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Outer Banks, NC
Escape to the Outer Banks for peace and quiet, sun and fun
Tuesday, Mar 20, 2007 - 02:31 PM Updated: 04:19 PM
Sunrise at Nags Head. Photo By: Bruce Parker
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Save This PageThe Outer Banks, or OBX, as natives and tourists alike have named it, are a series of sandy towns and beachfronts located on North Carolina's Atlantic Coast.
The Outer Banks stretch roughly 180 miles from the Virginia border to Cape Lookout. Known for their peace and quiet, the Outer Banks have no boardwalks and (thankfully for many) are not as commercial as Virginia Beach or Myrtle Beach. This is the place you come to reconnect with your family. The beaches on the Outer Banks are perfect for swimming, parasailing, jet skiing, boating, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, boogie boarding.
The Outer Banks is made up of the coastal towns Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Ocracoke which are strung out along the Outer Banks and offer fine warm-water beaches.
Outer Banks Guide:
Duck:
Duck is one of the most popular resort destinations on the Outer Banks and is located at the northernmost tip. Duck is a haven for watersports, outdoor adventures, fine dining and shopping. A very popular walking/cycling trail runs parallel to Highway 12. Every morning and late afternoon, this is the place to be when staying in Duck, as hundreds use this paved path during the summer.
Duck is one of the most popular resort destinations on the Outer Banks and is located at the northernmost tip. Duck is a haven for watersports, outdoor adventures, fine dining and shopping. A very popular walking/cycling trail runs parallel to Highway 12. Every morning and late afternoon, this is the place to be when staying in Duck, as hundreds use this paved path during the summer.
Bounded by the Currituck Sound to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Duck offers opportunities to kayak, jet ski, and wind surf. Some local restaurants offer open air dining. The beach affords great shell collecting opportunities, especially in the offseason.
And the beaches at Duck are truly memorable. The best way to visit Duck is to rent a house and settle in for a week of beach-side vacation.
Kitty Hawk:
Kitty Hawk is the smallest of the resort communities of Dare County. Kitty Hawk has about 3.5 miles of oceanfront. The town consists of a traditional village, a beach community of residential cottages, and a 461-acre maritime forest reserve called Kitty Hawk Woods. Visitors will find single family cottages, as well as small businesses.
Kitty Hawk is the smallest of the resort communities of Dare County. Kitty Hawk has about 3.5 miles of oceanfront. The town consists of a traditional village, a beach community of residential cottages, and a 461-acre maritime forest reserve called Kitty Hawk Woods. Visitors will find single family cottages, as well as small businesses.
Kill Devil Hills:
Kill Devil Hills offers 4.7 miles of oceanfront and is the home of the The Wright Brothers National Memorial. Speaking of the Wright Brothers, Kill Devil Hills is often windy and the beachfront area is comprised of sand dunes. Kill Devil Hills can be considered more commercial than the other resort areas. The stretch of US158 that runs through town has earned the local nickname French Fry alley. There are national chain hotels at the south end of the pier.
Kill Devil Hills offers 4.7 miles of oceanfront and is the home of the The Wright Brothers National Memorial. Speaking of the Wright Brothers, Kill Devil Hills is often windy and the beachfront area is comprised of sand dunes. Kill Devil Hills can be considered more commercial than the other resort areas. The stretch of US158 that runs through town has earned the local nickname French Fry alley. There are national chain hotels at the south end of the pier.
Nags Head:
Nags Head is the oldest resort community on the Dare County oceanfront. Nags Head has the longest stretch of beachfront at 11 miles. Visitors will find every accommodation from major hotels and resorts to single-family cottages and more at Nags Head. Jockey's Ridge State Park, the tallest natural sand dune system in the eastern United States, offers unparallel views of Nags Head.
Nags Head is the oldest resort community on the Dare County oceanfront. Nags Head has the longest stretch of beachfront at 11 miles. Visitors will find every accommodation from major hotels and resorts to single-family cottages and more at Nags Head. Jockey's Ridge State Park, the tallest natural sand dune system in the eastern United States, offers unparallel views of Nags Head.
Hatteras Island:
Hatteras Island is one of the most remote and undeveloped areas that make up the Outer Banks. There are no incorporated towns on Hatteras, but a series of seven villages. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge makes up the northern 13 miles of Hatteras Island, and is generally regarded as a great spot for birdwatching. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest in the nation at 208 feet. Other points of interest include the Frisco Native American Museum, a tribute to the tribes that once dominated the Outer Banks. And the free ferry ride to Ocracoke Island
Hatteras Island is one of the most remote and undeveloped areas that make up the Outer Banks. There are no incorporated towns on Hatteras, but a series of seven villages. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge makes up the northern 13 miles of Hatteras Island, and is generally regarded as a great spot for birdwatching. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest in the nation at 208 feet. Other points of interest include the Frisco Native American Museum, a tribute to the tribes that once dominated the Outer Banks. And the free ferry ride to Ocracoke Island
Ocracoke:
Only accessible by ferry or water, the island of Ocracoke offers 16-miles of sand, a wooded village, shops, restaurants and several places to stay. There are wide grassy areas where the wild ponies used to roam and this is the place where the pirate Blackbeard once roamed. A remote and popular vacation destination, Ocracoke Island offers camping, charter fishing, swimming, stretches of beach and much more.
Only accessible by ferry or water, the island of Ocracoke offers 16-miles of sand, a wooded village, shops, restaurants and several places to stay. There are wide grassy areas where the wild ponies used to roam and this is the place where the pirate Blackbeard once roamed. A remote and popular vacation destination, Ocracoke Island offers camping, charter fishing, swimming, stretches of beach and much more.
Attractions:
Cape Hatteras National Seashore: The National Seashore extends more than 70 miles from South Nags Head to Ocracoke. The first national seashore in the country includes natural and historic attractions, such as lighthouses and lifesaving stations, as well as pristine beaches. Picnic areas, camping and interpretive programs are offered seasonally. (252) 473-2111, www.nps.gov/caha
Jockeys Ridge State Park: This 426-acre park has the largest natural living sand dune on the East Coast. Two self-guided trails and nature programs available year-round. Hang gliding, kite flying, hiking, visitor's center, small gift shop, museum, picnic facilities and restrooms. Nags Head, (252) 441-7132, www.jockeysridgestatepark.com
Wright Brothers National Memorial: A large granite fin atop a hill just outside Kill Devil Hills is a monument to Orville Wright’s firs powered flight on December 17, 1903. 1401 National Park Dr. Manteo,(252) 441-7430, www.nps.gov/archive/wrbr/indepth
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island: There’s a whole underwater world to be discovered at the 68,000-square foot Aquarium. Go nose to nose with all of the different underwater animals with floor-to-ceiling windows. Watch daily scuba diving shows, get up close to sharks and hundreds of fish with huge tanks, explore scale models and much more. In addition, there are daily programs featuring live animals, marine life videos and special activities. (252) 473-3494, (866) 332-3475, www.ncaquariums.com
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge: More than 150,000 acres of wetland habitats and a wide variety of wildlife, ranging from wood ducks and alligators to black bears and red wolves. Plant species, including Atlantic white cedar, bald cypress, wildflowers and shrubs, are abundant. Visitors will find hiking and wildlife trails, observation platforms, fishing areas and kayaking and canoeing routes. Free admission. (252) 473-1131, www.fws.gov/alligatorriver
Roanoke Island Festival Park: Festival Park offers a slew of historical programs where visitors can hope aboard the Elizabeth II, a sixteenth century representative sailing ship. Visit the Settlement Site and experience blacksmithing, woodworking and games. Explore 400 years of Outer Banks history in the interactive Roanoke Adventure Museum and much more at the Festival Park. $8 adults, kids 5 and under free. (252) 475-1506, (252) 475-1500, www.roanokeisland.com
The Lost Colony: A 400 year-old mystery haunts Roanoke Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks. There, in 1587, about 120 men, women and children established the first English colony in the New World, then vanished without a trace. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, “The Lost Colony” tells their story in the dramatic setting of historic Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island. (252) 473-3414 www.thelostcolony.org
Sources: Richmond Times-Dispatch and www.outerbanks.org
