Pit Stop in Virginia Beach / Navy Base - Oct 2012

On the way home from our week-long vacation in the Outer Banks in October, we made a pit stop in Virginia Beach.  We lived there about 15 years ago, when we were first married and Shane was in the Navy.  We visited some old friends who still live in the area, and they showed us around AND most excitingly, got us onto the Navy base where Shane used to be stationed!

Cinema Cafe.  This was one of our favorite places when we lived in Virginia Beach.  It doesn't look like much, but it's a movie theater that has tables and chairs instead of rows of seats, and you can have food and drinks while you watch your movie.  A brilliant idea - I wish there was one near where we live now!

Our friends took us on a tour of a really cool newly developed area, which didn't exist when we lived there 15 years ago.

When we were there, it was called the Little Creek Amphibious Base.  I think the new name seems a bit cumbersome...

 

Shane and his buddy, Woody, at their old barracks.

I forget if this was on Shane's or Woody's old boat.

Wright Bros National Memorial - Oct 2012

Another field trip we took while we were in the Outer Banks in October, was to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC.  There is a small museum, replicas of their camp/workshop buildings, and markers showing where the first four flights took off and landed, along with the original rails that they used to launch the planes.  Finally, there is large monument on top of a hill that offers lovely views all around, from sound to sea.

A diorama inside the museum

Replica plane

Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education - Oct 2012

(Still catching up!)

We took a few small field trips from our beach house while we were in the Outer Banks in October.  One day we visited the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the nearby Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education.  The lighthouse was very cool, and a good workout too!  We climbed all 214 steps to the top... but there were a LOT of bees buzzing around up there and we chickens immediately went right back down.  I did bravely pop out and quickly snap a few shots of the view before running away, though.

A week at the beach - Outer Banks, NC - Oct. 2012

Bear with me here, I'm catching up.

My kids got to see the ocean for the first time in October.  It was wonderful.  We went to the Outer Banks with my parents and my aunt, and we shared a house right on the oceanfront that would have cost $3800 a week if we'd have gone in the middle of summer during the busy season... but which only cost $1200 a week (which we then split three ways) during the off season.  Boom, suddenly a beach trip became feasible!  The weather was a bit chilly and rainy the first two days, but it was absolutely perfect for the rest of the week, with temps in the upper 70's/low 80's. 

Home sweet home for a week

Text from my mom:  "I am Sheldon and have picked my spot.  The yellow chair is mine."

Our room.  Aaaaahhh, I LOVE sleeping to the sound of the ocean!

The top deck offered lovely views.

Our view...

 

Road trip Oct 2012

Finally catching up on vacation pics from our trip to the Outer Banks back in October...  here are some highlights from the road trip.  I joined AAA the day before we left and got a triptych for navigation - first time I'd ever used one and it was super helpful - I totally recommend it.  (Side note:  The AAA store has TONS of great FREE travel info for members - maps, brochures, etc.  I came out of there with a big pile of stuff with future field trips in mind!)  I really love road trips - in my opinion they are half the fun of going on vacation.  I love being "stuck" together in the car and getting to enjoy each other's company, while watching interesting new sights pass by our windows.

On the trip, I decided to make it "my thing" to take a picture of every state welcome sign we passed.  I got all except the elusive West Virginia.  Somehow I missed it both on the way down and on the way back.  My OCD was really itching.  Grrr.   

The DS kept Monkey pretty happily occupied...

While Bug found other ways to entertain himself.  (Whoopie cushions are SO hilarious to a 2yr old!)

This cool toy that I picked up on Amazon also helped keep him busy.

I love driving through the mountains.

Tunnels are exciting!

A scenic group of windmills.  We passed several of these clusters.

The boys snuggled into their bed in the hotel room (where we stopped halfway overnight), watching cartoons on CABLE - what a treat!  (We do not have cable at home, which makes us pretty much Amish, I know.)

Next post:  Our arrival at the beach!