Atlantic Beach

When I was growing up, we used to vacation a lot in the Atlantic Beach/Salter Path/Emerald Isle area on the North Carolina coast. It was only a few hours away. I vaguely remember camping when I was younger and later staying at different beach houses and condos. Some years I'd go two, three, or four times, staying with grandparents, aunts and uncles, church youth groups, or other friends.

We'd always find somewhere to eat seafood and always find somewhere to play miniature golf. There was always a walk on one or more fishing piers to see what people were catching. Sometimes stopping to fish ourselves. We rode waves to shore in the ocean and played card games in the room.

And you always, always, always made at least one stop at Neuse Sport Shop in Kinston. You just had to, and it was at about the halfway point of the trip.

Sure it was typically hot, but there was always a firm breeze and water nearby. Good summer fun. Good memories.

This past week, we took a trip back to Atlantic Beach after not going for a few years. Delaney remembered the last trip, but Tori certainly did not. The drive is a bit longer from Wake Forest, there were no walks on the fishing piers, as most of them are either washed away or closed, but there was a stop at Neuse Sport Shop and it's at least three times the size it used to be. If you can't find a fishing rod in there, it doesn't exist.

Despite Melissa's sunburn induced by residual antibiotics (I bet we remember that next time), we had a great time! Lots of wave jumping in the ocean, building sandcastles, burying each other in the sand, and finding crabs and shells on the beach. A trip to local shops netted a Webkinz among other things (imagine that!), a meal out included making Smores at the table over open flame, and a chance stop on the way home resulted in a geocache find.

The Week in Pictures

Labels: family, geocaching

Posted by Chris on 7/13/2007 04:03:00 PM :: Permalink   
Want more? Visit the Archives or jump to current entries.