It's been two and a half years since we've seen the ocean so we made sure to incorporate a visit to the Outer Banks into our trip.  Our little Cali kids had spirits lifted even higher when they caught a glimpse of it and it soared when they fully got into it.  Steven and I were content to enjoy the sound and smell and watch their excitement.  Of course they were drenched and cold but it was worth it.

That night was one the only time we ate indoors but called ahead, had a corner table, and by the time we left the restaurant we were the only ones there but this place had a ton of take out.  We warned our two non-fish eaters that the only thing on the menu for them would be a pb+j, chicken finger, or hushpuppies.  They didn't quite believe us till we got there, but Steven, Reghan, and I ate like kings.  The waitress showed us how to crack into the fresh local Blue Crabs then we were off on our own.  Can you tell who likes and who doesn't like the crabs below?

Reghan tripped over some puffer fish that had washed up on the shore after dinner so what were we to do but bring one home with us.  Her name is Jenny and joined our road trip in a ziploc bag in the refrigerator.
  

The next morning we had breakfast while the sun rose then took off down the coast to Kitty Hawk, the location the Wright Brothers perfected their flying machine.  Saw a replica of the plane, markers indicating how far each of the four flights flew and then the kids learned that the same day of the flights, the wind flipped the plane and destroyed it.  After Kitty Hawk we visited the Bodie Lighthouse before heading inland.