Outer Banks: Sea Glass Soothes the Soul
Just like a beachcomber diligently searching the shoreline for hidden treasure, I’m constantly on the lookout for great new OBX info to share on the blog. And I’m happy to say that there is no shortage of great Outer Banks topics to share with y’all.
In fact, I have trouble keeping up with all of the great blog posts I want to share. But that’s a good problem to have; so no complaints from this guy. However, it’s always nice when a great post falls into my lap.
A fellow Seaside Vacations‘ compadre sent along the post I’m about to share with you. I love the story, and it gives me a great idea for a new blog series! How about some posts about the Outer Banks from a local’s perspective? Can I get a “heck yeah!”
Let me clarify a bit. I probably could have fit this great post into our Outer Banks Everyday Magic blog series, but I have a different vision for the Local’s Perspective. Soothing the Soul is always magical to me, but I’d love our Local’s Perspective series to focus a bit more on how the locals live on the OBX, and not only on magic moments. I’m sure there will be some magic mixed in, but perhaps some mundane as well.
Here’s a story about an Outer Banks local (born and bred on the beach 
), and how weekends are spent at the shore searching for treasure…just like y’all. And how the soothing elements of nature are still a pleasant surprise.
Alright, enough rambling. Here’s the first installment of OBX; A Local’s Perspective. Thanks Jenn. Enjoy y’all…
OBX: Sea Glass Soothes the Soul
Many vacationers spend some portion of their stay on the Outer Banks strolling up and down the beaches searching for seashells, conch shells, star fish, or some small token from the beach to return home with. This weekend, although we had some rain, I was able to enjoy some beach time with my two beautiful daughters. My girls are a hand full with lots of energy. I never thought simply going to the beach and searching for sea glass would have the effect it did.
The rain had stopped and the sun was shining brightly. My fiancé is a commercial fisherman, so we were spending some time with him while he was beach fishing. He has been finding beach glass over the last couple of weeks, so a challenge arose to see who could find the most sea glass. My oldest daughter, Tiffany, is 8 and is already in that competitive mode. Gracee however, was out to help Mommy. She is 4, so isn’t quite sure what she is looking for from one seashell to the other, so she looks for the “pretty ones”. They had a blast. The salt air and the rhythm of the small waves meeting the sandy beach brought them down to a calm, focused state of mind.
As we walk up and down the beach I notice other beach goers searching the line of shells. Are they looking for sea glass or just sea shells and other beach jewels? I wonder to myself, how many vacationers even know about beach glass?
Sea glass, or beach glass, is simply glass that has been smoothed over time. It acquires a frosted surface that feels soft to the touch. After the glass finds its way into the water, the tides, waves, or the current sweep the glass back and forth over sand. Over time, the shiny surface of the glass is worn away. The most common colors are green, clear, and brown.
It was great to find some beach treasures. But the real treasure was time with family enjoying nature and slowing down the world – and the kids 
– for a while.
Filed under: OBX; A Local's Perspective
