Twiddy & Co Outer Banks Blog

Guest Photo Contest from 2011 Outer Banks Vacations

Twiddy Bailey — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:27:41 +0000

Each season we encourage Twiddy & Company guests to submit their favorite photos that are taken during their Outer Banks vacation. Every year we’re touched, entertained, and wowed by the photos submitted by our wonderful guests. From wild horses, to breathtaking sunsets, to a baby’s first visit to the beach; we’re truly amazed with each entry.

This year was no different as we asked our guests to enter their favorite photos into one of four categories: Kids, Lifestyle, Scenic, and Pets. There were over 350 photos entered in 2011. Thanks so much to our guests for sharing their vacation memories!

We chose a few winners internally that were featured in the 2012 Twiddy Vacation Planner, but now we’re opening the voting up to our fans and guests! Scroll through the following photo albums on our Facebook page and click LIKE on your favorite photos. On Friday, February 3 at noon, we will tally up the votes on the photos and announce the winners of each category on our Facebook page. SHARE these albums with your friends so they can vote too! The winners will be contacted and receive a Twiddy Prize Package with all sorts of great Twiddy OBX gear!

The albums are as follows (click to see each album):

Kids - Lifestyle - Scenic - Pets

Good luck to all of our guests that submitted photos…and everyone else enjoy these images from the Outer Banks!

A Bait Box Full of Wahoo and Tuna

Twiddy Bailey — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:59:48 +0000

Fall is the time of year when temperatures cool down a bit and things slow down on the Outer Banks. Unless you’re a fishermen, that is! Offshore, inshore, and surf fishing heat up like the dunes in Pea Island in August. Offshore fishermen can come home with tuna, dolphin, wahoo, and stories of monster billfish. Inshore and surf fishermen are catching blue’s and trout. It’s THE time of year OBX anglers love.

A few Twiddy friends and employees got up early one October morning and made the hour and a half trip offshore to the Gulf Stream in hopes of bringing home dinner. While the weather cooperated and allowed them to wear a t-shirt in October, the ride out was a bit bumpy for the 35 foot Buddy Davis sportfishing boat. However, Capt. Big Wave Dave put them on the holy grail of meat fishing locations that day…home to multiple wahoo and even a blackfin tuna. I think it’s safe to say the crew found the trip well worth it…

Current Beach Conditions from Duck, NC

Twiddy Bailey — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:14:48 +0000

As we try and get back to normal after Hurricane Irene, evacuations have been lifted on the northern Outer Banks in Corolla and Duck. We are happy to be checking in our guests that missed the beginning of the week and look forward to some sunshine for them so that they can make up for lost time. In anticipation of that, we wanted to give you a look at the beach in Duck, NC this afternoon.

Enjoy…

Check-in Following Hurricane Irene

Twiddy Bailey — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:56:37 +0000

If your home is listed on our Severe Weather Page, it will be available for occupancy tomorrow, although we can’t give you a precise time. Please note that the evacuation order for visitors will not be lifted until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Some services, such as pool & spa service, may be delayed; deck furniture that was secured may need to be re-distributed; and, although bed and bath linens will be present, they may not arrive in time for bed-making to be accomplished upon your arrival. In addition, we wish to remind you of the usual, unavoidable post-storm hazards that may exist, including miscellaneous hazardous debris that may be present on decks, pool areas, driveways and lawns. Beach access may be restricted. Walkways to the beach and dunetop decks may not be safe to walk on. The dunes may be sheared and may give way at any time. Visitors should exercise caution at all times.

The good news is you can expect a week of beautiful weather, a calm sea and a memorable family vacation adventure.

Hurricane Irene – After the Storm 8.29

Twiddy Bailey — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:19:13 +0000

Now that Hurricane Irene has passed the Outer Banks and the mandatory evacuations have been lifted for RESIDENTS, Twiddy & Company is out in the field inspecting and cleaning our homes. Please refer to our Severe Weather page for information regarding your vacation home if you are scheduled to arrive this week. Please keep in mind that the Town of Duck will not allow visitors to enter Duck, or go through Duck to Corolla, until 10:00 am Tuesday morning. You can find this information on our Severe Weather page as well. Please be sure to see that your vacation home has been marked as available before driving down to the area.

Here is a look at current conditions in Duck, NC and an idea of what to expect after Hurricane Irene passed. There was significant sound side flooding joined by high winds and rough seas.

AM Hurricane Irene Update 8.26.11

Twiddy Bailey — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:48:31 +0000

Good morning from the Outer Banks. At this point, Hurricane Irene is still a threat to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It is currently a category 2 hurricane, with a good chance of becoming a category 3 before making landfall on Saturday west of Cape Hatteras. Stay A mandatory evacuation has been called for all visitors and residents. It will likely be in place through Sunday and perhaps longer. This means that our incoming visitors should not anticipate checking in on Sunday. We will continue to monitor the storm and once the evacuation has been lifted for residents, we will be busy assessing and cleaning all of our vacation homes as soon as possible so we can notify our incoming guests when they can expect to arrive. Stay tuned to our Severe Weather page, this blog, and our Facebook page for updates and information. Our Severe Weather page will have information on each vacation home and say whether it is accessible and inhabitable. We look forward to seeing everyone as soon as we can.

Unfortunately, at this time it looks like I will be evacuating as well. As much as I would love to stay at home and keep you all updated throughout the storm, I feel it is in my best interest to get safely out of the way of Hurricane Irene. This storm looks much different than Hurricane Earl last year, as we only experienced 60 mph winds with gusts in the 70′s. The forecast for Hurricane Irene currently shows sustained winds of at least 110 mph when it makes landfall. I don’t think I want to be standing in the way of those kinds of winds. We will definitely continue to update on our sites listed above, so stay tuned there, but unfortunately just not in the form of videos.

Current conditions from Duck on Hurricane Irene:

Afternoon Hurricane Irene Update – 8.25.11

Twiddy Bailey — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:35:13 +0000

After mandatory evacuations were ordered for Dare and Currituck County, most visitors have taken the advice of county officials and evacuated the Outer Banks. From what we’ve heard, they are only letting residents come north on Highway 12 towards Duck and Corolla so that they can open up both lanes for evacuation purposes. As a resident, I will be making my decision tomorrow afternoon after seeing the afternoon updates. We’re still hoping for an eastward turn, but the 2:00 update showed the most likely point of landfall west of Cape Hatteras and coming up through the sound. We hope this isn’t the case, as that can cause flooding from the sound.

Current conditions and information on Hurricane Irene from the northern Outer Banks:

Hurricane Irene Information for Incoming Guests

Twiddy Bailey — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:07:34 +0000

North Carolina issued a Hurricane Watch for the entire coast. Dare and Currituck Counties issued mandatory evacuation orders for all visitors effective today, Thursday, August 25th.

Incoming guests arriving this weekend should review the information on the Severe Weather Information link on www.twiddy.com for information and periodic updates. The 2011 Guest Directory Hurricane Info link has information on what happens after the evacuation is lifted. The duration of the post-storm process of assessing the habitability of our vacation homes will depend on the severity of the storm and the duration of the evacuation order. All Twiddy homes must be inspected for damage before occupancy.

Twiddy will begin assessing vacation homes after the storm has passed and the evacuation order has been lifted. You can review the status of your vacation home under the Severe Weather Information link on www.twiddy.com

You should not leave your primary residence without first confirming your rental home is available. Please see Twiddy’s Severe Weather Information page for information on Travel Insurance.

You may contact us at 1-800-489-4339 or rent@twiddy.com with any questions. Please be advised that we are currently experiencing high phone call and email volume.

AM Hurricane Irene Update – 8.25.11

Twiddy Bailey — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:37:37 +0000

At the time of this posting, Hurricane Irene is still situated around the Bahamas. It is a category 3 hurricane, with winds around 115 mph. The track continues to shift from just off the coast, to making landfall around Cape Hatteras. Dare County has issued a mandatory evacuation for all visitors as of 8:00am this morning. We anticipate hearing from Currituck County in the next hour or two. We will keep you informed as we hear more. For folks currently visiting in the 4-wheel drive area, please keep in mind that high tide is at 5:00pm, and we might suggest planning your departure before the tide comes in. For more information for Twiddy guests, go to our Severe Weather Page.

Here’s a look at current conditions at the beach in Corolla:

Afternoon Update on Hurricane Irene – 8.24.11

Twiddy Bailey — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:29:02 +0000

After the 2:00 updated forecast on Hurricane Irene, there has not been much of a change. The projected path seems to have moved slightly further east, but not much. We’re still keeping our fingers crossed that it will keep inching eastward. As of now, the hurricane is a Category 3 blowing 120 mph and is situated over the Bahamas. This is still nearly 950 miles from the northern Outer Banks, so conditions have not changed in Corolla and Duck. The swell has increased slightly, but only because it was Lake Atlantic this morning. The waves are still only 1-2 feet and visitors are swimming and enjoying a beautiful beach day.

Here’s a look at the current conditions from the Whalehead Community in Corolla: