Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

This isn't a googletard post. I've googled for the last 3 hours. Too much information. If I was looking to go away for a week with a chick which part of OBX would you recommend? I was thinking like a bed/breakfast maybe something on the beach. We are both pretty active so what else is there to do other than beach? Tennis? Kayak? Hiking? I've never been to OBX and neither have my friends, but I feel like it's a popular spot for marylanders, I see the bumper stickers everywhere... give me some details.

Thanks.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

The White Doe Inn, Manteo, NC. This is where my wife and I stayed on our wedding/honeymoon trip. We got married on the beach and stayed in whatever the room is in they very tippy top; I don't recall the name. But it has a two-sided fireplace that opens up into both the bedroom and the garden bath.

Edit to add: I know there is horseback riding, ocean kayaking, riverine kayaking and canoing, sport fishing, lighthouses to see, aquariums, Kitty Hawk, etc. Tons of stuff to see and do.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

I stayed in Kill Devil Hill / Cape Hatteras area 13 years ago. I went with my friends family and had a blast. Granted I was alot younger, but it was great. Tons of young to college girls, bonfires, and enough beach sports to keep me occupied for a week. I remember that their wasn't many bars/restaurants where I stayed. We basically cooked at the house and/or on the beach. We partied on the beach at night. Good times, but I was alot younger.

fyc

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

You'll want to hit Hatteras, Kitty Hawk, and maybe Ocracoke. For sports there's a lot of windsurfing at Canadian Hole and there is hang gliding at the sand dunes near kitty hawk. I've only been to the outer banks a few times, but I thought it was a nice change of pace from some of the more crowded and tackier beaches.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

the main middle parts (Kill Devil Hills, Southern Shores, Duck, Kitty Hawk, +- 20 miles) are very very crowded during the summer. Mainly from what I've seen its mostly families of all ages. North and south of the main area is much less crowded and less commercialized (though every year it becomes more crowded, etc.)

Though the Kitty Hawk area is the most crowded, i"d still reccomend it over something very northern (Corolla) or southern (Avon).

If I were you I'd stay in the Kitty Hawk area, and travel to Corolla one day, Hatteras\below another day, etc.

Things to do: beach (obv), fishing (pier, ocean, or sound), hang gliding, any type of water stuff (jetskis, etc), lots of other resort\nature watch type of stuff.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

Manteo is good -- cute, romantic type town with lots of shops and restaurants. But it's not on the beach. If you want to be right on the beach, it's mostly all house rentals; not too many hotel/bed-and-breakfast options. There might be some on Okracoke, which is pretty tiny, so you're close to the water wherever you are. The Sanderling Inn in Duck is supposed to be very classy; I've never stayed there, and it's more of a resort than a bed-and-breakfast.

As for activities, you can rent a 4x4 north of Corolla and ride it in the dunes. The area is closed to cars and you can see wild horses on the island. There's also hang-gliding off the dunes, kayaking, horseback riding and usual water activities (jet skis, etc.) on the bay side.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

My parents have a house in Southern Shores (near Duck), and I've been going there every summer for about 25 years, so I'm sort of partial to that area. I think Duck is a pretty fun place to stay. They have a lot of stores and shopping, and some waterfront bars and restaurants. There are also tons of sport rental places there for kayaks, boats, etc...

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

the outer banks pretty much blows these days - 15 yrs ago it was sweet. i would go to atlantic beach/morehead city.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

[ QUOTE ]
the outer banks pretty much blows these days - 15 yrs ago it was sweet.

[/ QUOTE ]

What sucks about it?

I haven't been to the beach in forever. I went to the Outer Banks 20 years ago, but I was a young kid at the time. All I remember from that trip, really, is trying to circulate my room in the house we were renting as many times as possible without touching the floor (climbing on all the furniture) and doing mazes from this giant book that my cousin brought.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

I got back from Duck today, was there the past week. Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, are all not even close to as nice as Duck and Corolla. Duck and Corolla are more family oriented, rich people houses. Corolla also has nicer beaches, better sand. Avoid the three I mentioned earlier, they are grimy.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

[ QUOTE ]
I got back from Duck today, was there the past week. Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, are all not even close to as nice as Duck and Corolla. Duck and Corolla are more family oriented, rich people houses. Corolla also has nicer beaches, better sand. Avoid the three I mentioned earlier, they are grimy.

[/ QUOTE ]
Agree.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

We always stay in Corolla, Duck and Corolla Light (I don't know if that's just what my parents call it or if that's actually what it is). David actually came with our family this year, and the houses are all so big that my parents managed to successfully separate us while still giving each of my siblings their own bedrooms.

1. Make sure that you know whether or not you need four wheel drive to get to where your house is. A few of the houses you just drive across the sand to get to them.

2. If you are able to, go during off times. At one point, the roads are only one lane each direction, and it can take forever to go only a few miles.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

Any recommendations for a rental agency (or a specific house)?

We are in the preliminary stages of planning a trip for next summer for approximately 13 people. It's a family trip if that matters with the ages going from <1 to 67.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

The big one when my parents used to rent out the house was called Southern Shores, but I have no clue if it still exists. They did houses all over the place.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

Not real original, but make sure you go to Jockey's Ridge and Cape Hatteras lighthouse. Wright Brothers memorial is kind of interesting too.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

I'd suggest not waiting too late in the season to go. My landlord went in August the last 2 years because it was cheaper, but ended up having to leave early both times due to storms.

Re: Outerbanks, NC. Tell me your experiences.
 

I stayed in Corolla last summer. My friends & I (about 12 total) rented an 8 bedroom house with an inground pool, hot tub, 3 levels (all with decks), etc. right on the beach.

The big downside is it was about 8 miles north of where the road ends. We all rented 4x4s - it sounds easy, but it is a huge pain in the ass. I would not recommend it. It took 2 hours to get into town and back for groceries, beers, etc. Also, AWD vehicles like Subaru Outbacks would have no chance of making it.

To make it worse, one night we were driving home and hit a sinkhole which totalled the front of the rental car. The cops came and said the tow-truck company, which happened to be one guy, was out drinking at the local bar and couldn't help us. We asked what could be done, and they said "sorry, the tide will come in and basically wreck the car."

Luckily, some locals with a F150 pulled us away from the water and we let the rental car company get it the next day.

The northern towns seemed pretty nice, albeit very family-oriented, and I would go back.

Twiddy is the main real estate company on the island.