Once you've been on an island, you're never quite the same again.





This is a compensated review from BlogHer and the Shell family of cards.

Our budget is miniscule, and we were not able to take very many family vacations when the children were small. However, we did take three trips that the kids still talk about today, for all three trips were to the same place, yet each journey was completely different.

Three times in my children's lives, we took them to Ocracoke Island. Now, those of you who are not familiar with Ocracoke Island are really missing out, because this island is the most beautiful, the most unique, the most fun, and absolutely without a doubt the most economical vacation beach spot on the face of the earth.

Unfortunately, Ocracoke Island is just off the coast of North Carolina, and we live in Indiana.

This meant a long road trip in order to get there.

We took the same '92 white Chevy van all three times - miniscule budget, remember? - loaded up the kids and a friend for each, filled the van with diet coke, cherry Pepsi, bottled water, laundry detergent, packed bags, and a couple of watermelons (on islands, heavy things cost a bundle because everything has to be hauled over on a boat, remember. It's always best to bring your own heavy stuff.) and set off for the east coast.

Thankfully, we had our two Shell cards; they were the only credit cards we owned back then, and frankly, nobody would ever need any others. We had our Shell gas card and our Shell Mastercard.

With the gas card, we were able to keep track of every drop of fuel that big van drank. We had to stop at a Jiffy-Lube on one trip, and the Shell card was good there, too. Whew.

The Shell Mastercard paid for everything else! As teachers, you see, we didn't get paid in the summer, so the Shell cards allowed us a vacation, and let us pay both cards off in the fall when we started getting paid again. Thank you, Shell cards!

The road trip took a long time - 18 hours - so since we had kids in the van, we stopped frequently. The Shell Mastercard was good at every restaurant and motel. We also used it at the King's Island Theme Park in Cincinnatti where the kids talked us into stopping for a few hours. It was a good stop, too. Highly recommended. Thanks again, Shell Mastercard! (They've got an Eiffel Tower there!)

Once on the island, we unpacked the van and headed for the general store to stock the kitchen. It was a local mom and pop store, but they were happy to take our Shell Mastercard. The lady at the register said Shell cards were good anywhere on the island, in fact.

Once established in our rental, we made a list of all the sights we HAD to hit while we were here, and believe me, Ocracoke Island is near a lot of cool places! First of all, one word: lighthouses. We saw fabulous lighthouses on those trips. I do love to look at a lighthouse. It takes me back years, to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and even Pete's Dragon. Sigh.

We drove to The Lost Colony of Roanoke, too. This is a fantastic place for school-age kids; the history and the re-enactments and the museum are all very interesting. Plus, the locals all say that Andy Griffith hangs out there all the time.

Kitty Hawk is nearby, too. Contrary to popular belief, however, the Wright Brothers did not fly there. They flew at Kill Devil Hills, but had to go to Kitty Hawk to use their telegraph.

The beaches on Ocracoke are . . . well, the right word hasn't been invented yet. Just let me say, I'll never go to Florida again after experiencing an Ocracoke beach.

We drove all up and down the Outer Banks, in fact. Hatteras was fun, but too touristy and crowded for our taste. We much preferred the almost deserted beaches of Ocracoke.

If it hadn't been for our two Shell cards, we would never have been able to go on those road trips to our island. Thank you, Shell.

For a limited time only, Shell is offering a return of 30 cents per gallon on the first 100 gallons purchased with a Shell Cardwithin a 90-day period. The promotional savings is available at all Shell-branded stations nationwide for those who sign up and are approved for a new Shell Card from June 29, 2009, to September 30, 2009. Whatta deal!

You can track your Shell Card usage online now, too! For more information about Shell Cards, click here.

Check out the other BlogHer reviewers' tales from the road.

The Shell family of cards is great for Summer road trips.