Ocracoke

A few people have asked me what Rachel and I talked about in the car. On the morning of May 30, the conversation was something like

"C'mon Dad, let's go to the Outer Banks, It will be really cool."
"I don't know, Rachel. I'm really ready to get back home by Thursday night, and that's a long way around."
"Yeah, but it will be fun, and we can go to the beach."
"I know, but there's the ferry reservations to worry about, and I don't want to get out there and find out there's nowhere to stay."
"Well, we can call Mom and ask her to check it online for us and get the phone number."
"Yeah, but it's an awfully long way around..."

Of course, cooler heads prevailed, and we went to the Outer Banks. We were able to check on the ferry and the hotel before we got to the end of the road. Amazingly, the 23 mile ferry crossing cost only $15. Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket take note. We also confirmed that rooms were to be had for mainland rates in Ocracoke before heading over.

Ocracoke was the highlight of the trip. Really pretty and very laid-back -- kind of like a miniature Martha's Vineyard pre-Clintons. We stayed in a place right on the harbor and walked up a ways to a dockside open-air restaurant for some delicious crabcake sandwiches for dinner. After dinner we did the beach thing and went to hang out at a local bar (think Jummy Buffet) shooting darts and playing some game with a ring on a string and a hook on the wall.

Rachel even found a listing for a bagel & coffee place for our morning breakfast. Thumbs up for Ocracoke. And best of all, it's only a days drive from Cambridge.

The view from our room at the Inn...