Just a few miles south of Kill Devil Hills is Nags Head, NC where you can visit Jockey's Ridge State Park.  Jockey's Ridge is the tallest active sand dune system in the Eastern United States, and the most striking of the remaining dunes on the Outer Banks. Shifting winds are constantly reshaping the dunes. Because the Ridge is always changing, it is often referred to as "The Living Dune."  You'll want to bring a sturdy kite and try your hand at flying. The dune is a lot of fun to wander around, but the sand on the dunes is incredibly hot during the summer months.  Remember this if you feel like going barefoot.  It also feels like you're being sand blasted on a very windy day, so plan accordingly. (wear pants and a long sleeved shirt or jacket)  Also, on occasion, families become separated while playing on the dunes (we did). It's a good idea to locate a landmark everyone is familiar with, and make this your meeting spot. One such place may be the boardwalk overlook. It's visible from a good distance away.  One last tip...sand gets into everything.  If you have an expensive camera, leave it at home and bring a cheap one.

Directly across from the entrance to Jockey's Ridge is an ocean access.  This is where my children got their first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean, on a chilly March day with a wind gusting.  It was breathtaking!  Huge waves were crashing onto the shore and the power of God's hand was evident.  I felt really small.  The boys were giddy.  I loved chasing the waves with them and discovering the little treasures that the waves had deposited on the sand.  I was so caught up in the moment that I didn't notice when my phone fell out of my pocket into the water.  My phone!  I needed that phone!  I chased it and caught it, but to no avail.  It was dead.  Our first casualty.