Emerald Isle Blog

Every Thursday in July, the Aquarium extends its hours until 9 p.m., with activities that follow a different, fun theme each week. Leap Year bonus: five Thursdays in July means five Family Nights!

This Week:  Bringin’ Carolina Heritage Back! 

On Thursday, July 24^th the Aquarium will be hosting Banjos to Beach Music for Family Night.  It’s sure to be a North Carolina cultural experience you don’t want to miss!  Vendors from the mountains to the sea will be featured at this all age’s event.  Chat with potters and decoy carvers as they create unique masterpieces.   

Bring your dancin’ shoes to tap your feet to the bluegrass sounds of the Bridgewater Band.  Or… kick your shoes off and do a little shaggin’ with the Atlantic Beach Shag Club.  A proven Crystal Coast tradition!  (Local Tip:  Wear your flip flops, shagging is done best barefoot.  So kick off your flops and get down)!

Activities are free with regular admission or membership. North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, 252-247-4003,

www.ncaquariums.com.

Heidi Barlow  

Pirates and paw prints, salamanders and sand sculptures, foot-tapping music and nature’s own nightlights…. July isn’t just about the 4th and fireworks. It’s the month for Family Nights at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Every Thursday in July, the Aquarium extends its hours until 9 p.m., with activities that follow a different, fun theme each week. Leap Year bonus: five Thursdays in July means five Family Nights!

Family Night activities begin at 5 p.m., and are free with regular admission or membership.

On Thursday, July 10^th the Aquarium will be hosting CSI: Critter Signs Investigation for Family Fun Night.  You’ll be able to explore scents, scat, tracks and other clues to identify out-of-sight animals.  Investigate “animal” tracks in a match-up scavenger hung, and make your own mark in a finger-printing session.  The folks from the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter will be giving live owl presentations inviting you to meet an array of feathered friends.  Pack up the family and head to the NC Aquarium for CSI: Critter Signs Investigation, there’s plenty of fun to be had by all!

Heidi Barlow

Pirates and paw prints, salamanders and sand sculptures, foot-tapping music and nature’s own nightlights…. July isn’t just about the 4th and fireworks. It’s the month for Family Nights at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. 

Every Thursday in July, the Aquarium extends its hours until 9 p.m., with activities that follow a different, fun theme each week. Leap Year bonus: five Thursdays in July means five Family Nights! 

Family Night activities begin at 5 p.m., and are free with regular admission or membership.

Kicking off family nights on Thursday, July 3^rd is Slime, Scales and Salamander Tales a feature program of amphibians and reptiles.  In the front parking lot you’ll see famed sand sculptors, Sandy Feat, creating a larger-than-life masterpiece to be enjoyed by Aquarium goers young and old.  Deborah Van Dyken is also on tap to read from her book, “The Little Turkle.”  Don’t miss the amphibian carnival!  It’s sure to be a blast!  A scavenger hunt and puppet show is also on the schedule for the evening.  Pack up the family after a day at the beach and head to the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores!

Heidi Barlow

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