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Life in the DayngrZone

Sharing real life, one adventure at a time.

Fall Hiking in North Carolina

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Fall Hiking in North Carolina

Have you ever thought about Fall hiking in North Carolina? Fall in North Carolina is a great time to hit the trail, hike, and commune with nature at one of the many local hiking areas along the Crystal Coast or across our beautiful state. The blush of the leaves, scampering wildlife, and cool, crisp breezes that keep the mosquitoes at bay make this the ideal season to get off the couch and head for the woods. Let’s face it, we could all use a bit more time in nature.

I’ve had the pleasure of serving on the board at The North Carolina Coastal Federation so I’m pleased to share that they organized the development of two of the most popular trails in the coastal region and that the Federation has trail maps available at the trail entrances for folks to use and learn more about these natural recreation areas. You can also get them online at: www.nccoast.org.

Patsy Pond Hiking

Hike Hoop Pole Creek

Hoop Pole Creek is a 31-acre maritime forest that serves as a refuge for fish, wildlife and plant communities in an enormous diversity of coastal habitats. The property was purchased in 1996 with a grant from the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund and is permanently protected by the federation. You can hike the low-impact, half-mile trail. It’s open to the public during daylight hours and is located off Highway 58 in Atlantic Beach next to the Atlantic Station Shopping Center.

Grab the Hoop Pole Creek fact sheet or the Hoop Pole Creek Trail map

© Sam Bland

 

Hike Patsy Pond

Fall hiking at patsy pond

The Patsy Pond area is in the Croatan National Forest and is one of the most diverse natural areas in North Carolina. It is a place where plant species of a longleaf pine forest coexist with plant species of the state’s coastline and barrier islands. Two well-marked trails exist – a three-quarter-mile and a 1.75-mile trail. The trail entrance is on Highway 24 directly across from the federation offices in Ocean, about halfway between Morehead City and Swansboro. Trail use is open to the public during daylight hours.

Grab the Patsy Pond fact sheet and the Patsy Pond Trail map

For more information, visit:

North Carolina Coastal Federation
www.nccoast.org
(252) 393-8185

Do you have a favorite hiking trail in North Carolina? Let me know. I’m always looking for a new adventure and a new place to explore. 

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Emerald Isle’s Circle Pizza Offers Tasty Pizza

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Pizza on EI, Pizza on Emerald Isle, Circle Pizza, Sausage Pizza

Are you a pizza lover? Emerald Isle’s Circle Pizza offers tasty pizza and more. One of the things we’ve missed about our hometown was the pizza. Delicious, mouth-watering, New York-style Pizza is something we’d grown accustomed to, but have always had a hard time finding when we’ve traveled. Now that we’re residents of the Crystal Coast, we’ve been hunting for really good pizza.

Emerald Isle’s Circle Pizza Offers Tasty Pizza and More

Circle Pizza, Sausage Pizza, Emerald Ise Pizza

We’d heard about Circle Pizza and Subs in Emerald Isle but had never stopped in so we thought we’d give it a try.  Circle Pizza and Subs is a nice, casual dining restaurant where you can eat in or take out. We decided to eat-in and though we only wanted to grab a slice and head off on our next adventure, we weren’t too disappointed to learn that pizza by the slice wasn’t an option. Instead, we opted to grab a table and get a large, sausage pizza.

It looked so good that I didn’t have an opportunity to snap a photo before everyone started digging in. It really was delicious! Plenty of sausage, cheese, and just the right amount of sauce. Personally, I like a crispier crust and in all honesty, I didn’t explore the option to request that when I ordered so that’s my fault. Overall, it was a really, really good! So good, we only had two slices left, and took those home in a doggy bag.  Yum!

Subs, Sandwiches, and More

I don’t know about your kids but my kids can be picky at times. The nice thing about Emerald Isle’s Circle Pizza is that there are plenty of options. In fact, you can get traditional subs here (meatball, Philly cheese-steak, etc.) as well as other types of sandwiches (grilled cheese, burgers, BLTs, etc.) pasta, and more. Side orders include tasty french fries, onion rings, garlic bread and so much more. See the full menu.

They offer free delivery with a minimum order of $15. What’s not to love?

Check out Emerald Isle’s Circle Pizza for Yourself – 

Circle Pizza and Subs

7702 Emerald Drive
Emerald Isle, NC 
Phone: (252) 354-8885
 

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Fresh Seafood and Southern Hospitality at Crab Shack

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fresh seafood at the crystal cosst, crab shack

Fresh Seafood and Southern Hospitality at Crab Shack

If you’re looking for extra fresh seafood and good ole’ southern hospitality then put the Crab Shack, in Salter Path, on your must-visit list. We stopped in for a celebratory seafood dinner and not only enjoyed the food but we loved the atmosphere, as well. In fact, Kenn enjoyed it so much, he decided to vlog about it below.

Located on the island in Salter Path, on the sound side of Highway 58, Crab Shack serves up fresh seafood and southern hospitality daily. Their restaurant is a 40-year-old, family-owned business run by commercial fishermen so you know they’re delivering the freshest seafood in town. In fact, when you visit you can enjoy waterfront dining and see their fishing boats docked right outside. The kids were delighted to see a real, working fishing boat, right on the water and close enough to touch.

Fresh Seafood on the Menu

crab shack salter path, crystal coast seafood restaurant

The food was delicious. During our last visit, we had clam strips, scallops, shrimp, flounder, and the kids had chicken tenders – some of which you can see featured in the video above. In addition to the wide variety of seafood available, there’s also traditional landlubber fare like burgers, barbecue, chicken, and steak. There are plenty of kid-friendly items on the menu making this a family-friendly restaurant. But don’t take my word for it, check out their full menu and see if there’s anything on it that appeals to your tastebuds. 

Visit Crab Shack – 

146 Headen Lane
Salter Path, NC 28512
Phone: (252) 247-3444
 
Open daily from 11:00 AM
 

Have you been to the Crab Shack? What did you think? What are your favorite spots here on the Crystal Coast?

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Date Night at Nu Asian Bistro in Jacksonville, NC

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We all have these restaurants we never notice until we’re on our way to somewhere else, right? Well, Nu Asian Bistro in Jacksonville, North Carolina, has been that place for me for quite a while now. From what I can tell, they’ve been open for almost 2 years now, but for some reason, they never come to mind when the hubby and I are fighting discussing where to go for dinner.

The stars finally aligned for me to try out Nu Asian Bistro when a good friend of mine invited us to a sushi dinner date. Turns out she had been there many times before, and it’s one of her go-to places! It was fate. Fate for a sushi date. Fate for a sushi date with some of my mates. Feel free to stop me anytime here.

Nu Asian Bistro in Jacksonville NC

Great Food and Deals

Now on to the good stuff –  We happened to go on a Thursday night which also happens to be one of their BOGO sushi nights! Finally, I could try different kinds of sushi without it costing me an arm and a leg. I’m usually a Shrimp Tempura Roll kinda gal (which, of course, I got because it’s my favorite), but I also got their Volcano Roll, which I was very excited to try. Both were AMAZING, and I almost couldn’t finish them both (I said almost).

Shrimp Tempura at Nu Asian Bistro

© Nu Asian Bistro

My Volcano Roll even looked like a volcano which I loved. I admired it for a total of 5 seconds before I destroyed it. Our friends got an undeniably large platter of sushi rolls that put my little plate to shame, and they loved their choices as well. If you don’t like sushi, they also offer many other dishes, including a special Thai menu that is out of this world. I’ll definitely be sampling that one soon. The hubs isn’t a fan of sushi, but he was super pleased with his Teriyaki Beef. I almost regretted not getting it, but we’re married so of course, I stole a bite or two or three.

As if the night wasn’t perfect enough with our BOGO sushi rolls, the dinner gods continued to shine down on us with $5 martinis… need I say more? There were four of us in our group, so we asked the waitress to surprise us with four different martinis. We spent the evening sampling almost their entire menu of martinis – Death by Chocolate, Sour Apple, Washington Apple – you name it, we probably tried it.

My Favorite Picks at Nu Asian Bistro

My personal favorite was the Lemon Drop Martini complete with sugar on the rim. The Sour Apple was a close second. This chocolate lover was sure the Death by Chocolate martini would rock my world, but I suppose I’m just not a big fan of chocolate with my alcohol. Martinis and sushi; this is my heaven, I’m sure of it! The service was great as was the atmosphere of this cute little restaurant. It’s complete with some nice, low lighting to really set the mood before you chow down on some delicious food.

Martini, Martinis at Nu Asian Bistro

Perfect Date Night at Nu Asian Bistro in Jacksonville, NC

We had a great time for our first trip to Nu Asian Bistro! Yummy food, great friends, good atmosphere – it was the perfect date night. I may or may not have had one too many martinis… But hey, who I am kidding, it was totally worth it. Word on the street is they have BOGO sushi rolls Monday through Thursday, and different drink specials pretty often! We’ll definitely be returning to NU Asian Bistro for my sushi fix, but also to try some of my other Asian favorites like Mongolian Beef or a Thai Stir Fry. YUM.

If you’re new to the area or a local and haven’t tried this spot yet, Nu Asian Bistro should be on your list of places to have lunch or dinner. You can find them the next time you visit Jacksonville, NC at:

Nu Asian Bistro
2100 N Marine Blvd, Jacksonville, NC 28546

Loved this post? See more great finds along my Crystal Coast.

This guest post was contributed by Ragan Chambless. What are your favorite local restaurants in North Carolina? Do you have any places you love or haven’t gotten around to trying yet? I’d love to know what tickles your fancy so I can add some new places to my slew of places to visit. Help a sister out.

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Experience a Wild Horse and Dolphin Scenic Tour

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Wild Horse and Dolphin Scenic Tour

One of the best parts of coastal living and life along the Crystal Coast is getting to experience a wild horse and dolphin scenic tour anytime we want.  My kids and I are big nature lovers, so any chance to see wildlife in a natural setting is just magical.

Shackleford-Banks, NCPS, Wild-Ponies, Crystal-Coast-Lady, Island-Express-Ferry Service, Wild Pony and Dolphin Scenic Tour

One stallion challenging another – often used to intimidate an opponent to prevent a fight. © NCPS

Why See Less, When You Can See It All!

My friend, Captain George, owns and operates Beaufort’s largest, most comfortable cruise vessel, the Crystal Coast Lady. He offers regularly scheduled opportunities for locals and visitors to experience their Wild Pony and Dolphin Scenic Tour. If you’ve never sailed with Captain George or you’ve never seen the wild horses and dolphins, add this to your list of things to do while you’re in Beaufort.  
 
If you’ve never been aboard, the Crystal Coast Lady has a fully enclosed top deck (so you can enjoy your cruise without worrying about the weather), plenty of outside seating, a fully stocked galley on each deck, bathrooms on each level and a climate controlled cab on the main salon. I’ve had some tasty treats when I’ve been on board. 
 
Finger food aboard Crystal Coast Lady, Crystal Coast Lady Food, Wild Horse Tour Food, Dolphin Cruise Food

Experience a Wild Horse and Dolphin Scenic Tour

The wild horse and dolphin scenic tour is a 15 mile, fully narrated tour. On it you’ll cruise by Carrot Island and the Rachel Carson Reserve, you’ll see the NC State Port, Blackbeard’s House, Beaufort’s historical homes, high-rise and drawbridges, Duke Marine Lab, Fort Macon, USCG Station, Radio Island, the Morehead City Waterfront, as well as big beautiful yachts from all over the world with a good chance of seeing the Wild Banker Ponies and Atlantic Bottle-Nose Dolphins. Pony and dolphin sightings are typical but obviously not guaranteed, but either way, you’ll have such a good time.

wild-dolphin, Island-Ferry-Express, Crystal-Coast-Lady, Wild Pony and Dolphin Scenic Tour

Atlantic Bottle-nose Dolphins frequently swim beside the Crystal Coast Lady as you cruise.© NCPS

 
I’d highly recommend you make reservations rather than trying to pay at the pier. This cruise fills up. Also, you can book just a dolphin scenic tour or just a wild horse tour but why not have it all?
 

Pick Your Own Tour with The Crystal Coast Lady

Crystal Coast Lady Cruises
600 Front St
Beaufort, NC. 28516

Phone: (252) 728-8687
 

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