outer banks vacay!

[quietgirll]

Okie-
So let me start off by saying I'm a disney planning fanatic. These boards are great for me, cause all the info i could possibly need is right here and somebody always knows the answer! We have been to Disney many times over the last 10 years or so- on-sire, off-site, hotels, rental houses...so I am quite confident on all my orlando knowledge!

That being said, we are going to the Outer Banks at the end of April for the very FIRST time, and I am struggling to find the info I need!! I have looked on the message boards on trip advisor, and have scoured the internet, but am having such a tough time! This is going to be a very laid back vacation, so its not a crisis other than RENTING A HOUSE!! argh- i feel like my eyes are going to cross from perusing vrbo, and of course, I had to make it more difficult by deciding to do what is apparently an atypical stay for the area- Wed-Tues.

I am hoping someone here has some experience with Outer Banks, and renting houses, and can help me out with what to look for, what to expect, etc...I'm so excited, and yet so nervous about the whole thing at the same time!! TIA for any help, info, suggestions, anyone can give!!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

This is an older thread I saved because I want to do a vacation at the Outer Banks someday. Maybe it will help you.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2528975

 

[quietgirll]

This is an older thread I saved because I want to do a vacation at the Outer Banks someday. Maybe it will help you.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2528975

thanks for the link- ill check it out!!

 

[WorldWacky]

I grew up vacationing at the Outer Banks. My parents would always rent a house and we usually stayed in the Rodanthe area. This past year, my family went and we stayed in South Nags Head. We used Joe Lamb Jr. Realty. I know my folks have used them in the past. It's a very easy process. The contracts are sent through the mail and you just have to pick up and drop off the key at their office which is on the way to the rental. I know my folks have also used them in the past. They've also used Sun Realty and Surf or Sound Realty. I've never had anything but a Sat. to Sat. or Sun. to Sun. rental. That may be the most difficult thing for you. But check out those sites. On most you can narrow down all the choices by listing your specific needs ie: pool, elevator, # of bedrooms, etc. I would recommend the South Nags Head area. It's close enough to restaurants and stores, but out of the hub-bub. Like I said before, growing up we where in the Rodanthe area. It was always very quiet and in the middle of nowhere. If you like that, then that's your place, but it does take a while to get to restaurants or grocery stores. Have a great vacation!

 

[Swank]

Another vote for Joe Lamb Jr. A nice group of folks. I also like South Nags head, Not as crowded as Nags head and Kill Devil Hills but still close to a lot of the action. If you want to really be out of the way more south like Rodanthe would be Ideal I think Sun Realty handles lots of rentals in that area.

Some suggestions.

If you young kids. The Aquarium in Manteo
If you have Teens Para Sailing
Car trip down to the Ferry to Ocrakoke

And one thing I never miss is Jocky Ridge State Park. These are giant Sand dunes. Bring a Kite or buy one at Kitty Hawk Kites across from the dunes. We always go for a spectacular sun set.


HAVE FUN.

 

[quietgirll]

Thanks so much for the info, its really helping me out!! Keep it coming guys!!

 

[Metro West]

I love the OBX and would move there in a second...if I won the lottery.

 

[misstheworld]

I'm a fan of the northern communities of the OBX. Corolla and Duck are my favorites! We've only rented from Elan. You can find them at elanvacations.com.

You could also take a 4-wheel vehicle onto the northern Corolla beaches and check out the wild horses!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Another vote for Joe Lamb Jr. A nice group of folks. I also like South Nags head, Not as crowded as Nags head and Kill Devil Hills but still close to a lot of the action. If you want to really be out of the way more south like Rodanthe would be Ideal I think Sun Realty handles lots of rentals in that area.

Some suggestions.

If you young kids. The Aquarium in Manteo
If you have Teens Para Sailing
Car trip down to the Ferry to Ocrakoke

And one thing I never miss is Jocky Ridge State Park. These are giant Sand dunes. Bring a Kite or buy one at Kitty Hawk Kites across from the dunes. We always go for a spectacular sun set.


HAVE FUN.

This. . Sounds exactly like our family vacations. We rent the same house in South Nags Head every year. We love it. We stay right on the beach, and even have a family of deer that visit our backyard. We like to go into Manteo, kayak on the Sound, eat at Miller's Waterfront (newly reopened after the hurricane!), shop at the outlets, and you're away from the majority of the traffic at Kill Devil Hills/Kitty Hawk/Nags Head, but not so far away that you can't run to the grocery store or find some different restaurants to eat at.

Enjoy! Can't wait until we go back in August!

 

[bits-n-pieces]

Also a fan of the Northern areas of Duck and Corolla. It just seems quiter then kitty hawk area but, still has everything you need for a relaxing vacation. We have used Carolina Designs Realty, Inc. and were very happy.

Agree that Jocky Ridge State Park and would make the 12 hour dirve for just a Duck Donut!

 

[Elsmom]

We love the Duck/Sanderling area.

Don't miss Kill Devil's for frozen custard.

The dunes at Jockey's Ridge are always a must for us. Whether just climbing or flying kites. The jeep tour above Corolla is a lot of fun too.

Relax and have a great time!

 

[quietgirll]

We love the Duck/Sanderling area.

Don't miss Kill Devil's for frozen custard.

The dunes at Jockey's Ridge are always a must for us. Whether just climbing or flying kites. The jeep tour above Corolla is a lot of fun too.

Relax and have a great time!

so tell me about this jeep tour- we are considering this- have you done the one where you ride, or where you drive?? i really think dgf would love this, but wed really want to the one where we drive- and thats a lot of dollars!! Just curious about your feedback! thanks again to everybody for your help!!

 

[quietgirll]

Agree that Jocky Ridge State Park and would make the 12 hour dirve for just a Duck Donut!

I keep hearing so much about these duck donuts!! Is that the name of the shop that has them?? whats so special about them?

 

[bcvdreamer]

We prefer Corolla, but we stayed in Avon last year and it was nice ~different, but nice. It's an older beach town feel, where you could have a fire on the beach at night. You can't do that in the northern OBX towns.

I also recommend the Jeep tours. You can rent a Jeep and drive yourself to see the wild horses. You drive on the beach and they provide you GPS coordinates, or you can have one of their drivers take you on the tour. We drove ourselves, it was fun. I think it was around 2.5 hours.

Climb lighthouse in Corolla. The Whalehead club always has something going on in the evenings. It's a nice place to watch the sunset over the sound, or take the walkway on the nature preserve, which is a little north of the lighthouse. Go crabbing.

Shopping at Timbuck II or the Corolla Light Shops. Buy fresh seafood at the stands outside Timbuck II or take a cruise where you get to keep all the crabs you catch, plus see the dolphins.

Jockey Ridge is fun for the kids (and adults) to jump off the dunes. Makes a good photo opp.

Bring your bikes or rent them from Ocean Atlantic Rentals or any other rental place. We ride our bikes everywhere, to the stores, lighthouse, dinner, etc.
The one reason we liked Corolla better than Avon, was because Corolla, Ocean Sands, Duck, and in the towns in between all have bike lanes. Avon and the Hatteras areas did not.

We've rented from Twiddy, VRBO, Carolina Designs, Village Realty, Resort Realty and Surf and Sound (Avon), and we've been happy with all of the rental companies.

Have fun!

 

[Sweetpeamd]

I keep hearing so much about these duck donuts!! Is that the name of the shop that has them?? whats so special about them?

You MUST try Duck Donuts! They will seriously change your life! The menu is very limited, basically a plain donut with your choice of glaze. Try the strawberry! You can watch them being made while you wait in line. We have had homemade Amish donuts and, while good, they are not Duck Donuts. DD's are simple, fresh and delicious. They are the heavier, cakey type of donut, not light and airy like a Krispy Kreme.

I'll throw in a vote for the Duck area of the OBX, too. It is such a quaint, beautiful, quiet little village. There is a nice walking trail that follows the road through most of the town. You'll need to do some serious walking after eating your donuts!

If you like to try different breweries, the Outer Banks Brewery is pretty good. They have some interesting things on the menu. Awful Arthur's has good fresh seafood but either get there early or be prepared to wait a while for a table. Miller's is a very traditional, waterfront seafood restaurant and is usually pretty good although very basic.

I hope you have a wonderful vacation!

 

[Elsmom]

We did the Jeep tour 2 years ago. We opted to drive a jeep following a guide. We had lots of fun. As soon as we headed out with the top off my DD 5 at the time threw her hands up yelling Wooo-Hooo! It was nice to follow the guide since they knew where the horses were easily seen and it was nice to know we were with someone in the event we got stuck in the sand. We saw lots of horses and had so much fun driving on the northern beaches. I belive our tour was with Rick's Jeep Tours. We look forward to doing this again. If I can figure out how to post photos I'll upload a couple.