Last week we celebrated my wife’s birthday with a trip to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Our stay in the Outer Banks was the perfect combination of relaxation and fun.

Part of a string of barrier islands, Kitty Hawk became famous because of the Wright brothers, whose flight was actually just south of town. Kitty Hawk offers a village, a beach and a forest called Kitty Hawk Woods.

We stayed at Luckie Lady, a beach rental home with fantastic ocean views, a private beach deck and a gazebo across the street. Equipped with all modern conveniences including central AC and heat, washer/dryer, dishwasher, microwave, ceiling fans, phone, seven TVs, four DVDs and wireless internet, Luckie Lady has everything you need to be comfortable, entertained and connected while also sitting just a short 100-foot walk to your own private beach. The top level was clean and open, highlighted by a deck with a hot tub.

We had a lovely dinner at Ocean Boulevard in Kitty Hawk, now open at 50 percent capacity. It was great to be able to sit down and enjoy a dinner versus getting take out or cooking at home. We started with the famous seven lettuce salad. I enjoyed grilled tuna loin, a side of cheese grits and a vegetable side “stew” the chef called gravy, a super complement … light and refreshing. Yummy key lime cheesecake completed the dinner. Chasing Venus (in-house Sauvignon Blanc) was a fine complement to this refreshing meal. Our server, Kim, added to the experience by being informative and fun.

We already look forward to our next stay at Luckie Lady beachfront rental. In the meantime, there are several open dates for anyone else to take advantage of this perfect vacation spot.

— Francis X. Gallagher, publisher