The beaches on the north end of Okracoke are usually pretty deserted this time of year. If you really want to be alone, charter a ride over to Portsmouth Island from Okracoke. They'll carry you over and pick you up whenever you want them to. It's a really neat trip (about 20 minutes over), but be prepared fo biting flies and mosquitoes on the village side, and take food and water. Here is a link that might be useful: Visiting Portsmouth Island

The North Carolina AG Roy Cooper should have been cracking down on the NC retailers years ago. There are hundreds probably thousands of complaints on file in his office from consumers that have unresolved problems with the purchases they made. I made a very large purchase from Rose Furniture in July 05. Part of the furniture order was delivered Oct 31st 05. The other part has never been received. I ordered a 3 piece (two end and a middle section) Rowe Sectional sofa; two pieces arrived, but the 3rd (end) piece has not been received. The Rowe matching ottoman was also defective (wrong material). Rowe sent me the material to reupholster myself!! The Hickory White dining room set delivered was a "reconditioned or used" DAMAGED set...., which I considered to be fraud. I called, wrote, and emailed Hickory White to ask if it was customary for them to send out or allow reconditioned furniture to be sold as BRAND NEW. I still have not received a reply from Hickory White. On February, 06 I received a second delivery from Rose Furniture this was to be the missing sectional piece, unfortunately, it too was the wrong piece. Still another incomplete order. I sent several complaint letters to BUCK KESNER (one of the Kesner family owners), he never replied. I did receive an "unfavorable" reply from Bob Garland at Rose Furniture, who wanted to pick up the damaged furniture, bring it down to North Carolina to be inspected.and then wait for them to decide if they would replace or repair the dining room set, hutch and sofa. Of course, this process would take several monthsand they would not provide a replacement set while I waited. After I received no satisfaction from Rose Furniture, Rowe or Hickory White. I contacted the NC Attorney General's office and asked how many other complaints have been filed against Rose Furniture. It is public information....and so I paid for and received copies of dozens of complaints filed against Rose Furniture alone. There are hundreds more from additional North Carolina retailers...and those are just from the customers that take the time to wade through the tedious complaint process. I can only image how many more consumers have been duped. It is a shame that North Carolina does not take CONSUMER PROTECTION more seriously. If North Carolina imposed earnest fines and restrictions on furniture retailers that have a large amount of unresolved complaints from consumers...then I'm sure more than half of us would not have been deceived. I spoke to a few Consumer Protection lawyers in Massachusetts; all agreed that I have a very good case and would probably winperhaps treble damagesbecause of the fraud issue. However, the judgment would have to be collected in North Carolina.another litigation process. I believe public exposure will be the course of action for meI am in the process of interviewing with several news media consumer protection reporters that are interested in exposing this whole "North Carolina Furniture Retail" industry. If you would like to be contacted for a possible interviewemail me at: slr1012@comcast.net I will forward your concerns. I think a class action lawsuit should be brought against the North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper. I believe one of his duties is to protect consumers---not retailers. I do not feel that he has done a very good job. I am told he will not bite the hand(s) that feeds him..after allNorth Carolina thrives on the retail furniture industry. Hopefully, not for longas Las Vegas, Nevada has begun to offer some competition.as the "trade show capital of the world"hopefully, that state will be more consumer friendly. "BUYER BEWARE" When you shop for furniture in North Carolina....you are on your own. Anything from the missing pieces, wrong material, damaged, reconditioned pieces....ALL CAN BE YOURS FOR THE LOW...LOW PRICE. If you are about to make a purchase from a North Carolina retailer, I wish you "GOOD LUCK"....cuz you'll need it!

I just returned from a week stay in OBX - we shared a large house with my husband's family in a section called Pine Island, which is between Duck and Corolla. Absolutely lovely and recommend it to everyone! The homes in this stretch seemed newer, larger and most have private (as ours did) and direct access to the beach. Our home also had a pool, which was nice for the 4 younger boys in our party, especially when the ocean was too rough for swimming. If you enjoy shopping, check out Scarbourough Faire and The Farmer's Daughter in Duck and the Cotton Gin in Corolla. There is a larger Cotton Gin store on the way out of the Outer Banks, too. Take a tour of the lighthouse or go 4-wheel driving on the beach in Corolla. There are also numerous places to parasail and rent waverunners. Have fun!

I was on vacation this past week in the Outer Banks (Southern Shores to be exact). Driving all along the main drag there this week between Southern Shores/Kitty Hawk and Nags Head (Rt. 158), I noticed that there are a lot of palms, mostly a palmate-leaved type that seems to be one of the Sabals (the leaf sheaths remain on the trunk for a long time, often all the way to the ground, but I'm not a palm expert). What I also noticed - about 80% appeared dead from the road, with no green at all. Most that did have some green had a LOT of brown on the leaves, even the newest leaves...is there something that caused this? Winter damage? Something else?