Travel Blog

For a family vacations, we decided to head for the beach. There are many beach options along the eastern coast; Myrtle beach, Ocean City, Virginia Beach and many others. We chose to go to the Outer Banks (OBX) in North Carolina. Now that we decided where to go, we needed a place to stay. Instead of picking a typical hotel to stay at, we chose to rent a house for the week. The house rental went smoothly over the Internet and we were able to easily check into the house once we got to Kitty Hawk. The house was spacious and well supplied with all the necessities for living. We just needed food and alcohol.

In 1903, the Wright Brothers went to the Outer Banks and made the first successful flight of an airplane. In Kill Devil’s Hills, there is the Wright Brothers National Memorial Park that is built on the exact site they made their historic flight. The park consists of a visitor’s center and pavilion. Atop the hill is a stone monument dedicated to the Wright Brother’s amazing feat.

When you think of the beach, you usually think of water sports. The Outer Banks is no exception, there are the beaches of course. But more then that are the many places you can rent Jet Ski’s Sailboats, surf boards, kayaks and many other things to do on the ocean or in the sound. Kitty Hawk Water Sports offered sailing lessons, so we jumped at the change to learn to sail. The lessons lasted for 2 hours and cost $99/ person or $149 for 2 people. The lesson was a great introduction to sailing and was very easy to learn for beginners.

The Outer Banks also offers many different cultural experiences. Roanoke Island was the first attempt by the British to found a colony in the New World. You can visit Roanoke Island Festival Park or watch the The Lost Colony outdoor drama. There are also many shops and galleries all along the island.

Other activities that you can do on the Outer Banks is Miniature Golf, Go-Karts, 4WD Off Road Adventures and Lighthouse visiting just to name a few.

The Outer Banks is a great place to spend a little time relaxing and getting away for awhile.

Useful Links:

The Coastal Explorer
http://www.thecoastalexplorer.com/
Great resource for finding out where to stay and what to do on the Outer Banks.

Kitty Hawk Water Sports
http://www.kittyhawkwatersports.com/

Wright Brothers National Memorial Park:
http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm

We took at cruise to Alaska during the summer months. The views from the boat and shore are not be be missed. As you travel along the Alaskan coast, you can see gorgeous views and wildlife upon the shore. On the way to the first stop of Whittier, AK, the cruise ship made a stop at Glacier Bay, which runs for about 65 miles long and 3 to 20 miles wide. The glacier from the ship was fabulous. You could see pieces of the glacier falling into the bay.

The ship then arrived at Whittier, AK. There is not much in Whittier itself, so just getting off the ship and exploring really isn’t an option. Whittier, is a launching point to visit Anchorage or the surrounding lands. We choose to go to Portage Glacier, Big Game Alaska and the Alyeska Ski Resort. For those who want to visit Anchorage, it is about an hour and a half drive, but worth it to see the capital of Alaska.

At Portage Glacier, we first were able to visit the visitor’s center at the edge of Portage Lake. There you can walk along the edge of the lake, but the glacier is nowhere to be seen. That is because it has been gradually been retreating and the lake is the result of that retreat. We then took a cruise across the lake to see the glacier. The glacier has been retreating at am enormous rate.

After Portage Glacier, we visited Big Game Alaska. Big Game Alaska is a wildlife and rehabilitation center for Alaskan wildlife. We were able to see eagles, black bears, bison, moose, deer, elk, caribou, and oxen to name a few. This reserve is dedicated to rehabilitation hurt wild animals, then releasing them back into their natural surroundings. This is a great place to visit and safely see animals that you would not normally be able to.

Next, we drove to the Alyeska Ski Resort. The bus stopped at the bottom of the mountain and we had to take the lift to the top. The views from the top were wonderful. We were able to see a panoramic view of the Alaskan land. It gives a great sense of the natural beauty of the region.

If you ever get a chance to visit Whittier, make sure you travel out from the coast and visit the surrounding countryside and see the natural beauty that is Alaska.

The Kinzua Dam is located 6 miles east of Warren, PA. The Kinzua Dam hold backs the water on the Allegheny River, which forms the Allegheny Reservoir. It is one of the largest dams east of the Mississippi River. The Allegheny Reservoir is a hot spot for outdoor recreation. We visited the Kinzua Dam in the late summer. Driving there, you see the wonderful wilderness that surrounds the road in the Allegheny National Forest. The forest is covered with many trees, it seems like millions. If you live in a big city, it is a sight not to be missed.

We arrived at the boat dock on the Allegheny Reservoir where we had planned on taking a boat out for the day. The dock is relatively small, which allows for not too much of a crowd. On the water, there is plenty of room to let the engines out, very little boat traffic. After a while, we decided to do what they call “tubing“. Tubing consists of an inflated tube attached to the back of the motor boat. The boat takes off and you just hang on for your life. The advice I was given, was to hold on tight. It was a great rush having the waves splashing against the tube and bouncing you from side to side and over the wake produced from the engines. After tubing, we anchored the boat and went swimming in the water. The water was a great temperature for a swim. We also were able to walk ashore and adventure. When the sun started to set, we headed back.

The Kinzua Dam is not only a place for boating and water activities. It also offers camping, hiking, ATVs, climbing and biking. In the winter, it also offers snowmobiling and skiing. It you like the outdoors, this is one place not to be missed.