Don't share this info with too many people! This destination is already busier due a popular Netflix show by the same name. The OUTER BANKS is by far my favorite beach destination! I grew up in North Carolina and spent many summers visiting the Outer Banks. I have so many awesome memories from family vacations. (Fun fact: the Outer Banks show was actually filmed outside of NC in the beautiful coastal areas of South Carolina.)
(Beach in Corolla)
(Lifeguard station in Corolla)
The Outer Banks (OBX for short) is a chain of barrier islands along the coast of North Carolina connected by bridges and ferries. The islands are about 200 miles long. The widest points are only 3 miles wide and the narrowest point is 150 yards. The OBX has a cool history that includes the Lost Colony, pirates, and the first airplane flights by the Wright brothers.
(Soft sand beaches in the OBX)
(Inside the Currituck Lighthouse)
When I was young we would often go camping on the Outer Banks usually close to Cape Hatteras lighthouse before it was moved (to preserve it from harsh Atlantic hurricanes and storms). During our summer camping trips, it was always hot with sand everywhere (everywhere...) and the mosquitos and horseflies (bugs in general) had a special way of zeroing in on campers but I loved camping at the beach. I spent most of the day swimming in the ocean and playing in the sand.
(View of the beach in Corolla)
(View of the Currituck Sound near Whalehead Club)
These days, it takes a little longer to travel to the Outer Banks since I no longer live in North Carolina. My family and I usually stay in a hotel or rent a beach house when we visit instead of camping. On my most recent visit, we flew into Norfolk, Virginia before renting a car (completely necessary to get around) driving about 2 1/2 hours to Corolla (northern area of the OBX). It's also possible to fly into Raleigh and drive east but it's a slightly longer drive. (If you're lucky enough to live close by, I'm super jealous! And, I've tricked Devin into one day retiring in NC and hopefully living somewhere on the Outer Banks.)
(Cheerwine, delicious NC beverage)
(Beach house in Corolla)
My main goal with this post is to help give anyone interested an idea of what to do and expect when visiting the Outer Banks especially if it's a first visit (and nicely insist that you allow me to help you plan your trip)! So, let's dig in!
What to do on an OBX trip?
Number 1 priority should be to visit the beach as much as possible!!! Certain areas are crowded especially during the summer but there's almost always a small stretch of beach somewhere with little to no people on it. Especially if you avoid busier areas, you can have lots of room for yourself and your family compared to other beach destinations. Tip: Small little crabs (called ghost crabs) are very common in the OBX. You'll probably see young kids and families searching for them with flashlights at night. It's fun to do this and find these little critters. Safety pointer: Watch the beach reports and be mindful for rip currents (especially with little kiddos).. The OBX jots out into the Atlantic Ocean where several currents meet, so these areas can be more prone to "rip tides" which can quickly pull swimmers miles out into the ocean.
(Lifeguard station in Corolla)
(Beach in Corolla)
Visit the island of Roanoke (particularly Manteo)! Manteo is a cute little historic town on Roanoke Island with a lot to do. Roanoke Island was home to the famed Lost Colony established in 1585, whose's fate remains a mystery for historians until this day. Today, the area has a small lighthouse, the Lost Colony play (I highly recommend seeing this play. It's a great way to learn more about what happened to the colony. If it works for your budget, the VIP tour is awesome. During the VIP tour, you get a backstage tour of the set and how they make the customer and amazing seating during the play. Tip: Don't forget to bring bug spray!), the Elizabethan Gardens (This is a pretty garden area with a European vibe.), Roanoke Island Festival Park (This is great for kids! It's like a learning center but it's hands on. There's a replica of a very old ship, a place to learn about metal and wood working a long time ago and lots of activities.), boat tours in the Albemarle and Croatan Sounds, and more.
(Lost Colony play outdoor theater)
(Pirate statue at Roanoke Festival Island Park)
(Boat tour in the Sound near Manteo)
Ocracoke Island is also a must see. It's a small island towards the southern end of the OBX that's only accessible by ferry (There are car and pedestrian options for the ferry). This island has the feel of a pirate cove hideout, and is the location where the famous Captain Blackbeard met his infamous death in a battle with British soldiers. There's a small but cool lighthouse, amazing seafood, a beautiful bay town that you can walk through, and the beaches are amazing! It's the perfect pirate...tourist hideout!
(Ocracoke Lighthouse)
The Outer Banks has a history of intense shipwrecks. In order to curb accidents, lighthouses were built along the islands. The lighthouses are still functional, and some are open to the public like Cape Hatteras, Bodie Island, and Currituck. It's possible to walk to the top these 3 lighthouses. It takes some endurance but the views are insanely awesome. When I was young, Cape Hatteras was dangerously close to falling into the ocean. So, it was moved inland (it took 23 days to move it about 2,900 feet) and now sits in a different location about 1,500 feet from the ocean. The Currituck lighthouse is one of my favorites. It's not painted black and/or white like the other lighthouses. During our last trip, we saw lightning strike it from our beach house. It was nuts but happens often.
(Currituck Lighthouse)
(Cape Hatteras Lighthouse)
(View from the top of Currituck Lighthouse)
Did you know that there are wild colonial Spanish mustangs (well, offspring of colonial mustangs) which are uber protected and live on the shores of the Outer Banks? It's possible to take a tour of the areas where they live. These majestic Spanish mustangs are the decedents of mustangs that escaped shipwrecks and survived onshore! But be warned; it's illegal to ride, touch, or feed the horses. I went on a tour during my last visit. The guide took our group up to an area called Corova near the Virginia border. We were in a 4x4 vehicle driving through sand dunes. The horses were beautiful. It was strange to see them eating grass around beach houses and on sand dunes. Corova is an interesting place by itself. The only way to reach it is to drive up the beach in a 4x4 (Cars can and do get stuck in the sand. It's sad and costs a lot of money to have them towed; so, it's best to avoid that scenario). There's also a wall/fence separating North Carolina and Virginia. At one point it was possible to drive down the beach from Virginia Beach to the Outer Banks but that way has been walled up for a long time. It's still possible to hike it but it's a looong hike.
(Wild mustangs in Corova)
(Wild mustangs in Corova next to houses)
The Wright Brothers Memorial is a visitor center with a memorial commemorating the Wright Brother's accomplishments flying the first successful airplane flights. It's great for history lovers. The memorial includes a visitor's center with tons of information and a life size replica of the a Wright Brother's plane. Outside there are markers set up to show the distances of the first flights. And, up on a small hill sits the memorial which is a nice walk if you want some extra exercise for the day. The Wright Brothers were bike makers from Ohio that decided to experiment with building planes. They picked Kitty Hawk as their testing grounds because of the steady wind and open sandy stretches of land (and general privacy for their flying tests). At the time, it was a challenge to reach Kitty Hawk. There were few people on the OBX and no bridges to drive across to access the islands at the time. It took a lot of persistence, endurance, and trial and error but the brothers were successful at flying in the long run.
(Wright Brothers memorial)
Outdoor activities!!! There's swimming, boating, fishing, hang gliding (Jockey's Ridge), hiking, surfing, and probably more that I'm forgetting. Devin's goal is to go deep sea fishing when we go back to the OBX. Fishing is huge in the OBX.
(Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean)
(Boat tour)
My favorite thing to do is enjoy fresh seafood and Duck Donuts (original location)! There are lots of great restaurants or places to purchase seafood to cook back at a rental house. I particularly like low country boils. Throwing potatoes, corn, shrimp, crab, and other seafood in a pot and cooking it all together is delicious and satisfying. And, a trip to a nearby Duck Donuts will not disappoint. Warm donuts with chocolate melted over the top sounds amazing right now. 🍩🤤
(Low country boil with shrimp)
(Original Duck Donuts location in Duck, NC)
Where to stay?
There are a few options I would suggest. My favorite is to rent a fun beach house. There are hundreds of options. If possible, opt for one with a pool and some sort of beach access. Being on the beach is optimal but not necessary. (Remember, because these are barrier Islands, almost everyone is close to the water). Beach houses usually have kitchens too. Eating out is fun but it can be really awesome to make a few meals in a beach house.
(Beach house in Corolla)
(Inside the 4x4 on the Wild Horse tour)
Hotels are another option. Although, the Outer Banks has fewer hotel options than other beach destinations. There's TownPlace Suites by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn and Suites, Holiday Inn Express, and many other local Inns and motels. These are usually in more busier areas (Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head) of the Outer Banks but can be closer to attractions and places to eat.
(Manteo Lighthouse)
My least favorite option is camping but that's mostly due to the fact that it's challenging to travel/fly with camping gear and the "killer" bugs have no mercy on campers. Options include a nice KOA near Cape Hatteras and various state campgrounds. However, it is easier and kind of unique and magical to see the stars so clearly at night while camping.
(Our kids loved the hammocks at the beach house)
(Beach fun in Corolla)
How long should I plan to stay?
Honestly, I would say forever but anywhere from a few days to a week or two if possible. Many of the rentals allow visitors to rent out space for about a week or longer. Hotels are great for a few days as most beach house require a week or more. Any time that you have to spend at the Outer Banks is hopefully going to be an amazing experience.
(Corolla beach house with beach access)
I'm so pumped to go back. Going to start planning a trip for my family now! If you're interested in traveling to the OBX, I would be happy to help out. Reach out and let me know!
(View of Currituck Lighthouse from the Whalehead Club)
(Inside small store in Rodanthe)
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