<p>Ok - I know nothing of the Outer Banks … but we are looking to spend a few days there when we take son to school in August.</p>
<p>Assume I know nothing … any suggestions? First off - best area to stay? Is it important to be ON the beach, or is walking/biking to it just as good?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Hi MaterMia. I grew up not far from the Outer Banks and have spent lots of time there. We now have a house two hours away. My MIL and SIL live on the OBX so we visit pretty regularly.</p>
<p>Best area to stay in could depend on what you’re looking for. Do you want to rent a beach cottage/condo or will you be staying in a hotel for a few days? In the high season, most cottages will only rent by the week. So if you’re only staying a few days, you’ll prob. be looking at hotel room rentals. The Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk is very nice but pretty pricey in the high season. I would go on down toward Kill Devil Hills or Nags Head to stay unless money is no object:)</p>
<p>Duck (yes, that’s the name of the town) and Corolla are very nice (maybe more upscale) have become very popular in recent years…lots of nice places to rent. They are further north on the OBX with less hustle/bustle than the beaches to the south. There is less “to do” there besides the beach, some restaurants,kayak rentals and a few beachy shops The rentals there are more expensive and the walk to the beach is generally a little longer. There’s not a big choice of hotels at the north beaches. I’m not sure that there are any at all on the ocean. To get down to Kitty Hawk,Kill Devil Hills,Nags Head from Duck will take about thirty minutes. The Corolla lighthouse is open to the public. The view from the top is really pretty. Corolla is home to the Outer Banks ponies…wild horses that roam the beaches…said to be descendants of those on a Spanish Galleon shipwreck that swam to shore a couple of hundred years ago</p>
<p>Kitty Hawk,Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head are the traditional “old school” OBX beaches. There are lots of of beach cottages of every style from sixty year old small traditional beach cottages to brand new mansions and condos all happily coexisting. There are lots of hotels too. If staying in a hotel I would def. recommend one on the beach road (Virginia Dare Trail-hwy12 parallels the oceanfront)) rather than the by-pass road (too far of a walk). There are public accesses to the beach at almost every block. There are public parking areas with bath houses at some of them. There is a sidewalk running the length of the Virginia Dare Tr. (beach road) that makes walking/biking easy.<br>
These three beach towns all run together. You just drive through a stoplight and you’ve left one and crossed into the other. NC 12-Virginia Dare Tr. (known as “the beach road”) is famous because it follows the Outer Banks all the way down through the southern OBX. </p>
<p>Nags Head is my favorite location. It’s the middle of everything, the best beach, shopping, restaurants, a nice brand new fishing pier (Jenette’s Fishing pier) that was just completed last year. It’s worth a visit (free) even of you don’t fish.</p>
<p>For a fun authentic OBX lunch overlooking the Atlantic from an old screen porch go to Nags Head Fishing Pier. If you want more upscale go to The Black Pelican in Kitty Hawk. Hurricane Moe’s in Kitty Hawk is good too. For Mexican… Chili Peppers in Kill Devil Hills. Sam&Omies is a tiny old time Nags Head restaurant, an OBX institition that has been there forever…gotta love a fried oyster sandwich!</p>
<p>Places to see …a must do is Jockey’s Ridge. It’s the highest natural sand dune on the east coast. Climb it in the evening when the sand is cool. The view from the top is beautiful when the sun is setting. I’ve been doing it every since I was a kid and still love it. The Wright Brother’s Memorial is worth a visit. In Manteo “The Lost Colony” is presented nightly in an outdoor theater (need bug spray). It is the oldest outdoor drama in the country. Tells the story of the first settlers on the OBX. It’s where Andy Griffith got his start. He lives in Manteo now. The NC Aquarium is also in Manteo. </p>
<p>If you want to explore further south, there are other smalls towns (Avon,Waves,Rodanthe) you can climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (great view…need to be in pretty good shape to make the climb) or take the Ferry to Ocracoke Island, a small fishing village accessible only by boat. Both of these are close to an hour away from Nags Head. There are rentals in those areas but mostly cottages and not much in the way of commercial businesses.</p>
<p>My recommendation would be a nice hotel/condo on the beach in Nags Head.<br>
Nags Head Trip Advisor has some good hotel recommendations. There are also lots of condo rentals on Craigslist-Outer Banks.</p>
<p>Sorry if I’ve given you too much info! I’ll be glad to clarify if this was too much/confusing:)</p>
<p>Packmom has basically said it all. The Outer Banks is a beautiful area and popular in summer. A hotel is likely what you’ll be looking for since most rentals are only on a weekly basis. End of August is good, in that the prices are lower then, but also keep in mind that it’s the height of hurricane season, and that’s why the prices are lower. :)</p>
<p>I think the agency we always rented with considered it “high season” until Labor Day. I would make plans soon; this is the time when many places get booked up.</p>
<p>PackMom has given you excellent advice. H and I just drove down there for the day a couple of weeks ago. We went to the Wright Brothers Memorial to see the new exhibits they added since our last visit(they added some new stuff for the centennial- the film in the new pavilion is great). Manteo is very nice. The Weeping Radish Brewery used to be there but is now in Grandy. The Elizabethan Gardens and Lost Colony are interesting. We would have gone back to Sam and Omie’s but it was closed for the season. Ocracoke is interesting but involves a ferry ride to get there. Have fun. It’s a very nice area to visit!</p>
<p>PackMom - your descriptions made me homesick! I grew up in western NC and really miss our annual trips to the beach…</p>
<p>It gets in your blood doesn’t it scout59? I’ve lived all my life in NC and love all the NC beaches.</p>
<p>Regarding when the high season rates end: Not sure if it’s after Labor Day or after school starts back. All public schools in NC are required by law to begin on Aug. 25.</p>
<p>In season dates usually end August 25th and the prices drop dramatically, which is why if you look at rental sites now, that week and Labor Day week are almost always already booked for most houses. I’m not sure if that’s also the case with the hotels.</p>
<p>We decided not to rent the house “on” the beach and instead rented across the street . . . saved hundreds of bucks that way and were still an easy walk from the ocean.</p>
<p>There is a lovely resort hotel in Sanderling, which is one of the north beaches. [Outer</a> Banks North Carolina Vacation Resort and Spa Hotel | The Sanderling Resort & Spa](<a href=“http://www.thesanderling.com/]Outer”>http://www.thesanderling.com/) But most of the rentals in that part of the OBX are houses.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Sanderling many years ago. At least 25 since is was before kids and our oldest is 24. What’s it like these days?</p>
<p>packmom is spot on - with everything!!</p>
<p>I have a sudden urge to go to the Outer Banks now. Is midMay a good time to sneak in a visit before the season begins?</p>
<p>PackMom - thank you so much! HUGE help. I have a place in Nags Head that is pretty reasonable, little more expensive on the beach in Kill DEvil HIll - but will rent to us for five nights. So - based on all the feedback, I think I’ll try for Nags Head first. We like hiking, etc and a short walk to the beach really shouldn’t be a big deal for us. If you have any other advice, or places to see, or can’t miss - let us know! Thank you so much.</p>
<p>Make sure you go to jockey’s ridge… and take a camera. I took my camera in a plastic bag that way no sand could get in it while climbing. removed it to take photos and put it back in again. We rolled down the hills, played frisbee, etc.</p>
<p>OMG…We stayed in Nags Head last summer. Beautiful huge house on a golf course between the sound and the shore. One of the most memorable and best vacations ever. We called for the shuttle and in 2 min, the shuttle came and picked up all ten of us to take us across the main street to the pool and the shore. There is an icecream place called Jimmy’s (i think in Kill Devil Hills, shore side). Great icecream. I loved that vacation. Highly, Highly recommend Outer Banx! obx</p>
<p>Folks - can you let me know on this …the Nags Head house … is …</p>
<p>close proximity to Jockey Ridge Park (a 5 minute walk or 30 second drive), which has a lovely little beach on the sound</p>
<p>The house is also a three minute drive across to the ocean side and a nice stretch of Nags Head beach. </p>
<p>Does that all sound good?</p>
<p>I think it sounds good. I prefer to stay on the beach itself but that’s just me.</p>
<p>Count me in as another outer banks enthusiast. I’ve been there a few times and prefer the north end in Corolla. We stayed at a friends home there in September. That was a wonderful time to go. The crowds are gone, the stores were still open and the water and temps were perfect. The house is a block off the beach but a very easy walk. Our friends rent out their house year round but it is made (and priced) for a crowd with 8 bedrooms, an in-ground pool and a hot tub. PM me if you want a link. </p>
<p>While there we did this tour: [Corolla</a> Outer Banks Wild Horse Tours NC](<a href=“http://wildhorsetour.com/]Corolla”>http://wildhorsetour.com/) that was so much fun! Best breakfast ever is at First light Breakfast and burgers. Actually, we had dinner there too and that was also excellent.</p>
<p>Ok - a question. Is it a big deal to be “on” the beach, or very close to it? Worth it? Does it matter? Would you recommend a “house” for a “condo complex?” Any suggestions appreciated. There are so many choices. </p>
<p>Also - if you have rented a nice place for four … please DM me the info. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>