I'm pretty happy all the time, but I am happiest in the summer. * I love the heat, I love the freedom from routines, I love the clothes (or lack thereof), I love the garden food (the tomatoes and corn and blueberries and watermelons), I love the long days, of course, and all the swimming and the blonde highlights in my children's hair. * "But the traffic, the humidity, the mosquitoes!" you say. Nah, they don't bother me (but don't get me started on the overly air-conditioned buildings). * I once saw a sign that said "A life without love is like a year without summer," and that is true for me...
I was down in Manteo on Sunday evening and it reminded me to tell you that you've got to go to Manteo for dinner and for a walk along the boardwalk at night... Walking along the waterfront with the lights along the docks illuminating the ripples on the water and the boats in the marina is so beautiful, and the little town is so peaceful and quaint. Have dinner, see a show at Festival Park, see a move at The Pioneer Theater, listen to live music at Poor Richard's, get an ice cream cone, what have you, but get thee to Manteo for a quiet night away from the busy beach scene...
An evening show at Roanoke Island Festival Park is a good way to get the fam over to Manteo for the night. * This week they've got The Tarradiddle Players doing a show called Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. Bring a picnic and park downtown so you can walk back over the bridge after the show...
In the morning at Roanoke Island Festival Park, the Tarradiddle Players are presenting The Commedia King Arthur. This show runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Bring a picnic to eat on site after the show then hang around to see the film, the Elizabeth II ship and the various interpretive sites and exhibits around the park...
While you're on the island, hit the N.C. Aquarium. * I saw the new Sharks exhibit at the Aquarium last weekend, and it's pretty cool. It's in place of the old hurricanes exhibit, and kids who are familiar with the aquarium were very excited and interested to see something new ...
A must-do on the Outer Banks is to see the Outer Banks Daredevils play before their last home baseball game on July 29. * This week they've got home games on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. They play at First Flight High School in KDH, and you can buy tickets online at www.obxdaredevils.com...
If you're up in Duck and Corolla this weekend, check out the live summer music series. * In Duck this week, there's The Wilder Brothers on Tuesday and Aquarium on Thursday at 6 p.m. both nights. * In Corolla it's the Back Porch String Band at 6:30 p.m. at the Whalehead Club...
On Saturday morning, do your part to benefit the Outer Banks Surfrider Foundation's Scholarship and Coastal Education Programs by participating in the 17th annual Surfrider Scholarship Paddle Race. It's a 1-mile surfboard paddle race for adults and a half-mile for kids (8-14). The races start at 10:30 a.m., and registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Ocean Bay Boulevard Beach Access in KDH...
The rest of Saturday, don't miss all or part of the Save our Sea Gulf Benefit at Outer Banks Brewing Station. * From 1 p.m. to 2 a.m., local musicians are donating their time and talents to raise money for the Gulf oil spill crisis. The day features a full lineup on local musicians, with acoustic acts playing in the back yard in the daytime hours and the bands moving inside by 9 p.m. The shows are free, but the point is to raise money for the Gulf, so donate heavily...
I've been thinking about Teen Night at The Pit and how really cool it is that those guys host Teen Nights three nights a week in the summer. * Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights are alcohol-free, super-supervised underage nights with DJ Styles...
This week the Outer Banks Family YMCA is hosting a teens-only event. * For $5, teens and only teens can enjoy music, pizza, the pool, water volleyball, dive contests and the skate park. It'll be held on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. and is for ages 12 to 17...
Teens would probably rather lose their phones than go bird-watching, but somebody in your family may want to go on a Purple Martin Sunset Cruise to see the Purple Martins roosting under the old Manns Harbor Bridge. * More than 100,000 purple martins roost under the bridge at dusk in late summer and it really is a sight. (I've seen it. It's pretty amazing.) The Crystal Dawn and Coastal Carolina Purple Martin Society are offering a trip to see the birds on Saturday at 6 p.m. for $30 per person. Refreshments will be offered on board. Register by calling (252) 394-6205 or visiting www.purplemartinroose.com...
Before I go, let me remind you that it's time to register for some upcoming Outer Banks races. * The9th Annual OBX Bank Sandbar 5K is scheduled for Sunday, August 8 at 8 a.m. in Kitty Hawk. It fills up, so register now at www.outerbanksrelieffoundation.com. * Also exiting is the rebirth of the Outer Banks Triathlon - now with three distances of Sprint, Olympic and Half. The races are scheduled for September 18 and 19 on Roanoke Island. Register at www.obxtriathlon.org. * And don't forget to register for the Outer Banks Marathon and Half-Marathon scheduled for November 13 and 14. Get info at www.obxmarathon.org...
And with that, I'll let you go do all those fun summer things. But if you have spare time, look around the site for shopping deals, By Night and By Day listings, fishing charter ideas and so much more... Thanks for stopping by.
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
