For Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to travel somewhere spontaneous—go somewhere random but still affordable. I invited two friends to join us on this impromptu trip, with one catch: each person had to contribute $300 to the pool, totaling $1,200. That budget had to cover everything for five days, including food, lodging, gas, beer, and ice cream. Everyone was up for it, but the core question remained: where should we go?
In April, I heard a piece on NPR about the Outer Banks (OBX) in North Carolina. The segment discussed how rising sea levels and erosion are affecting the area. Before this, I didn’t know much about the OBX, except for two things:
- It’s one of the well-known surf spots on the East Coast.
- The oval bumper sticker I see everywhere that says “OBX.”
As the NPR piece ended, I knew this was a place I wanted to visit. However, like many peaceful dreams, it slowly evaporated amid daily obligations and errands, fading away like an old vinyl record.
Two weeks before the holiday, we still hadn’t decided where to go. While looking at a map, my finger started moving south, like a Ouija board, and landed on the Outer Banks. Suddenly, I rekindled the imagery and sound from that NPR piece a month ago. Eureka! We had our destination.
Saving Moolah
Our challenge was to travel and spend the $1,200 collectively on everything. With that in mind, we decided not to eat out but to cook our meals instead. We stocked our icebox with groceries and bought fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers’ markets along the way. Rather than staying in a cabin or motel, we opted to camp. While our lodging fees could have been lower if we had stayed at a state park in OBX, they were all booked. Instead, we stayed at a KOA campground, which had its perks—like a store open until 10 p.m. (perfect for late-night beer, firewood, and ice cream runs), pizza delivery to our campsite (though I had my reservations about this one), and a kid-friendly environment.
On the Road Again…
Our route was straightforward: from Maryland to Delaware, with an overnight stay in Delaware before heading to OBX via the coastal route. On the way back, we drove straight to Baltimore on the highway.
One must-do on this trip was crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Since we live in Baltimore, the chances of crossing the bridge for general purposes are slim. So, with this opportunity, I was eager to cross it again. The last time I did was in the summer of ’97.
On the return trip, traffic was backed up like a clogged drain. So, we took local roads and eventually switched to Route 2, then to Route 301, all the way up to Baltimore with ease.
Things I Would Do Differently Next Travel
Our route was straightforward: from Maryland to Delaware, with an overnight stay in Delaware before heading to OBX via the coastal route. On the way back, we drove straight to Baltimore on the highway.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
When traveling by, at first glance, it looks like one big pile of sand. During our stay, some locals mentioned that it’s a must-visit spot for watching the sunset. I assumed it was a simple lookout point or just a scenic area. We went there on our last night, and boy, was I wrong. After the initial hump, it feels like you’re in a desert. I noticed people flying kites, kids sliding down the sand dunes on boogie boards, and more. Next time, I’d spend a good 2-4 hours there, rather than just 30 minutes to see the sunset.
Ocracoke Island
We arrived at Ocracoke Island rather late in the day and spent less than an hour there. Next time, I’d spend half a day or more and catch the 8 o’clock ferry back—just in time to watch the sun melt into the ocean. Ocracoke feels like a small town tucked away like a jewel in an antique store. There are historic walks, dining options, golf cart rentals for driving around town, and picnic areas that seem well worth a visit.
Spending Breakdown
- $350.00: Groceries
- $264.00: Lodging
- $230.00: Miscellaneous
- $210.00: Gas
Total: $1,054
Per Person: $263.50
Lodging:
- Cape Henlopen (DE State Park): Campsite, 1 night
- Cape Hatteras KOA: Campsite, 3 nights
Miscellaneous:
Toll fees, firewood, ice cream, ice, beer
Date:
2011-05-26 to 2011-05-30
Stats:
7,203 Photos Taken
967 Miles Traveled
5 Days
1 Impromptu Moment
0 Regrets
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