Back in the 'Boro

Well after a very relaxing and first visit to NC's Southern Outer Banks, or SOBX as they are known, I've decided to shock myself back in the real-world by tearing out my carpets in our house! What a better way to get back "to the real world" then to completely uproot and move around furniture, tear out carpet, scrub floors, paint walls and stain concrete slab (oh yeah and we are laying flooring too-- eventually). Overall I have to say its been a good venture for us. Final project: to stain our concrete slab. We picked up the stain today at Home Depot after looking at many other options. I will post before and agrees on next post!

Free (or nearly free for all) in Beaufort

Well, after a week in Beaufort, we've made a list of all the free (or nearly free) things you can enjoy:
1. Walk the boardwalk
2. Enjoy a sunset
3. Visit Radio Island for a day at the beach
4. Window shop the local stores
5. Visit the NC Maritime Museum
6. Watch them build wooden boats
7. Take a boat ride to Rachel Cardon Estuarine Reserve and see the wild Banker Ponies (on certain days the volunteers run a ferry around the reserve and it's free but donations are accepted. For more info: http://www.nccoastalreserve.net/About-The-Reserve/Reserve-Sites/Rachel-Carson/58.aspx
8. Enjoy the live music on the boardwalk in front of Queen Anne's Revenge and Dock House.

Nearly free:
1. Rent a kayak from Beaufort Inlet Watersports ($10/hr or $60 full day) and explore Taylor's Creek and the surrounding areas
2. For a short drive (30 minutes), visit Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitor Center on Harker's Island and enjoy the drive to and from (also a great place to picnic)
3. For about $15 per person take a ferry to Cape Lookout lighthouse, Shackleford Banks or Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve
4. For the cost of a beverage, enjoy the locals at the Rhum Bar, Backstreet Pub or Royal James Cafe.

**with the exception of #5 and #7, these are even dog-friendly activities!

Beaufort really is America's Coolest Small Town

Having the opportunity to hang out in Beafourt (that's Bo-Fort), NC for a few days. This town definitely deserves all recognition of being a cool small town. Great location on Taylor's Creek with great views and an abundance of activities to enjoy! The weather has been fantastic thus far. We are off with "the girls" to enjoy a leisurely walk around town and see what kind of other neat things we can explore. Antiques shops, the Maritime Museum and people watching are just a few of the "no cost" activities we've enjoyed so far. Stay tuned for specifics....

Out on the Boat!

This summer I've been fortunate enough to travel to some pretty fantastic places during my summer break as an educator. As I'm writing this, I'm sitting here at UNCW at a teacher workshop sponsored by MBARI. We have had a jam packed week of learning the latest research in marine science and even had the opportunity to head out on the R/V Cape Fear. It's been a whirlwind, fantastic trip thus far. UNCW is a beautiful campus with so many opportunities to get in touch with the local ecosystem just by walking around. Millipedes, bullfrogs, birds abound in the pine scrub here on campus.

So I've been wanting to do this for awhile, and I kept putting it off until now. I love to journal, photograph, eat good food and enjoy a good beverage every once in awhile. And.....I love to travel and learn new things. I'm not afraid to take a risk now and then (I planned and executed my wedding and reception without a planner and survived!), and I also make mistakes (but hopefully I learn from them). All of this while still managing to pay the bills, going to work and deal with the daily grind. Life's too short however, not to enjoy the beauty around you! So as I share some of my "trips" to great places both far away and close to home, maybe you'll find something that triggers the wanderer in you. Enjoy!