Plan B

[Jan&MikeVa]

I would agree to have a different geographical location for plan B. If a storm hits the East Coast near Topsail you wouldn't want to be anywhere along the Coast. Considering you are planning to cancel 6 days out you'll have time to check out the weather in other locations :)

I'd second the Florida Panhandle. Or maybe a Ski Resort in the Rockies? They offer soooo many activities along with the wonderful outdoor pools! Hiking, lakes, entertainment! Off season rates offer good prices

Hope Topsail works out for you........it's awesome

[shoemak38]

7. I'd like to explore all alternative options now, so that I'm not scrambling at the last minute.

Thats why I went outside the box with my suggestions, figuring you wanted to go coastal, but wanted to be prepared to avoid the southeast coast. Makes sense to me.

Oh and love your Ogunquit photo’s, the garden at Barnacle Bill’s is nice. If you look at Roockies check out Keystone if I remember correctly only 2 hours from Denver airport

[augie]

The Florida panhandle, or just about any coastal area on the Gulf of Mexico, might not end up being the wisest, or certainly not the safest bets for hurricane avoidance this time of year.

We had a great long weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in conjunction with a family reunion earlier this summer.

I think we could easily have stayed for several more days without getting bored (us or the boys!).

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Wow, thanks everyone.

Pip (Rob): Sorry about the reference to the "Outer Banks." My bad, much like calling St. John "St. Johns." Nails on a chalkboard bad. Eek. If you follow along here, you'll see we may end up crashing at your place if all hell breaks loose. Please prepare your home now.

Jmq: The Pacific Northwest and Oregon look fabulous. As does Maine. However, my sense is that the family is expecting a "beach" vacation and not so much of an "adventure" vacation with all kinds of beauty around. Plus, Pete and I are saving Maine for a trip next year with friends. And, yes, your ideas made perfect sense to me. Get the hell away from the parts of the country where the risk is the highest.

Shoe: Yes, we actually do want to spend time with our kids. ONE WEEK. That's it. Hee hee.

Leslleeliz: Wow, Lake Lure looks beautiful. Only problem is that it's so similar to what we have here at home (a house on a lake). I think they are really hoping for beach time.

Augie: I know the area where you vacationed (my parents used to live in Knoxville, TN) and it is stunning up there! But, like Leslleeliz's suggestion (and Pip's too), I'm not sure the gang would go for a complete switch of gears like that. And, if I make a last minute decision, wouldn't a FL, panhandle option be feasible if I'm following the storms (and they are not going into the Gulf)?

Jan & MikeVA: Okay, this is the only option I see that actually makes sense for Plan B. Granted, it's not the Atlantic waves but it's a beach vacation. I'm looking into it (casually, as Pete is determined to simply stick with the original plan~Pip, keep reading).

So, Pip: Assuming we depart here as planned and arrive in NC on the 21st of August, and some horrid storm rolls in that week and we evacuate...how far are you?

[Jan&MikeVa]

Marcia......the way I see it (and I'm a geographic geek) is that if the weather hits the East Coast, the Florida panhandle will work for your family. Check out Destin FL.....I think some mutual friends were there over spring break And also some others a month ago.

Forget the Bahamas, or anywhere in the Caribbean. West coast is too cold. I'm with Pete, the odds are so slim, but plans and alternatives are MORE important

Here's hoping, again, to Topsail :):)

[Jan&MikeVa]

P.S. NOT to take anything away from the Carolina mountains....they are to "die for". But we have been caught in too many storms that hit the coast, move inland, hit the mountains and die. But seeing Pip and family would be cool

[augie]

My point was this - hurricanes are fickle!

They often have a tendency to ignore the forecaster's tracks and go off on their own.

Obviously, one that was wreaking havoc on the Carolinas wouldn't be doing the same to the Gulf Coast. But I've seen a number of them take a sharp left at the Florida Straits and all of a sudden you have a monster in the Gulf...

As long as you could make the decision to head to the panhandle once the storm had made it's turn to the north, you'd probably be OK.

[shoemak38]

Kids would love cedarpoint if the beach does not work

http://www.cedarpoint.com/

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Augie, I hear ya. I watch this stuff almost as much as you do, since I have family in FL (No, visiting them is NOT an option!!)

[jmq]

Oh and love your Ogunquit photo’s, the garden at Barnacle Bill’s is nice.

shoemak38 - thats a sharp eye! Plus, they make the best Rum Punch at BB's - better than any I have had in the VIs. Go figure.

Marica - Cannon Beach vicinity just west of Portland is a pretty beach-y destination.

[pipanale]

Wow, thanks everyone.

Pip (Rob): Sorry about the reference to the "Outer Banks." My bad, much like calling St. John "St. Johns." Nails on a chalkboard bad. Eek. If you follow along here, you'll see we may end up crashing at your place if all hell breaks loose. Please prepare your home now.


So, Pip: Assuming we depart here as planned and arrive in NC on the 21st of August, and some horrid storm rolls in that week and we evacuate...how far are you?

My neighbor, who's been going to "Topsull...it's not Top Sail" for 65 years, says you can do it in 2 1/2 - 3 hours. I also asked her for a list of restaurants and such, and she could only tell me places that used to be there and have closed (Kinda like how we all refer to what used to be on STJ as opposed to what's there now). If the water rises, find your way to 40 and start yelling! Of course, expect us to show up if the weather is nice!

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Wow, thanks everyone.

Pip (Rob): Sorry about the reference to the "Outer Banks." My bad, much like calling St. John "St. Johns." Nails on a chalkboard bad. Eek. If you follow along here, you'll see we may end up crashing at your place if all hell breaks loose. Please prepare your home now.


So, Pip: Assuming we depart here as planned and arrive in NC on the 21st of August, and some horrid storm rolls in that week and we evacuate...how far are you?

My neighbor, who's been going to "Topsull...it's not Top Sail" for 65 years, says you can do it in 2 1/2 - 3 hours. I also asked her for a list of restaurants and such, and she could only tell me places that used to be there and have closed (Kinda like how we all refer to what used to be on STJ as opposed to what's there now). If the water rises, find your way to 40 and start yelling! Of course, expect us to show up if the weather is nice!

Well, so far, it looks pretty favorable for our departure on Sunday and through the 28th. We call Topsail "Topsull" too, by the way. And, if we head out of dodge, we'll be a-yellin' fer ya! Or, ya'lls could come on down an visit us fer a spell. Ya'lls know wher we is.

[nothintolose]

Marcia - just got back from Destin - it's gorgeous. We go there frequently. We have even taken a Hurrication to the panhandle and stayed in Rosemary Beach the year Gustav was headed our way.

We usually rent a house with a pool. Check out Newman Daily realtors. We stayed at Sunkissed Cottage but we had a small group. We wanted a private pool and the ability to bring Rudy and another dog. It's the second time we stayed there. My family stayed down the road at Domenica (also rented through them).

We have also stayed as far east as Panama City including Sea Grove and Rosemary Beach. I also like Navarre Beach ALOT. It's more secluded but it has the Gulf on one side and the bay on the other.

Email me or facebook message me if you want to talk more.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Nothin', I keep hearing great things about that whole area. Next time we do this, I'll seriously check into this. A house with a pool, on the beach, would be ideal for this family.

Anywhooooo~ we're out of here at 2AM tomorrow so, time to get packin'!!

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

We are on Topsail Island now. Irene should seriously impact this area by Friday night.

Thoughts on where to go, when? My nerves are frazzled, I'm pissed off and need good, practical advice. All six of us must get home Sunday night. We are scheduled to fly out of Wilmington.