran out-of-town visitors (40%). Although the spa's clientele is theoretically all male, many of its bookings (especially for vacationers and gift certificate recipients) are initiated by women. “We get them in the door with either a haircut or through a significant other, but we keep them coming back with a great environment, massages and much more,” Patty says.

As can be expected, therapeutic massage is quite popular at He's Not Here, but comprehensive Vichy treatments that include a sea salt scrub, natural bee honey conditioner and moisturizing finish have proven to be a perfect premassage seller. “Our therapists tell men who combine the Vichy with any massage that they shouldn’t plan on getting any more work done that day,” says Gordon. Hair services are spa-like, with all signature cuts and styles including a hot towel facial, tea tree shampoo and scalp massage. Appointments for facials, manicures, and pedicures (all done in private to meet the typical male preference) continue to grow with repeat customers.

“Once a month, I have a haircut and a massage,” says Eric Miller, who has become a loyal He’s Not Here client and a source of many referrals. Miller is also a regular purchaser of the spa-level haircare and traditional shaving products that the business retails. “The staff has always been helpful in explaining products that they sell and I've bought various items that I would'nt have bought in other environments,” continues Miller. “I feel as though I am on vacation when I'm there.”

The spa also provides a full-service website for virtual day spa planning. The site includes a spa tour, service menu downloads, online gift certificate sales and appointment scheduling. Appointments are suggested, but walk-ins are welcome and anticipated. “We know some men have a hard time making commitments,” Patty quips. “So we try to keep it simple and welcome walk-ins by keeping additional staff on hand.” The site is an effective draw for Myrtle Beach locals and visitors alike.

He’s Not Here is careful to maintain its allegiance to its gender-based clientele, but does occasionally welcome ‘she-clients'. This occurs when a woman wants to work with a certain therapist (many of Patty’s female clients moved with her) or when a client wants to book a couples' massage (60/90 min., $150/$225).

The spa's marketing strategy is making Myrtle Beach a very sunshiny place to be. The 2005 holiday season saw record gift certificate sales for the spa, with more than 30% of these already redeemed by the end of January 2006! Gordon notes that once men see the offerings and experience the benefits, they often either add services on the spot or book future appointments. “

He's Not Here Barberspa for Men
Size of spa: 2,000 square feet
Spa areas: Three multi-purpose treatment rooms; Vichy treatment room; nail room; locker room with shower; large reception/barber shop area
Employees: More than a dozen
Signature treatments: Array of massages including Deep Tissue Athletic Massage (60/90 min., $85/$125) and Four-handed Synchronized Massage (60/90 min., $150/$220), with hot stones added to any massage for $20; body/Vichy treatments (60 min./$125); Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree and Murad tingling hair treatments ($25-55)
Retail: Truefitt & Hill grooming products (traditional shaving soaps, brushes, and razors)

As Myrtle Beach continues to boom, so will this scenic area's spa scene. Spas are continuing to pop up on the Grand Strand, each eager to show locals and visitors that their stand-alone day spa or resort-based luxury spa is the perfect complement to Myrtle Beach's well-established landscape of surf, sun, and sandtraps.

2010-05-21T09:39:00.000-04:00

FALLING FOR THE OUTER BANKS

The Secret is Out: Autumn is the Nicest Season

When it comes to spending my hard-earned money and vacation time, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than in the Outer Banks during the fall. My reasons are many: pleasant temperatures; smaller crowds on the beaches and elsewhere; lower prices for accommodations; and a slower vacation pace in general. For me, it’s the best bang for my Outer Banks buck.

Many veteran Outer Banks visitors first come for the summer, sand, and sun on 130 miles of beaches, but many return in the fall for the ‘secret’ season. The lures include cottage rentals and B&B or inn stays, as well as activities like hang gliding, sea kayaking, windsurfing, hiking, biking, and more. Plus, from September to November, temperatures, crowds, and prices all drop throughout the Outer Banks, making these adventures even more appealing.

Originally published in Hampton Roads Magazine

COTTAGES COST LESS

Basically, starting in early to mid-September, it costs about 40-70% less to rent a cottage in the Outer Banks. Of course, this can vary greatly with rental companies, locations, and individual cottages. Shopping around for the best deal is smart anytime of year, but it’s especially fruitful in the fall.

“I’ve always thought fall is the nicest season on the Outer Banks,” says Sun Realty’s Linda Hess. “The slower pace of the fall season is reminiscent of what the Outer Banks used to be. You’ve still have all of the amenities available, but with fewer crowds.”

Hess says fall prices are definitely lower and in many cases 50% or more less than high season rates. An eight-bedroom home with a pool in Nags Head or South Nags Head that runs more than $6,000 per week in summer can be had for around $2,000 starting in mid-September. A four-bedroom house with a hot tub up in Corolla that might cost $1,200 to $1,500 or more in summer will just be $500-$600 come fall.

“Fall in the Outer Banks offers a much easier pace with an entirely different mentality,” says Village Realty’s Jackie Myers. “You don’t have as many families with lots of children--mostly couples with small children and professionals. The water in the fall stays warm through October, unlike spring when the water hasn’t warmed up yet. If you are a golfer, the fall offers discounted greens fees.”

Myers says an eight-bedroom oceanfront house with pool in South Nags Head that went for $7,595 in mid-summer will go down to $2,595-$2,995 through Village Realty in the fall. A four-bedroom soundside golf course home with a hot tub will drop from $2,500 in the summer to $700-$800 off-season.

Many other companies offer cottage rentals and great fall rates, including Hatteras Realty, Midgett Realty, Surf or Sound Realty, Twiddy & Co. Realtors, Prudential Resort Realty, and many more. Some companies cover the entire Outer Banks, while others specialize in certain areas, so it’s best to shop around. Several companies offer further fall discounts to holders of the ‘Outer Banks Getaway Card’ (see ‘Information Please’ sidebar).

AN INN PLACE

Thanks to time constraints or a desire to stay as far away from a kitchen as possible, a B&B or inn just might be the ideal fall choice. From Duck to Hatteras Island, there are at least two dozen unique places to try (some, but certainly not all, are summarized below). Again, smaller crowds (and prices) might mean the Outer Banks is an ‘Inn’ place to stay in the fall.

In Duck, Advice 5C(cents mark) is a casual place and secluded choice, just a short walk from Duck’s quaint shops and restaurants. There are just four guestrooms and one suite, with all featuring private baths. Guests can enjoy the swimming pool and tennis courts, as well as the private walkway to the beach. Highlights include morning coffee for early beachcombers and ‘afternoon tea’ before sunset.

Down in Kill Devil Hills, Cypress House is an historic B&B that was originally built in the 1940s as a private hunting and fishing lodge. There’s a wonderful wrap-around porch and a common room with a fireplace.

To the south and on the soundside, The Baldview Bed & Breakfast offers great views of Kitty Hawk Bay on its 1,000 feet of waterfront. Highlights include an open maritime forest, a 400-year-old live oak, and incredible sunsets.

Also on the soundside, Cypress Moon Inn offers just three waterfront rooms. Guests enjoy antique-filled rooms, semi-private porches, and their own refrigerators.

In Nags Head, First Colony Inn has a variety of room choices, including luxury rooms that boast wet bars or kitchenettes and some that have Jacuzzis, sitting rooms, or private screened porches. Guests can relax by the pool or in the library, as well as taking the boardwalk to the inn’s gazebo on an ocean dune.

MANTEO/ROANOKE ISLAND

Over on Roanoke Island, quaint choices abound. This area features the charming town of Manteo and a different kind of Outer Banks B&B base.

Roanoke Island Inn, in downtown Manteo, represents more than 100 years of construction and additions to a waterfront family homeplace. Originally a small and simple island house, it was built in the 1860s by the current innkeeper’s great-great grandmother. The Inn offers guests the privacy of outside entrances to its rooms, the comfort of a lobby, and the indulgence of a well-stocked pantry. The second-floor porch overlooks Manteo’s acclaimed waterfront, where guests can stroll the boardwalk to shops, restaurants, and the movie theater.

Tranquil House Inn is also located on the Manteo waterfront and is surrounded by boardwalks and sailboats. Guests will find uniquely furnished rooms, with canopies and four-poster beds, and even mini-suites with cozy sitting areas and separate bedrooms. There’s usually a pitcher of ice-cold tea or lemonade available throughout the day, as well as an early-evening wine reception.

The White Doe Inn is a turn-of-the-century Roanoke Island residence that has been welcoming guests since 1898. Filled with old-fashioned warmth, all guestrooms feature fireplaces. A wrap-around porch offers a perfect place to enjoy the inn’s breezes.

Scarborough House is located in the heart of Roanoke Island, with native hosts welcoming guests. Gleaming pine floors, antique four-poster beds, local artifacts, and handmade bedspreads welcome guests to their rooms.

Finally, Scarborough Inn offers 12 individually-styled rooms filled with antiques. Other highlights include wrap-around porches, refrigerators, microwaves, and coffee makers in each room, bikes for guests, and two restaurants across the street.

HATTERAS

Down on Hatteras Island, you’ll find a generally quieter Outer Banks getaway, where families and fishing abound. Several quiet B&Bs and inns also welcome fall Hatteras visitors.

The Seaside Inn offers ten rooms (five have separate sitting areas and some have Jacuzzis). All rooms are eclectically decorated with local antiques and feature modern bathrooms. Local art and lots of little touches make this a Hatteras home away from home.

Another great area choice is Cape Hatteras Bed & Breakfast, where guests are made to feel like a true native. Located on a quiet lane just a short walk from the beach, all rooms feature private bath and entrance. A hearty, Hatteras-style breakfast awaits guests.

DUCK

Back up north of Duck, The Sanderling is one additional option that doesn’t really qualify as an inn or B&B, but should be included in any overview of unique Outer Banks accommodations choices. With 88 well-appointed rooms and suites, as well as villa rentals, every luxury has been addressed throughout the 12-acre resort. Additional amenities include varied dining, a full-service spa, fitness center, and golf. Of course, fall specials provide a perfect time to plan an upscale getaway.

Whichever B&B or inn you choose, fall offers an ideal time to find that ‘inn’ place for a short getaway. If you’re looking for a local insider experience, one of these eleven awaits welcoming you!

FALL ADVENTURES ABOUND

Once you’ve figured out where you’re staying this fall, it’s time to plan your adventures. Whether that means simply sitting on a quiet beach or trying hang gliding for the first time, it’s easy to fall for an Outer Banks adventure.

If you want to try the most famous activity in the Outer Banks (beyond sitting on the beach), you have to give hang gliding a try. The Wright Brothers came to the Outer Banks for the ideal ‘flying’ conditions in 1903 and more than 250,000 people have followed in their footsteps with Kitty Hawk Kites since 1974.

Situated just below the huge dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Kitty Hawk Kites has become a Mecca for teaching Outer Banks visitors to fly (and lots of other outdoors activities). They’ve taught more people hang gliding than any other school in the world, with soft sand, gentle slopes, and steady breezes the norm just outside their sprawling facility.

Fall is an ideal time to try hang gliding. “The prevailing wind is east to northeast off the ocean and one of the best directions for flying Jockey’s Ridge,” says John Harris, founder and president of Kitty Hawk Kites. “The Wright Brothers set a soaring record here in 1911 that lasted until the 1930s because of the great northeast winds. The current record is now four hours and eight minutes off Jockey’s Ridge!”

A wide range of options is available for trying hang gliding, starting with a ‘Beginner Dune Lesson’ for $85.00. This is a great three-hour introduction to the fundamentals, including all equipment, a training film, ground school, five solo flights, and a log booklet. From there, a huge array of choices includes: Advanced Beginner Dune Lesson; Three Lesson Dune Package; a ‘Hang I’ Lesson Package (training for pilot rating); and money-saving ‘Combo Packages’ that include options like tandem aero-tows, kayaking, and more.

For this fall and beyond, ‘Hang I’ and ‘Hang II’ Camps (working toward pilot ratings) September 21-28 and October 12-19, special discounts on Sunday through Tuesday afternoons, and several special events all add to the appeal.

Once you’ve tried hang gliding, lots of other outdoors choices await in the cooler temperatures of fall. Through nine locations, Kitty Hawk Kites and sister company Carolina Outdoors offer aero-towing (when the hang glider is towed to altitude by an ultralight plane and then released); parasailing; kite surfing; sea kayaking; surf kayaking; jet boat dolphin tours; rock wall climbing; off-road wild horse adventure tours; fly fishing; single- and multi-sport camps and packages; corporate and group team building; and a wide variety of special programs just for kids. Kitty Hawk Kites also happens to have the largest kite store on the east coast (at their main location).

Of course, Kitty Hawk Kites isn’t the only outdoors-oriented company on the Outer Banks. Some other great outfitters include Bodie Island Adventures, Coastal Kayak, and Kitty Hawk Sports. No matter which sport or company you choose, you’re sure to fall for another Outer Banks adventure.

Fall also offers a great opportunity to enjoy other activities with lower temperatures and crowds. Some ideas include golf, fishing, boating, birdwatching, and visits to famed Outer Banks attractions like the Wright Brothers National Memorial (see sidebar), The Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods, North Carolina Aquarium/Roanoke Island, Roanoke Island Festival Park, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (including the Elizabethan Gardens and the Lost Colony Outdoor Drama), Ocracoke Island, and one of several historic lighthouses along the coastline. Whether you choose to fly above the Outer Banks or simply drive to something of interest, you’re sure to be welcomed with smaller crowds (and, often, special fall deals).

From great deals on cottage rentals or quiet B&Bs and inns to hang gliding and other Outer Banks activities, it’s easy to see why many visitors have fallen for this special time of year in this special area. But start your planning now, because the fall secret of the Outer Banks is officially out!

THE INN PLACES

*Advice 5C(cents mark) Bed & Breakfast: (800) 238-4235; www.advice5.com
*The Baldview Bed & Breakfast: (252) 255-2829; www.baldview.com
*Cape Hatteras Bed & Breakfast: (800) 252-3316; www.surforsound.com
*Cypress House Bed & Breakfast: (800) 554-2764; www.cypresshouseinn.com
*Cypress Moon Inn: (252) 261-5060; www.cypressmooninn.com
*First Colony Inn: (800) 368-9390; www.firstcolonyinn.com
*The Roanoke Island Inn: (877) 473-5511; www.roanokeislandinn.com
*The Sanderling: (800) 701-4111; www.thesanderling.com
*Scarborough House Inn: (252) 473-3849; www.bbonline.com/nc/scarborough/index.html
*Scarborough Inn: (252) 473-3979; www.scarborough-inn.com
*Seaside Inn: (252) 986-2700; www.seasidebb.com
*The Tranquil House Inn: (800) 458-7069; www.tranquilhouseinn.com
*The White Doe Inn: (800) 473-6091; www.whitedoeinn.com

OBX ADVENTURES & MORE

*Bodie Island Adventures: (252) 441-6822; www.bodieislandadventures.com
*Coastal Kayak: (252) 441-3393; www.theouterbanks.com/kayak
*Fort Raleigh National Historic Site: (252) 473-5772; www.nps.gov/fora
*Jockey’s Ridge State Park: (252) 441-7132; www.jockeysridgestatepark.com
*Kitty Hawk Kites: (877) FLY THIS; www.kittyhawk.com
*Kitty Hawk Sports: (252) 441-6800; www.khsports.com
*The Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods: (252) 441-2525; nature.org/north carolina
*North Carolina Aquarium/Roanoke Island: (252) 473-3949; www.ncaquariums.com
*Ocracoke Island: (252) 928-6711; www.ocracokeisland.com
*Roanoke Island Festival Park: (252) 475-1500; www.roanokeisland.com
*Wright Brothers National Memorial: (252) 441-7430; www.nps.gov/wrbr

THERE ARE LOTS OF EVENTS ON THE OUTERBANKS THIS FALL, PROVIDING EVEN ANOTHER REASON TO VISIT

*September 6-7: Annual Weeping Radish Oktoberfest--A Bavarian-style festival at the famed Manteo brewery and restaurant. (252) 473-1157; www.weepingradish.com.
*September 7: 18th Annual Outer Banks Triathlon--Swim, bike, and run during your visit. (252) 480-0500; www.outerbanks.net/dvac.
*September 7-8: 10th Annual ‘Alison’ White Marlin Release Tournament--The first of many reasons to go fishing off the Outer Banks this fall. Other options include the Outer Banks King Mackerel Festival (throughout October at Teach’s Lair Marina), (800) 422-3610; www.fishpiratescove.com.
*October 6-7: 13th Annual Artrageous Art Extravaganza--Features creative hands-on kid’s booth, children’s auction, artist’s ‘show & sell’ booths, music, and food. (252) 473-5558; www.darearts.org.
*October 10-13: 2002 Parade of Homes--A self-guided tour of selected homes by top area builders. (252) 449-8232; www.obhomebuilders.org.
*October 14-21: 3rd Annual Kite Week--Demos and more, culminating in the 15th Annual Outer Banks Stunt Kite Competition October 19-21. (877) FLY THIS; www.kittyhawkkites.com.
*October 15-20: Annual Wings Over Water Festival--A celebration of wildlife and wildlands, with field trips, workshops, and an insider’s look at Outer Banks habitats. (252) 441-8144; www.northeast-nc.com/wings.
*November 9: Renaissance Festival--Go back in time at Roanoke Island Festival Park. (252) 475-1506; www.roanokeisland.com

THE WRIGHT STUFF

On the cold and blustery morning of December 17, 1903, brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright gave the world the gift of flight. Orville lifted the fragile airplane into a 20 mile-per-hour headwind and covered just more than 120 feet of Kitty Hawk sand in 12 seconds. The Wrights made three more flights that morning.

A series of events has already begun in the Outer Banks and throughout the country, which will culminate in a grand celebration December 13-17 in Kill Devil Hills next year. But this fall, is a perfect time to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

The Memorial is simply an Outer Banks must-see. The temporary Visitor Center features an interpretive presentation, a great gift shop, and more (the permanent Visitor Center is undergoing extensive renovations for next year). The expansive grounds include historical markers of each attempted flight, a replica campsite, and a 60-foot granite monument on top of Big Kill Devil Hill, a 90-foot dune.

There are many helpful websites for things to do this fall and beyond: www.outerbanks.org; www.firstflightnc.com; www.firstflightcentennial.org; www.centennialofflight.gov; and www.firstflight.org.

2010-05-18T11:10:00.000-04:00

TAKE A SHINE TO NC LIGHTHOUSE COTTAGES

Capt. Charles Norton Swan lived his dream life on this island, lighting the lamp to put the new Cape Fear Lighthouse into service in 1903 and then running the Cape Fear Light Station for the next 30 years.

Today's Bald Head Island visitors can temporarily live like "Cap'n Charlie," thanks to three renovated lighthouse keeper cottages available for rental.

The three wood-frame dwellings overlooking the wide beach were built in the early 1900s, with one housing Cap'n Charlie and his family and the others occupied by his two assistants.

Originally published in Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"The lighthouse keeper cottages are symbolic of Bald Head Island's rich and unique history," says Kent Mitchell, president and CEO of Bald Head Island Limited. "Our motivation in renovating them was to restore and preserve the character of the homes, providing guests with a firsthand opportunity to experience the island's history for themselves."

EVERYTHING YOU NEED

The cottages, on the southeastern end of Bald Head Island, make for a truly unusual place to stay. They've been renovated and furnished with all modern conveniences, including a gourmet kitchen with top-end appliances, cable television, telephone and a peaceful porch and deck overlooking the wide dunes and beach.

Visitors will also enjoy many black-and-white photos of Cap'n Charlie and the island, including a print of the cottages and lighthouse from the early 1900s.

After arriving by ferry, cottage guests and their luggage take a tram along Federal Road, which was once an island-long railway. Trains shuttled the metal trusses used to build Cap'n Charlie's Cape Fear Lighthouse. Once the rails were abandoned, Cap'n Charlie and his crew used the route to reach their lighthouse and cottages from their creekside boathouse (which still stands and is called Old Boat House on most Bald Head maps).

Just before arrival at the cottages, the tram driver will point out the old concrete pilings where Cape Fear Lighthouse once stood, as well as the office and retail shop for the Bald Head Island Conservancy.

Each cottage comes with a four-person golf cart to make exploring the island easier. Renters also receive temporary membership to the nearby Shoals Club and access to the pool, beach club and dining.

Most cottage guests quickly locate Maritime Market a mile or so down Federal Road. Here, gourmet meats, fresh seafood and a huge wine selection can make for a tasty time back in the cottage's kitchen. Other dining options are the River Pilot Cafe and Eb & Flo's Steambar.

The cottages also apparently come with their own ghosts — or at least ghost stories — that Cap'n Charlie delighted in detailing before his death in 1964. One ghost story involves Theodosia Burr Alston, who disappeared off the North Carolina coast when her boat was attacked by pirates as she was on her way to visit her father, Aaron Burr. Another is of a redhaired woman often referred to as Mrs. Cloden, who died of starvation in one of the cottages after being shipwrecked on the island. A third ghost apparently appears as a dapper man in a pinstripe suit.

MUSEUM MEMORABILIA

Thanks to preservation and research efforts, much of the history of lighthouses on the island can be explored by visitors.

North Carolina's first lighthouse was built on the island in 1796. In 1817, it was replaced a short distance away by Bald Head Lighthouse ("Old Baldy"), which was then replaced by Cap'n Charlie's Cape Fear Lighthouse in 1903. When the Oak Island Lighthouse was activated in 1958, the Cape Fear Lighthouse was torn down. Old Baldy is the state's oldest standing lighthouse.

After a night in one of the cottages, the best place to continue exploring lighthouse history is along the banks of Bald Head Creek, in the shadow of Old Baldy. The Smith Island Museum of History is here in a reconstructed 1 1/2-story lighthouse keeper's cottage from the 1850s, one of three once located around Old Baldy.

The small museum features an eclectic collection of Smith Island (Bald Head's former name) memorabilia, including Cap'n Charlie's pocket watch, a Lighthouse Service engineer's uniform and several Civil War artifacts.

From the museum, it's a short stroll to Old Baldy, where a circular wooden staircase leads 108 steps to the lighthouse's lantern room and a great view of Bald Head Island and the entire Smith Island complex.

The Old Baldy Foundation also runs fascinating Bald Head Island historic tours that Cap'n Charlie would certainly have loved. Along with entrance to the museum and Old Baldy, the tour includes a stop at the pilings from the Cape Fear Lighthouse and anecdotes about Cap'n Charlie's life on the island.

If Charlie Swan could see the cottage renovations and activity around his old homeplace, he'd probably beam as brightly as his old lighthouse once did nearby.

IF YOU GO

Getting there: Bald Head Island, N.C., is reached by ferry from the charming coastal town of Southport (also well worth exploration).

Driving: Southport is about 435 miles, about seven hours, from downtown Atlanta.

Flying: The closest airport is in Wilmington, about 45 minutes from Southport. Delta Air Lines has nonstop flights from Atlanta. Expect to pay about $450 nonstop, or about $100 less for one-stop service on other airlines.

About the cottages: Named for Capt. Charles Norton Swan, two cottages, Capt. Charlie's I and Capt. Charlie's III, each feature three bedrooms and two bathrooms, sleeping up to six people. Capt. Charlie's II offers two bedrooms and one bathroom, sleeping four. The renovated lighthouse cottages are rented on a weekly basis, from Friday to Friday, but they also may occasionally be available for shorter periods. To rent, call 1-800-973-8309 or visit www.baldheadisland.com. Each cottage has its own pricing structure and rates vary with the season (spring, fall and winter are less expensive). Expect to pay about $2,000-$3,000 per week, except in high summer, when rates run $3,600-$4,300. Other properties are also available for rent.

Information: Smith Island Museum of History and Old Baldy: 910-457-7481, www.oldbaldy.org. For historic tour reservations, call 910-457-5003.

2010-05-18T10:54:00.000-04:00

MYRTLE MEANS SAND, SUN, MUSIC, FORE, & MORE

The Myrtle Beach area offers a beach vacation at its best. The famed South Carolina Atlantic Ocean destination has matured into a popular spot for sand, sun, golf, and music lovers, as well as much more.

The Spanish were the first to drop anchor in these charmed coastal waters. Spaniard Lucas Vasques de Allyon and a group of pioneers founded the first colony in North America here in 1526, but the settlement was ravaged by disease and all the inhabitants perished within a year.

But the word was out and, today, visitors from around the world receive a much warmer welcome to the Grand Strand. More than 12 million people annually come to swim, sunbathe, retire, fish, boat, golf, eat, shop, and, more recently, enjoy music.

Originally published in Air South Magazine

The wide sandy beach and sparkling Atlantic Ocean have drawn visitors for years. A strong tourism infrastructure lures sun- and saltwater-starved beach-goers with a good airport, varied accommodations options, hundreds of dining choices, and a wide variety of activities on and off the famed beach.

Many pursuits have become Myrtle Beach vacation traditions, making any visit much more than a day at the beach. Along with sun-drenched days, Myrtle Beach moments can also be filled with golf, shopping, dining, sightseeing, music, and many other enjoyable possibilities.

Golf has become a year-round attraction in the Myrtle Beach area. More than 100 championship courses are available to golfers on the Grand Strand. Designers include the famous names of Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Ross, Dye, and Fazio, as well as many more of the world's best-known players and architects. British Open champion John Daly designed his first course, Wicked Stick, for Myrtle Beach.

Variety is a major factor contributing to the success and popularity of Grand Strand golf, which comes in many shapes, sizes, and degrees of difficulty. Local courses feature such unique attractions as a private airstrip adjoining a clubhouse, a cable car that crosses the Intracoastal Waterway to the course, and alligators lurking in water hazards. Many golf packages include accommodations and green fees. All of these factors mean more than three million rounds are played every year in this golf mecca.

Shopping is another "sport" that has a passionate following in Myrtle Beach. Shoppers flock to popular treasure hunting sites like the Waccamaw Outlet Park. Barefoot Landing at North Myrtle Beach is an unusual outdoor mall on the waterfront that features an assortment of shops and boutiques. At the Hammock Shops down on Pawleys Island, shoppers can see and buy world-famous hammocks and much more.

There are many other exciting Grand Strand options. Some possibilities include: several amusement parks and attractions for kids and kids at heart; outdoor adventures along the coastal waters; the newly-opened Oceanic Adventures aquarium; many historic museums; quiet Huntington Beach State Park; restored rice plantation homes; and quiet little communities like historic Georgetown, Murrells Inlet (the "seafood capital of the state"), and peaceful Pawleys Island, mentioned above for its hammocks. Wealthy planters and their families once spent summers at Pawleys Island to avoid malaria and other deadly fevers that infested the swampy coastal region, turning the island into one of the first summer resorts on the Atlantic coast.

Busy Ocean Boulevard is the base for many pursuits. The options include Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, the Myrtle Beach Memorial Wax Museum, and the Motion Master Moving Theater. Whether you're learning to shag to "beach music" or riding the historic Merry-Go-Round, you'll enjoy a blast from your beach past at the Myrtle Beach Pavillion and Amusement Park.

Many people are surprised to find one of the world's finest sculpture collections at Brookgreen Gardens. This National Historic Landmark and the first public sculpture garden in the U.S., Brookgreen has more than 500 19th- and 20th-century sculptures, beginning at the front gate with Anna Hyatt Huntington's The Fighting Stallions.

Surrounded by rivers and marshland, Georgetown became the center of America's booming rice trade in the 1800s, with a rich plantation culture flourishing along the Waccamaw, Pee Dee, and Black Rivers. Hopsewee Plantation, birthplace of Declaration of Independence signer Thomas Lynch, Jr., is one of the many historic rice plantations that lend a Colonial flavor to the Georgetown countryside. Hopsewee is open to visitors from March through October. Georgetown's Rice Museum tells the colorful story of the crop that made plantation life possible.

On a more modern note, the Myrtle Beach area has also emerged as one of the nation's leading destinations for live family entertainment in just a few short years. Nine theaters now entertain thousands every night, with the best in country music and much more.

Missouri-born musician and entrepreneur Calvin Gilmore initiated the trend in 1986, when he opened The Carolina Opry in Surfside Beach, just south of Myrtle Beach proper. In 1992, the original Carolina Opry moved into a new 2,200-seat Myrtle Beach facility, complete with its own recording studio. The hugely popular show offers a wide variety of music, including country, bluegrass, Western swing, big band, patriotic, and show tunes, as well as comedy. Last spring, Gilmore assisted in bringing another show, Legends in Concert, to his original Surfside Beach theater. The already-legendary show features impersonations of the biggest stars in show business.

Country music supergroup Alabama, which got its start playing for tips in Myrtle Beach, opened its theater in 1993. Located at Barefoot Landing, a large waterside shopping complex, the 2,200-seat Alabama Theatre features three different kinds of shows: Alabama performs at least 10 shows a year; celebrity guests, including such stars as Marty Stuart, Patti Loveless, Lorrie Morgan, and many others, perform at least 20 shows a year; and "American Pride, the house show combining Opryland-style singing, dancing, and music, plays on the remaining nights.

After years on the road, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers settled down to make Myrtle Beach their musical home. The 2,000-seat, $7.5 million Gatlin Brothers Theatre opened in 1994. Known for hits such as "All the Gold in California" and "Houston," the Gatlins perform nightly most of the year, except when guest stars like Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, Lee Greenwood, and others take the stage for special engagements.

The Palace Theater, the 2,700-seat theater which opened last October, is part of the new $250 million entertainment complex, Broadway at the Beach. This entertainment/theater complex on a 350-acre tract in Myrtle Beach combines The Palace Theater with 80 retail stores and 12 restaurants (including a Hard Rock Cafe and Mickey Gilley's Texas Cafe). Future plans for Broadway at the Beach include the Ripley's Sea Aquarium, a hotel, and a 25,000-seat amphitheater. It is already the largest festive entertainment complex in the state.

This past fall also saw the opening of the Ronnie Milsap Theatre at Fantasy Harbor. The six-time Grammy winner started regular performances this spring and he's playing to rave reviews.

A giant new theme park is currently planned for the site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The Isle of America, scheduled to open next summer, will offer 10 musical variety shows, incorporating live actors, animation, film, and computer-controlled robots, as well as a 20,000-seat concert amphitheater, a 27-hole Hale Irwin-designed golf course, and a resort hotel and conference center.

The remaining theaters in Myrtle Beach offer other forms of entertainment, with music often included in the mix. Magic On Ice, a high-tech ice skating, magic, and laser show, was the first theater to open in the Fantasy Harbour--Waccamaw entertainment complex. The show stars Sandy Lenz, a two-time U.S. National Champion who was with the Ice Capades and Disney On Ice. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament is featured at Fantasy Harbour, with an entertaining look at the Middle Ages, complete with jousting, knights on horseback, and a medieval banquet.

The Dixie Stampede, owned by Dolly Parton's Dollywood Productions, opened during the summer of 1992 in an ornate 80,000-square-foot showhouse, next door to The Carolina Opry. The Stampede features a rodeo with a Civil War theme and a four-course southern dinner (designed to be eaten with your fingers--no silverware needed). Patrons sit in either the Southern or Northern section of the arena and take part in a friendly rivalry by cheering for their side in a number of animal races and participatory contests.

Along with the theater engagements, the area also hosts more than 40 annual events and festivals. The Sun Fun Festival is one of many summer highlights, kicking off the season with parades, beach games, concerts, and celebrity guests.

Area resorts, hotels, motels, condominiums, and cottages provide more than 55,000 rooms sure to fit any lifestyle or budget. Kingston Plantation, with oceanfront hotel suites or romantic clusters of lakeside villas and townhomes, is indicative of the variety available. Also known as the "Camping Capital of the U.S.," the area features 10 privately-owned campgrounds and two state parks, adding up to more than 6,000 sites.

With almost 1,500 restaurants to choose from, dining is an adventure along the Grand Strand. Known for great seafood, the area also offers the best in domestic and international cuisine. In fact, the Myrtle Beach area has more restaurants per capita than San Francisco, making it a real treat for eating out.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Info Center represents the entire 60 mile stretch of South Carolina coast, including North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Little River, Atlantic Beach, Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, and Pawleys Island. Write them at P.O. Box 2115, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578-2115, or call (803) 626-7444 or (800) 356-3016 (brochures only). You can also visit the Myrtle Beach area internet site at http://www.myrtlebeachlive.com.