Ready for an Outer Banks Weekend, 12/20/2024

babies cabins crozet kids manteo new year's eve nye parenting Dec 20, 2024
Ocracoke Light Station

Just One Pregnancy Can Add Months to Your Biological Age

-Headline from National Geographic, online

There should be a media category of Ridiculously Obvious. I will add that raising kids will also add months (years?) to your biological age. If you lined up ten, 40 year-old women I could tell you which ones have children. That's right. The one's with a wine glass in their hand. Seriously, though, every time I meet a middle-aged person with no kids I'm always shocked at how young they look. Where are the bags under their eyes? Where is the quivering handshake due to caffeine withdrawal? Where's the minivan with crumbs in every crevice and sticky door handles?  Having kids is the hardest job. The people that make it look easy and, dare I say, enjoyable have somehow cheated all the odds. The rest of us are clinging to consciousness like a life-raft in the middle of a hurricane.
 
I have a friend who had a career in the military while helping to raise his kids. He believed that the U.S. could be overrun in a day if another country dropped off a bunch of babies a week prior. The entire population would be so exhausted that invaders could walk right in. Maybe that's what Mexico is doing; bringing little kids to the border to wear us down.
 
After shutting down the water sports business each summer I would transform in to Stay-At-Home Dad! (cape not included). Juggling infants, toddlers, and elementary school kids is like being in college; up all hours and walking around in a stupor the next day. Instead of drinking beer I was drinking coffee. Instead of reminiscing funny stories with my friends I was reading stories that weren't funny to my kids. Instead of eating a breakfast buffet at an all-night restaurant at 3am I was eating whatever was left of a Happy Meal (an ironic name if there ever was one) trying not to rear-end the car in front of me.
 
Luckily, I was raised in the 1970's. My childhood was similar to being a ferrel dog. I learned to live off scraps, adapt to my surroundings, improvise just about anything, and keep going. I'll just be a little less attractive than the childless people. Okay, a lot less.
 
 

Want To Get Away?

When I was single (and childless) I used to have a tradition on NYE. I would go camping. To me, NYE was amateur night when all the idiots would go out to get drunk. That, and the fact that I'd had more than one less than stellar experience of doing nothing. So I would grab a couple friends, pack the car, and go camping. The tradition lasted for several years and it was always enjoyable.
 
If adventure like this interests you think about Misty Mountain Campground a little past Charlottesville, Virginia and just south of Crozet. It's been a few years but I've stayed there three times; twice in a tent and once in a cabin. My experiences were always good (their current Google rating is 4.6) and they seem to be doing a good job of updating/improving as needed.
 
If you're interested in tent camping be sure to reserve T6 Creekside Tent Site. It's in a quiet corner of the campground and it's adjacent to the creek, a very pleasant place to hang out and sleep. The cabin was very comfortable and had everything I needed (including a flat screen TV!).
 
Nearby is Crozet, a very small town with a few, cool eateries. Also near Crozet you can find hiking, vineyards, and breweries. For a bit more stimulus you can drive to Charlottesville (about 20 minutes).
 

THINGS TO DO

New Year's Eve in Manteo

For those of you wanting a more traditional NYE celebration, Manteo has something for the whole family. Show up early, grab dinner, then watch the fireworks at 8pm. There are plenty of great places to stay within walking distance should you not want to drive back to the beach. Plan early because accommodations fill up.
 
Use this link to find great places to stay. If available, I recommend The Tranquil House overlooking the water and in the middle of all the activity.

 

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Should you use any of the links to purchase something I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.  Cheers again!

 

Have a great weekend and a Merry Christmas,

John Van Lunen

Feel free to email me with any questions or comments.

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