Vacation Refresher Course 2018
The summer season is officially upon us here at Cape Hatteras Motel, and all along the Outer Banks. This is probably a good time for a “vacation refresher course” to make sure you make the most of your time with us, and your experience is the best it can be. I have covered all of this in previous blog posts, but here it is again. There is no doubt about it, an informed guest is a happier guest.
About a week or so before your vacation give us a call if you have any questions about your room type, dates of stay, etc. We do send out e-mail confirmations but sometimes those get lost in your inbox, so it never hurts to refresh your memory. Also — if you feel you might want to extend your stay or make any other changes, we are more likely to be able to accommodate your requests if you contact us in advance. We can also give you recommendations on restaurants, shops, day trips, surf fishing reports, etc. so that you can plan your stay. That’s all part of the fun!
Be patient when driving to your destination. Nearly everyone else on the roads is on vacation too. For some visitors, this is their first time on the island and there are a lot of distractions. Watch out for last minute turns. DO NOT pull into the sand shoulders unless you have four-wheel drive and you know it is permissible to do so. You don’t want to get stuck and it happens. A lot. Mind the speed limits. In the villages on Hatteras Island they are 35 and even 25 in Buxton and Hatteras. You will get pulled if you speed. Fair warning.
Early check-ins and late check-outs are something many people desire. We try to accommodate those requests, but when it is very busy it may be impossible to do so as we have other guests coming in who want the same. It is very difficult to give someone a late-checkout and then another guest an early check-in to the same room! We consider cleanliness to be sacred and it takes a while to clean a room well. We know in the end you’d take cleanliness over getting into a room a few hours earlier. If you drive overnight, you can park in our lot, have breakfast, and enjoy the beach and pool. We will try to get you in as quickly as possible. When you do checkout please leave the keys in the drop box outside the office door (if you leave before we open), or come in and return the keys to us during regular business hours. This helps with the cleaning situation immensely, and it also gives you time to give us a little feedback.
The ocean is to be respected. No matter how good of a swimmer you are, the ocean will beat you. If there are rip current warnings, please heed them. If you have children with you, make sure they have on life preservers. Always watch them if you aren’t in the water with them. If it is extremely rough, don’t go in. Take a walk, watch the waves from the beach or porch, or use the pool. There are fish and crabs and shells in the ocean. The beach is sandy. That’s what this island is all about.
The sun is intense through the summer. Please wear sunscreen and cover-up as needed. Re-apply as necessary. A bad sunburn has ruined many a vacation and can be dangerous. Don’t let that happen to you.
We generally have wind on the island. Rare are the days when we have no breeze at all. The breeze helps cool you on the beach, but it can get sandy at times. The prevailing winds in summer are from the southwest but cooling fronts can shift the wind to the north. You can see variations in the colors of the sound and sea depending on the wind direction. That’s something fun to watch, along with all of the clouds and other weather systems that move by. With our views you can learn a lot about weather patterns and get some great photos. Remember, we have sunrises and sunsets to enjoy!
And speaking of the weather, please don’t let it ruin your stay. We know that everyone wants days and days of blue skies and sunshine and no wind or rain, but we have weather here just like you do at home. It changes quickly and can be unseasonably warm/wet/hot/cool. Seasonal averages are just that — averages. Also — do not rely on any forecast more than three days out. It is just not valid. No matter what the weather,you are still at the ocean and it’s still a wonderful place to be. We do have a fairly long “rainy day list” of activities if you do hit a wet spell. Of course, when we are monitoring tropical systems, we will keep you informed of what’s happening and advise you on when and if you need to change your plans.
And one last note on weather. Please do not use the air conditioner and leave the doors or windows of your unit open at the same time. It wastes energy, pushes our electric bill sky high (which could impact future rates), and it contributes to condensation inside the room which sometimes makes that “musty” smell for the next guest.
If you encounter an issue — any issue — bring it to our attention — don’t tell us at check-out or write it up in a review after the fact when we can’t assist you. We will bend over backwards to remedy any issues you have while you are on the property. We care. Your satisfaction matters. We take it personally as this is our property. That’s one big advantage of working with a Mom and Pop shop — Mom and Pop are here.
And one final thought. This island is not exactly like your home. It’s a remote island, rustic, and it’s not big city living. People either love this place or they find it is not to their liking because there isn’t enough to do for their lifestyle. It’s your hard earned money. Do you research and make sure Hatteras Island, or any part of the Outer Banks, is a good fit for you and your family. When there’s a match of expectation to reality, it’s a win/win, and everyone is happy.
We look forward to seeing you in the summer of 2018!
Sincerely,
Jan, Dave, Suzy, Ramy, Andy, Karen and the CHM Team
Check out our new CapeAttitude (TM) Gift Shop
Cape Hatteras Motel recently topped 14,243 fans on Facebook!
Outer Banks Earns #1 Spot in U.S. News’ Best FAMILY Beaches in the USA
The Outer Banks was recently rated by U.S. News & World Report as:
#1 spot in the Best Family Beaches category
#7 spot in the Best Beaches in the USA category
#16 spot in the Best Summer Vacations in the USA
Cape Hatteras took the #1 spot in the specialized category Best Beaches in North Carolina.
Read more at The Island Free Press
Check out our new CapeAttitude (TM) Gift Shop
Cape Hatteras Motel recently topped 14,090 fans on Facebook!
“Great Expectations” Island-Style for 2018
Easter Weekend is upon us and for the Outer Banks this means the start of the 2018 “season.” While the weather still might be a bit chilly from time to time, and Memorial Day is two months away, Easter is the kick-off of our real business year. For those of us who have stayed open all winter it means a welcome infusion of more steady business, and for those businesses that are seasonal, this is the time to get it going!
The first thing you will encounter coming onto the island (if you are coming south on Highway 12) is the progress on the construction of the new bridge across Oregon Inlet. This has been and continues to be fascinating to watch. The work is well past the 50% mark with a targeted completion of November of this year. We all know that could change due to weather conditions, but progress is visible and steady — and very exciting!
Driving into the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge you will notice the very high sand piles on the ocean side. These continue to be fortified to keep the road open during any coastal flooding. You may not have known Highway 12 was closed for 5 days in March due to Winter Storm Riley — cutting off everything to the south of the bridge. This was an extremely powerful storm which damaged beaches from Corolla south to Buxton so be sensitive to this wherever you are staying. It has been a long, long winter for property owners and many are struggling to get things in order for the arrival of guests. This is especially true on the oceanfront in Avon. So many of you ask what it is like to live on the island year ’round. It is important to remember that things can and do happen to your island paradise during the months you are away. Realize that for some people and businesses, winter storms often can be as bad as, or even worse, than hurricanes.
The old “Lego” temporary bridge on Pea Island is no longer, and the newly dedicated Captain Richard Etheridge Bridge now spans the inlet created by Hurricane Irene. Etheridge was born a slave in 1842. He became the leader of the all-Black Pea Island Life Saving Station. He and his crew saved countless numbers of lives and received the Gold Lifesaving Medal for a rescue operation during a hurricane in 1896.
Richard Etheridge, far left, and the Pea Island Life-Saving crew in front of their station, circa 1890. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
Remember as you drive through the Tri-Villages area, and all the island villages, that the speed limits come down from 55 and can range from 45 to 25 depending on where you are. If you speed your chances are very good of getting a ticket. So please don’t ruin your vacation by trying to get somewhere just that much faster. Everything will be there when you arrive. During the shoulder seasons school is still in session — be mindful of the school zone in Buxton and for children crossing the highway once they have disembarked from the school bus all along the island.
Most restaurants and shops will open over Easter but some may not have a full schedule of days open or full complement of staff. Call ahead to check on their days and hours, or, if you’re staying with us ask at the front desk, and we can give you advice on what is open and when — we have to keep up with the changes too.
The big question for this year is about Shelly Island. Sands shift — that is truly life on a sandbar. While there is no island as such, the Point has widened and changes almost daily — and the shells are still very plentiful. There are some access restrictions due to birds and turtle nesting, but the Park Service has worked hard to balance access with closures. Please do your part to keep it that way by following the posted rules and regulations. And always remember if you are driving on the beach you should have 4 wheel drive and you MUST have a permit which you can purchase at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Visitor Center.
At the Cape Hatteras Motel, we are looking forward to seeing you all. You will see some sand piles as we are still cleaning up from Riley and the three other storms (it’s a bit like our own dune park on the sound side!), but overall we’re in good shape. We are still trying to ascertain how much beach we retained from the re-nourishment after the storms but one thing we do know — we are thankful we had what we had or damage would have been much worse not just at our motel but all over north Buxton.
We have the rockers on the porches, we’ve added new flooring to some rooms, replaced a roof, done some painting, and tried to refresh in many ways. We still have some things we will work on as the season unfolds. We’re especially excited about out new CapeAttitude (TM) Gift Shop where you can find unique gift items that you won’t find anywhere else because we created them ourselves. And of course we’re proud of our great team who stand ready to make your vacation one to remember in the most positive way.
So — here’s to the 2018 season and seeing you soon!
Buxton Beach Nourishment Update – February 28, 2018
Weeks Marine pumped the final load of sand at the northern end of the nourishment project on Tuesday afternoon, February 27. All 2.6 million cubic yards of sand have now been placed along the stretch of beach that runs 2.9 miles from the “haulover” north of Buxton to the oceanfront groin at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Over the next two weeks, the new sand will be graded and all equipment removed. The updated project map shows the small area of beach that will remain closed during demobilization.
Updates regarding sand fencing and sprigging will be forthcoming, as additional information is available.
[stop by our office to get your ‘soon to be collector item’ T-shirts].
Cape Hatteras Motel also carries a cool collection of exclusive Cape Attitude items, including: mugs, shot-glasses, wine glasses, hats, hoodies, tanks, men’s & women’s T-shirts and bumper strips … stop in and get some!
Cape Hatteras Motel recently topped 13,291 fans on Facebook!
Buxton Beach Nourishment Update – Thursday, December 14, 2017
Thursday, December 14, 2017
According to Weeks Marine, if the weather forecast is accurate for the next 3 days, the project area in front of the village of Buxton (including the taper section in front of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore) will be completed by Saturday, December 16.
The dredge R.N. Weeks is scheduled to go to Norfolk, VA for fuel and regular maintenance on Sunday, December 17. While the dredge is gone, the newly nourished beaches will be graded to the design elevation. If all plans are executed as planned, the beach along the village of Buxton is expected to be fully open to the public early next week.
After finishing nourishment along the south section of the project, the construction zone will be relocated north of the village of Buxton and pumping will proceed north.
[stop by our office to get your ‘soon to be collector item’ T-shirts].
Cape Hatteras Motel recently topped 12,607 fans on Facebook!
Surfline Webcam Comes To Cape Hatteras Motel
It sure is a chilly, rainy Friday for the launch of the new Surfline webcam at Cape Hatteras Motel, but at least now you can go to our website right from the comfort of your own home … maybe with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea … on a sunny day, or any other day you choose, for a LIVE look at current weather conditions … right out in front of our motel!
Plan ahead safely and responsibly for your next Outer Banks oceanfront vacation or just check on our current weather conditions out of curiosity by visiting our home page … then just scroll down and you’ll see the webcam on the right sidebar.
We hope you enjoy and benefit from this cool new feature at Cape Hatteras Motel. As Surfline’s trademark slogan reminds, “Know Before You Go”. ©2017 Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc.
Partner of USATODAY Lifestyle/Action Sports
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Hatteras-style” *
With a nod to Major Henry Livingston, Jr. who wrote the Original Version
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all over the isle,
Not a creature was stirring, mile after mile.
The ghost crabs were snug in their holes on the beach,
Hoping that the beach re-nourishment machines would stay out of reach.
The surfers were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of gnarly swells danced in their heads.
The crab-pots were hung by the buoys with care,
In hopes that some blue claws soon would be there.
When out on Shelly Island there arose such a clatter,
The Park Service sprang up to see what was the matter.
Away to their vehicles they ran with their lamps,
And began an ascent on all open ramps.
The moon on the sand made quite a reflection,
While waves were crashing in every direction.
When what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a tricked out 4 by 4 and eight island deer.
With a little old driver hunkered down in the truck,
They knew in a moment it must be Old Buck!
More rapid than kite boarders the deer hurried along,
And he whistled and shouted and sang them a song.
“Now Buxton, now Kinnakeet, now Salvo and Frisco –
On Rodanthe, on Waves, on Hatteras – let’s disco!
To the edge of the Point, to the top of the Light,
Let’s have a great time and party all night!
And like dry leaves before Hurricane Maria did fly,
They hit Highway 12 and continued on by.
He was dressed in a wetsuit from his head to his feet,
And he smelled like Skeeter Beater with a hint of DEET.
A bundle of seashells he had in his pack,
And a bottle of Kill Devil Rum in a sack.
He spoke not a word but took special care,
To bring a gift to the island and all who live there.
It had been a tough year, this the old man did know,
So his gift was one that didn’t require a bow.
He sprang to his truck and laid on the horn,
To make sure everyone knew it would soon be Christmas morn.
And we heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
NO MORE STORMS, NO MORE POWER CUTS, LOTS OF FISH,
And to all, a good night!
*Old Buck mentioned in this poem is a fixture of the “Old Christmas” celebrations still held in Rodanthe. Old Buck is a part of the fabric of the island.
Written by Janet Morrow Dawson, Buxton NC, 2016 and revised in 2017!
[stop by our office to get your ‘soon to be collector item’ T-shirts].
Cape Hatteras Motel recently topped 12,555 fans on Facebook!
Buxton Beach Nourishment Update Thursday November 30, 2017
Thursday, November 30, 2017
The hopper dredge R.N. Weeks was able to operate about 75% of the time over the past week and completed 52 loads. Weeks Marine reports that almost $1.4 million cubic yards of sand has been placed on the beach or about 53% of the project total. The completed section of beach is expected to open to the public by the end of the week.
Construction continues to proceed south and Weeks Marine estimates that it will take 21 work days to complete the south section of the project. If the weather forecast holds, Weeks Marine expects to work most of the time over the next few days.
[stop by our office to get your ‘soon to be collector item’ T-shirts].
Enter Our Christmas Tree Decorating Contest For A Chance At Winning A Five Night Stay!
Cape Hatteras Motel recently topped 12,553 fans on Facebook!
Buxton Beach Nourishment Update Thursday November 16, 2017
Thursday, November 16, 2017
The hopper dredge R.N. Weeks remained in safe harbor in Jacksonville, Florida over the past week. The repairs on the dredge have been completed, and the dredge was scheduled to be put back in the water and have the US Coast Guard inspection yesterday (November 15). If everything goes as planned, the dredge will leave Jacksonville today (November 16) and is expected to arrive in Buxton Saturday evening or Sunday morning. The weather forecast shows workable conditions from Sunday to Wednesday of next week. If this forecast holds true, the dredge will resume pumping shortly after its return to the jobsite.
Before operations were shut down last Monday, Weeks Marine reported that ~1,222,575 cubic yards of sand has been placed on the beach. This volume is equivalent to ~47% of the project total (2,600,000 cubic yards). Once the dredge is back in Buxton, work will resume approximately 700 feet south of the first building in Buxton and proceed south until it reaches the southern boundary of the project.
Weeks Marine reports that sea trials of the larger hopper dredge Magdalen have been progressing smoothly and their engineering team is working on the pre-dredging drawings and documents that will be submitted to the Corps of Engineers. An estimated date for arrival of the larger dredge will be announced once the timeframe is established.
[stop by our office to get your ‘soon to be collector item’ T-shirts].
Enter Our Christmas Tree Decorating Contest For A Chance At Winning A Five Night Stay!
Cape Hatteras Motel recently topped 12,531 fans on Facebook!
