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DEL.ICIO.USAre you a fan of the Outer Banks?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
More and more metro Atlantans are sporting the initials of their favorite beaches on the rear windows and bumpers of their cars. While I expect to see the little oval stickers for nearby beaches like HHI (Hilton Head), SSI (St. Simons) and TYB (Tybee Island), I have noticed an increasing number of cars showing Atlantans’ love for the OBX - the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
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I have been intrigued for years by my northern friends’ passion for the string of islands thrust out from the North Carolina coast. They would trek south every year to vacation in places like Duck, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. But I never could muster enough enthusiasm to travel nearly 12 hours and pass countless other beautiful beaches along the way — until this year.
After scrapping an ambitious plan to take the kids Down East in Maine, a little trip to Down East, NC really didn’t seem that big of a deal. We decided to get our feet wet with an OBX vacation on the southernmost “bank” - Ocracoke Island (or OINC if you want the bumper sticker).
It was a long, long drive that ended with a nearly 2.5-hour ferry ride across the shallow Pamlico Sound. The narrow island is only accessible by ferries, private boat or air, and only about 800 people live there year-round. Even at the height of summer season, it didn’t feel terribly crowded.
On the southern tip is the small village, the harbor, a beautiful lighthouse and a museum dedicated to the infamous Blackbeard. The pirate often sought refuge on Ocracoke and was killed in battle just off the island’s coast in 1718. In the village, you can eat, drink, shop, fish, parasail, jet ski, kayak, learn to surf or just enjoy a place where most people ditch their cars in favor of bikes. Because the National Park Service owns much of the island, it remains largely undeveloped - in contrast to villages up the Outer Banks where mini-golf, waterslides and vacation houses abound.
A short distance from the village is the lifeguarded beach that was ranked the best beach in the country in 2007, but we spent most of our time up island on nearly-deserted sands further north. Ocean waves were huge; the sand was pure white, the shells plentiful and the dunes stunning. However, the absence of lifeguards means you have to be more careful to avoid strong rip currents there.
After a week of kayaking, boating, and body surfing - plus a very cool day trip up the Outer Banks to check out the Wright Brothers Museum and the Lost Colony of Roanoke - the kids are already planning next year’s trip.
Have you ever visited the Outer Banks? Which area is your favorite? Where do you stay (house/hotel/camping) when you go? Do you think it’s worth the long drive from Georgia?
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Permalink | Comments (32) | Post your comment | Categories: Beaches, Southeast travel
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Comments
By Howard Schellenberg
July 9, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
Thanks for your interesting and informative article on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
It is a unique place indeed, full of natural wonders and endless, empty beaches.
For those of your readers who wish to learn more about this wonderful area or to stay connected to the Outer Banks in between their trips to the OBX, may I suggest a visit to the following website:
http://www.obeex.com
Here you can find current Outer Banks weather, news, fishing and community information not available elsewhere…much of it written and produced by Outer Banks experts.
Again, thanks for the article.
By Theresa
July 9, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
hey keith - it sounds fantastic — we may have to drive a little further than the HH and the TBY as the kids get older — i think yours were the perfect age for this adventure!!
By New to OBX
July 9, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Coincidentally, I’m going to OBX this weekend for a week’s stay with some friends at a beach house. For those who have been before, what is a don’t miss and what should we avoid? Where are the best local places to eat? Are mosquitos/biting flies a nuisance? Thanks for any tips.
By Diana
July 9, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
I went to the OBX for the first time this June and I am in LOVE!! It is a gorgeous area! yes, the drive is long, but oh, so worth it. I am from FL, raised on the beach, but the OBX is my new favorite beach destination. You MUST eat at John’s Drive-In for fried dolphin (mahi-mahi) and KILLER milkshakes. it’s in Kitty Howk, I believe. I am not going to tell you which hotel we stayed in since getting a reservation was hard enough as it was, haha, but it was great, right on the beach! I made a reservation for next year right then.
By Martha
July 9, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
My parents used to take my siblings and I to the OBX. I feel in love with the area long ago.
I love beaches. I love secluded beaches even more. Even at the height of the summer, the beaches were only sparsely dotted with people. I mean, no we weren’t in complete seclusion, but you didn’t have to rub elbows with your neighbors. [I don’t enjoy beaches like Myrtle Beach, Panama City, or Destin. Everyone and their mother is there.]
We usually stay in Avon. Nice area. We always do venture to Okracoke Island and visit all the little shops.
I would recommend the OBX to all, however, be prepared for a long drive from Atlanta
By PHR
July 9, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
My family went to the Outer Banks more than 5 years ago and fell in love with it. We stayed in Avon in a rental house for a week. Most of the lodging on the Outer Banks is in vacation rental homes. We didn’t see many motels/hotels. We drove all the way south to Ocracoke and then went all of the way north to Corolla and made stops all along the way. It was absolutely beautiful. When we went you could campfires on the beach so we did that one night and had a major bug attack. We watched kite surfers which is really fun to watch if you haven’t seen it. We went to Kitty Hawk and checked out the Wright Brothers stuff.
The 12 hour drive was a lot, but it was well worth it. We can’t wait to get back there. We were waiting for our son to get a little older so that the ride wouldn’t be that painful for the family.
By JJ
July 9, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
Looks like I have another destination on my “Places To Go To” list. However, I won’t be able to get there for at least 4 years……too many other places on the list before OBX…..
I have several friends who have been. One did not like it at all, said it was too deserted (She’s very social). Another friend goes there every year.
By WWElls
July 9, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Great timing for an the blog! I am planning a trip with my wife and lab sometime in August. We have never been. We will be looking for decent accommodations that are dog friendly. We plan on starting in the south part and working our way north. Any suggestions?
By ACG
July 9, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
Darn. I see that the secret is getting out with more & more OBX stickers on peoples cars around Atlanta. Actually just got back from OBX three day’s ago. It is a wonderfully place & so worth the 12 hr drive (8 months pregnant & I still made it). I would highly recommend staying in Duck or Corolla. If you want a quiet place to lay on the beach & spend time with friends & family this is the place. If you want amusement parks & bars then stay away.
By JJ
July 9, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
WWElls for dog/pet friendly hotels, etc, check out www.petswelcome.com. They have a ton of listing throughout the US, cabins, cottages, hotels, Inns, etc.
By Thomas
July 9, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
I spent seven consecutive years vacationing on Ocracoke w/ some good bluegrass buddies, and boy did we have fun between the music and fishin’! The seafood obviously is sooo fresh, and the trips out to the Gulf Stream sure are a worth while investment, and you get to keep what you catch! One of these days I dream of staging a bluegrass festival on the island on the plot of land off the harbor and on the way to the lighthouse.
Ocracoke Island is truly one of the most amazing places in the good ol’ US of A!
By Give Matt Ryan a chance
July 9, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
I like Kiawah Island in SC better but OBX is certainly beautiful.
By Keith
July 9, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
WElls — I would check with the local realty companies on the islands. They could probably steer you toward pet friendly rentals.
Also, we met a few people last week who were staying in the Ocracoke beach campground. I don’t if you’re up for beach camping, but these guys raved about it. They had been staying there for years.
New to OBX — You asked about mosquitos and biting flies. They are definitely there, but I wouldn’t call them a nuisance (at least not at the time we were there). The winds and blowing sand are so strong on the beach that I never really noticed them there. We did have to swat away a few biting flies when we were in the village and on the sound side of Ocracoke. Still, I wouldn’t say they were a nuisance.
If you go to the village of Portsmouth — just across the inlet on Portsmouth Island — the mosquitos/flies are pretty aggressive. It’s about a mile to a mile-and-half walk from the Portsmouth village pier where your boat drops you before you reach the winds of the P.I. beach, so take plenty of bug spray for the walk.
Thomas — Keep us posted on your bluegrass festival. It sounds cool, and I love the south side of the harbor. Absolutely beautiful.
By OBXChris
July 9, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
just returned last night from a long weekend in OBX - my fourthtime there in the last four years. My wife and I drove the first year we went, but now we fly Airtran to Newport News (airport code PHF) and then it’s a two hour drive to the heart of the region. We stay with friends in Colington, just east of Kill Devil Hills. As for must do’s in the area, for sure visit the Wright Brothers memorial, Jockey Ridge state park (tallest sand dunes in the country) and if you’re into lighthouses, it’s worth the drive down south to the Hatteras lighthouse. The short drive to Manteo is worth it if you’re into history (the Outer Banks History museum is located in Manteo) and the Manteo arts festival is worth seeing. Anyone headed there soon, feel free to e-mail me and I’ll be happy to answer any questions.
By NCFan
July 9, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
Been a fan of OBX for about 6 years. Traveled there both winter and summer for exciting times at the Wright Museum, Corolla wild horses down to Hattaras. Best seafood Owens (http://www.owensrestaurant.com/) in Nags Head, the crab dip is fantastic and the setting is nostalgic 70’s.
By NCFan
July 9, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
Been a fan of OBX for about 6 years. Traveled there both winter and summer for exciting times at the Wright Museum, Corolla wild horses down to Hattaras. Best seafood Owens (http://www.owensrestaurant.com/) in Nags Head, the crab dip is fantastic and the setting is nostalgic 70’s.
By Diana
July 9, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
I love Cape Hateras ! The beach is gorgeous, and you can pretty much have it to yourself in several areas. Great place to get a nude suntan if you don’t mind a good walk.
By dreena
July 9, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
I have lived on and loved the Outer Banks for most of my life. Whenever I leave and return, I still get excited when I cross the bridge to return home. I have seen many changes over the years, but some things remain constant; beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and God’s miracles of nature everyday…
By Silver Creek Doug
July 9, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
My wife and I and about 12-15 of our friends go to the OBX the last week of September/first week of October every year. We are involved in a canine rescue group (Chesapeake Bay Retriever) and do it as a get-together for any and all of our volunteers and families who have rescued dogs from us. It’s after the tourist season, but can still be warm during the day. We stay in Rodanthe, about 20 miles south of Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills. It takes about 10 1/2 hours to get there, but it is breathtaking. I grew up in the Tybee/HHI area and I like the OBX better. I am SO ready to go back in early October! It’s the one vacation I can’t do without every year.
By Onward
July 9, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
Another fan of the Outer Banks here.
I love Manteo—what a quaint little village! The Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo is a great place for kids as well as adults. Also loved Kitty Hawk—the most awesome place to fly a kite after trekking to the top of unbelievably huge sand dunes! Ocracoke is well worth the ferry ride.
OBX is well worth the LONG drive!
By jeff
July 9, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
To OBX Chris-Jockey Ridge is wonderful and beautiful….. but the sand dunes are the highest east of the Mississippi- they are just a bump compared to Great Sand Dunes National Monument in south central Colorado. I will hazard a guess that the eight? hundred foot dunes there are five times as high.
By Filster
July 10, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
Been going to the Outer Banks for about 16 years now, and it is truly heaven on earth. Relaxing (don’t bring your attitude), great seafood (Blue Point, a must eat at!), go deep sea fishing out of the Oregon Inlet (came back with over 280# of yellowfni tuna and it was a so-so day), lots of sun and sand and beautiful, Carolina blue skies. Duck, Pine Island, Whalehead, etc. all have a certain magic for me, and I will return whenever I can. Would love to retire there. But hey Atlanta, y’all don’t want to go there. You can’t dive 80 mph, “attitudes” are appreciated, and the locals will treat you like everyone else and not kowtow to your every whim. So stay away and don’t spoil the place.
By Terry
July 10, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
Ocracoke is wonderful if you love peace and quiet and no incessant commercial activity. Many people are disappointed there are no houses or condos on the beach (it’s a national seashore), but the island is so small, it’s a 2 minute ride in the car from any house to the beach. The island is pure and the people are friendly. The only downside is the 12 hour trip from Atlanta to where you catch the ferry, but the ferry ride itself is relaxing. When you do want a little more activity, Hatteras Island is a 15 minute ferry ride north. From that point, you are inundated with fast-food restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys, pancake houses, mega-souvenir stands…the typical trappings of a beach vacation! Thankfully, there’s the oasis of Ocracoke to return to at the end of the day.
By Carolina Girl
July 10, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
Growing up in Charlotte, my family has vacationed there almost every summer. We meet our relatives from the North in the northernmost town of Corolla. It is the perfect beach destination if you are looking for a quiet, relaxing time. The island is so narrow up there, that we stay on the soundside and can walk to the beach on the other side of hwy 12. Hotels are rare, so we stay in homes both owned and rented my our family.
The area sure has grown over the past few years. About 10 years ago, we would have to drive to Duck or Kitty Hawk to even go grocery shopping! Now that I live in Atlanta, I have still made the trek the past two summers. It is a long drive, but I think it is worth it for how relaxing it is.
Great shopping, historic landmarks to visit and water activities… or you can do nothing at all!
By Bec
July 10, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
I lived in NC for 7 years and frequented the coast! In fact, that is the #1 thing I miss about NC! I think of the coast every summer. You MUST go a little farther north and check out the Currituck Lighthouse! It is by far my favorite landscape of NC!
By Bec
July 10, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
I lived in NC for 7 years and frequented the beach there.It is the #1 thing I miss about NC (2nd is the light traffic). I was only hour and a half from the coast, so it was easy to do day trips as well. My family who visited there loved it as well and want to go back. You MUST drive farther north and see the Currituck Lighthouse. It is by far my favorite landscape of NC!
By Ray
July 10, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
I have been going for over 40 years since I was a child. We leave Saturday for a week at Avon. We have stayed from the northern tip to the southern end and love almost all of it. We’ve spent lost of time in Destin, Sarasota, the Atlantic Florida coast, and even oceanfront Sanibel but no beach calls to me like this one.
By lucky
July 11, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
No thanks, cold as hell in the winter and spring. Aint nothin therE: barren, one day a hurricane will turn the OBX into a desert beach
By Susan
July 13, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
My family and I have been going to OBX for 22 years. We love it. we always rent a house,and this year with a POOL. YEAH Kill Devil Hills, I guess is our favorite spot. we love the HOTLINE stores and the Piers. the beach is always a favorite spot early in the morning for TREASURES. I would highly recommend THE OUTER BANKS TO ANYONE, IT IS SURE WORTH THE DRIVE. WE LIVE IN VIRGINIA, NEAR ROANOKE. cant wait, we will be there in september.
By Margaret
July 17, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
What a beautiful place and what lovely people live on the Outer Banks.
We have been all over the island, from Nags Head to Corolla and really do not have a favorite place, we love it all.
We usually rent a home and for the last few years have used Village Realty. One big reason is they make the beds and that was huge for me because I am on vacation and it is “no chores week”.
Last time we stayed in Nags Head, in the Village at Nags Head but I cannot remember the exact home. The kids like to go to the pool there and the husband loves golfing. Plus it is close to the outlet mall (Coach, 9 West!)
You have to go to (in no order): John’s Drive In in Kitty Hawk, Owen’s Restaurant in Nags Head, The Aquaurium in Manteo, The Lost Colony outdoor drama, Quagmire’s in Kill Devil Hills for drinks.
The kids will want to climb Jockey’s Ridge and for educational purposes take them to the Wright Brothers Monument, good exhibits.
If you stay in Corolla you might get to see the famous wild horses. Go see the lighthouse and the Whalehead Club too.
I have been to OUter Banks in the Fall and that is my favorite time. It was still very warm and everything was open.
By OBXGuy
July 17, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
A couple of places in the Outer BanksI would recommend to eat: JK’s Grille, Mama Kwan’s, Kill Devil Grill, Flying Fish Cafe. All of those are great places to try and dine. If you have any questions about the Outer Banks feel free to email me
By mike
July 18, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
I stay in the Village at Nags Head on the golf course. I don’t play golf but love the stunning views of the sound and fabulous sunset views each evening. If your house participates, you can use the ocean front Olympic pool, bar and grill, tennis courts, and full bath facilities. Best deal on the beach! I used Village Realty (www.villagerealtyobx.com) Super Super service. I stayed in a small house named Sandy Tee (L46). Great for small family (6 or less). Decorated unlike most homes with an exotic island flair. We loved it. Don’t overlook the off season time-frame and the OBX Marathon in November. Just awesome.