Uncategorized – Bucket List Travel With The Karr Family

Barefoot Bernie’s

Barefoot Bernie’s is a local favorite that sits on the main strip of highway 158 in Kitty Hawk, NC. Its hard to miss the building with its outdoor island decor as your driving by. My wife and I decided to stop in for lunch after finding it on our favorite app, “Find me Gluten Free; ” with over 150 reviews and almost 5 star rating we would have been crazy not to!

Prior to coming we spoke with the owner, Chris Vlahos, who is very easy to talk to and answered all of our dietary questions. He invited us to come in and he would take care of the food to ensure it was free from Gluten and Soy. We arrived for lunch and as soon as we entered we were promptly seated at a high top table at in the bar area. As we looked through the menu, we took the time to look around the restaurant. The layout of the restaurant has a dining side and a large bar area. There were multiple TV’s for the purpose of watching sports, which is a highly promoted in their restaurant as the place to be for major sports games. The atmosphere was not overly loud and gave for a comfortable environment to sit back and enjoy your yourself.

Now back to the menu. Barefoot Bernie’s touts a sizable menu that offers something for everyone in the family.

“The diverse menu blends together cuisines as varied as Asian and Caribbean, Mediterranean and down-home American with ease, using fresh ingredients with a unique touch. The amount of options and variation ensures every member of your family will leave satisfied(Bernies Menu).”

Our server came to the table and took our drink orders. My wife and I explained the allergies of Gluten and Soy to the server. The server was friendly and tried to answer our questions and look up ingredients, because the owner was busy at the time. After a couple of rounds of, “is it safe,” Chris arrived and helped walk us through the many options. Chris was just as friendly in person as he was on the phone, and genuinely wanted to help; never once did he make us feel like we were an annoyance. My wife and I both decided on Mahi Mahi Sandwiches on a GF bun and side salads. Chris left us with an assurance that he would make sure he was with the food every step of the way.

It was not long before our food came out. It was well prepared and plated beautifully. On first bite the Mahi was fresh and seasoned well as one would expect it to be in the Outerbanks. The GF bun was toasted nicely and was still soft, unlike other restaurants where it is sometimes dry. Along with our sandwiches my wife enjoyed a signature Barefoot Bernies, Barefoot Punch, that came with a souvenir cup.

We finished our meals and filled our bellies. It was time to say goodbye for now. We enjoyed our visit to Barefoot Bernie’s and would recommend it to anyone making a travel down to OBX, and make sure when you do that you stop and say Hi to Chris letting him know Jason and Christina from Bucket List Travels sent you!

Bon Appetite!

Marriott in Kill Devil Hills, NC

“Towneplace suites is the Sweetest!”

This year for our 12 year anniversary we decided to be bold and pick a place we’ve never been to before, but has always been on our bucket list. We have always heard amazing things about the Outer Banks, NC or as the locals call it OBX; so we thought we would head down and enjoy a wonderful week checking out the beach and sightseeing. As we were looking around for places to stay we happened to notice Marriott opened a new hotel, Towneplace Suites in Kill Devil Hills. This hotel was conveniently located across the street from beach access and close to all the activities we were looking forward to visiting.

We stayed at the Towneplace Suites from July 21st to July 26th. We arrived late Sunday night after a long trip of traffic and accidents. The exterior of the Towneplace was very modern and chic with plenty of parking. On the outside was well thought out patio area with plenty of seating and grills for guests to use. The whole set up gave a “Welcome Home” and “come hang out and meet new people” vibe. When you first walk through the doors you will realize that unlike other hotels the front desk is located on the 1st floor, and not on ground level. This was confusing for most other guests arriving, but for us it made us curious to explore. When we found the check in desk we were lucky to find no line which made check in a breeze. The front desk staff member was very friendly and gave me all the information about the hotel. We got our keys and joyfully made it to or room.

For this trip we booked a studio with king size bed. At first glance the room was very modern, much like the outside of the building. It comes with an economy kitchen (full size fridge, microwave, dishwasher, and two burner stove top). It also has a Keurig coffee maker and toaster. The staff, if asked, will replace your K-cups daily with a refresh of your room; which is a big plus for these two coffee lovers. Everything was clean and neat, which is always a bonus when you arrive at a hotel after a long day. The bathroom contains a stand up shower w/no tub, and provides its own shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Another thing to note about Towneplace is, the entire hotel is pet friendly; every room comes with a magnet you put outside your door to indicate there is a pet inside. We were pleasantly surprised by how many dogs were there during our stay.

The biggest attraction from talking to most guest is how dog friendly the hotel is. It was a mecca of furr lovers during the week we were there; which made my wife miss her buddy, Chewy (we didn’t bring him this time because we were unsure of how he would do in the room, and we didn’t want to disturb others) but this didn’t seem to be a problem. During the whole time we were there the noise from pets was little to none. If you love your furry friend and do not want to leave him at home, bring him along and Towneplace will become their home away from home.

Aside from being pet friendly; the next big attraction during our stay was breakfast. Everyday starting at 7am- 930am the hotel has a continental breakfast. This breakfast has fresh brewed coffee, bagels/toast, yogurts, eggs and sausage, and a waffle making station. Our suggestion is to get there as early as possible to avoid waiting in the long lines of people, and for the staff to replenish items. Also, if you are not a fan of making your own coffee, breakfast coffee is only available till 10am; any time after that and you will be out of luck! After you have successfully filled your plate you have the option of sitting in the main dining area with beautiful tables and chairs or there is also a bar table facing out of long window to watch the sunrise or if you would like to sit on the balcony; they have tables there too.

In between our scheduled events and downtime we took a more thorough tour of the hotel. They have a 24 hour gym, and a salt water swimming pool that is open 6am-11 pm. Other amenities that I already mentioned earlier were two grill stations outside with large table to entertain large groups. Also, little things like wash stations were on each side of the hotel to wash off all that sand from the beach; which is a nice touch. While touring the hotel and talking to other guest we heard rumors of the hotel expanding and adding to the amenities it already had.

Rumor had it the owners would be adding on to the hotel. We confirmed with management and with permission are allowed to share they would be building a clubhouse across the street. This clubhouse will have beach access, with bathrooms and showers. There will also be a swimming pool for those who love the water and not the sand. To top it all off there will be a bar to enjoy a drink while soaking in the sun. This is very exciting news and we hope to review it when it is up and running next year. For now we leave our first visit to OBX feeling fully refreshed and ready for the next adventure!

Our Experience at Tale of a Whale in the Outer Banks, NC

For our first night of being in the Outer Banks we knew we wanted to go somewhere that was going to fill our rumbling stomachs and start our anniversary celebration off right! We searched google for some safe gluten-free friendly restaurants and found Tale of a Whale. Having an allergy to gluten and soy my wife has to research and email, and call places to make sure the owners can accommodate her. After speaking with the owner and him assuring us he would make sure our meal was safe we knew we had to try this place out. Prior to visiting most restaurants we always reach out and talk to the managers to insure they can accommodate the allergies and to understand the cooking practices in the kitchen to avoid cross contamination. I was very fortunate to get to talk to the owner Dan Bibey. Mr. Bibey was very nice and knowledgeable about the capabilities of his kitchen. I left the conversation feeling reassured that my wife and I would have a pleasant dining experience for our 12th anniversary.

Tale of a Whale, owned by Dan and Kathy Bibey. It is conveniently located on Highway 158 S along the bay, 12 minutes from our hotel. At first glance of the gray building it does not seem like much, but it is not what is on the outside that matters it is what is on the inside that counts. Tale of a Whale does not disappoint with its beautiful decor on the inside. They have both nice wooden booths and open tables. They can also accommodate large parties. As soon as we arrived it appeared very busy, but we were seated right away. Our table was a booth along the large bay window. The view of the water and outside gazebo were beautiful and added to the already romantic atmosphere.

As we were sitting in our booth we noticed pictures and statues of whales throughout the restaurant. It was not until we opened our menu we understood why. At the beginning of the menu was the restaurants history of how it opened and the ongoing family legacy of helping protect and save the whale species.. It added something unique to the dining experience, and you could feel the love and devotion to food the family has. This would be evident in the appetizers and main courses to come.

Whales sitting upon a shelf above our table

Our servers name was, Hannah. Hannah was very friendly and made sure she understood the gluten/ soy allergies. Never once did our server appear annoyed with our questions about food preparations or ingredients. This is a big plus when going out for allergies. Many people with allergies feel they are always a problem and feel guilty for asking or feel like the restaurants make them not welcomed. Tale of a Whale takes pride in being able to accommodate individuals with allergies.

We started off with the ½ lb of of Steamed Shrimp seasoned with Old Bay, and a side of melted real butter. If you are allergic to gluten and soy don’t be shy in asking for real butter. Most of the time if you request it restaurants have it as an option so do not be shy! Now, back to the food; the appetizer was steamed perfectly and the shrimp were perfect size. My wife and I ended up splitting the last one.

For dinner my wife ordered the, “Seafood Broil” and I ordered the, “Tale of a Whale Grill.” My wife’s seafood broil came with a delicious GF Crab cake, with a filet of flounder, a boat of delicious crab meat, and steamed green beans with a baked potato . If you could have seen my wife’s face light up when she found out the GF crab cake was safe. It has been years since my wife ate a crab cake and this was worth the wait. It was delicious and the crabmeat melted in your mouth with every bite. The rest of the dish was excellent as well.

Creamy Mashed potatoes and Sauteed green beans

My Tale of a Whale Grill was just as special. The dinner initially comes with a 5oz filet mignon, skewered shrimp, topped with crab meat and topped with a cajun cream sauce. The sides were sauteed green beans and creamy mash potatoes. The great thing about this dish is you have options to upgrade for a nominal fee to a 8oz filet mignon, 12oz pork chop, or 12oz NY strip. I chose to upgrade to the 8oz filet. The filet was perfectly cooked to medium, and was oh so tender. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. The cajun cream sauce added that extra pop to the plate and left me wanting more when it was over.

Flounder with fresh crab meat, a crabcake, green beans and a baked potato all Gluten Free and Soy Free

At the end of our meal our server and Mr. Bibey himself came out to wish us a Happy anniversary and presented us with two glasses of Prosecco topped with strawberries. This made the night extra special.

Overall, our dining experience at, Tale of a Whale, will not be forgotten. It was great to find a place that was attentive to our allergies, and took great care to make sure everything was safe. These actions go along way with us and we are glad to share this experience with you. If you ever go to Kill Devil Hills, NC make sure you stop at, Tale of a Whale. It will be a dining experience you will never forget, and we will definitely return to this gem! Only 12 minutes from @towneplacesuiteskilldevilhills #outerbanks #killdevilhills #vacation #bucketlisttravelwiththeKarrfamily #bucketlist #spendlifelivingnotjustsurviving #celiacsafe #glutenfree #soyfree @ Tale of The Whale

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining us!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

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Bucket List Travels With The Karr Family was birthed out of my wife’s years of fighting life threatening diseases that robbed us of family time and memories. We know what its like to have a very small budget to make laughs and giggles. There were many years where all our memories were made in a bed or a hospital. My wife still battles many things but we have decided we will not let life rob us of anymore, life is what we make it, and we desire to live life more abundantly. We felt like our days were running together and time was flying by year to year with nothing fun to show for it. So, one day we found an amazing opportunity to be a travel agent of a larger company, so here we are. Our motto is to spend life LIVING not just SURVIVING. Together we will work with your budget to find something worth the memories and giggles! Message us today for your FREE quote!