The Outer Banks of North Carolina Adventure Trip April 29-May 1, 2025 Days 3-5 (The Travel Lady)

 Day 3: Tuesday, April 29, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included 

I ate oatmeal for breakfast at the hotel around 6:00 A.M.

We loaded onto the bus and headed to ride jeeps to see the wild Horses.

The horses roamed the beach area among the vegetation and houses that dotted the area. The only way to reach the houses was along the sandy beach. 

Depart for the Golden Nugget (Wild Horses), arriving around 9:00 A.M. and staying until 11:00 A.M. 

At 11:30, we headed to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. 

Around 12:30 P.M., we arrived at Timbuck II for shopping and lunch. 

We ordered quesadillas, avadoco dip, chips and Cokes at Mexiland. We looked through several shops but didn't make a purchase. We did get a chocolate waffle and strawberry cheesecake ice cream. 

Around 2:30 P.M., we returned to the hotel for some free time.

We put on our swimsuits and walked to the beach. We didn't stay long; we returned to the hotel and took a nap. 

At 6:00 P.M., we headed to Sunset Grill for dinner on the Currituck Sound.

For dinner, I ordered Coconut shrimp, broccoli, rice, and Key Lime Pie. 

Return to the hotel around 8:00 P.M. 

Jeep ride to see Wild Horses, Corolla, NC 8952-9027 

Currituck Beach Lighthouse 9028-9102 1101 Corolla Village Road Corolla, NC

8084 Breakfast Hotel 7:03 A.M.

8085 Sunrise 7:16 A.M.

8086 Hotel 7:16 A.M.

8087 Mexiland Restaurant Timbuck II 11:57 A.M.

Timbuck II Shopping Center 785 A Sunset Blvd, Corolla, NC 

8088-8096 Timbuck II shopping 12:50–1:20 P.M.

8097-8123 1:34–1:39 P.M. Currituck Maritime Museum

8124-8143 1:41–1:48 P.M. Beach Lighthouse Corolla, NC 

1140 Village Lane Corolla, NC 

8144-8146 7:03–7:28 P.M. Dinner Sunset Bar & Grill 1264 Duck RD, Duck, NC 

8147-8154 sunset 7:35–7:59 P.M.

9406-9410 Beach Pictures someone else's phone

Day 4, Wednesday, April 30, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included 

I ate waffles with almonds, cranberries, and cranberry juice for Breakfast at the hotel around 6 A.M. 

Around eight, we will depart for the Bodie Island lighthouse, 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road, Nags Head, NC, 9103-9129

It was built in 1872, stands 156 feet tall, and is located on Cape Hatteras. It is a brick lighthouse with a 214-step spiral staircase. It keeps a silent watch over the treacherous waters known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." 

We walked the boardwalk to the freshwater marshland and back. 

We stopped at Subway to pick up boxed lunches of ham & Cheese for lunch.

Traveling 9103-9129 Nags Head

At 9:30, we will depart for the Chicamacomico Life Saving Station, 23645 NC Highway 12, Rodanthe, NC.9171-9190

Our guide explained the importance of the life-saving station and how it has saved lives, describing the efforts and methods used by the early Coast Guard. 

I bought a shirt, a book, and postcards in the gift shop. 

We ate lunch on the bus before departing for Cape Hatteras 46379 Lighthouse Road, Buxton, NC. The lighthouse is currently closed for repairs, but the museum is open for visitors.

In 1999, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Station was relocated 2,900 feet from its original location due to the threat of shoreline erosion. 9191-9204

Our next stop will be the Atlantic Museum's graveyard, 59200 Museum Drive, Hatteras Island, NC. 9207-9230

Around 3 P.M., we stopped at Scotch Bonnet Fudge, 51684 NC 12, Frisco, NC, so everyone could purchase a piece of fudge. We ordered a quarter pound of Peanut Butter Chocolate and a quarter pound of Rocky Road. 

At 4:00 P.M., we will depart for dinner at Basnight's Long Cedar Cafe, located at 7623 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC. 

Outside our window, we saw an Osprey Nest with the female sitting on eggs and the male guarding the nest. 9205-9252

I ordered broiled flounder with green beans, potato salad, and key lime Bar. 

On everyone's table was a bowl of crab dip with chips.

Return to Hampton Inn Corolla at 7:30 P.M.

81261 6:58 AM Breakfast

8162-8164 9:01-9:34 Nags Head Lighthouse, Bodie Island 

8186 10:01 A.M. Cape Hatteras National Seashore

8187-8223 10:10–11:26 A.M. Chicamacomico Life Saving Station, Rodanthe, NC

8285-8257 12:27–12:49 P.M. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Station & Museum Buxton, NC 

8258-8309 2:13 –2:54 P.M. Graveyard of the Atlantic Buxton, NC 

8310-8329 2:55 P.M. Traveling to Hatteras, NC 

8330-8335 3:06 P.M. Scotch Bonnet Fudge Frisco, NC 

8336-8354 3:37–3:46 P.M. Traveling to Buxton, NC

8355 4 P.M. Avon stopped at the Grocery Store 

8358-8361 4:51 P.M. School, Nags Head, NC 

8362-8369 4:52-6:23 Basnight Lone Cedar Restaurant Nags Head NC 

8371-8435 6:51 P.M. Traveling Nags Head, Duck, S Shores, Dare Co, Corolla. 

8436 Receipts 8391-8435 Storm Clouds riding back to the hotel. 

It came down in a downpour as we were leaving the bus. 

Day 5: Thursday, May 1:breakfast and dinner included 

Scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, blueberry muffins, and cranberry juice for breakfast at the hotel at 6:00 A.M.

At 8:15 A.M., we depart for the Wright Brothers National Memorial, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 9258-9314

The bus stopped and everyone got off to see the statues, airplane, and markers.

Then, several of us began our journey up the hill to visit the Wright Brothers Memorial. 

Then we had to journey down the hill to the nearby museum.

We toured the museum, and the curator gave a speech about the Wright Brothers and their determination to build a flying machine. 

At 10:30 A.M., we departed for the Village of Manteo for shopping, 9315-9337, and lunch.

My Husband and I shared a banana split with real strawberries, strawberry chocolate, and vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream and cherries.

I took a few pictures of the war memorials.

Around 12:30 P.M., Hubby and I walked across the bridge to the Festival Park Living History Museum. 

We waited for the others to arrive. 

We watched the film "Legend of Two Paths," toured the museum, and saw a replica of the Queen Elizabeth II sailing ship. 

We also saw the settlement and the Discovery Museum. 9338-9412 

At 3:00 P.M., we took a cruise on the Johnny Dolphin, where we saw several dolphins and Osprey nests. We also visited the boatyard and saw several boats. 9413-9547

At 5:00 P.M., we will depart for dinner at Sugar Creek Restaurant, located at 7340 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC. 

I ordered broiled shrimp, clams, fish, cornbread, and carrot cake. 

Around 7:00 P.M., we returned to our hotel, the Hampton Inn Corolla.

We will pack our bags and leave for our hotel in Abington in the morning. 

8437 7:02 Breakfast

8438-8479 9:11–10:06 A.M. Wright Brothers Memorial and Museum, Kill Devil Hill

8480-8484 10:02 AM Manteo 

8485-8587 11:07–11:14 A.M. Lunch Banana Split 

8488-8517 12:15-12:409 PM Ice Plant Island Museum

8518-8528 12:12 P.M. Grounds

8530-8543 2:34 P.M. Traveling Mantoe, Nags Head 

8544-8550 5:30 P.M. Dinner 

8551-8587 7:14 P.M. Sunset Nags Head Duck, Kill Devil Hill 

2023 May 14-20, Trip Mackinac Island, Sault Ste Marie, Saint Ignace, Mackinaw City, & Frankenmuth, Michigan with The Club Diamonds in the Rough (7 days)

Day 1: May 14, Sunday

We had a great trip to Michigan with a 50-person group from the Club. Before we even got started, we had problems with the bus, so we stopped at Rent Right in Lawrenceburg to have it fixed. 

Inside the shop was a barber's chair 

Hubby and I stopped at Jack's for sausage, gravy, and biscuits for breakfast.

We stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel at Oak Hill, Near Nashville, TN. I ordered a kid's grilled chicken with Mac and cheese.

We traveled on a bus to Ohio, stopping every 2 to 2 1/2 hours to rest. 

We stopped at KFC in Carrollton, KY, for supper.

I ordered chicken with Mac and cheese.

We spent the night at Comfort Inn in Pique, Ohio, and began our journey the next day.

Lobby at Comfort Inn Pique, Ohio

Day 2: May 15, Monday

We traveled to Mackinaw, Michigan, stopping every couple of hours for a rest break. 

One of our rest stops was at the Ottawa Lake, Michigan Gas Station.

We played bingo and watched the movie Somewhere in Time. We also watched Mrs. Robertson, a public speaker; she was hilarious.

Hubby and I split an Italian Sub for lunch at Jimmy Johns in Flint, Michigan. 

We stopped at the Pancake Chef Restaurant in Mackinaw City, Michigan, for a buffet dinner. After we ate, we walked around the town taking pictures, then on to our hotel in Saint Ignace, Michigan.

I took pictures of markers of Mackinaw City, Iron Horse, Chief Wawatam, The Algoma, Mackinaw's Civil War Dahlgren Cannons, Mackinaw, Mackinac, or Michilimackinac?, the village of Mackinaw City Merchant Directory, Historic Mackinaw City, and Mackinaw's First Business District.

The Gateway to Mackinac Island

Mackinaw, Mackinac, or MichilimackinacMichilimackinac?
The Mackinac Straits region derives its name from a French translation of the Ojibway name for Mackinac Island; Missilimakinak, where missi (also Michi or Mishi) means great or many, and Mackinac means turtle. Although it has been spelled many times, the most common form is Michilimackinac, which means "the great turtle." With imagination, the island profile resembles a great turtle, partially submerged in the lake, with its outstretched neck and head peering off the west. In the early 1700s, the fur trading outpost on the mainland became known as Fort Michilimackinac, and the Island was abbreviated to Mackinac. The Village of Mackinaw City was incorporated in 1883 with an English spelling that suggests the more common pronunciation of Mackinac. Picture 1:Michilimackinac from Round Island by Major Francis Smith Belton, September 1817, from the Mackinac State Historic Parks collection. Picture: Jonathan Carver's 1767 map identifies Fort Michilimackinac.

Day 3: May 16, Tuesday 

We ate breakfast at the Budget Host Inn Saint Ignace, MI., then took the bus to the ferry dock. I shopped at the gift shop, where I bought a toboggan to cover my ears on the windy ferry ride to Mackinac Island.

We had a group picture taken at the port after we embarked on the ferry.

Our group loaded into two carriages and was taken for a ride around the Island. 

We saw the US Post Cemetery, the Little Stone Church, Fort Mackinac, and the Missionary Bark Chapel. 

We rode through the state park and visited several shops. 

We were told that during the peak tourist season, there were around 500 horses used to carry goods and tourists throughout the city. Thousands of bicycles are there for rent. No vehicles are allowed on the Island.

We walked inside the Grand Hotel & blooming were tulips, & buttercups on the hotel grounds.

We walked to the Surry Hill Carriage House and walked through the Mackinac butterfly house.

Hubby and I split a Mushroom Burger and fries at the Chuck Wagon Restaurant. 

We saw the Missionary Bark Chapel, The Little Stone Church, William Backhouse Astor House, Fort Mackinac and the Fort Gardens, Lake View Hotel., Saving Liberty, Marquette Park, The Indian Dormitory, Home of the Ancestors, & American Fur Company Store. As we were leaving, we saw 3 Dalmatians leaving the ferry.

We ate fried fish, baked potato, salad, bread, and white cake with strawberry topping at The Galley in Saint Ignace, MI, for dinner.

We loaded back onto the bus that took us to the hotel. 

Mushroom Burger and Chips at the Chuck Wagon Mackinac Island

The Grand Hotel

State Park Mackinac Island, MI 

View from the ferry of Mackinac Island. 

Day 4 May 17, Wednesday

The next day, we rode the bus to Sault Ste Marie, where we saw the Governor Osborn Memorial and several historical markers about Water Street. We saw a giant foot statue. We walked through the US Army Great Lakes Dredge & Locks Site and saw markers, birds, and SOO Locks. We walked through the Visitor Center and talked about the building of the Soo Locks. We saw the International bridge that connects the US to Canada. 

We ate a lousy breakfast at Franks in Sault Santa Marie, MI. It consisted of three fried eggs atop Hash browns smothered in cheese, ham, and sausage, with two slices of toast.

We boarded the bus and rode to the SOO Locks Boat Tour, where we took a boat ride through the SOO Locks on St Mary's River on Lake Huron and Lake Superior. We saw the international bridge that connected the US to Canada.  

We stopped at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. We didn't stay long. 

Boarded the bus and rode to the Driftwood restaurant in Saint Ignace, Michigan. There, we ate fried shrimp, a baked potato with green beans, and custard for dessert. 

We boarded the bus and rode back to the hotel.

Soo Docks & Boat Tours 

Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

Day 5: May 18, Thursday

I ate breakfast at the hotel, then boarded the bus and went across the Mackinaw Bridge to Mackinaw to visit Colonial Michilimackinac Fort. We walked through the historic fort, a visit to the past life of a soldier. 

Stopping to take pictures of markers of Michigan's First Jewish Settlers, Fort Michilimackinac, flags of Michilimackinac, Welcome to Colonial Michilimackinac, Crossroads of the Fur Trade, The Community outside the Walls: Suburbs of Michilimackinac, Bateau, Using the land,  Encampment at Pequodenonge, The Anishnaabek, Anishnaabek Home, Michilimackinac State Park & Fort Michilimackinac.   

We rode through the Historic Village of Mackinaw City. Hubby and I split a hamburger and fries at the Keyhole Bar and Grill in Mackinaw City. 

We took pictures around the city, loaded onto the bus, and rode to the Old Mackinac Point Light House.

By this time, those swarming insects(MIDGES) covered everything.

The swarms are midge flies, which look like mosquitos but don't bite. The bugs are incredibly annoying. Look anywhere, and they are there. Open your mouth, and a few will get in. 

Most people stayed on the bus, but I left and went inside the Light House and Museum.

I took pictures of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Winter at Mackinac, Historic Mackinaw City, & Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse made to be seen, Colonial Michilimackinac revolutionary Times, Radio Beacon 1937/38, and Welcome to Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. 

Loaded back onto the bus and rode to the Great Lakes Grill in Cheboygan, Michigan. Hubby and I ate a Salad, chicken with rice, shrimp pasta, and butter bread.

Lunch at the Keyhole Bar & Grill Mackinaw City, MI 

Colonial Michilimackinac Fort

Old Mackinac Point Light House

Day 6: May 19, Friday

Breakfast at the Golden Anchor Budge Inn, Saint Ignace, MI.  

Everyone loaded onto the bus, and we began our journey home. 

We Stopped at River Walk Mall, a Bavarian Town in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

We ordered a hamburger and fries for lunch at the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Restaurant. We stayed there for a couple of hours. We saw a covered bridge (Holy Brucke Wooden Bridge).

Schmetterling Mural

Holz Bucke Wooden Bridge 1979

We saw the Schmetterling Murals of Germany on the walls behind the Covered Bridge Shop. Shopped at the Frankenmuth River Place, where we saw an Enchanted Garden and several unique shops. We saw the Bavarian Belle taking people up and down the river. We did not have time to take the boat ride, but we would love to return someday. There was a park there called Christmas Place. We did not stop. (This would be a great place to visit at Christmas.) We stayed the night at Comfort Inn in Pique, Ohio.

Hamburger and fries at the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Restaurant

Day 7: May 20, Saturday

Breakfast at the Comfort Inn.

We began our final journey home. 

On our way home, we watched Mrs. Robertson, the public speaker, watch a movie, and play games. 

We made several stops along the way, one at the pilot in Pendleton, KY, and another at the Welcome Center in Portland, TN. 

We stopped at Cock of the Walk Restaurant in Nashville, TN, where we enjoyed a platter of Fried Catfish, chicken & shrimp served with a pan of cornbread, pickled onions, and a large bowl of Cole slaw. 

Several people climbed upon the 10-foot-tall rocker for pictures. I climbed up on the rocker for a photo and leaned back, causing the rocker to move, which caused me to fall into the rocker. I rolled over and over, causing everyone to laugh. 

We arrived at the Club, loaded our luggage into the car, and headed home.

We were home at about 6:30. 

Platter of Catfish, Chicken, Shrimp, and fries

10 tall Rocker at Cock of the Walk