any recommendations for N.C. Outer Banks?

[disykat]

Usually we plan vacations over a year ahead, but this year we're starting late. We had planned on moving and not vacationing. Now we're staying put so it looks like we may go visit relatives in the Virginia Beach area and then head down to North Carolina. I've been doing some internet searching, but wondered if anyone has first hand experience with that area? If so, any favorite family friendly places? Thanks!

 

[worm761]

hi. hope you have tons of fun on your trip! i grew up on the northern coast of north carolina! i went back to visit when i was 13 and we stayed on Topsail Island. i dont really remember there being too much to do. but we could see the beach and that is where we spent all of our time! we collected sand dollars and sharks teeth. and tried to get up early and find the giant shells that sometimes wash up overnight. what are you looking to do while you are there? are you looking for entertainment of some kind?

 

[Kteacher]

Hi My sister has a 3 story house near the water in Duck that she rents out . PM me if you want the website info

 

[Tiggeroo]

We stay in Frisco over Easter, which is close to the tip of the outer banks. We take around 15 teenage boys there to surf. That far down there is not alot to do except the beach, which is fine with us. Also, you can take the ferry to Ocracoke to shop and eat, etc. We always use Midget realty which has offices all over in the outer banks. They are great to deal with.
PM me if you need any specifics.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

We went to Nags Head a lot when I was a kid, but I've only been once in the last 25 years, about five years ago. We had a great time. I'd highly suggeset going in the two weeks before Memorial Day. During that period, the streets and beaches are empty and the prices are rock-bottom. But with the holiday kickoff weekend approaching, all the restaurants are fully staffed. And all the summer employees are still in good moods. The downside is there's not much swimming to be had (still pretty cold), but unless that's your thing, this is a great time to go.

We went for the dunes (it's another world up there when the wind is blowing). Avoid the hang-gliding, you pay a lot of money and do very little hangliding. And the big tourist spot is the Write Brothers's museum. But two things we really enjoyed were going on the main pier early in the morning after a heavy storm, and visiting Okracoke Island.

And it's been almost three decades, but the play "The Lost Colony," performed on Roanoke Island, I remember as being pretty neat. And the Roanoke Island five years ago was a great place to bike (too much wind on the Nags Head stretch.

Hope you get there, it's a great place.

 

[disykat]

Thanks for the ideas. We'll be very happy with just beach - that's what we're going for. It sounds like the kind of place that's just up our alley. We'll be going at a very busy time - probably first week of July - so I'm worried about finding a place and avoiding crowds.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We go every summer and stay in Southern Shores, which is a residential community just south of Duck. The highways will be busy in July but the beaches aren't bad.

Do you want to rent a house or stay in a hotel/motel? Mostly it is rental homes but there are hotels in Nag Head and Kill Devil Hills. It is a very nice area.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

We have stayed at Pine Island,Duck, and Corrolla the last 4-5 years. All of them have Beach Houses to rent.We had 22 people from 5 families and have always rented a 7-8 Bedrooms with no problem.

 

[sandramaac]

We have been going down to the Outer Banks now for about the past eight years. Were and what your rent really depend on your needs, budget, the bells and whistles you want in a vacation property, and if other's will be joining you.

We first started by renting a small homeon the golf course with one other family through the Village of Nags Head, a rental compnay. We then went to a ocen front home in Nags Head. Nags Head is a great place, busy, lots of shops, restaruants. The vacationhomes here range form 3 bedrooms/3 baths to 8 bedroom/8 bath. The home are very nice. Lets of things like private pools, nicely decorated, just overall very nice. Rentals can run from about $1800 per week to about $7,000 for a lerger home (but that divde that between 4 or 5 families)--yes some of the homes are that large)

However now we stay in the Duck/Corolla in a section called Pine Island. These home are so over the top. The ocean front home that we have stayed in the past few years has 12 bedroom and 12 1/2 baths. It has a private pool, private beach access, 10 TV's, a game room with pool table, an elevator, a movies theater with leather seating and large movie screen, 2 sub zero frig's in kitchen, 2 dishwashers, 8 burner stove, two ovens, a dining table that seats 24 comfortably!! This house is so over the top!! We go with 4 other families--it runs about $12000 for the week.

Website to go to

Village Realty
Twiddy and Company
Carolina Designs

 

[Blondy876]

My dh and I have friends in Buxton, about 5 minutes from the Outer Banks. I would be sure to take the ferry over to Ocracoke. The island is very small but there's just something special about it. There are lots of shops and be sure to look for the wild ponies.

You can drive up to Kitty Hawk and visit the Wright brothers memorial. It's a long walk up a sort of steep hill but it's worth it. If your adventurous you can go parasailing off the dunes.

Be sure to visit the lighthouses. And take the time to walk up them. It's a long walk and can be a tight squeeze but the view is amazing.

Make sure you drive to Avon and eat at Bubba's they make the BEST ribs. And also in Avon is the Froggy Dog restaurant. They make a wonderful Mississippi mud pie.

Have a great trip!

Jenn

 

[disykat]

Wow, great ideas! We are just going with the 4 of us, but may be joined for part of it by a relative or two depending on their schedules. We often travel pretty frugally and this will be one of those times - we'll just do a budget hotel or rental since we just bought new living room furniture. I've found some places on-line that fit the bill. As long as it's clean and has a kitchen (there's that budget thing again!), we're not very picky. We'll oogle the fancier places as we walk by!

 

[shortbun]

We stayed in Rodanthe last summer. I HIGHLY recommend
a house ON the beach. If the weather's funky, even storms
are beautiful coming in! We chose Rodanthe because there
were several homes actually having beach views-something
fairly rare on Hatteras Island. Also-check carefully for the latest
hurricane damage. Some areas were heavily damaged recently.
You'll also find many homes require 4wheel drive to get in and
out, great if you have it and so remote that restaurants are
nowhere close. The northern beach area of the Outer Banks are
much more developed; we wanted a more windswept beachy
feel. Our house was big but depending on your budget and
when you're going, it wasn't over the top price wise; $995 weekly October thru December and well
maintained. It was called Tide Song; the rental company was Outer Beaches. You have to really stress you
want beach access and beach views. Many homes have beach
"views" from the crows nest, this one had full views and a
boardwalk/stairs adjacent-very convenient. It also had a hot tub,
a master suite with 3 full baths 5 bedrooms(we didn't use 2 of them) and a screened porch with two decks/basketball hoop,
great kitchen with large dining table and breakfast counter.
We really loved it!!!! superb location. Wherever you choose,
people love the Outer Banks!
mimi