This just in from a new villa owner...

Hi Everyone,

Nancy and I recently bought an investment/cum retirement potential, newbuild condo in Manteo, NC which is on Roanoke Island in the Outer Banks. Manteo is 1 mile from the Nags Head beaches, 1 mile from the Elizabethan Gardens, 1 mile from the North Carolina State Aquarium, 1 mile from the Lost Colony, and 1 mile from Wanchese at the southern tip of the island which is a commercially unspoiled, charming fishing village.

It is 9 hours from Binghamton and 2 hours from the Norfolk airport. And for you, John Travolta, there is a private jet compatible airport 1 mile away.

The condo is a five minute walk to downtown Manteo on a boardwalk connected to the town's boardwalk system and a ten minute walk to a park complex that includes an outdoor auditorium hosting daily concerts, a maritime museum, and a replica of Sir Walter Raleigh's brigantine that brought 110 British colonists to the Outer Banks before Plymouth, only to promptly lose them. (If you happen to find them, please contact me or the Queen on our BlackBerrys for further instruction.)

You can go to www.marsheslight.com to check out the complex, named after a very unusual lighthouse known as Marshes Light which is visible from our porch.

The condo is the 2 BR BR model depicted on the website. With a pull out couch and chair in the LR, it sleeps 7 and rents for $1295 per week in season. But we also purchased a J/24 sailboat which us sort of a cult boat racing machine. It has a very wide beam and sleeps 4. So that increases the sleeping accommodations (the boat slip is a short wedge from the condo's front door) to a total of 11. If you want to rent the boat just to sleep up to 4 more, its $900 per week in season. If you want to sail the boat (and there is additional paperwork necessary to sail) its another $900.

We chose the J/24 because it is a user friendly, practically indestructible boat that is easy for just one person to sail. Details about the boat are available at www.jboats.com/J24/
If you don't sail, on a per capita basis it works out to about $200 a person per week. And the kids can sleep on the boat. (Let that one sink in for a while . . .)

If after, checking out the websites, you have further interest, please send me your fax number and I will fax you the detail info.

Thanks, and have a nice weekend.

Donald S. Bernardo

If anyone is interested in renting Don's villa, give me a call at 888-319-3557

Updates

Marshes Light Marina is gearing up for operation this summer. We will not have fueling operation initially, but our future plans for the marina will include an attractive dock office and bathroom facilities. We will be participating in the Blessing of the Fleet and Safe Boating Day on Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Spring is here and it's a great time to visit!

We are happy to announce that a beautiful two bedroom villa at Marshes Light went under contract yesterday. This top floor residence offered great views of the Town and Shallowbag Bay.

Now is a great time to visit our community and choose the villa or homesite that’s perfect for you. Our Discovery Package is through The Cameron House Inn in downtown Manteo and offers superb accommodations at a reasonable price.
There are lots of fun things coming up in Manteo, and you might want to arrange your trip to coincide with one of these happenings!

Visit www.outerbanks.org/events/index for more information and activities.

May 17: Blessing of the Fleet. In conjunction with Safe Boating Week, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be on deck at the Manteo and Marshes Light waterfront. Activities include: Safe Boating Booth with a Video Presentation set up; "Coastie", a robot Tug Boat on hand for young people to enjoy. Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet along with representatives from Sector North Carolina will be present. Station Oregon Inlet will have a 25 foot boat on display.
Fly over with a C-130 and H-60 and at noon will be the Blessing of the Fleet Service. The Concert Choral of the Outer Banks under the direction of Forest Warren will provide the music.

May 29: The Roanoke Island House and Garden Tour. The Elizabethan Gardens and Roanoke Island Garden Club invite you to The 2008 House and Garden Tour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The $25 admission will provide access to island homes and their gardens and a special lecture by Dabney Morgan from WAVY-TV10 at The Elizabethan Gardens. Royal Tea will be served during the lecture. All proceeds benefit The Elizabethan Gardens. Call 252-473-3234 to order your tickets today.

June 6: First Fridays on the Waterfront 6 – 8 p.m. Shop unique boutiques, browse Manteo’s galleries & visit various attractions in a street fair atmosphere, live music, artisans and historic interpreters, rock climbing wall and more.

June 7: Dare Day is an annual celebration of the people and history of Dare County, held on the streets and waterfront area of downtown Manteo for over 30 years. Dare Day entertainment features live music for audiences of all ages, and ends with a street dance.

July 4: Independence Day in Manteo is a full day of fun, with children’s games and activities, contests, and a flea market. Nighttime activities include the North Carolina School of the Arts Pops Concert at Roanoke Island Festival Park, and culminate in fireworks over the Roanoke Sound.

August 13 & 14: New World Festival of the Arts is a juried exhibition featuring 80 selected artists from Vermont to Florida exhibiting and selling their works on the Manteo Waterfront. This two-day outdoor art show has been held for over 23 years running.

Call me and I’ll be happy to arrange your visit!