From My Margins: Dispatches from the Beach

What I read at the beach last week and my OBX recommendations

Were we really at the beach just last week? It already feels like an eternity ago, although in a positive way. While it was nice to get away and be with family, it was an exhausting week overall. Parenting on “vacation” is hard and not relaxing in the least, especially when you’re in a house with the whole extended family and a little more on edge about how your child is affecting everyone else.

And when said child is up before 5:30 every morning? Sigh. Between our toddler, my sister’s twin 8-month-olds, her 5yo, and my dad’s epic snoring, no one slept a whole lot. We were glad to be home.

I did actually manage to get in a little bit of reading time! First, though, I wanted to share some of our highlights from the week in case you’ll be in the Outer Banks this summer and are looking for some recommendations.

OBX Travel Report:

(clockwise from top left) Beach time, a replica of the Wright Brothers' plane, sand surfing at Jockey's Ridge State Park, and encountering a crab

Despite how utterly exhausting our trip was in so many ways, we made a lot of fun memories, too. This was our first time to the Outer Banks and we loved it. We would definitely come back.

We stayed in Southern Shores, north of Kitty Hawk and just a few minutes south of Duck. We all agreed it was the perfect location for us. We had private beach access through the neighborhood where our Airbnb rental was, which meant all our beach time was quiet and fairly secluded. Yet, we were within a short drive of most of the attractions throughout OBX. I’d pick that exact same area to stay again on a return trip.

I went to the Wright Brothers National Memorial on my own (both as a way to escape the kid chaos for a bit and because no one else in our group really cared). It was interesting to learn a bit more about what led up to those historic first flights and to actually see the markers demonstrating how short they were. Just as interesting was the memorial building, which was part of an effort in the 60s to make these national memorials around the country more educational. The architecture is so of its time in the coolest 60s way.

We took the older boys to putt-putt (my son’s first time!) and to go sand sledding at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. They had a lot of fun doing that, despite how tiring it was for us adults to lug the sleds up and down the dunes.

I would’ve loved to go see The Lost Colony outdoor drama on Roanoke Island (the longest running outdoor production in the country!), but it was a good 30+ minutes drive away and didn’t start until 8pm. I settled for listening to the Stuff You Should Know episode about the historical mystery¹ as we drove over the island on our way in.

We did drive up to do a Corolla wild horse tour one day. We had planned to take my son, but I’m so glad we didn’t, because he definitely wouldn’t have been old enough to appreciate or enjoy the experience. And honestly? I have a well-documented childhood as a horse girl, and it was cool to learn more about the wild herd and see some colts and foals, but two hours of driving around in what is essentially a beach neighborhood with sand roads was plenty for me.

And food?

We got donuts from the original Duck Donuts, of course, and tried to eat as much seafood as we could. The Cocomo Mahi Bowl at Hurricane Mo’s was fabulous and fresh. Our takeout order from I Got Your Crabs was abundant and delicious and really reasonably priced. KEYZ New Zealand Style Ice Cream was a hit with both adults and kids. We grabbed Barrier Island Bagels on our way out of town the last day and I desperately wish we had gone there earlier in the week to order a full dozen, not just breakfast sandwiches to go. Next time!

I would’ve loved to have the whole week just to eat in Duck - so many delicious looking restaurant options. Kevin and I did get away after bedtime our last night to eat at The Paper Canoe and it was phenomenal. Both the food and the service were top tier. So glad we managed to snag a reservation at the last minute, because you definitely wouldn’t be able to get in without one.

The weather was pretty cool the whole time we were there (low-to-mid-70s), which was perfect. Even though it was the first week of June and the summer season had officially started, it felt like things weren’t at full capacity yet, which was nice. I absolutely want to go back when the kids are older (or without them) to be able to enjoy some of less toddler-friendly offerings in the area.

Reading:

I watched not one minute of tv the whole time (turning on Moana for the older boys one morning while the dads were golfing doesn’t count, clearly), but I did make a good dent in the stack of books I took along.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (4.5 stars)

What a lovely, charming, beautiful book. Those of you who told me I should read this before reading The Lincoln Highway for my church book club were right. I’m so glad this was my first Towles. I did struggle a bit in the second quarter or so trying to get my bearings with what kind of story this was and what I should be expecting, but I’m glad I surrendered and went along for the ride. I loved it.

How to End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang (4.5 stars)

This is an excellent romance novel. Kuang is new to the scene, but she’s going to give Emily Henry a run for her money (ironic, since she is working the screen adaptations of a couple of Henry’s books!) - particularly when it comes to the open door scenes. This was fun and very sexy and grounded in some real emotional heft. Absolutely perfect beach read.

The Excalibur Curse by Kiersten White (2.5 stars)

I’m glad the other two were so strong and kind of wish I hadn’t started with them. The conclusion of this Camelot trilogy didn’t do it for me. It was the weakest of the three and I kind of forced myself through it because I wanted to know how it ended. The back half was better than the front half, but I didn’t love it.

On the Docket:

We’re back home and back to reality, so my reading time has immediately dropped again, but I’m going to head to the pool and try to sneak in a bit of Iron Gold before the daycare day ends. Wish me luck!

1. We’ve recently been informed by friends that the lost colony is a BFD in North Carolina history education in elementary school. So, it was fun to learn a little more about it and drive through the general area the settlement would’ve been.