Basically, I’ve always had this vision.  But I’ll come back to that.  I love web design, always have.  Though, I’m not entirely incredible at it; due to different durations of self-teachings coming to a hault, I eventually hope to host a website based on the one thing I love far more than web design… far more than anything else in fact.  Why am I using a free site, you ask?  Simple.  I’m a poor college student who can’t afford a domain.  I’ve gone through countless homepages about me, different places, graphics, other blogs, forums, photography… the works!  You name it, I’ve probably tried it.  I’ve told you this because it makes it more simple to explain my vision.

The Vision
to host an effiecient, well maintained, actively updated, and informative site about my favorite destination.  I’m in fact going there next week and I thought a blog would be the best place to start until I have everything set up, some domain-purchasing money, better graphic design programs… and time of course.  

     For those of you who don’t know what the OBX is, a lot of information will be provided here.  My hope is to provide insight from my personal experiences and explain to everyone why I am so in love with this place.  Sometimes, in the middle of some random day in the winter, I really really start to miss the beach.  I then begin looking at different websites… travel guides, trying to pull memories out of the back of my mind, get new information, and plan what I am going to do there the following year.  My problem, however, is that no site exists that quite covers everything the OBX has to offer.  I desire background information, restaurant reviews, a what to see list, a where to stay guide, and an overview of the best gift shops to drop in on.  I want to know the best fishing spots, along with the current fishing reports, the best place to try a new water sport, and the best locations for surfing, swimming, bonfires, or the all famous tanning.  The only way to get all of that information is to conduct a thorough seach into several websites, find newspapers, read books/magazines, visit yourself and drive around for hours, coming back several times still unsure… but who wants to delve into that kind of confusion?  Not me for sure.

     I love to travel, and The Outer Banks is my true passion.  My first visit there was when I was four and I have gone back every year but one, though one year I went twice.  I remember after my first visit, I was sitting in the car on the way home and I told my mom that one day I would go there and never come back, and for the rest of my elementary, middle, and high school life, I went on believing that I would do whatever it took to reside in the Outer Banks after college.  My career paths have changed often, and I’m no fool.  The economy is a killer right now and there is little to none when it comes to economic opportunity in that location.  Although I know true residents look past that because they love their hometown, but many rely on the tourists and when the summer is over, the job market slows down.  I just pray that one day I’ll be able to find something secure enough that I can live there and not have to come home because I cannot support myself. 

About Me
     I’m an eighteen year old college freshman who loves the beach.  There is really no better way to describe me.  In fact, I was born and raised in Virginia, but I moved down to North Carolina to go to college with one of my main reasons being that it was closer to the Outer Banks.  This is definitely a financial difficulty for myself and my family but when I really looked at the odds, I knew I didn’t want to stay in Virginia and regret my decision, or wonder five or so years down the line if I’ll ever make it out of the state.  So here I am.

     That’s all i really have to say for this first post.  My “dream site” as I’ll call it probably won’t be approachable for quite some time, but I am going to start doing all I can.  This Saturday, I leave for the beach.  I hope to take at least 100 pictures a day (and yes it’s very plausible because I usually come home with at least 500 a week, and that’s me being conservative because I think I’ve taken too many).  Our beach house this year has internet access and I’ll be taking my laptop.  That way I can keep this up-to-date as I am there… I’ll be reporting on new shops, the restaurants, and everything I see fit.  I hope this inspire someone because I know there are hundreds out there who feel very strong emotional ties to the place, just like I do.