The Olde Brick Store, Swansboro, NC

We've found that it's pretty hard to get to know even the basics about a small place in less than three or four days. It takes that long to separate the tourist brochure hype from the reality.

While there might be a dozen restaurants in the area, if you cannot make a left turn across a road to get to one or if you continually have to wait forty-five minutes to be seated, the glossiness wears off quickly.

It doesn't take most people long to figure out that the better places to eat are most often the ones favored by the locals. That holds true for beaches and places to shop. Striking up a conversation with people running the local stores can bring out a wealth of information.

If you follow the herd, you will end up being part of the herd. The only way to really understand an area is to take the time to investigate it yourself and tallk to the people who live there.

One of the best ways to get local information is to attend local events. Some good examples in our area would be the Swansboro Oyster Roast, The Emerald Isle Saint Patrick's Day Festival, and the Newport Pig Cookoff.

If you like the events and the people, you will likely enjoy the area.

No one area is for everyone.

No two people see an area through the same eyes, what is paradise to one person can be a prison to another.

Make sure you use your eyes and not someone else's to make your decisions. You will be the one living with those decisions.