This time our Labour Day long weekend destination was North Carolina - NC state in USA. 4th to 6th September 2010. Spring was coming to an end and fall started showing it's glimpses on the trees! Shiny and sunny weather accompanied us through out the journey. Fear was there in mind till 4th arrived whether to go to the trip destination or not because of the hurricane "Earl".
In this season the North East Coast of USA gets hit by one or the other hurricane with different names every year viz. - Katrina, Isabela, Earl bla and blu! Sometimes unnecessary hype is created by media that we all people are used too like in India! But always good to see the weather alerts on weather.com before you leave home!
Fortunately "Earl" hit the NC coast on Thursday night and by Friday it left the NC coast! And we received a green signal for our long weekend! Already the bookings were done almost 3 weeks back with Outbound campgrounds. One good thing is that the camping grounds have few special rooms well equipped by kitchen, private baths and bedroom. What else is required?
We set to go with a rental car from Enterprise. Yes rental car. Here mostly people hire a car for long destinations with generally full insurance and just pack the bags and leave for touring!
Enterprise and Avis are one of the companies which provide such rental car services. cars are divided into small/medium/large segments. Afcourse the rent goes on increasing as you select the car from small to large segment.
Just set the GPS and headed towards NC! Our first destination was "Kitty Hawk". Reached in exact 5 hrs! Visitor's center is always ready to welcome the tourists with the travel desk help and bundle of tour guides, state information including the state parks, memorial, sea shores, zoos/aquariums and what not! All the contact information with the bunches of booklets is totally free of cost! This is something really astonishing fact! Something which is required to be implemented in India to promote the tourism!
We started from Kitty Hawk sea shore, explored the ways and tried to catch few glimpses of sea shore in our camera. Got to know something new about the beach house rentals! Experience is a good teacher always! One can easily get an info on net and rent the selected beach house for weekends or even for whole week also! That's the best place to stay! Cook, bake/Grill, sit in the balcony and watch the sea shore, noisy waves have a sip (Who like to enjoy the drinks! ) and eat side by side! Watch the sunset/sunrise on beach what else is required???? Or else the beach hotels like Hilton Top are ready to make your holidays comfortable but at a bit higher costs!
Walking, running, yoga, deep breathing in cool and fresh air early in the morning on beach would always lead to fitness!
Meanwhile roaming on the beach we were lucky enough to see Dolphins post sun set from the bridge watch point at Kitty Hawk Sea Shore.
In between the roam around; foodies can peep in the household and welcoming restaurants like Chilly and Paper to enjoy the amazing taste of sea food like local fishes, prawns. (We make stronger hurricanes than earl - breakfast at $2.99) was a pie line!
In this season the North East Coast of USA gets hit by one or the other hurricane with different names every year viz. - Katrina, Isabela, Earl bla and blu! Sometimes unnecessary hype is created by media that we all people are used too like in India! But always good to see the weather alerts on weather.com before you leave home!
Fortunately "Earl" hit the NC coast on Thursday night and by Friday it left the NC coast! And we received a green signal for our long weekend! Already the bookings were done almost 3 weeks back with Outbound campgrounds. One good thing is that the camping grounds have few special rooms well equipped by kitchen, private baths and bedroom. What else is required?
We set to go with a rental car from Enterprise. Yes rental car. Here mostly people hire a car for long destinations with generally full insurance and just pack the bags and leave for touring!
Enterprise and Avis are one of the companies which provide such rental car services. cars are divided into small/medium/large segments. Afcourse the rent goes on increasing as you select the car from small to large segment.
Just set the GPS and headed towards NC! Our first destination was "Kitty Hawk". Reached in exact 5 hrs! Visitor's center is always ready to welcome the tourists with the travel desk help and bundle of tour guides, state information including the state parks, memorial, sea shores, zoos/aquariums and what not! All the contact information with the bunches of booklets is totally free of cost! This is something really astonishing fact! Something which is required to be implemented in India to promote the tourism!
We started from Kitty Hawk sea shore, explored the ways and tried to catch few glimpses of sea shore in our camera. Got to know something new about the beach house rentals! Experience is a good teacher always! One can easily get an info on net and rent the selected beach house for weekends or even for whole week also! That's the best place to stay! Cook, bake/Grill, sit in the balcony and watch the sea shore, noisy waves have a sip (Who like to enjoy the drinks! ) and eat side by side! Watch the sunset/sunrise on beach what else is required???? Or else the beach hotels like Hilton Top are ready to make your holidays comfortable but at a bit higher costs!
Walking, running, yoga, deep breathing in cool and fresh air early in the morning on beach would always lead to fitness!
Meanwhile roaming on the beach we were lucky enough to see Dolphins post sun set from the bridge watch point at Kitty Hawk Sea Shore.
In between the roam around; foodies can peep in the household and welcoming restaurants like Chilly and Paper to enjoy the amazing taste of sea food like local fishes, prawns. (We make stronger hurricanes than earl - breakfast at $2.99) was a pie line!
For diner there's no place other than Western Sizzlings! Unlimited variety of sea food and chicken, salads, starters and desserts! Hummmm damn yummy! There are couple of good restaurants like JKs' but open only for dinner. Food Cost generally rounds about $6-12!
Next destination on highway no. 12 at almost end of NC is Cape Hatteras. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is famous for it's height! It's tallest lighthouse in the country! 198 feet with 298 steps. Squirreled with white and black strips, the lighthouse has search light where everything is automatic! Beyond imagination, but the lighthouse was shifted from the sea shore to the current destination which is almost 1 KM from the origin!
There are couple of other lighthouses also Bodie Ireland, Ocracoke, Curritack lighthouse but the best one to visit and to go up at the top is one and only "Cape Hatteras"!
Next destination on highway no. 12 at almost end of NC is Cape Hatteras. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is famous for it's height! It's tallest lighthouse in the country! 198 feet with 298 steps. Squirreled with white and black strips, the lighthouse has search light where everything is automatic! Beyond imagination, but the lighthouse was shifted from the sea shore to the current destination which is almost 1 KM from the origin!
There are couple of other lighthouses also Bodie Ireland, Ocracoke, Curritack lighthouse but the best one to visit and to go up at the top is one and only "Cape Hatteras"!
On our way back was a west coast - Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills and we were blessed with sunset beauty and it's leftovers in the sky! Wow one of the unforgettable moments! The sky was crowded with orange, pink, red sheds and the big orange reddish ball was on the way to set! Awesome! Dusk at Hatteras but dawn at some other destination thought process starts immediately in mind!
"Earl" left it's proofs on the highway! The day back of our arrival, highway no. 12 was under water! As it's surrounded by sea from both the sides!
All the highways are well connected and infrastructure wise just too good. Inspite of the hit of "Earl" road conditions were not disturbed!
Next day Wright Brothers Memorial, Aero Ride for coast, Jokey's Ridge National Park Natural Sand dunes and Elizabeth Gardens were on Radar in the area Monteo.
17th Dec 1903 was the "D" day in the history of Aviation! The first flight took off successfully from Kitty Hawk after the rigorous day and night efforts of Wright Brothers! Historic landmark is built in the memory of Wright Brothers for their invaluable contribution to Aviation industry by First Flight!
Aero coastal rides are also available starting from $50-75 per trip (2-3 persons). One can enjoy the coastal view, dolphin and whale watch from Helicopters, small air carriers.
Jockey's Ridge National Park is famous for the natural sand dunes formed by the waves! One can experience good state national park services here. On the same road North Carolina Aquarium can be seen and further road reaches Elizabeth Park. But tourists should not keep much hopes from this park. This is the park where the british community first arrived!
The destinations can easily be covered in 3 days or within a week also slowly! Car, flight and bus services are available! One can easily reach NC from Washington DC. If chosen the Car mode the cost of whole trip including everything comes around $400-500 for a couple!
If someone wants to explore real tourist within herself/himself - visit NC!
All the highways are well connected and infrastructure wise just too good. Inspite of the hit of "Earl" road conditions were not disturbed!
Next day Wright Brothers Memorial, Aero Ride for coast, Jokey's Ridge National Park Natural Sand dunes and Elizabeth Gardens were on Radar in the area Monteo.
17th Dec 1903 was the "D" day in the history of Aviation! The first flight took off successfully from Kitty Hawk after the rigorous day and night efforts of Wright Brothers! Historic landmark is built in the memory of Wright Brothers for their invaluable contribution to Aviation industry by First Flight!
Aero coastal rides are also available starting from $50-75 per trip (2-3 persons). One can enjoy the coastal view, dolphin and whale watch from Helicopters, small air carriers.
Jockey's Ridge National Park is famous for the natural sand dunes formed by the waves! One can experience good state national park services here. On the same road North Carolina Aquarium can be seen and further road reaches Elizabeth Park. But tourists should not keep much hopes from this park. This is the park where the british community first arrived!
The destinations can easily be covered in 3 days or within a week also slowly! Car, flight and bus services are available! One can easily reach NC from Washington DC. If chosen the Car mode the cost of whole trip including everything comes around $400-500 for a couple!
If someone wants to explore real tourist within herself/himself - visit NC!
