Wrightsville Beach- Fourth of July

We've just returned from four days at Wrightsville Beach. This was the first time for the kids and I to visit this beach, last summer we were a few miles away at Carolina Beach. It was nice, the hotel was wonderful. Never, anywhere except on the West Coast of Florida or Miami/the keys have I seen ocean water in the U.S. this clear. It was aqua blue and we could see the bottom. The waves were powerful, yet safe. The kids (and their parents) had a blast jumping, surfing and diving into the waves...but the kids went at it for HOURS at a time. When not doing that, they built sandcastles, buried themselves in the sand and then took a "break" to swim in the hotel pool! We drank fruit smoothies by the pool, snacked on nachos, threw the football, judged dives and jumps and then cleaned up for dinner- one night with steel drums playing on the hotel patio. This was a very kid friendly place, we loved it.
As luck would have it, one of Keith's colleagues was at his beach house for the weekend and invited us over to watch fireworks. We sat on their dock on the intracoastal while fireworks went off literally all around us- downtown Wilmington, the beach and many houses along the intracoastal, offering a wonderful light show. Afterward, we sat on their huge rocking-chair front porch watching all the beach night time action (almost more than the kids should experience) and therefore called it a night just before 10 and headed back to the safe, quiet, family hotel experience we were used to...leaving the partying for the youngsters we once were :) I think this few days away made the kids feel like they truly had a vacation even though time was short with only a week to unwind from one school year and gear up for another. Only three weeks of school til they get another break; three weeks this time. Maybe we'll be ready for another beach trip by then. I was definately impressed with the quality of beach for a two hour drive, especially being spoiled by the beaches of the west coast of Florida all my life.

We've also been spoiled by plenty of rain the last couple of days in the triangle area...keep that drought at bay. I understand it ruined some of the local fireworks displays yesterday and plans for a make up night tonight were failed yet again by more rain. I'm glad for the rain and glad we were on the coast and able to enjoy fireworks and gorgeous weather while the home front got a good soaking.