OT help: Outer Banks NC

Capt_Cully

Capt_Cully

Active member
Looking for a new vacation spot to check out next summer. We did The Cape last year. Been there before, liked it. Heard about OBX and wanna check it out. We're planning for next August or early September 2012 (grounded this year with babies :hmm5: )

ANY tips, locations, restaurants, realty offices, locations (nag's, duck, corolla, etc...) greatly appreciated. I've got a year to put it together, but I've never been, so I have no frame of reference. Oh, looking to rent a house (as opposed to condo, or hotel).

Thanks peeps :spin3:
 
Avon is great too. Easy driving distance to bungee jumping, restaurants, and a bunch of other activities. Check out the listings on Sun realty for house renting, it's the company we went through.

Edit: Here's the website, forgot to add it.

http://www.sunrealtync.com/
 
Ha been there too J. Looking for new frontiers.

I was on the sun realty site earlier, if you found them reputable, that's a great resource!

Thanks, keep the tips comin'.
 
I second Avon, NC. Beautiful beaches on the ocean side and the sound has some of the best kayaking and fishing I have done. We went with outer beaches realty the past 3 years.
 
OBX is one of the best vacation spots on the east coast!! Certainly my favorite by far. The beaches are amazing, the waves are always huge. It's very freeing down there too. No life guards or regulations etc. And the houses are always wonderful!! Mini golfing is amazing as well and so is the ferry ride to okracoke island where there are wild horses and lots of cool little shops. I would seriously consider living there all year round. I have stayed in Buxton, Frisco, Waves, and Avon and I would have to say that Avon was probably my favorite because its closest to the majority of the corporate entertainment like food, bars, night life. And the cape is typically narrower there so the walk from your house to the beach is very short. Anywhere you stay, the kayaking on the soundside is amazing, especially at dusk!! Do it, you'll love it. I always use Midget Realty and most of them will work with you on the price too.
 
Been going to the OBX there every year since 1982. Love it. My son and daughter in law were there for the 4th of July. We have a 2 br ,2.5 bath townhome in Kitty Hawk, 200ft from the beach with two decks for views.The complex of 80 townhouses has a pool,hot tub, tennis,clubhouse with racquet ball etc. It rents through a realty agency that manages it for us.. Not trying to rent it . It and many other properties book early , usually by February, prime season weeks are mostly gone. .LMK when you firm up your plans I can share some of our favorite spots with you.
 
Excellent tips guys! Tom, I know you're not trying to solicit me, so no worries there. If it were just me and immediate family, I'd take it, but mostly just to steal your towels ;) . We're looking for a beach (or near beach) house as it going to be an extended family deal. Basically me and all the in-laws. I do something like this once a year and it allows me to be my miserable, irritable self the other 51 weeks.

We're going to have a few little ones along, so as appealing as the kayaking sounds, not gonna happen for us. I'll definitely search that island online. Shops are always good for wife, sis-in-law and mom-in-law.

I've heard good things about Avon and Corolla so far. Mostly interested in the beach and proximity to if,, for the kiddies.

Thanks for the tips so far!
 
I just got back from the OBX. My girlfriend and I went down, first time I'd been there, 3rd time for her. It was nice, but considering all they OBX hype, I was a little disappointed. We stayed at the Hampton Inn (private beach) in Corolla. Hotel and beach was nice, but there was nothing else around (no food/activities within walking distance). Go a bit north into the town of Corolla, or south to Duck or Kitty Hawk if you want some life around you.

The one thing that did surprise me (pleasantly so) is that it was primarily families... very low key and easy going. I saw very few groups of (what appeared to be) college kids, and saw no drunken shenanigans.

My impression is that it's a great family destination, but it's not the kind of place I would make an annual destination.
 
+1 for OBX and Sun Realty. Used them 8 times all with great service. I'm not affiliated. I've been going on and off for 30 years. Parents had a house before the dot com boom caused all the growth. North of Kitty Hawk if you want quiet. Not much up there if you don't golf. Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head have most action you will get. For great food, Mama Kwan's (From Pad Thai to burgers) , Tortuga's Lie (seafood), Kill Devil Grill. Kelly's is the nightlife place. There are a couple of others. Breakfast at Sam and Omie's. Or the Dune's if you like the breakfast bar thing.

South of Nags Head is also quiet. I have only been there for day trips. There is a water park further south.

There is a small aquarium near Manteo and 10 mi west of Nags Head. There is also an air park that does biplane rides.

Don't get caught crossing the bridge after 3:00pm on checkin day. Traffic is crazy.

I like having a pool at the house cause I have kids too. We stayed at Mojo and Love shack (keep the snickers to a minimum). They are basically the same house. They are across the street from the beach. Very easy walk with even the most gear intensive kids. Also has a w/ pool and hot tub, pool table, baby gate, high chair, pack and play etc. The pool + monitor is great for nap time. You'll find that most rentals have kid's stuff so you don't need to bring it.

One more thing, there are two rental places that rent crib and other kid stuff pretty inexpensively. HTH
 
The surf fishing usually get's hot in the fall
Sept might be a better better than Aug. Oct is the best ,ime if surf fishing is a goal. There are access points near Oregon Inlet wher you can take a 4 whwell drive vehicle on the beach. Saltware and freshwater fishing( pretty fair small mouth fishing in creeks joining the sound) Unfortunately these days you need a license for either but they do toursits licenses . If you plan to fish it's easy to get one on line via the state of North Carolina website. TWs in Kitty Hawk on abut milepost 4 is a very good bait and tackle shop with good reports on daily fishing conditions.

We've enjoyed the aquarium in Manteo several times, small but big enough with mostly species indigenous to the OBX.
The Wright brothers memorial in Kill Devil Hills is interesting and they do a good historical presentation the first flight.
The Lost Colony pageant is colorful enjoyable play about the first colonists and the legend of Virginia Dare. They hold it in an outdoor amphitheater (bring mosquito repellent) at the spot were the first English colonists landed.
There is also a functional replica of the first ship to reach the shores of the New World, replete with a cast. IIRC, there is a spot near the ship where kids can looked through the gravel and sand for sharks teeth.
The Christmas Shoppe in Manteo and the shops around it are nice.
The centers of activity are from milepost 1 to milepost 10 or so( Kittty Hawk, Kill DEvil Hills and Nags Head) Manteo and Duck. Further north and south it's beautiful more rustic with less activity.
For food we like:

The Rundown Caffe, Hurricane Mos, the Black Pelican and The Jolly Roger and Pancake House for breakfasts. I'll ask my wife for a few more.
 
Bald Head Island

Bald Head Island

The best place on the Carolina Coast IMO is Bald Head Island. We go every year - sleepy compared to most of the outer banks. Play golf, watch turtles hatch at night, fish and crab in tidal creeks or surf fish - can't beat it no cars on the island which you have to take a ferry to. Weekend at Bernie's was filmed there for reference. It is the tip of cape fear - if your looking for relaxed and sleepy - can't beat it.
 
We go almost every year. We always stay just north of Duck. We like the low key atmosphere of everything around. Sight-see during the day and have family time at night. Get a house with a pool table and a fridge. Put beer in fridge, take beer, play pool. A house with a theater room is nice too. Good luck.
 
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