What do you get when you mix Tropical Storm Imelda with Hurricane Humberto? VACATION on the coast of North Carolina.

This past April, brother Bob suggested a late September visit to his favorite rental on Emerald Isle. Dave and I jumped at the chance, as the coast of NC was utterly foreign to us. With five of us splitting the cost, the luxury of residing at an oceanside beach house became blissfully affordable. Calendars marked, anticipation high.

Off-season is an excellent time to visit the beach—no crowds, late summer temperatures, and a decidedly mellow vibe. Although the Hurricane season runs until November, the risk seemed worth the reward.

As luck would have it, Hurricane Humberto threatened four days before departure. Having gone through Helene last year, Dave and I were not up to facing any potential crisis. Dave monitored the weather, while I crossed my fingers. Fortunately, the night before the drive, Pesky Tropical Storm Imelda made her play and pushed everything away from the coast. Our coast was clear—so to speak.

A six-hour drive is a bit of a trek, but doable. Dave, Bob, Suzanne, Kevin, and I spent our first evening at the beach as most good fishermen do—sipping bourbon and watching giant waves surge against the shoreline.

Mornings gave way to long walks on the beach. Hopeful fishermen planted themselves in the sand, casting their lines into choppy waters. Kevin and Bob challenged the 8-foot waves—they were both, as Suzanne said, “60 going on 6.”

We spent an afternoon at the North Caroline Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, learning about the fish and wildlife that inhabit the coast. Bob and Kevin entertained the crowd by stepping into a Hurricane simulator.

Overall, there was no agenda. We played Mölkky in the sand. We flew a kite. Kevin cooked gourmet scallops (from the New Jersey shore)—no TV—just ocean. Through sun, clouds, rain, and wind, we frolicked.

Oh—and this sunset was more than magical. It was everything a beach vacation could be.