Wellons Camping

April 21-24, 2022, Site 411, Cape Hatteras KOA

We loved exploring the OBX last year, but we were not excited about the Camp Hatteras facilities where we stayed. We saw the KOA next door and decided we’d stay there next time. Well, next time was this past weekend and the KOA did not disappoint. They have a restaurant onsite for breakfast and lunch with a fully stocked store for all the stuff you forgot to bring. The pool area looked nice but it wasn’t quite warm enough to throw the kids in yet. We liked our site which was only about 50 yards to the beach. Site 411 was a full hookup site with 50 amp service and cable, only issue is that the sites are slightly tighter than I would like which made backing the trailer in more difficult.

For the first evening we opted for dinner out. After returning it was time for Shelby to go down. I put the boys outside to watch TV and bundled them in blankets, they really enjoyed Jumanji II. Only problem was that for the first time ever, Shelby refused to sleep in her crib. This went on all 3 nights! We ended up letting her wander around until she fell asleep wherever.

On day 2, I finally got to use the new Blackstone to cook bacon and eggs, which I did every every morning. After that, we spent an hour on the beach so the boys could play in the surf.

After the beach we headed south on Highway 12. We hit up the fudge shop featured on the Food Network, that place is worth it. From there we visited the Graveyard of The Atlantic Museum which highlights many of the ships that have gone down trying to navigate the OBX waterways.

On day 3, we headed north towards Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk. We spent a couple hours touring the Wright Brothers Memorial & Museum. It was my first time visiting and it was neat to see one of the more famous events that North Carolina is known for. We got to see a replica of the plane they used, the spot where they actually took off from and the distances they flew on each of their first four powered flights. The monument located at the top of the dune is where the brothers flew their glider from. The walk there and up the hill is pretty arduous, Grant hated it honestly, but it was a great view and gives you good perspective on how hard it was for the Wright brothers to accomplish what they did.

When we got back to the camp site, we still had plenty of daylight. I bought some whole squid for bait so Jackson and I could try out fishing again. It’s worth noting that we’ve never caught anything in the ocean while surf fishing… until this trip. We managed to catch a skate and a Puffer Fish.

To finish the trip off, we went out for dinner sound side one last time. Shelby, as she had done the whole trip, slept wherever she fell down.

Wow, where to begin! This place is huge and a bit overwhelming upon first arrival. We’ve been to other RV Resorts but this one seems to take the cake. We managed to get down here around 8pm yesterday evening. As we came through the light, we saw the big Ocean Lakes Campground sign and knew we were in for a good time.

We opted for express check-in when we made our reservation so we were able to go right through the guard gate and on to our spot. As a function of pure luck the spot we picked (2135) was an end spot and has a great bit of natural shade provided by a large tree with a wide canopy. The shade matters quite a bit because we are having highs of 88 & 89 degrees currently. Next week should be in the 90s and that’s pushing my comfort level with a single AC unit.

Our site like all the rest here is full hookup, plus they provide the coax cable at every site for 80 channels of cable service. That coax provision was the first I’ve seen anywhere since we started camping in 2019. Hookup was quick although by 8:30pm, there wasn’t much light to work by.

After setup, we locked up and went for a quick walk to see what was close. We’re 5 minutes to the water attractions, arcade, mini golf as well as the store and take out dining option. It’s worth noting that their store is pretty comprehensive from beach toys and camping supplies to all the food and provisions you need. If you forget anything, don’t sweat it, you can get it there. After getting home with 3 kids in tow, we realized it would be worth the $101 to rent a golf cart.

To start off our Sunday morning we went to the splash park and lazy river. There is limited shade and no way to reserve shady seating. We did manage to snag some seats before the crowds made it. The kids enjoyed their time in all the open water attractions. Jackson enjoyed the slides but since Grant wasn’t 48″ tall yet, he was excluded which was a bummer. Since the baby needed an afternoon nap, the boys and I walked over to the beach and enjoyed the surf for a bit.

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After nap time, we headed for the mini golf course. Jackson managed two hole-in-one’s, Grant is still working on his putting “touch”.

Shelby and I decided to watch as they played and we enjoyed the shade for 9 holes. Jaci was 2 over on the front 9, and I came in 1 over on the back nine.

Two weeks prior to this trip we stayed at Carolina Pines. We wanted to see the Pirates Voyage dinner & a show but the tickets were unavailable. We lucked out this time and got tickets on the way down. The show was highly entertaining for all ages. Lots of acrobatics, diving in to the water and some well trained sea lions made for a great show. Dinner was a set 4 course with soup, chicken, BBQ and apple cobbler.

To end our 3 day weekend, we spent Monday morning at the lazy river and the splash park. After much needed naps, we packed up shop and headed home. Overall – what a great park. Overwhelming at first but once you get your bearings you realize there’s really not much reason to leave.

We’ve been here before but this is the first trip we’re documenting. Baby was born right at a month ago so she and mom stayed home. It’s July in North Carolina so it’s a bit hot for a one month old but we look forward to when they can join us again on the outings! This trip is just me and the boys… plus Uncle drew! We’re so glad he could come down and join us for the weekend.

For me and the boys, we got here Thursday and will be on our way Sunday.

Because of the Cornoavirus and the restrictions put on the usage of amenities like pools and parks, I thought it would be smart to bring our own water slide and pool.

I set this up first so the boys could start getting energy out and having fun. It lasted 16 hours before the powers that be shut down our fun factory. I was disappointed because the thought of having to go through signups for amenities at a campsite sounded awful. And it was generally annoying, but I managed to get us a couple time slots booked for Friday and Saturday.

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Every 5 minutes or so a suspended bucket filled up and then dumped on the kids. A bell would ring just prior and all the kids came running, even Drew. Grant didn’t want to miss out on the fun but he had to hide behind Uncle Drew to do it.

When we aren’t at the pool, the boys spend time fishing with their new toys or doing laps on their bikes. Grant calls his ‘Fire Bike!’ and he certainly burns the road up!

Seeing as we went in July, it was exceptionally hot. During the day we hit 95 and at night we got down to about 72. We have A/C in the camper and we ran that thing ALL. NIGHT. LONG. During the day, we had to do what we could to stay cool and beat the heat. I’m notorious for getting burnt and in an effort to prevent that this time, I borrowed one of the boys towels.

Our campsite was adjacent to a bunch of buried tires and at first I wasn’t sure what they were there for. Friday night we saw a bunch of kids playing laser tag around them though. I guess that’s an activity they offer? We got to spend some time playing on the tires the next evening.

Finally, it’s worth noting that one of the coolest things is getting to sleep with my boys at night. We have bunk beds at the front of the trailer but aside from being a jungle gym, they prefer to crash the queen with me. That might be because I have a TV there and they get to watch it until they fall asleep. I prefer to think they just want to be near me, but who knows? 🙂