Banks Bound

Time to leave this quaint little village on the beach. What a nice respite we had! The weather and ferry schedule have altered our plans for this travel day. (I'm getting very good at being flexible - if I learn nothing else from this little adventure!) The original plan was to make the drive to Moorehead and take the ferry to Ocracoke from Cedar Island. The ferry is on an off season schedule and only was running @ 10:30 and 5:00. The ride itself would take about 2 1/2 hours. We were then going to spend the night in Ocracoke Village and take the ferry the next day into Hatteras, following the National Seashore north.

The prettier weather was further north and getting to the earlier ferry was going to be pushing it, so we made the decision to come in through Roanoke Island, about a 5 hour drive and make Duck our home base for the next 3 days. There is an inn there that I've eyed over the years, and had felt would be a bit too pricey for our current budget. But, they were having a wonderful promotional special, I discovered after a little research this morning, and viola, a great place to next call home.

The drive was very pretty and the longest we've traveled to date. All went quite well, as the weather was fairly nice today. As we came into Roanoke Island, we were feeling the excitement of getting to these banks we've longed to see for many years. Wolf country was upon us, a welcoming sign reminded. Another world!

A brief stop was made at the Elizabethan Gardens near the Lost Colony area. We didn't arrive until 30 minutes before it closed, so a speed hike at least brought us a little taste of this quaint spot. It sat right on the sound, with breathtaking views beyond. Continuing our path, we drove through Nags Head and Kitty Hawk touristy areas (although mostly closed for the season) before coming into the beautiful community of Duck.

The Sanderling Inn blended into the landscape and was even prettier than we'd expected. The South Inn, were we were to be housed, welcomed with classical music playing and a sitting area overlooking a waterfall, fire burning inside. Ahh.... Our room was spacious and lovely, with a balcony overlooking the sound and that same waterfall. Cocktail hour had found its spot!

Colors from the setting sun were the perfect backdrop as we settled in. A leisurely stroll across the grounds brought us to the restaurant housed in an old Life Saving Station. The room warm and inviting and very quiet. We shared the dining area with only three other parties and our delightful host and server welcomed us enthusiastically as they found our table.

Dinner was wonderful. The ambiance of the room with its decoys and wood paneling, floor to ceiling french doors and varied table settings made for a most relaxing evening. Service was efficient and unobtrusive and the food absolutely delicious. Probably our favorite dining experience to date. With the late hour, we each just chose appetizers and salads and split a dessert, sharing a bottle of wine. Relaxed and satiated, we returned to our room where the most comfortable beds awaited! We had definitely made the right decision in altering our plans!!!