Emerald Isle Realty Beach Vacation Blogs

Any week that includes bagpipes, a fleet of kites, staying on the oceanfront in Emerald Isle and a hero is alright by me.  For the past several days the Wax tribe have been enjoying these first hot June days in the Breezy cottage on the oceanfront in Dolphin Ridge.   

It’s enough to be enjoying sun, sand and turquoise blue surf with my two grandsons….but we loved the vivid primary colors of the large scale kites from a kite flying family from Colorado that greeted us on arrival.  They made a daily ritual of coming down the neighborhood walkway with kites and gear stowed in their bicycle basket.  Kites up, up and away by 9:00 am then reeling in, in, in by early evening when the light becomes soft and golden on the beach.  Our generations watched their generations carry on that magnificent tradition day after day. 

It’s enough to be feasting on crabs night after night….first crab cakes, next night North Carolina’s finest delicacy, soft shell crabs, then steaming blue hard crabs til they turned bright crimson with spicy crust flaking off ….then we heard the sweet strains of Amazing Grace played on bagpipes just a few porches down each evening at sunset.  Oh, how sweet was the sound. 

It’s enough to wade through ocean tidal pools with my 2 year old grandson, then swim with my proud 8 year old grandson as he reaches the sand bar for his first time…then we learn of an heroic ocean rescue of a 67 year old man staying just three homes from ours by a young man employed by Island Essentials who was picking up beach gear.  Without hesitation, and without even stopping to take off his shoes, he ran into the white capped ocean and helped the gentleman to shore. 

Just another week on Emerald Isle…with the kites, and the bagpipes and a hero.

Julia Batten Wax

After much anticipation, the 2008 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show is back again this year and better than ever!  The show runs from June 6th to June 8th at MCAS Cherry Point in Havelock, NC.  Back on the schedule of exciting events are The Blue Angels, which is one of the most popular flight acts in the nation.  The unique and exclusive night show on Friday, June 6th cannot be missed!  The incredible pyrotechnic and fireworks display is a personal favorite of mine.  A flight-line view of this one of a kind experience will bring smiles to the faces of spectators both young and old.  If you miss the night show, definitely take an opportunity to visit on Saturday or Sunday and catch a day show.  You’ll see flight demonstrations from reputable squadrons throughout the country performing, as well as aerial shows and other gravity defying acts.  Remember to wear comfortable shoes so you can walk around and visit the displays.  Admission and parking are free, but you’ll need to bring some extra cash for food and beverages.  Leave your pets at home, but bring the whole family and friends too!  The earlier you get there, the better!  You don’t want to miss it!  Check out www.cherrypointairshow.com for more details.     

Heidi Barlow

It was the summer of ’72, the last summer of my childhood, when I fell in love with Emerald Isle.  That fall I would start my senior year in high school and meet my husband of 34 years.  Through June, July and August I lived quietly and simply with my Aunt Mildred and Uncle Clarence in a tiny bedroom in their green and brick house on the corner of 2^nd Street and Ocean Drive.  Just 10 years earlier they had retired to Emerald Isle to pursue their passion for salt water fishing.  Other friends bought modest beach homes nearby and asked them to be caretakers and rent to other friends, and Emerald Isle Realty was born

Summer suppers for us meant fresh caught blue fish and flounder, shrimp purchased from friends and neighbors in Salter Path, or crabs netted ourselves to go with clams we raked up from Bogue Sound.  Aunt Mildred had other friends I got to know that summer from early morning visits to the Evans Street Curb Market in Morehead City, where we bought fresh tomatoes, corn, butter beans and watermelon salt-kissed by our south-westerly ocean breezes.

Situated mid-island, their beach home meant I was a baseball throw’s distance from the ocean or the sound.  My summer job was to help Aunt Mildred answer the phone to take reservations from families in NC, VA and PA looking for a beach cottage.   We’d answer their questions, “That’s right, no air-conditioning, just open all the windows and let that ocean breeze cool you down.”  Or, “Yes ma’am, there is one TV, but most folks just like to sit on the porch when evening comes.” 

 Noon-time, I took a 2 hour break to swim, sun and walk on the beach.  Sunsets after supper, I’d often take long walks on the beach toward Salter Path, running up and down wild sand dunes with the closest cottage hundreds of yards away.

My love affair with my island home continues to this day.  After college, my husband Mark and I settled here and raised three island children of our own.  Best of all though, not so much has changed and you can still enjoy just such an idyllic vacation in our little village by the sea.  We’re still welcoming the children and grandchildren that I got to know that summer of ’72.  Farm families like Winberry Farms are still growing world famous Bogue Sound watermelons, and at Capt. Willis’ Seafood Market (with the red roof) you will always find fresh, local seafood.  We are still famous for those soft, south-westerly breezes, but the homes are now air-conditioned, so it’s your choice whether to turn the AC off and throw the windows wide open.  Sitting on the porches though is down-right encouraged.

 From time to time, I’ll be sharing what I love about life on Emerald Isle and help you to discover some truly special places to visit on the Crystal Coast.  Stop by and visit often—that’s what we mean by Southern hospitality.  You’ll become a friend and neighbor, too.

 Julia Batten Wax