Above All Else, Avon

05/16/2024

It’s a message worth repeating.

Digging holes in the sand is more dangerous than it may initially seem. Every year, children and adults die from suffocation after holes and tunnels in the sand collapse and trap them.

🕳️ Large holes in the sand are difficult to see, causing dangerous obstacles for ocean rescue personnel and lifeguards trying to provide emergency services to those in need.

🕳️ Sea turtle laying and hatching season runs from May through September. Holes in the sand often become fatal obstructions for female sea turtles laying nests on the beach at night and hatchlings heading out to sea roughly 60 days later.

🕳️ Sand collapses occur in holes just a few feet deep. Never dig a hole deeper than it is wide. Children and adults should not dig holes deeper than their knees when standing in them.

If you do dig a hole, please fill it in before you leave the beach. Even small holes should be filled in before you leave.

For more beach safety tips, please visit LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com.

04/16/2024

Hatteras Island weather.

A line of clouds created an impressive show on the Outer Banks on Tuesday morning, April 16, which was caught on camera by a number of Hatteras Island residents and visitors. “Cool wave clouds called an undular bore moved across the Outer Banks this morning,” stated Brad Panovich, Chief Meteorol...

04/15/2024

Because some like it bright (waking to the sunrise) and some like it night, we just installed blackout shades behind the blinds in the primary bedroom. It’s nice to have options.

04/11/2024

While the Cape Hatteras lighthouse is closed for renovations, she still shines. The keepers cottage and museum remain open.

04/09/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/2p34zREUy9TeMkZF/?mibextid=WC7FNe

03/28/2024

If you’re going to the beach this summer, here’s a very important PSA.

https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastwatch/spring-2024/the-rip-currents-safety-poster/?fbclid=IwAR3omS3tMFZjg-rV7YvM_cBK6e9zRQUTrL_VZYDrOWsIiiqHdfmTy_HU2xM_aem_AW7UBjhvJTTEhDCKbOIfXvigwdEC-gyPpjHIKx1h4Aesrm6vE4WT3ISUVakYtWJQK-_-yPoWt-y-rU6Yjdj34i0G

THE RIP CURRENTS SAFETY POSTER Printable PDF. Share this poster. Print it out and put it up — and save a life. Learn more and/or order Rip Currents Safety products. from the Spring 2024...Continue reading "The Rip Currents Safety Poster"

03/27/2024

Though we all hate to say goodbye for the season, we hope all our guests and everyone else who is lucky enough to be on Hatteras Island this year has a beachy good time.

03/26/2024

Some finishing touches inside and out, and we're ready to welcome our first 2024 guests this weekend.

03/25/2024

Above All Else has unobstructed views – south to the Avon Pier and north to a 10-mile stretch of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. You can see the beam of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at night. Bring binoculars because the sky is dark, and the star-gazing is amazing. From the wide-open Crow’s Nest, you can see over rooftops to the Pamlico Sound (just a short walk away) and watch the sun set over Avon. Turn east and see the sunset reflected in the sky above the ocean. Bring your bicycles. There are sidewalks along Rt. 12. The Food Lion shopping center and Kinnakeet Shores (where our guests have pool and tennis privileges) are only 2 miles away.

03/24/2024

Cloudy with a chance of rainbows. We’ve had our share of March madness weather this month, but look what the wind blew in!

03/14/2024

Keep our beaches safe … for everyone.

Guess who’s back, back again? Yes, it’s us, tell a friend! 💁‍♀️ (No seriously, share this post to help spread awareness about the dangers of digging large holes on the beach.)

Today alone, our ocean rescue supervisor responded to THREE large holes dug/left on our beach. (Yes, you read that right, three in one day - and it's only March!) 🤦

We cannot stress this enough, 𝗗𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗜𝗦 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗦❗️ Sand collapses occur in holes just a few feet deep. NEVER dig a hole deeper than it is wide. Children and adults should not dig holes deeper than their knees when standing in them.

Why are they dangerous?
🦈 Did you know that national statistics comparing sand hole collapses to shark attacks confirms that 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸.

👨‍⚕️ No one goes to the beach expecting to leave with a broken ankle or worse. Sand holes can cause numerous injuries to other beach-goers.

🚑 Sand holes make it challenging for first responders to quickly get to an emergency on the beach, and they can cause damage to the responder's vehicles and create a secondary emergency.

🐢 Who doesn’t love cute little sea turtles?! Sand holes can trap hatchlings and their mother, which can result in a fatal ending.

We recommend leaving any digging to the little ghost crabs 🦀 However, if you do dig a hole on the beach, ONLY dig shallow holes and ALWAYS fill it in once you're finished. Help keep everyone on our beaches safe, including yourself.

Thanks for making it through this lengthy post. 😅 Don't forget to share!

03/08/2024

You may want to check what we have before you buy. While we don’t guarantee what’s in stock in our guest closet, here’s a colorful assortment of sand toys leftover from last season.

03/05/2024

When this is your view, you clean your windows inside and out. Even if it takes days - which it does.

03/04/2024

You’re on vacation. Make your week even more special. Make a memory that friends and family will talk about until you come back and do it again.

03/04/2024

We don’t know Jim, but he’s worth a minute or two of your time.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/YrP5sGAoeUFa6Vjz/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Follow along with Jim the sea turtle has he navigates his way through some of the most common litter that harms both beachgoers and wildlife.

01/30/2024

An owner’s life in the off-season. Take care of the properties you rent, a lot of sweat equity and love go into their upkeep every year.

11/15/2023

New decking, new picnic table, and even a new toilet. While these improvements may not dazzle the average renter, they are a big part of what owners have to invest in their properties to keep them safe and functioning.

10/12/2023

We had our very own Family Fall Fling on the beach right in front of the house. It was amazing. Be sure to book your own special occasion with Sip & Sit when you stay with us or anywhere else on Hatteras Island. https://sitandsiphatteras.com/

07/09/2023

It’s iconic.

On this day in 1999 the 4,830 ton Cape Hatteras Lighthouse completed its amazing journey across land, a distance of 2,900 ft to the SW. Following a long preparation process the move only took 23 days. The structure was relocated in order to evade the encroaching shoreline. The lighthouse was re-lit at its new location later that year on November 13.
Photo of the lighthouse at it's original location, National Park Service.

06/29/2023

Dig it?

The beautiful beaches along the Outer Banks provide amazing opportunities for rest, relaxation, and inspiration. Let's keep the beaches looking beautiful--and safe for visitors--by filling beach holes.

Learn more at http://go.nps.gov/beachholes

06/22/2023

Cheers to summer solstice! Here's to those lazy, hazy, crazy days ahead.

06/12/2023

To market, to market! As vegetable gardeners in the lush Shenandoah Valley, we support local growers.

The Avon Farmers Market is returning for the 2023 season on Tuesday, June 13, with a new location next to the Vacasa office along N.C. Highway 12. The market is sponsored by the Avon Property Owners Association, and will feature a variety of local artists, craftsmen, regional farmers, and other home...

06/10/2023

We’re just 1.5 miles away. You won’t even have to leave the deck to see the show.

The Independence Day Fireworks show in Avon is once again returning for 2023 on Tuesday, July 4. The fireworks display, permitted by and in cooperation with the National Park Service, will begin at 9:15 p.m. from a launch site at the end of the Avon Pier. The ensuing show, orchestrated and presented...

06/01/2023

Nothing says beach house more than the quintessential outdoor shower. Our two nautical "cabins" are conveniently located near the hot tub and the private path to the beach. Fun and funky, and maybe even luxurious by beach standards, these enclosures offer hot/cold water, built-in benches, lights, and plenty of hooks and space for dry towels and clothes. New this year: wall-mounted shampoo and soap dispensers.

05/30/2023

Combine fun with education with these ranger programs.

An expanded schedule of ranger-led educational programs began this weekend at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial. The additional programs run from Memorial Day through much of the summer, and there is no cost to attend any of th...

05/27/2023

Picnics are back, and beaches are always in style!

Gen-Z is spurning restaurants to enjoy hot dates outdoors—echoing the picnic's racy beginnings

05/22/2023

More about beach rules, safety, and etiquette.

Our co-founder and editor, Irene Nolan, had a tradition of posting an annual list of beach etiquette guidelines for new and longtime visitors alike around Memorial Day Weekend. First published decades ago when she was the editor of the former Island Breeze, Irene’s guide was a smart and timely lis...

05/21/2023

Maybe. Just maybe. If you look south at the right time, you’ll be able to see this rocket launch from the beach in Avon.

Join us for a virtual rocket launch watch party today starting at 5 PM EDT! The SpaceX Axiom crewed rocket launch is scheduled to launch at 5:37 PM EDT. Let's chat about all things space while watching the event together. Don't miss out! Sign up now at https://lexgoconnect.com/event-signup.

05/20/2023

Be a Dear, Follow the Rules
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a special place for visitors and wildlife. My heart breaks a little bit whenever I see trash on the beach, illegal bonfires (near turtle nesting sites), and drones (also not permitted) flying over the dunes. Please take a moment to read this quick list of frequently asked questions and be informed about what is and is not permitted on our beautiful beaches. https://www.nps.gov/caha/faqs.htm

05/19/2023

Everything is better at the beach. Hatteras Island continues to make the ”best” lists and has been consistently “proscribed” by Dr. Beach. Even yesterday’s sunrise proclaimed its meteoric rise as one of America’s top beach destinations.