Outer Banks, North Carolina is a chain of barrier islands that stretch for 200 miles from north to south in the Atlantic Ocean.  Nags Head of Outer Banks is located roughly 6 miles off the mainland and is situated in the middle of the long stretch of islands.  With being basically on the water, the Outer Banks affords the luxury and privy of having great fishing reserves and therefore fresh and succulent salt water and fresh water cuisine. 

The Outer Banks of North Carolina allow for several types of fishing; pier fishing, surf fishing and of course charter fishing.  Fishing off of Outer Banks piers can result in catching Cobia, King Mackeral, Rock Fish and Speckled Trout.  The Nags Head pier produced the largest known King Mackeral to be caught off the pier at 58 1/2 lbs.

Surf fishing is great because you don’t need a boat, a pier or pay someone to take you out on a charter boat.  As long as you can access the beach you’re in.  In the Outer Banks, surf fishing produces Blue fish, Croaker and Flounder and they can be caught most anytime especially in the Spring and Fall. 

Charter fishing can be done most anywhere but the Outer Banks is special in that the Intercoastal Waterway runs close to the shore due to the Barrier Islands and that means big fish are always traveling up the coast in search of food.  Pretty much the same kind of fish can be caught offshore as you can catch off a pier with the exception of Albacore Tuna and some other deep water species.

The really fun part of catching all of these great tasting fish is to eat them.  One can have their catch fried, grilled, baked and blackened at one of the many seaside restaurants or one can visit a plethora of seafood markets with most having their own restaurant inside.  Lots of crab, clams and shrimp are to be expected.  What is really fun is to spend all day catching fish off of the pier and then having the Nags Head Pier Restaurant cook them up for you.  After eating, enjoy taking a long stroll on the pier and check out others trying to land a “Big One”.

If a beach vacation is on the horizon and fishing is expected to happen then plan a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Nags Head area.

Photos courtesy of:

The Outer Banks Pier in South Nags Head by BOBXNC

Outer Banks Pier Fishing by MadAboutCows

Seafood in Nags Head by D. B. Blas

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When I think of Los Angeles, I tend to think of traffic, noise, pollution and lots of people.  The great state of California and its’ diverse culture and environment always top the small things that go with a striving and popular culture and when we’re talking about Southern California, the beaches take precedent.

Playa del Rey began as a small Indian village way back in 1750 and the name means;  “The Last Stop Before The Pacific” which is definitely true.  With Santa Monica and Malibu to the north and Manhattan, Redondo, and Hermosa Beach to the south, Playa del Rey is surrounded by great coastal escapes.

When I go to a new place or destination, I take all things aside and open my mind to get the best first impression.  To me, being impressed usually involves imbibing in local cuisine and drink especially when I’m on a beach.

From serving swordfish and seabass to snapper, mahi-mahi and ahi, local eateries in Playa del Rey are known for their fresh catches of the day.  If you are looking for a down-to-earth kind of place and are seeking good-old comfort food; burgers, like the 2 lb. Desperado, to Alaskan King Crab and Calamari Steak are served typically with ice-cold draft beer or whatever you are thirsty for.  These are just a couple of examples of dining and places to go after a day spent on the beach.

Find Pacific Coast lodging in Playa del Rey and spend your days walking up and down the beach checking out the local shops and eateries that make Playa del Rey an LA urban beach destination.  So, the next time you are in LA or are planning a trip to this part of Southern California, check out LA’s coastal community, Playa del Rey.

Playa del rey by Jeremy & Susanne

Sun in Playa del Rey by lavocado

Shipwreck by Slow Cyclist

When visiting the Central Rockies in Colorado, one usually has to go near or through the town of Vail.  Summer and winter activities abound here and therefore attract many a visitor from Denver and beyond.  I know that when I think of Colorado cuisine, elk, venison, trout and buffalo come to my mind but that is only the tip of the iceberg.

Vail amongst other neighboring mountain towns has global influence when it comes to dining and cuisine as well as its’ residents and visitors.  Vail and Beaver Creek come together to provide the valley guest luxury home rentals and amenities second to none. 

Culinary imagination is unleashed in a variety of ways when ingredients are the focus of attention.    European influence is fairly easy to find in the mountains of Colorado.  From gazpacho and veal sweetbreads to escargots and grilled lamb, the French have made a nice home in the central Rockies.

Seafood in the mountains typically is not mentioned together in the same sentence so restaurants go the extra mile to obtain fresh seafood and execute a beautifully prepared dish.  From Ahi Tuna to Dungeness crab dining establishments can really compete with the port towns of the surrounding coastal world.

Mountain fare is represented very well in Colorado to say the least and must be experienced among the other cuisine styles.

Beaver Creek which is just west of Vail brings the same type of culinary sophistication to the plate as well.  From Foie Gras to fresh Maine lobster the variety of cuisine covers all of the bases.

When leaving Denver in the rear-view mirror and heading up I-70 going West, one starts to see the Rocky Mountains in front and the plains behind. After going through Eisenhower Tunnel and Loveland Pass one starts going down the other side only to meet Summit County head on. There are three towns adjacent to each other, Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorne. There are five ski areas that can be accessed rather easily and those are Breckenridge, Copper, Keystone, A-Basin and Loveland ski area. A-Basin and Loveland tend to be used by the locals but should not be overlooked by any skier or snowboarder. Most of the skier traffic to Summit County comes from the Front Range and Denver just because it is so convenient and the ski area options are so great.

Transportation is very easy to obtain from Denver and one can stop driving once getting to Summit County because everything is at your fingertips – retail shopping, dining, rental shops, clothing outlets, grocery stores, lodging and transportation.

Breckenridge has their own brewery – Breckenridge Brewery which serves food and beer and actually is so big that they distribute their beer all throughout Colorado.

In the winter, Summit County is known for their skiing and snowboarding and is a winter wonderland. With five ski areas available to play on, Summit County really gives the visitor a plethora of choices for “sliding around”. Arapahoe Basin just added a new lift that opened up an additional 400 acres and 36 runs which account for 80% more terrain. The new terrain is called the “Montezuma Bowl” and it opened up last season.

Copper Mountain is a host of several ski race events during the winter for both young and old competitors. Copper Mountain is located just west of Dillon and is conveniently situated right off of I-70.

Breckenridge is tucked away a little ways off of the interstate and is known for being one of coldest ski areas in central Colorado. The town of Breckenridge is a quaint old town with tons of charm and spirit and should be visited during the winter or summer.

Keystone ski area has the only night skiing available in the state and is therefore the largest night ski operation.

The nightlife is just that – lively both day and night. In the tri-town area which is Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorne there are three micro-breweries – Backcountry Brewery, Pug Ryan’s and The Dillon Dam Brewery (which I have personally been to all three and they are all very good).

Keystone has plenty of nightlife as well with saloons, taverns, bars, lounges and a nightclub in River Run.

All in all, Summit County has enough to do for just about anybody at anytime. Head west from Denver and in a short amount of time you are in Summit County, a Rocky Mountain playground.

Fishing in the Keys incorporates just about every type and style of fishing ever imagined.  From deep-sea fishing with heavy tackle to fly and light tackle fishing and even spear-fishing on the reef, the Keys offer excitement to every angler.  The fish that are usually caught are tarpon, bonefish, barracuda, shark, dolphin, sailfish, marlin, wahoo and yellowfin tuna just to name a few. 

One can book a charter trip for a half day, full day, 10 hours worth and even a night fishing adventure.

From early March until late July one can catch tarpon day and/or night.  Locally known as “Silver Kings”, tarpon arrive in the Key West area in the early summer to spawn.  One of the most exciting ways to catch tarpon is on a flat boat with a fly rod in the clear, blue salt flats.  This kind of fishing is called “sight fishing” and the angler must be able to cast accurately in order to attract the fish.  The salt flats are very shallow (one to two feet deep) so you can imagine the exhilaration when there is a “fish on”. 

From Key West or “The Conch Republic” deep-sea or off-shore fishing takes the angler out far where one is most likely to catch larger fish but not necessarily.  Backcountry fishing takes place along the edges of the flats where the water is slightly warmer and therefore home to big tarpon as well as shark and barracuda.  Guides will typically also offer reef and wreck fishingwhich produces amberjack, cobia, snapper, grouper and large shark.   Guides will advise you to “catch and release” but you can keep your catch if you want to have it prepared by a local restaurant and serve it up to your friends and family.

The greatest reward for an angler is to have his or her catch be served up on a platter at the local restaurant.  What better way to enjoy your hard day’s work (fishing) than to savor the fresh taste of the fish that has been prepared by a professional.  It has been said that there are over 365 places to eat in Key West – that’s one for every day of the year!

So if you like to fish or just eat them, come down to Key West, Florida and enjoy both or either past-times.