Anyone Ever Vaca on the Outer Banks of North Carolina?

Jimmy-James · 08-08-2007

Hilary and myself and our six month old daughter are heading down to Kitty Hawk on Saturday for a week at a beach house with some friends and their kids. It will essentially be my first trip to the Outer Banks (only other time was a two day trip for a wedding that left no time to explore) and I was wondering if any of you have any advice, words of wisdom, etc as I really know nothing about the area.

JoanieBlon · 08-08-2007

Be sure to try some shrimp n grits (pronounced locally as "shump"). It's sort of like shrimp gumbo, only served over grits instead of rice. I LOVE it. Also try a local favorite ~ benne (sesame seed) wafers.

These are actually South Carolina items, BUT I'm fairly certain you will find them along the coast in North Carolina too....

emc · 08-08-2007

We've gone a couple of times. Great for family vacations. It is very crowded this time of year. If you plan to go to the grocery store Saturday, be prepared for long lines. We take as much as we can (staples, paper products etc) from home to save on shopping time. Let me know if you have specific questions.

MWC · 08-08-2007

You might try taking the ferry down to Ocrakoke Island; we enjoyed that.

Otherwise, Kitty Hawk should be Ground Zero for any family-based amusements and dining.

If you've never experienced Brew-Thru, that is fun. It's a drive-through liquor store! Or maybe just beer, I forget.

bufante · 08-08-2007

Stop bye my Uncle's house...it is in Duck. Have fun!

Loree · 08-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by bufante

Stop bye my Uncle's house...it is in Duck. Have fun!

I've been to Duck

Jimmy-James · 08-08-2007

Great stuff, thanks guys.

I too have heard that the place is pretty crowded this time of year, but the house we have is right across the street from the beach, so I hope not to be dealing with too much driving around.

Honestly, the scariest part of the trip for me is the idea of driving from Connecticut to North Carolina with a 7 month old- we have not gone that far in the car with her yet and she gets fussy after only a few hours. We're contemplating leaving in the middle of the night on Friday so that we can drive while she sleeps and hopefully beat the traffic that's supposed to be so bad down on there on Saturdays (because Sat is the rental house turnover day). Only problem is we don't have access to the house til 4pm and so we'll need to kill time, but I figure we'll just go to the beach...

roni · 08-08-2007

Two times, both with friends in vacation rental homes. Once on the north end, in Corolla and once in South Nags Head. Enjoyed both trips

**denisea** · 08-08-2007

Yup, it would be high season right now in the OBX. Some rental houses have changed to Sun-Sun rentals to try to help ease the traffic problems. The OBX are so narrow that you are either on the beach or across the street from the beach or bay side. Some great eats down there if you are a seafood lover. Our friends used to own one of the oldest cottage rental units places in Old Nags Head until Hurricane Isabelle destroyed them. Very sad. Love the OBX. You will have a wonderful time. It's a great place to just kick back and relax.

caramba · 08-09-2007

Have a great time! We've rented houses down there close to 10 times. Do you have 4wd? There's nothing like driving out on the beach- not sure where you can do that up there- we usually stay on Hatteras Island, around Avon or Frisco. Be sure to get down to Hatteras if you can and yes, going all the way down to Ocracoke (free car ferry!) would be a fun day trip.
An excellent restaurant not far from where you are staying is Tortuga's Lie.

woodman · 08-09-2007

We rented a house on corova 4x4 beach just north of corolla.If you have a 4x4 you can drive down the beach all the way to the virgina border about 15 miles.They have wild horses that just run free there.Lower your tires to 20 pounds pressure and it's a blast.

woodman · 08-09-2007

Horses in front of our house

woodman · 08-09-2007

Driving down the beach.Just go north on the outer banks and you run out of road

MWC · 08-09-2007

If you have the 4X4, definitely take it up to the north end ... the beaches go out forever, so the surf is very gentle for young ones.

On Ocrakoke, you can also take 4x4s out onto the beach.

caramba · 08-09-2007

You can take them out for miles and miles on Hatteras Island too- there are many different access roads. It's one of our favorite things to do.

08-08-2007	#1 (permalink)
Jimmy-James gotta have it Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Southern, CT Posts: 897	Anyone Ever Vaca on the Outer Banks of North Carolina? Hilary and myself and our six month old daughter are heading down to Kitty Hawk on Saturday for a week at a beach house with some friends and their kids. It will essentially be my first trip to the Outer Banks (only other time was a two day trip for a wedding that left no time to explore) and I was wondering if any of you have any advice, words of wisdom, etc as I really know nothing about the area.

08-08-2007	#2 (permalink)
JoanieBlon añejo Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 1,887	Food Favorites Be sure to try some shrimp n grits (pronounced locally as "shump"). It's sort of like shrimp gumbo, only served over grits instead of rice. I LOVE it. Also try a local favorite ~ benne (sesame seed) wafers. These are actually South Carolina items, BUT I'm fairly certain you will find them along the coast in North Carolina too.... Last edited by JoanieBlon; 08-08-2007 at 12:55 PM..

08-08-2007	#3 (permalink)
emc life=playa Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cleveland OH Posts: 936	We've gone a couple of times. Great for family vacations. It is very crowded this time of year. If you plan to go to the grocery store Saturday, be prepared for long lines. We take as much as we can (staples, paper products etc) from home to save on shopping time. Let me know if you have specific questions.

08-08-2007	#4 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6,197	You might try taking the ferry down to Ocrakoke Island; we enjoyed that. Otherwise, Kitty Hawk should be Ground Zero for any family-based amusements and dining. If you've never experienced Brew-Thru, that is fun. It's a drive-through liquor store! Or maybe just beer, I forget.

08-08-2007	#5 (permalink)
bufante minucker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Crop Dusting the IA Posts: 2,616	Stop bye my Uncle's house...it is in Duck. Have fun!

08-08-2007	#7 (permalink)
Jimmy-James gotta have it Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Southern, CT Posts: 897	Great stuff, thanks guys. I too have heard that the place is pretty crowded this time of year, but the house we have is right across the street from the beach, so I hope not to be dealing with too much driving around. Honestly, the scariest part of the trip for me is the idea of driving from Connecticut to North Carolina with a 7 month old- we have not gone that far in the car with her yet and she gets fussy after only a few hours. We're contemplating leaving in the middle of the night on Friday so that we can drive while she sleeps and hopefully beat the traffic that's supposed to be so bad down on there on Saturdays (because Sat is the rental house turnover day). Only problem is we don't have access to the house til 4pm and so we'll need to kill time, but I figure we'll just go to the beach...

08-08-2007	#8 (permalink)
roni Happy Curmudgeon Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 29,004	Two times, both with friends in vacation rental homes. Once on the north end, in Corolla and once in South Nags Head. Enjoyed both trips

08-08-2007	#9 (permalink)
denisea Forum Goddess Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: On the road to ruins... Posts: 7,025	Yup, it would be high season right now in the OBX. Some rental houses have changed to Sun-Sun rentals to try to help ease the traffic problems. The OBX are so narrow that you are either on the beach or across the street from the beach or bay side. Some great eats down there if you are a seafood lover. Our friends used to own one of the oldest cottage rental units places in Old Nags Head until Hurricane Isabelle destroyed them. Very sad. Love the OBX. You will have a wonderful time. It's a great place to just kick back and relax.

08-09-2007	#10 (permalink)
caramba añejo Join Date: May 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,638	Have a great time! We've rented houses down there close to 10 times. Do you have 4wd? There's nothing like driving out on the beach- not sure where you can do that up there- we usually stay on Hatteras Island, around Avon or Frisco. Be sure to get down to Hatteras if you can and yes, going all the way down to Ocracoke (free car ferry!) would be a fun day trip. An excellent restaurant not far from where you are staying is Tortuga's Lie.

08-09-2007	#11 (permalink)
woodman añejo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: knockem stiff ohio Posts: 4,031	We rented a house on corova 4x4 beach just north of corolla.If you have a 4x4 you can drive down the beach all the way to the virgina border about 15 miles.They have wild horses that just run free there.Lower your tires to 20 pounds pressure and it's a blast.

08-09-2007	#12 (permalink)
woodman añejo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: knockem stiff ohio Posts: 4,031	Horses in front of our house

08-09-2007	#13 (permalink)
woodman añejo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: knockem stiff ohio Posts: 4,031	Driving down the beach.Just go north on the outer banks and you run out of road

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08-09-2007	#14 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6,197	If you have the 4X4, definitely take it up to the north end ... the beaches go out forever, so the surf is very gentle for young ones. On Ocrakoke, you can also take 4x4s out onto the beach.

08-09-2007	#15 (permalink)
caramba añejo Join Date: May 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,638	You can take them out for miles and miles on Hatteras Island too- there are many different access roads. It's one of our favorite things to do.