Also Known as OBX
THE OUTER BANKS in North Carolina is a long thin barrier island that protects the mainland shore quite spectacularly! It’s where the two great basins of the Eastern Coast meet. The cape’s shoals are known as Diamond Shoals.
Why Visit The Outer Banks
There is something so magical about the Outer Banks. almost as if they were frozen in time. I was first introduced to the area by my parents, have taken my kids more times than I can remember, just got back with the grandkids. Perhaps its the way the sun hits the water, or the constant sea breeze, the sunset shore fishing, the kind locals, the hurry up and do nothing attitude. Whatever it is it seems to keep thousands of visitors returning yearly. Wide sandy beaches, activities, attractions and the area’s history make the Outer Banks a popular am unforgettable vacation destination for families.
A Bit Of Outer Banks History
The Outer Banks of North Carolina seems to have risen from the sea approximately 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, making it a geologic infant. The first Native Americans arrived between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago, although this is simply speculation. From recorded history, the Outer Banks began with the arrival of European explorers.
Don’t Forget To Go Fishing!
With its ever-shifting shoals and constantly opening and closing inlets, the Outer Banks were the perfect haven for pirates. Coastal North Carolina was a hotbed of piracy from the 17th and early 18th centuries.
Shipping routes hugged the western coasts of North America, ships sailed between northern ports and southern, transporting sugar cane and rum. They were easy prey for a well-armed sloop with a captain who knew the local waters. North Carolina government officials were lining their pockets with money made by permitting pirates to offload their cargo in local ports, so complaints from neighboring colonies fell on deaf ears.
After ratifying the Constitution in 1789, one of the first acts of congress from the newly formed U.S. government was to fund the U.S. Lighthouse Establishment and begin the process of creating lighthouses to protect shipping along the coastline.
Don’t Forget To Go Fishing! Best In The US
TOWNS ON THE OUTER BANKS
CAROLLA OBX
Corolla is a village on the Outer Banks in North Carolina, between Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Historic Corolla Park is home to Currituck Beach Lighthouse, with sea views and history exhibits. Nearby, the Whalehead Club is a restored 1920s hunting retreat with original art-nouveau decor. North, the vast Currituck National Wildlife Refuge shelters shorebirds. Wild horses roam Corolla and Carova beaches.
RECOMMENDED CAROLLA HOTELS
The Outer Banks Has World Class Fishing
DUCK OBX
Duck is a town in Dare County, North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 369. During the peak vacation season, starting after Memorial Day, the population increases to over 20,000.
RECOMMENDED DUCK HOTELS
Lucky Duck House – 8 Br Home
3.5-star
Did You Bring The Fishing Poles
Get That Fishing Pole. You Won’t Be Sorry
KITTY HAWK OBX
Kitty Hawk is a beach town in North Carolina. Trails cut through the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve, it serves as a natural habitat home to otters and turtles and some species of seals. Sandy Run Park has a boardwalk and picnic areas. To the north, Kitty Hawk Pier has views of the Atlantic Ocean. They even has a very popular children’s Play Museum waking distance from almost anywhere. . In the nearby town of Kill Devil Hills, the Wright Brothers National Memorial explores aviation history.
RECOMMENDED KITTY HAWK. -HOTELS-
NAGS HEAD OBX
Nags Head is a beach town on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. It’s known for the towering sand dunes in Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Displays on local flora and fauna dot the park’s boardwalk and the paths through Nags Head Woods. Its also home to Bodie Island Lighthouse that offers sweeping views of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
RECOMMENDED NAGS HEAD. -HOTELS-
Most recent review
“Amazing we hope to return for a longer stay next time”
KILL DEVIL HILLS. OBX
Kill Devil Hills is a town in Dare County, North Carolina. The population was 6,683 at the 2010 census, up from 5,897 in 2000. It is the most populous settlement in both Dare County and on the Outer Banks of North Carolina
RECOMMENDED HOTEL. KILL DEVIL HIL
Most recent review
“Location was great…right on the beach and close to eateries. Wonderful breakfast. Hotel is a bit more run down than it appeared online. Could use updating. “
CAPE HATTERAS OBX
Cape Hatteras is a thin, broken strand of islands in North Carolina that arch out into the Atlantic Ocean away from the US mainland, then back toward the mainland, creating a series of sheltered islands between the Outer Banks and the mainland.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS. -CAPE HATTERAS-
Hatteras Harbor Marina and Motel
If You Have Fishing Poles, Bring Them
Most recent review
“Beautiful view of the marina. Very quiet atmosphere. “
OCRACOKE OBX
RECOMMENDED HOTELS. -OCRACOKE-
Most recent review
“Spent the night to catch the early ferry. Enjoyed the stay but no place on the island opened early enough for breakfast before the 7:30 ferry.”
Exceptional 9.6 / 10
THE OUTER BANKS / THINGS TO DO
Fishing The Outer Banks
Best Things To Do in Outer Banks
The Outer Banks have activities for relaxation and for adventure. The quiet beaches are the main draw to the area, but but theres so much more, the horseback riding, hang gliding and water sports. Touring the shipwrecks off the coast, sightseeing at Corolla’s Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Kill Devil Hills’ Wright Brothers National Memorial or Nag’s Head’s Jockey’s Ridge State Park make a happy medium for vacationers who desire a more balanced getaway.
- Bike Rentals
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The beaches in the Outer Banks stretch for more than 100 miles along barrier islands that frame the eastern coast of North Carolina. These sands are known for their cleanliness and their family friendliness. Each beach has something different to offer travelers, but take note that lifeguards are on duty on all beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The northern shores specifically Kitty Hawk and Kill Devils Hills are ideal for water sports like surfing and skimboarding, as they see more waves than the southern beaches. Nags Head also completed a 12-mile beach nourishment program that widened the sands so visitors have more room to spread out.
Travelers should be mindful that the public parking is limited in Southern Shores. Those bringing their four-legged friend can head to Duck where dogs are allowed to be off their leash as long as they’re under control.
The most popular attraction on Nags Head aside from the oceanfront is Jockey’s Ridge State Park, home to the tallest living sand dune on the Atlantic coast. You can reach the top two ways: either a mile-long sand-covered trail, do this in shoes as the sand can be as much as 30 degrees hotter than the air temperature, or use the 360-foot boardwalk to walk to the top. Once at the peak, you can tap into your adventurous side by sandboarding which requires a free permit from the park office. Take hang gliding lessons or pilot a Wright Brothers 1902 glider replica.
Relive your childhood and simply fly a kite. Just remember to bring your own kite or sandboard along with you. For nature enthusiasts, the park also has several other trails you can wander and spot fulgurites (glass tubes formed when lightning hits the sand) – but removal of them is not allowed.
Recent travelers said a visit to the park is a great experience for the whole family, and report that the top of the dunes provide stunning panoramic views of the coast. To avoid brunt of the midday heat, reviewers recommend visiting in the morning or just before the park closes.
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore stretches for more than 70 miles and tempts visitors with its well-kept sands, picturesque lighthouses and rolling waves. While many visitors come to soak up the sun along the Atlantic’s sands, you should devote some time to the seashore’s other attractions, most notably the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Lighthouse Climbs
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Stairs in the Bodie Island Lighthouse
National Park Service
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest in the United States, has long protected passing ships from the fierce currents and hidden sand bars that earned the area the nickname “the graveyard of the Atlantic.” You should also keep an eye out for Cape Hatteras’ wildlife: A wide array of birds (more than 360 species) can be found here, mingling with sea turtles along the golden shores.
H2OGBX WATER PARK
If you want to see what animals you’re sharing the water with when you’re splashing around on the Outer Banks beaches, head to Roanoke to the North Carolina Aquarium. Its main feature is the Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit. Models of remains of the USS Monitor make up the home for giant turtles and sharks in the 285,000-gallon tank found in the Ironclad Sanctuary exhibit.
Throughout the rest of the aquarium, you’ll find a variety of other marine critters, including alligators, otters, frogs and plenty of fish.
If the kids are itching for a hands-on experience, head to the Sea Turtle Rescue exhibit, where they can touch turtles while learning about efforts to protect these creatures.
Play Golf on The Outer Banks
Thanks to the Outer Banks’ cooperative weather, golfers can easily swing a club year-round. Several 18-hole golf courses offer challenging layouts, paired with ocean breezes and scenic views.
Nags Head Golf Links, a particular favorite among past visitors, is an 18-hole Scottish-style championship course designed by Bob Moore. Though visitors say it’s a challenging course, they also praise its beautiful views, particularly at sunset. The clubhouse is home to the Links Grille, with a bar and restaurant (and more photo-worthy views), plus there’s a golf shop. Clinics and lessons are also offered.
The Courses of The Outer Banks
See the wild horses of Corolla on a 2-hour tour on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Travel by open-air 4-wheel drive vehicle along the sand dunes and ocean to view the wild horses. Along the way, you’ll also hear about the history and ecology of the island, stop for photo ops of the horses and other points of interests, and gain private access to the Wild Horse Conservation Area. Choose from several departure times during the day on a tour that includes 4WD tour and guide.
OUTER BANKS FISHING AND CHARTERS
