Summer is coming! We can all sense it now. And the folks at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore are gearing up for the season with a full slate of activities and free programming set for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Each of the programs will be presented multiple times. See the Cape Hatteras National Seashore website for the complete listing of all programs and their times, dates and locations.
On Ocracoke Island you can join a ranger at the Ocracoke Island Visitor Center for Barrier Island Nature, a half-hour introduction to the wild side of the seashore. Specific topics will vary daily.
Ocracoke was a popular place for Blackbeard and other pirates during the early 1700s. The program Pirates! will explain why the island was so attractive to pirates and how the golden age of piracy dramatically ended right here on the Outer Banks at Ocracoke Island.
If pirates aren't your thing, there are few who can resist the lure of Banker Ponies, and Ocracoke's wild ponies are definitely a must-see! Gather at the Ocracoke Pony Pens and you'll learn more about the ponies' mysterious origins, unique physical attributes, survival skills and the circumstances that brought them under the care of the National Park Service.
On Hatteras Island the program Barrier Island Dynamics is a ranger-led program that examines how the flora and fauna of the island adapt to the natural processes of island migrations, barrier island role-over and erosion. Included in the discussion are the ways that people are impacted by these natural processes and how we can learn to adapt to future changes.
No visit to Hatteras Island is complete without a stop at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton. Take part in the Light Station Discovery Walk and learn how tall the lighthouse is, how and why it was built, what makes a Fresnel lens special and how the lighthouse was moved to its present location. The walk takes place on the Cape Hatteras Light Station Lawn.
Music for the Ponies
What could be better than great food, cold beverages and hot bands? How about when great food, cold beverages and hot bands come together to benefit Corolla's wild horses? Yes, indeed! Join fellow music fans and pony lovers Sunday, May 18 from 12 to 10 p.m. at Mike Dianna's Grill Room at Timbuck II in Corolla for the 3rd Annual Mustang Spring Jam, a family-friendly, rain-or-shine event to benefit the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Scheduled bands include The Ben Miller Band, Big Daddy Love, Seth Stainback & Roosterfoot, Uberlounge and High Tide. DJs will keep the tunes rolling between band sets. Admission is $15/person. Tickets can be purchased online here.
Koru Village's Beach Klub kicks off its Summer 2014 Concert Series Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. with a performance by Proverbial, a seven-piece Richmond, Virginia-based band that combines rock, funk, reggae and hip-hop into its sound. Tickets to see the high-energy band are $7 in advance, $10 at the door.
Stamp it!
Stamping is an artistic tradition going back thousands of years and common to cultures around the world. Part of the attraction of stamping is the process itself. The making of the stamp is an artistic endeavor, and the stamp, when finished, is itself a stand-alone work of art. But, the beauty of stamp making is that this piece of art can then be used to make other art. On Wednesday, May 14 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Kinnakeet Clay Studio and Showroom will host Beach Stamp Making for Kids, an introduction to stamp making. Kids between the ages of 6 and 10 will learn to create their own beach stamps, taking inspiration from the nearby beach and ocean. A $20/child fee covers all materials. Pre-registration is required; contact Melissa at (518) 598-3209 or email {encode="melissa@tanoshiii.com" title="melissa@tanoshiii.com"}. The class will be repeated at the same time on Wednesday, May 21 and May 28.
Speaking of art, some would contend that there is an art to fishing. Develop your skills by participating in the Soundside Fishing program at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island on Wednesday, May 14 at 1 p.m. Learn the basics, from assembling your tackle and baiting the hook to identifying fish species and practicing catch-and-release techniques. Then bring your patience and put your newfound skills to the test by dangling a line into the Croatan Sound from the Aquarium's Soundside Pier! Pre-registration is required, and the price is $18/person, $12/NC Aquarium Members. The program is appropriate for children 5 and older. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult, and closed-toe shoes are required.
Beer
Beer aficionados will want to check out the Monthly Beer Club at Chip's Wine & Beer in Kill Devil Hills. For $30 you can purchase a three-month membership and attend the two-hour monthly beer club sessions held Wednesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. where brewing techniques will be explained and beers will be tasted. What better way to discover your new favorite brew? You can also pay $15 at the door to attend an individual club session. Participants must be 21 or older; pre-registration is required. Call (252) 449-8229 or visit the website for details. Chip's Wine & Beer's second location, just up the road in the Currituck County community of Moyock, gets in on the fun with free wine and beer tastings every Friday night from 4 to 7 p.m.
This week you have a chance to win a night stay with Oasis Suites Hotel and a surf lesson from Farmdog Surf School
For more information about Oasis Suites Hotel, check out their website.
For more information about Farmdog Surf School check out their website.
Last Week's Winner
Congratulations to Kathy Nagy!!!
You won a bike rental from Just For The Beach Rentals & a $35 wine card to Chip's Wine & Beer Market!
For more information about Just For The Beach Rentals, check out their website.
For more information about Chip's Wine & Beer Market check out their website.
About the Author Michael Lay
Michael Lay is a local graphic designer, artist, photographer and writer. He lives in picturesque downtown Manteo, NC, and is the manservant of two beautiful and willful feline princesses, Sophie and Sassy. You can contact Michael at mike.lay@oneboat.com.
