OT- Outer Banks, NC

[El&Asmom]

We are thinking of doing an extended family trip next year after our immediate family visits Hilton Head, SC. We have heard of a lot of people who rent houses on the outer banks of NC with their extended families.
Has anyone ever done this, and if you have can you recommend an area or realtor that has worked well for your family. Our kids will be 7, 4.5 and 1.5 next summer. We would like a quiet family area that isn't too touristy but still close to good restaurants and activities.
It will be my parents, brother and SIL and our family. So 9 people in total.
Thanks

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I always recommend Duck or Corolla to anyone who asks, particularly for a more scenic and less touristy area of the OBX. I've heard that Twiddy Realty and Sun Realty are pretty good, but I can't vouch first hand.

If you go, don't miss Prime Only in Nags Head. Their filet is the best I've had anywhere!! And Duck donuts is the bomb!!

 

[3KidletsMom]

We are going to be there in 3 more weeks - can't wait!

I second Duck or Corolla. We always stay in Duck and we love it. I think that Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head areas are pretty touristy.

We have worked with Resort Quest and Resort Realty and have had good experiences with both.

 

[jana616]

We went on our first family vacation to the Outer Banks last September. We shared a house with my in-laws and parents, and then our family of 4 (so 8 people total). It was so great! We stayed in Corolla, and I would recommend it to anyone. It's quiet, but there was still plenty to see, and it's close enough to the busy areas to take day trips for things like Jockey Ridge State Park. We drove through Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, etc. and I felt like they were a little too busy for us. We really only needed the beach, a grocery store, and Timbuk II shopping area.

We used Resort Realty, and would use them again. We needed to do it on the cheap, so we went the week of Labor Day (when prices go down) and stayed in an older, not fancy house. Still it was 5 bedrooms, 3 back from the ocean, with private pool and hot tub for $1000 a week. Great deal!

One place I would recommend is Blue Point in Duck, for a romantic adults only meal. The food was incredible, and the sunset view is awesome. Hve fun!

 

[IloveDisney77]

I actually have a different perspective. My family has been vacationing on the Outer Banks (OBX) for over 20 years now and shy away from Duck (Overly uppity though still very nice), and Kitty Hawk, Nags Head (overly touristy)areas...With that said I do like Corolla, we rented a house north of corrolla one year that you had to drive up the beach to get to (4 wheel drive a must but you are totally away from it all!) but personally, we love the Rodanthe, Salvo area down to Avon, Buxton area. To us, family of 20 who take over 2 homes, this area still has the old OBX feel. For me the true OBX vacation begins as we are driving over Oregon Inlet, hoping that the bridge will last until we are on the other side Just kidding, though they are in a rush to figure out how to replace it! The days are spent from having a big breakfast, walking on the beach, heading back to the home's pool, back to the beach, back to the house to get some more beer, surf fishing, big family dinners and a round robin bocce tournament.

We use Outer Beachs Realty...they are all-inclusive with their rates so you don't have to worry about getting hit with fees as some of the other places do when you check-in.

There are still restaurants, grocery stores and some tourist things to do (ferry over to Ocacoke, Cape Hatteras, Chimicango (just slaughtered the spelling of that one Life Saving Station, Pea island wildlife refuge, and a few putt putt places and the beach). Personally and to each their own, I just think that area has a slower more relaxed feel to it.

With that said, you can't go wrong with anywhere on the OBX.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I actually have a different perspective. My family has been vacationing on the Outer Banks (OBX) for over 20 years now and shy away from Duck (Overly uppity though still very nice), and Kitty Hawk, Nags Head (overly touristy)areas...With that said I do like Corolla, we rented a house north of corrolla one year that you had to drive up the beach to get to (4 wheel drive a must but you are totally away from it all!) but personally, we love the Rodanthe, Salvo area down to Avon, Buxton area. To us, family of 20 who take over 2 homes, this area still has the old OBX feel. For me the true OBX vacation begins as we are driving over Oregon Inlet, hoping that the bridge will last until we are on the other side Just kidding, though they are in a rush to figure out how to replace it! The days are spent from having a big breakfast, walking on the beach, heading back to the home's pool, back to the beach, back to the house to get some more beer, surf fishing, big family dinners and a round robin bocce tournament.

We use Outer Beachs Realty...they are all-inclusive with their rates so you don't have to worry about getting hit with fees as some of the other places do when you check-in.

There are still restaurants, grocery stores and some tourist things to do (ferry over to Ocacoke, Cape Hatteras, Chimicango (just slaughtered the spelling of that one Life Saving Station, Pea island wildlife refuge, and a few putt putt places and the beach). Personally and to each their own, I just think that area has a slower more relaxed feel to it.

With that said, you can't go wrong with anywhere on the OBX.

We've used the same realty company twice. We've stayed in Avon both times. We love it. Hatteras Island is on a slow, relaxed pace. We don't do much but hang out on the beach, fly kites, play some games, read books.... We do take the ferry to Ocracoke once a vacation.

Have fun!

 

[clanwilson]

You could also try vrbo.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner). We have used that site for several years. Scroll down to the bottom of the listing to see how long the property has been listed with VRBO. I always pick one that has been up for several years to insure that it is valid. Have a great trip!

 

[mom2travel]

We love Corolla! We use Carolina Designs to rent. They are located in Duck, so pick up/drop off the keys on the way to the house. Their website is great, for seeing the location of the homes, the floorplan, what's included, etc.

 

[thespouseandi]

I too vote for the southern beaches...Duck and Corolla are very touristy...when we go we stay in the Rodanthe area...
we go down for the day many weeknds, we're just over an hour away, and we like that area best.

 

[El&Asmom]

Thanks everyone for the replies. How are the beaches down there. Are there any safer for little ones than others. I read about the 4x4 beaches, and that you have to be pretty careful with crazy drivers and little ones on the beach who may not be paying attention.

 

[2manyprincesses]

We've been going to OBX for three years now with my in laws. We love it! They used to go to Ocean City MD (for 20+ years) and have recently switched.

I've never had a problem on the beach with my kids. (All under 8yo) However we didn't go on the 4x4 area either. I have heard that spot can get a little rowdy. The other areas have lots of little friends for your kids and SPACE for them to run and play! Make sure you go to the beach before sunset for pictures, the lighting is beautiful!

Enjoy!!

 

[Cibahwewah]

We've camped on Ocracoke Island and stayed at the Hampton in Duck. Loved both trips! Stay out of the middle--too crowded.

 

[staceyatdisney]

we have been going to OBX for years. we go with two other families and between us there are 7 kids. we find staying in the nags head area is ideal. first, we always rent a house on the beach. entertainment is a step outside the door. plus, ice cream, resturants and other activities are just a few minutes drive. it is also nice to be more in the "middle" - it is a nice drive up towards duck and down towards roanoke. have a wonderful time.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

We vacation in OBX every year (except this year, because of our Disney trip). Last year we rented a house on the beach in Nags Head. When we wanted to go to the beach we just stepped off our deck! I like the Kill Devil Hills/Nags Head/Kitty Hawk area because it is so close to everything. Last year we were two blocks away from this cute ice cream shop that had Disney music playing. We were also close to many wonderful restaurants (Millers Waterfront is my absolute fave, must-do every trip), grocery stores, several putt-putt locations, the outlet mall, Kitty Hawk kites, and about a 20 to 30 minute drive to Manteo for the aquarium.

We have used Joe Lamb Realty.

 

[Andrea from PA]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I'm going to anyway...

I have 3 kids - age 13, 9 & 8.

The 13 year old needs "more" entertainment than just a beach - what is there to do & what is the going rates to do it?

The 9 year old can't be in the water a lot due to skin conditions -- What are the beach restrictions for flying kites/playing ball, etc. I'm guessing there are some areas better for playing during bathing hours than others.

TIA

 

[Swank]

My two cents.

The Northern Beaches seem a little more expensive, and sometimes too far from the beach. We usually rent in South Nags Head, it is a little off the beaten path but very close to Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Where there is a lot to do.

You should find great deals if you are going with a large family, when we go with a large group we get a house on the beach or close to the beach with a pool and/or or hot tub.

We used two realty companies with no problems, Stan White and Joe Lamb Jr.

Note that there are no lifeguards at outbanks, but the beaches are free.

Things to do.

Jocky State Park, Dunes... Sounds boreing, it is not, great to go at sunset.

Aquarium in Manteo, smaill aquarium, great for the kids.

Took a nice drive down south to Hatteras and Ocracoke, got to visit lighthouses and took a ferry ride.

There are lots of great resturants as well.

 

[El&Asmom]

Thanks again for all of the opinions. Just when I think I have decided, I get another vote for a different location that looks just as nice.

Has anyone done the jeep tours to look for the wild horses. (I remember Jon and Kate doing this on their trip and it looked like a lot of fun, not that they can influence what I buy or where I choose to travel.)

 

[My2Qtz0205]

My kids are young (6 and 3). Besides the beach, we go putt-putting, to the aquarium, out for ice cream and dinner, and (without kids) kayaking in the sound. I personally enjoy driving down the coastline and taking the ferry to Ocracoke, but I haven't done that since the kids came along.

 

[staceyatdisney]

Jockey's Ridge is just too fun. Have an early dinner and go in the evening when it starts to get cool. Have the kids bring boogie boards to ride down the dunes and stay through sunset. It is wonderful. One of my "happy places".

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

We have been going to OBX for years. After our very first trip down and a ruined Anniversary in Kitty Hawk, we always stay in Corolla. We don't find it touristy AT ALL.