Camp Hatteras September 22-25, 2016

Sometimes it takes a little nudge to get you to try an experience you've forgotten you enjoyed so much.  That nudge was an invite to a big shindig for my friend Jenna's 40th birthday.

It gave us the opportunity to plan a RV trip to Camp Hatteras, and I haven't visited there in over 13 years. Jenna's husband rented a 28 bedroom house in Corolla, NC.  Russ and I hadn't even been through that area for about 6 years.  Good thing didn't know the distance we'd have to travel when I made the plan or else I might have thought twice about it.

Hatteras Island looked how I remembered.  The untamed Pea Island refuge area still carries that feeling of complete isolation from the rest of the world.  Just you and the beach.  It's here where I used to take Phinny and Noel to the beach so they could run off lead, chase the frisbee, and play in the water.  Only memories now.  They are never with us long enough.

We pulled into Camp Hatteras campground about 3:30 pm and got site 4 right next to the dune.  This campground has concrete pads, level sites, and easy access to the beach, just over the dune.  Parking was super easy for our 37 ft fifth wheel.  My parents were in site 13 right behind us.

Russ had never been here before and he liked it from the start.  The area less developed than Nags Head, Duck, and Corolla.  The campground is also very clean, nice sites, and an outdoor pool as well as an indoor pool and jacuzzi.  There is also a fenced dog area, large enough for the dogs to meander and run around a bit.

We had contemplated staying in the KOA, literally right next door (but not visible).  Glad we didn't.  First of all, the KOA is more expensive, and second of all, the KOA looks a little more dumpy and doesn't have the level concrete pads.  Funny that the RVparkreviews site read like the KOA was preferred.  But to see both side by side in person, hands down Camp Hatteras is the better place to stay.


So on the first night we just settled in, walked the dogs on the beach, and got in the jacuzzi.  All dogs seems happy to get back to the beach.  Poor Logan is so much older now so he doesn't do the crazy praying mantis zoomies he used to do. We were impressed with how well Frye adapted.  She loved watching the birds on the beach and getting stopped by everyone to get petted.

 

Friday, Saturday we walked the beach at 6:30, saw the sunrise and got back about 8.  Then we rode the young 3 on bikes around the campground loop. Then Russ and I took a nice hour bike ride on the sidewalks that run parallel to the main road.  We rode through some neighborhoods and asked ourselves the question of whether we could envision a different life where we could have a house here and this would be the place we would come to get away.  And while that seems like an entertaining idea (pretending we had the money to do it), we realized we would miss all the adventures we've been on.  That our life, really, has become an adventure.  We've done a lot of things and seen a lot of things.

But that said, we realized we could have been coming here all along in the RV.  Instead, our beach trips took us to Outdoor Resorts in Sandbridge (where my parents live)  and each time we've gone there it's been a disaster - hitting the RV against something, difficulty parking the RV, the dogs getting ill, etc.  And to add, Sandbridge  was even more expensive than here to stay.  So we've pretty much determined that our beach getaway will be here.

Even when we compare this place to Castaways at Ocean City, MD, this place beats it.

The last morning, Sunday morning, we did the same walk up the beach and had tea overlooking the ocean. Hard to leave this place.

THE PARTY

We arrived at the party at 6:30 on Fri night and stayed until 10:30.  Was 1 hr and 15 min one way.  Hard to drive back at night because you really need to watch for deer on the main road to Hatteras.
The party quick overview was:

-Ridiculous flashy house Fun Tacky Prom night dress party.  I wore my junior year prom dress.

-Good pizza

-Playing pool and ping pong with friends

We decided to only go one night and enjoy time at Camp Hatteras on Sat night so we could relax. We actually drove up to the lighthouse with my parents as neither one of us has seen the lighthouse in its new home.

THE DOGS

Great memories will be Logan learning to love the stroller on afternoon walks around the campground  He'd pop his head up for treats occasionally.  He even started to ask to go into the stroller on his own.

Frye kissing everyone that stopped to pet her

Cadia chasing the birds the last morning

And Braddock happy to walk and nap in the RV, but not a big fan of the beach

THE SITES

Camp hatteras light house

The house - Rodanthe Inn, we walked up to Milo Beach on the last day and took a look at the outside of it. 

BEST MOMENTS

Walking dogs on beach and watching the ocean

Drinking tea while overlooking the ocean

Swimming in the pool and getting in the hottub