2010 OUP Photography Tour Comes To A Close….

To everyone who has check out this 2010 OUP Photography Tour blog, I thank you SO, SO much.

I am very appreciative.

The 2010 OUP Photography Tour has come to an end, and you can read information on the last Tour Stop at the following address:

http://oupphotographytour.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/2010-oup-photography-tour-ends-in-hershey-pennsylvania/

The 2011 OUP Photography Tour is now right around the corner! To keep updated follow along at the OUP Photography Tour’s new address at the following…

http://oupphotographytour.wordpress.com

Thanks again guys! This blog is now officially “retired” from new updates, but will remain up for everyone to check out!

TODAY! Last Date In 2010 OUP Photography Tour! OFF TO HERSHEY!

We’re about to be off to Hershey, Pennsylvania and the last date in the 2010 OUP Photography Tour!  I’ll have the last update for you guys tomorrow! And next Saturday, August 14th… the end-of-Tour “secret project!” Stay Tuned!

2010 OUP Photography Tour Changed A Bit!

At the end of this month the 2010 OUP Photography Tour was supposed to be headed to Hershey, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Atlantic City, New Jersey. That leg of the Tour has been cancelled.

There is, however, a brighter side to this story!

I am looking on towards the 2011 OUP Photography Tour! Some very exciting Tour Stops, a possible sponsor, all sorts of cool ideas. These past few months have really got my creative juices flowing on how this little idea I had, traveling and taking photography, can really be a successful business venture.

There are a lot of things I can’t talk about, but as for the 2010 OUP Photography Tour, it will be ending right where we started… in Hershey, Pennsylvania! As scheduled on August 7th myself, Brandi, her Mother & Sister, as well as my Mother & Sister, will be headed into town! One week after, on Saturday, August 14th, 2010, the end-of-tour “secret project” I’ve been talking about will be unveiled, as well as the Tour Dates for the 2011 OUP Photography Tour!

I am very, very… VERY excited.

Stay Tuned!

2010 OUP Photography Tour Makes Surprise Stop!

You guessed it… to Hershey, Pennsylvania!

The weather today was calling for 99 degrees, Sunny, and Humid. What else is there to do than to make good use of my HersheyPark Season Passes?!?

After working my “day job” late last night until 4:30 AM, I got a few hours sleep, woke up around 8 AM, and hit the road. After doing some shopping briefly once we arrived in Hershey we hit the park, and went straight to the Boardwalk. It was pretty busy today, but nothing too bad. The lines were far from out of control. We went into the Lazy River twice, and actually spent about two hours or more the second time going around and around. Awesome time, and couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day for it!

We also walked around Zoo America and checked out all the animals including their newest exhibit, the Ocelot! I got some great shots of the Prairie Dogs. I also love to learn new things about Hershey every time I go and noticed a sign which showed “Monkey Island,” which was a feature from 1954-1971. Pretty awesome! Never really took the time to notice it before…..

Another part of the day which was pretty fun was that we got to check out one of HersheyPark’s newest Live shows, “Rock the Jukebox!” Pretty entertaining. We also found out that the Aquatheatre has a new show which we’ve yet to see, called “Showdown at Cocoa Canyon.” When we realized, we missed the last showing, so we’re hoping to see it on our next trip!

I am also big into following rumors going around involving HersheyPark. One of the latest is that the park will be adding a new rollercoaster either in 2011 or 2012. There are actually markings all over the park which show where certain “supports,” etc.. for the ride will be placed. I checked out several locations today and got a good idea of the layout. I’m looking forward to there becoming more information on this!

The rest of my day was filled with games, good food, photography, and just plain fun. I had a blast!

Now obviously I could just stop anywhere, at anytime, you just never know! My next scheduled vacation/trip/tour stop is July 24 until July 30th, followed by my last tour stop in Hershey once again on August 7th, one month from today.  Due to several reasons I’m not actually sure what will end up happening. I do know that the Hershey stop on August 7th is for sure, however, the others are questionable.

Right now it’s scheduled for July 24th (my 26th Birthday) in Hershey, July 27th in Pittsburgh, and July 29th (my girlfriend’s 21st Birthday) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The one that is pretty much guaranteed to happen is the Atlantic City trip. Stay Tuned! You just never know what might happen!

I’ve also already collected A LOT of photography so far you’ve yet to see for my secret project! This is going to be fun! And more details on 2011 coming shortly!

King’s Dominion Yesterday! Today… Back Home!

Yesterday I woke up around 7:30 AM. After messing around on the Internet briefly, we went down for the hotel’s free breakfast. Not bad at all, and much better than I was expecting being that it was only a Days Inn and I didn’t pay too much for the room.

Afterwards we got showered and packed up the car one last time, and checked out.  It was then off to Doswell, Virginia and King’s Dominion! The weather was calling for it to rain on and off all day, and luckily for us that never really happened. It ended up being a rather beautiful day! We rode several rides including Anaconda, Dominator, Drop Tower, Volcano, White Water Canyon, and the new Intimidator 305! Let me tell you, awesome rollercoaster. It’s without a doubt my new favorite. The bar on me picking my favorite rollercoaster has been raised, this one literally made me feel like I was going to blackout!

We also messed around in Water Works  in their lazy river, wave pool, and various water slides. Pretty damn good waterpark as well.

We left the park around 6:30 PM and began our long journey home. We actually stopped in Frederick, Maryland at a McDonald’s, got something to eat, and I attempted to update this blog. However, there was some sort of problem with their WiFi.  Not sure exactly what it was. Frederick is a pretty big town, seems like it would be interesting to check out sometime. We then hit the road once again, and didn’t stop until “who-knows-where” Pennsylvania to get gas.  My GPS led me on a wild goose chase towards Pennsylvania after leaving Frederick.  We’re talking all sorts of back roads, etc… It wouldn’t let me find the Highway. Very interesting end to this exciting journey. We ended up getting home around 1:30 AM this morning.

Next up it’s back to Hershey, Pennsylvania on my 26th Birthday, on July 24th! Looking forward to it already. Of course, I’m always looking forward to Hershey!

I’ve also been working on 2011′s OUP Photography Tour. Some very cool ideas going on there. I should have an announcement or two sometime in the near future. Or, at least an announcement as to when that announcement will be….

Miss Outer Banks Already.. Just Arrived In Ashland, Virginia! Tomorrow… ???

New day, new adventure! We woke up this morning around 8 AM, ate breakfast at our hotel, then finished packing everything up.  After walking on the beach one last time, putting everything into the car, and turning in our hotel keys, we were off!

Before we left North Carolina we stopped at a few Farmer’s Markets/stands.  One good one was Powell’s Market. They actually have two locations within a few miles. The one we stopped at was pretty huge. Not only did they have fruit/vegetables but also fireworks, pool/ocean toys, cider, drinks, snacks, all sorts of cool things. We only picked up two North Carolina peaches! We’ve yet to eat them, but they look delicious!

After leaving there it was straight to Virginia and my current location of Ashland, Virginia.  We’re staying here at the Ashland Days Inn tonight. Not a bad room, sort of an interesting location. We picked up some food/drinks at a local Wal-Mart (there are actually 5 Wal-Mart’s within 15 miles of each other… hmmmm). Afterwards we went the cheap route and had lunch at Taco Bell ($2 meals!).

Not much to do in this town, but it’s only 6 miles from the location we’re supposed to be headed to tomorrow, Doswell, Virginia/King’s Dominion. The current forecast is calling for rain/thunderstorms, so it’s possible that those plans may get called off despite already having the park tickets. We could always come back in a few weeks/months. Unless the weather is horrible we’ll most likely just try to “weather the storm,” go with the flow, and make the best of it. We’ll see. If we end up not going there are a few other places we could hit up on the way back towards Pleasant Gap (such as Baltimore, etc..) We’ll see what ends up happening….

For now I’ll leave you with a few others shots I took today…. Stay tuned guys, not quite sure what tomorrow will hold!

Outer Banks: Most Beautiful Sunset I’ve Ever Witnessed!

I just came back into my hotel room a few moments ago.  I was lucky enough to witness the absolute most beautiful sunset I’ve ever had the chance to experience! Great way to end my last full day here! Can’t wait to come back!

Tomorrow brings another day of travel! Excited to head towards Virginia!

 

Last Full Day In Outer Banks!!!

What’s going on everyone?! Today is my last full day I will be spending in the Outer Banks. We woke up this morning around 7.  Well, I did anyway.  I couldn’t sleep. I woke up Brandi and we took a walk down to the beach, and then went and got some of our hotel’s free breakfast. Pretty damn good bagels…..

Afterwards we did some shopping. Pretty much finished up the last of the shopping we wanted/needed to do here in Outer Banks. We hit both “Try My Nuts” and “Forbes.” “Try My Nuts” is a gourment nut/hot sauce/snack, etc.. store, while “Forbes” is a local gift/candy store that sells Salt Water Taffy.

We also hit a variety of beaches including a few down on Hatteras Island, as well as our hotel beachfront a few times. It was supposed to be mixed thunderstorms today, but ended up being really sunny and beautiful. Awesome day!

We also had a pretty damn good dinner at “American Pie,” a local Pizza/Ice Cream place. Delicious pizza! And being that I work at a pizza place, you know it has to be true, because I am damn sick of pizza!

Afterwards we once again hit our hotel’s beach, and now we’re relaxing in our hotel. I’m sure we’ll be headed outside to the beach again soon when the sun begins to go down. We need to start organizing all of our things and packing up, tomorrow we check out of the John Yancey Oceanfront Inn at 11 AM, mess around Outer Banks a few last times, then it’s off to Ashland, Virginia and our hotel there! Then Tuesday…. King’s Dominion!!!!!

Stay Tuned!

 

Outer Banks Day Two… :)

Last night we ended up going out Highway 12 and found an AWESOME beach in Cape Hatteras, although it took a treck and a half to get there. We’re talking bushwacking through rough terrain, etc… Nonetheless, great beach.  Took some awesome photography and had a great time. We also found some very cool seashells (one of the things we’ve been working on since we’ve been here quite a bit).

Afterwards we ended up going to bed rather early, and getting a long night of sleep. A very much needed long night of sleep. After waking up around 10:30 AM we took on the day!  First off we hit the Wright Brothers Memorial, followed by the Cape Hatteras Light House. Both awesome spots….

By this time I was more than ready to take on the beach! On the way back to Kill Devil Hills we hit up Rodanthe, and the Rodanthe Pier.  Another great spot. Beautiful beach, beautiful sand, and also an awesome little gift shop/store which we bought some pretty cool local water. This was another spot where we got some very cool seashells….

After a great time in Rodanthe we headed back to our hotel and spent some quality time on “our beach” here in Kill Devil Hills. I am IN LOVE with Outer Banks. Beautiful town, great people, good times.  It’s a great community. I am sitting in the hotel right now after we just got back from some shopping. There are some really great shopping spots around here. More than we would ever have time to check out honestly. Being a tourist town, and an awesome one at that, it’s amazing how much there is to do here. We have yet to really scratch the surface.

We’re now about to take a stroll on the beach at dark. We have yet to do that. Tomorrow we plan on spending the afternoon on our Kill Devils Hills Beach, and going to some local stores once again, such as “Try My Nuts.” More on that one soon!

I’ve also had some time to think about the 2011 OUP Photography Tour. BIG THINGS, trust me… More updates tomorrow!

 

2010 OUP Photography Tour Hits Outer Banks, NC!

What’s going on everyone?!? I am writing this as I sit in my hotel (the John Yancey Oceanfront Inn) in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.  After leaving Pleasant Gap/State College late last night/early this morning around 1:45 AM, we arrived in Kill Devil Hills around 10:30.  We only made one stop for gas in Virginia.

So far we’ve had a pretty productive day, mainly just relaxing/swimming, etc.. on the beach here in front of the hotel…

An absolute BEAUTIFUL beach.  We also took a quick little walk around Kill Devil Hills, stopped by a few local shops, and had lunch at “Kill Devil’s Frozen Custard & Beach Fries.”  I am not going to lie, I had THE absolute best burger I think I’ve ever had.  I got the Kill Devil Burger (Double Meat, Double Cheese, Double Bacon & “Fixins.” Delicious!

Really great atmosphere, I’m glad we decided to choose there to eat our first meal in the Outer Banks.

I’ve been awake since yesterday afternoon at around 12 PM EST.  At around 28 hours in I am starting to feel a bit tired, but ready to go hard until at least 10 or 11 PM tonight.  We’re just relaxing at the moment about to plot out some of our plans for tomorrow and the rest of our time here.  It’s looking like tomorrow we will hit Cape Hatteras and Rodanthe, but that could easily change.  There are a lot of different things we would like to do while here.  I’ll keep you guys updated!  In the meanwhile, check out a few more of my favorite shots thus far!

The last photograph is of a shop within walking distance of our hotel.  Awesome store with a lot of reasonably priced Outer Banks merchandise (shot glasses, coffee cups, magnets, shirts, etc..).  We will probably be picking up a few things there before leaving Outer Banks and heading to our next location on the 2010 OUP Photography Tour on Monday night…. Doswell, Virginia!

I’ll have more updates soon!