What is there to do on the Outer Banks?

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 08-16-2008, 08:59 AM

My family is trying to plan a beach vacation for next summer. Us, my parents and my siblings - a total of 18 people. So they want by Charleston, SC, which a house big enough is over $10,000 for the week. I want the Outer Banks which seems to be more affordable. They say there isn't anything to do there though and don't want to visit NC beaches. So I need to hear from people who have been there the best beaches to look at and what exactly there is to do. My 2 bachelor brothers will be coming along and I think they are worried about the nightlife. The rest of us want family friendly things. Is there a happy medium? Thanks!

**emily_hope** · 08-16-2008, 09:48 AM

Not to sure about the night life. We went last summer and loved it.

There are several lighthouses there. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in the western hemisphere (which we climbed) and finishes second only to the light tower known as the Lanterna in Genoa, Italy as the tallest in the world. There is also the Bodie Lighthouse and the Ocracoke Lighthouse. I believe there may be a couple more.

We visited Kitty Hawk and Kill Devils Hill, the test sites for the Wright Brothers first flights.

Jockeys Ridge State Park is another wonderful spot. It is the tallest natural sand dune in the eastern US. People go there to hang glide, fly kites and watch the beautiful sunset.

My family had never riden a ferry, so that was very interesting to us. I do not recall names of the restaurants we dined at but the food was always delicious. We even stopped at a place one night that had karaoke and the kids all sang. LOL!

We also took a dolphin watch cruise and saw several dolphins, of course. The cruise itself was fun, too.

Some of us rose very early one morning and went down to the beach to watch the sunrise. I had never watched the sunrise over the Atlantic and it was on my to do list. It was worth getting up for.

I think it is a wonderful place for a family vacation. My family stayed a week in a rented home around the Waves area. There were 15 of us. We all stayed together in a large house that had it's own pool. The beaches were different for us, because we usually vacation around the Destin area in Florida. But, there were some big waves, which we don't see so much of in Florida.

I've never been to Charleston, but would love to visit there as well. Which ever place you all decide on, I hope you have a lovely time!

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 08-16-2008, 10:24 AM

thanks Emily! I actually grew up in SC, so we all have been to the Charleston area plenty. I think that is why my parents want to back so badly, they miss it and have just always gone to SC beaches, even though they live in CO now. Thanks for the great info on the outer banks, all of the things you mentioned are right up my alley, I just have to convince everyone else.

**Marie78** · 08-16-2008, 01:26 PM

I loved my vacations there. My mom and step-dad took us there a few summers in a row. We enjoyed the Cape Hatteras Light House, Ocracoke Island (we took a ferry over there one time each summer to spend the day), I really just enjoyed the beach and the ocean. We had great weather each time we were there and I hope to go back again sometime

.

**Jerseygirl** · 08-19-2008, 01:12 PM

We did ocean kyacking, picnics in the state park, light house tours, there was 4 wheeler tours of the salt marshes to see the ponies on the beach, mini golf, nice restaraunts , ocean fishing trips, sunset tall mast boat trip on an interior bay (that was great). Honestly, I'm a bit more Miami, Key West, Virginia Bch, but going to the Outer Banks was a nice change, a bit less refined, much more laid back and casual, but a nice change.

**MerMcE** · 08-19-2008, 03:31 PM

There's a great aquarium there:
ncaquariums.com/ri/riindex.htm

Other attractions:
nags-head.com/attractions/local-attractions.shtml

The whole area is one long stretch and depending on where you stay you'll get a different "feel".

When you first cross the Sound onto the Outer Banks it's more commercial (miniature golf, brew-thrus, tourist shopping).

If you head north after crossing the sound, it's more residential (Duck, Corolla - wild horses on the beach there!).

If you head south after crossing the sound you pass through Kitty Hawk, etc. and get close to Roanoke Island (very historical) and eventually Cape Hatteras - beautiful and known for deep sea fishing.

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 08-19-2008, 03:39 PM

Thanks everyone! I just talked to my sister and they found a house in Surfside for under $5000 so I guess that is where we are going. I still wish that we were going to the Outer Banks, but maybe some other time. We found something that would work for everyone at a decent price. Remember this is for 18 people, so we needed a big house. thanks!