08/23/2016
With any luck, the kiddos are successfully transitioning into their next chapter of life as you’re rolling through your fifties. Certainly it’s a struggle at first—battling empty nest syndrome is a very real thing (and one that my mother seemingly had zero problems with), but once you break through that threshold and become accustomed to a quieter abode (or in my mom’s case, throw your hands in the air and do your happy dance til you nearly pop a hip because you’ve finally gotten those pesky kids out of the house), it can be fun to do some things for you (is that ever not fun?). Consider a fall trip to Hatteras Island with your spouse or friends. Painted skies, perfect weather, shorter lines—its bliss, really.
Traveling to Hatteras Island in Your Fifties
Shops: #1 fun thing you can do that is just for you? Shopping. Family Jewels in Hatteras Village has a phenomenal selection of one-of-a-kind lampwork jewelry, handcrafted by Hatteras Island native, Wendy Sisler. Also drop by Sandy Bay Gallery in Frisco for an impeccably curated selection by Island local, Linda Hilton. With an incredible eye, you’ll find a great collection of tasteful jewelry, pottery, artwork and gifts.
Eats: Nestled above Village Marina, try out Dinky’s Waterfront Restaurant for a menu that will satisfy most any palette. Waterfront views? Check! Delicious menu? Check! Great atmosphere? Also a check! Great for pairings, ask your server for a recommended drink selection to go with the meal of your choosing.
Drinks: What was once Hatteras Sol Deli is now Hatteras Sol Waterside Grill and like everything else, their drink list is on point. Chances are, that at this stage in your life, $2 PBR Drafts and $5 Jager Bombs have lost their appeal along with twerking, so try something more refined with a cocktail list that is infused with fresh herbs and ingredients, and one you won’t mind spending a couple of extra dollars on, while not at all thinking of your kids or feeling bad about locking the car doors and speeding away as soon as they got out onto the college lawn.
Reads: Our Top 10 Summer Beach Reads list has a mix of thrill, suspense, mystery and romance, but if you’re looking for something hot off the shelves, try Ruth Ware’s “The Woman in Cabin 10”. Published in July 2016, the author of “In a Dark, Dark Wood” strikes again with a thriller that’s laced with shimmer and sparkle, and conveniently set out at sea.
“In this tightly wound, enthralling story reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…”
-The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
