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After over a month, I finally went through all of my photos from the BEACH to share my Outer Banks trip scrapbook post for 2025! These posts mean so much to me and help me relive the trips I take with my family. That's why I call them "scrapbook" posts - they're silly, in-the-moment, and no frills.
SATURDAY
Kenny and I got to our rental house just after 1:00. Check-in wasn't until 4:00 so we planned on heading to the beach while we waited for the rest of my family to arrive, but the house was... unlocked?? So we went ahead and unloaded our stuff and changed clothes to walk down to the beach. 😂
Kenny and I walked up to Jennette's Pier, which is about 2.5 miles down the beach from our house. It's a really nice 5 mile walk to get there and back!
There were little jellyfish washing up onto the beach. I don't know what it is, but I want to take a bite of one to see what it would feel like. 😂
When my brother and Carmen, his girlfriend (and my beloved friend!!!) arrived, we agonized over getting all of our pool floats blown up.
It was a journey but we did it! 😂 I promptly mixed up my FAVORITE beach cocktail - a sea breeze!
Beach bag essentials! Read about all my must-haves here.
After we enjoyed the pool for a while, we walked down to our FAVORITE "neighborhood" spot, Fish Heads!
The Outer Banks fishing pier is (you guessed it) a fishing pier, but they also have a restaurant and a bar. I guess you could go to the bar without visiting the restaurant, but I think most of their business comes from people waiting for their tables at the restaurant. Brilliant!
They hang koozies all over the ceiling - I like picking out the JMU ones!
My dad and my brother, Stuart!
We waited all year for these tuna bites, they're the best! The fries are amazing too.
We were so busy traveling that day that I almost forgot it was my favorite day of the year - the summer solstice! We enjoyed the most AMAZING sunset from the pier, it was the best one of the whole week!
I love this picture of my mom and brother. 😂
There was supposed to be live music at the pier but unfortunately they had to cancel - we still had the best time hanging out!
After dinner everyone headed back to the house and Kenny and I made a late-night grocery store run to get some essentials for the next day.
SUNDAY
The next morning my brother and Carmen got out early to catch the sunrise and fish. I love this photo Carmen got of a crab print running into the water. 😂
We had to get in a solid beach day for our first full day!
Before bed we watched some Love Island US to try and stay caught up! I was glad that Stuart and Carmen were watching too so we could all watch together.
MONDAY
Another beautiful sunrise for Stuart and Carmen while Kenny and I slept peacefully. 😂
My dad and I were usually the first ones up (Stuart would go back to bed after sunrise fishing) and we enjoyed coffee together on the back deck. Even that early it was soooo hot out!
And another amazing beach day. 😍 We had the nicest weather we've ever had this week - not a single rainy day! It felt deserved after a couple of rainy weeks over the last few years. It was INSANELY hot but I'd take that 100 times over the rain!
Stuart and my dad headed over to the sound to do some fishing!
After the beach, we went back to hang out at the pool. Carmen made tomato sandwiches with her homemade bread which is my favorite thing on EARTH. 😍
My mom and I played water pong - I won (barely) but neither of us were very good. 😂
We wanted to grill tuna for dinner so Kenny and I stopped by Whalebone to pick some up.
The party was still going at the pool when we got back, and the tequila shots were flowing. 😂
Stuart was holding someone's wine and assumed a whole new aesthetic for the occasion (??)
While my dad and brother were fishing, my dad had picked up some seashells to bring back for me. Turns out they were inhabited by hermit crabs, so Carmen and I ran back down to the beach to return them to the ocean. (In reality, I think they were actually from the sound, so they might not have made it in the ocean but we did our best...)
The sunsets from our back deck are just the best. We love that there are no houses directly behind us so it feels private and we get an unobstructed view of the sky. I get so sad looking at these pictures, I can't wait to go back!
Dinner was served! I could probably eat grilled tuna every day of my life, but I rarely get it anywhere other than the beach.
That night we all played rummy and sang karaoke and it was probably the highlight of everyone's trip. I swear I have never laughed harder in my entire life - everyone was breaking out songs that I would've NEVER pictured them singing and we had the absolute best time. 😂 I truly cannot think of the last time my stomach hurt so bad from laughing!
TUESDAY
On Tuesday we had a beach day, and then we headed over to Oregon Inlet to watch the boats come in! It's so cool to see what they catch, we saw lots of tuna.
On the way home, we took a detour to Surfin' Spoon for some frozen treats - I love the coconut macaroon and pistachio ice cream sandwich!
Carmen had the amazing idea for Mother's Day to get my mom crab picking tools and an IOU for steamed blue crabs at the beach. We picked them up on the way home and she, Kenny, and my mom picked their hearts out! I love crab but I don't have the patience to pick more than a couple at a time. 😂 We watched the 1950 Treasure Island while they picked!
WEDNESDAY
Also random - the house we rent is by the Nags Head Fire Department and this morning one of the fire engines left with the sirens on and a coyote started howling in the brush behind the house, mimicking the sirens - it was so crazy!
We had some leftover crab from the day before so my mom made crab dip that we enjoyed out on the deck - it was SOOO good! She also made shrimp tacos for dinner.
THURSDAY
On Thursday morning we headed down to Rodanthe for a kayak tour on the sound with the park service! We've tried to do it the past few years, but one year it booked up and one year it was cancelled due to wind, so I was glad to get to do it this year. Kenny was especially excited because he's been itching to kayak all summer - I'm not the biggest fan of kayaking but it was really cool to explore all through the marsh.
Nothing hits after a kayaking trip like pickles in the car. 😂
On our way back to the house, we stopped at the Rodanthe Pier for just a minute!
Carmen and I had to get a pic with the wooden sailor. 😂
My mom and I attempted some pics in our "matching" (not at all) dresses, but the lighting was very much disagreeing with us. 😂
We learned a few years ago that there used to be a mini golf course that has since been swallowed up by the dunes. This castle is part of it and it's usually mostly submerged in sand but this time it was uncovered! Jockey's Ridge is a "living" dune so it's always shifting and never the same from year to year. There's even an old hotel completely buried by it! There are great efforts to relocate sand from the south end of the dunes back to the north end to keep it from encroaching on the houses south of the park.
FRIDAY
On Friday we had a slow morning and Carmen and I went out to grab some breakfast for everyone at Waverider's. I got Bob's wrap which had veggie cream cheese, egg, tomato, cucumber, red onion, spinach, avocado, and balsamic glaze and was lightly toasted. My mom got the tree hugger which she loved - it had an everything bagel toasted with veggie cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, and red onion, she's been recreating it at home ever since!
After breakfast, my parents and Kenny and I headed out to check out Seaside Art Gallery - we'd seen it 100 times but never gone in before, and it is such a cool place! It's way bigger inside than it seems and they have everything from art to antiques to estate jewelry (my favorite!)
After that we stopped by Austin Fish Company to get some fish and clams for dinner.
After running around we hit the beach - for one LAST time for our trip! 😭
We love playing bocce at the beach but hadn't played yet this year! My dad and I always play against Stuart and Kenny - we won for the FIRST time in four years! 😂
While I got showered after the beach, Kenny hit the pier for one last shrimp happy hour.
After getting showered, my brother and Carmen and I headed down to the beach. The tide was coming in and we got SLAMMED by a wave out of nowhere while we were sitting in our chairs - we weren't even close to where the waves had been crashing! We had to go home and get cleaned up again, I put my dress in the dryer. 😂
We couldn't let the waves get us down on our last night, so we came back down to the beach - Kenny came this time! And we got slammed by another wave... AGAIN. 😂 We clearly didn't learn our lesson the first time, but at least we got some cute pictures in beforehand!
After dinner, we played some rummy followed by Rummikub and watched some Love Island!
SATURDAY
On our last morning, Kenny and I got up to watch the sunrise which has become our tradition. It helps us maximize the last bit of time at the beach and also have PLENTY of time to get packed up before we leave.
As always, we had an amazing week in the Outer Banks. I was SO grateful that we got sunshine all week long! We definitely made the most of our time at the beach this year, but I could've spent a whole second week doing more exploring and shopping! Luckily our week for next summer is already booked, and I am counting down the seconds until we return!!
xoxx, Laura
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