Earthblog

Congratulations on deciding to vacation on the Outer Banks.  While you’re here, there are a ton of things to do!  The following is a strategy to help think things through, while staying relaxed and lounging on your vacation.

 Not everyone needs a strategy for vacationing, but read this, it may give you some great ideas on how to get the most of your week here ... 

Arrival

Typical vacationers come for a week, stay in a rental house, and arrive on a Saturday or Sunday.  You may wish to get a jump-start on your trip by arriving before noon on your check-in day and hanging out at the beach for a few hours before checking in to your rental house.  That way you make the most of your first day, and you also beat the traffic, as many other people are heading down for a 4:00 check-in.  Bring your first night’s meal with you, or go to a restaurant.  That way after you check in, you can relax and get familiar with the rental house.  The next morning, go shopping for food and whatever you forgot to bring, refreshed and avoiding any weekend shopping crowds.

Beach

Most vacations are centered around enjoying the wonderful beaches in the area, from Currituck to Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, and continuing south.  Keep in mind however that some days might not be great beach days due to the weather or other factors.  Hit the beaches early in your vacation, to make sure you get several good days in.

Pool

Definitely rent a house with a pool.  There will be days you just don’t feel like going to the beach.  And with kids, the pool can be easier to manage.

Sunsets

Since the Outer Banks is surrounded by water, the sun rises over the ocean and sets over the sound, allowing for beautiful sunsets.  You may wish to rent a house with sound views, or position yourself at early evening at a restaurant or park that faces west.

Attractions

There are so many Outer Banks attractions it would be impossible to list them all here.  However, some key attractions on a typical one-week trip are the Wright Brothers Monument, Jockey’s Ridge, and the Currituck Lighthouse / beach driving.  While there is a ton of other stuff to do (golf, water sports, dining, shopping, entertainment, etc.) these attractions are unique to the area and are easily accomplished.

The Strategy

Assuming a Saturday check-in, the following is a rough outline of having lots of fun on the Outer Banks.  But the key is to enjoy yourself, so if you don’t want to have a strategy, just ignore it, because that’s ok too!

Saturday:  Arrive around noon, go to the beach for a few hours, with lots of sunscreen.  Check in to the rental house around 3:00 or 4:00.  Relax and enjoy the rental house amenities, including pool, game room, and videos.  Eat a dinner that you brought with you or go to a restaurant, and take it easy your first night.

Sunday:  Go shopping for food in the morning when it’s cool and not crowded.  Go to the beach in the afternoon.  Wear sunscreen and take pictures.  Barbecue at the rental house, jump in the pool at night, and watch a video.  Avoid driving on the weekend.

Monday:  In the morning drive north to the Currituck Lighthouse, climb up to the top, and take pictures.  Have lunch in Currituck, perhaps at the Tomato Patch Restaurant.  Afterwards drive north until the pavement stops, switch into 4 wheel drive, and keep driving north on the beach until you find a place you want to stop.  Hang out at the beach in the afternoon, enjoying having your car and all the stuff you packed into it (cooler, chairs, umbrellas, towels, boogie boards, etc.) right there with you.  Once tired, head back to the rental house and relax by the pool at night.

Tuesday:  In the morning head to the Wright Brothers Memorial.  Call ahead and find out what times the Park Rangers are doing the ½ hour tutorial on the Wright Brothers, as it’s pretty good and worth listening to.  Walk up the Memorial and take some pictures.  Have lunch in the area, perhaps at Barefoot Bernie’s.  In the afternoon either (a) go to the beach, or (b) head back to the rental house and hang out by the pool, or (c) go golfing, play tennis, or take the kids to a park or to play miniature golf.  Go to dinner at a restaurant, perhaps Fuji Japanese Steakhouse which is fun.

Wednesday:  In the morning go to Jockey’s Ridge where you can climb the East Coast’s largest natural sand dune.  Bring a kite or buy one there and take pictures.  If you are adventurous take a hang gliding lesson (call ahead).   Have lunch in the area, perhaps at La Fogata authentic Mexican restaurant.  In the afternoon either (a) go to the beach, or (b) head back to the rental house and hang out by the pool, or (c) go shopping at Tanger Outlet Mall, or (d) take the kids go-karting, or (e) go to the NC Aquarium in Manteo.

Thursday:  Flex day.  Go to the beach or hang out by the pool.  Do watersports (kayaking tours, surf lessons, parasailing, rent jet-skis, etc).  If you didn’t go to the NC Aquarium after Jockey’s Ridge, you can do it today, or any day if it rains.  After the Aquarium drive to downtown Manteo and stroll the Manteo waterfront.  Head back to the rental house and relax.  Have dinner at a restaurant, perhaps Sunset Grille and Raw Bar to catch a good sunset and take pictures.

Friday:  Flex day.  Beach, pool, or sports.  On your last day, treat yourself to a massage, manicure, or pedicure.  For dinner, eat everything in the refrigerator that you can’t or don’t want to take with you.  Go night swimming in the pool and take pictures.  Get the kids to bed reasonably early so they will be rested for the drive home tomorrow.

Saturday:  Get up reasonably early and head back, before the traffic builds.  When checking out at the realty office, based on what you liked or didn’t like, make a rental house reservation for next year, either in the same house or a different one (bigger, smaller, different location, etc.).  On the ride back, relax with the contented feeling of having had a wonderful, fun-filled week.  Get the pictures printed so you can make all your friends envious.  See you again next year!