Outerbanks About This Page:

[patclairesmom]

We were thinking of spending a week or 2 somewhere in the Outerbanks, NC next July. I really don't know much about which areas/towns are the best for a family with 2 nine year olds. If anyone can tell me which areas are the best and why, I'd really appreciated it.

[Disney_Scarlett]

Hi! I'm very familiar with the Outer Banks area - my family has vacationed there every summer for as far as I could remember. Next to WDW, it's my favorite place in the world!

Anyway, for a family with kids, I would recommend the Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills/Southern Shores area. That's near where all the action is going on. Lots of shopping, restaurants, mini-golf, and of course, great beaches! It's also where the Wright Brothers/First Flight Memorial is, Jockey's Ridge (largest natural sand dune on the east coast - you can ride horses down it and fly kites on it and it's awesome!), and other educational/fun things. Nags Head is probably the biggest town on the Outer Banks, and it's quite close to the areas I listed - but it's gotten a little too touristy and "Myrtle Beach" for my taste (I LOVE Myrtle Beach - but if I wanted MB, I'd go to MB, know what I mean?). The areas I listed are a little less developed without being in the middle of nowhere. We actually stay in Duck, which is just north of Southern Shores, and I it there - great shopping and restaurants - but with kids and maybe wanting to be a bit more central, I'd recommend being a little bit more south. Also, one of my favorite restaurants is in Kitty Hawk - The Black Pelican (is in an old life-saving station and is where the Wright Brothers telegraphed the news of their first flight from) - check it out! Their wood fired pizza is AWESOME and they also have great seafood and steaks and stuff.

Those areas are also near Manteo, which has terrific shopping and more historical stuff - The Elizabethean Gardens (gorgeous), The Lost Colony (an amazing outdoor drama - try and get tickets!), and the Elizabeth II (replica of a sailing ship of Sir Walter Raleigh), the NC Aquarium, etc. A lot of people go to OBX to see all the lighthouses, but they are all spread out over the islands, so it's nice to be central if you're trying to check those off (and just FYI, there are a couple that you can't get to except by boat).

If you look at a map of OBX, you'll see that one highway (NC 12) runs up and down the barrier islands. The Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills area is kind of central to the action, which is nice - it can take a little while to drive to the northern most and southern most points, and there are no "shortcuts." We love to go to Corolla (north) and see the wild horses, but we also love to go to Cape Hatteras (probably the most famous of the lighthouses) and Okracoke (both south), which is only accessible by a ferry and is just the cutest place you'll ever see (if you're ever planning a romantic getaway for two, I'd recommend there - my sister and her hubby did it for their anniversary and stayed in a inn on the beach with a hammock on their balcony - how cute! But kids might be bored).

Please feel free to ask more questions here or PM me...I hope you have a great time planning a trip to my other fave place!

[Minniemouse27]

My FIL has a house in Avon, but I've only been there in November (big family get together for Turkey day... over multiple houses).

So I haven't been during "tourist" season, but the lower portion of the Outer Banks is lovely and we had a great time taking the ferry to Okracoke for the day as well.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[kmurburg]

We just got back from our first OBX vacation (we're usually a Myrtle Beach family!). It was great! We stayed in South Nag's Head because we needed to be near Manteo to be close to a dialysis center for my DH. I think anywhere along that area from Kill Devil Hills to South Nag's Head would be great with kids. We were with my DBIL and his family (2 kids ages 9 & 4). Everyone had plenty to do and the beach is great! That Jockey's Ridge park is awesome and the views from there are beautiful! Lots of great places to eat (but nothing too commercial) and some cool gift shops and kite stores too. Have a great vacation!

[disneyprincess]

We've gone the past two years and love it! We first stayed in South Nags Head which I really liked because of all there is to do and everything is close to each other. Jockey's Ridge, the Wright Brothers Memorial, etc. Last year we stayed in Avon and that was just as nice.

I used Coldwell Bankers real estate to rent a house and Sun Reality. They usually have books that they can send you.

Good luck and you will absolutely love it!