One of the most frequently asked questions about the Outer Banks is “Where should we stay?” The simple truth about this question is that you really can’t go wrong with any choice. Every town on the OBX is special in its own way – every town is beautiful and has a unique charm.
But that’s not much of an answer – especially for vacationers that haven’t been to the Outer Banks before. So, I’ll elaborate a bit. Let’s take a quick tour of the northern towns of the Outer Banks.
Corolla
Corolla is home to generous unspoiled beaches and historic landmarks. Take a day to visit the Whalehead Club, the Currituck Lighthouse and Historic Corolla Village. Corolla, an unincorporated community located along the northern Outer Banks in Poplar Branch Township, is home to more than 100 wild Spanish Mustangs. The horses can be found on 12,000 acres in Corolla, north of populated areas. Approximately 500 permanent residents call the community home.
Duck
Moving south from Crolla, we reach Duck. Duck is an ocean to sound community with miles of beaches and spectacular sunsets over the Currituck Sound. Duck Village is easily navigated and pedestrian friendly.Duck was once home to a thriving commercial fowl industry. Today’s residents still serve as game or fish guides to visitors.
Southern Shores
Just south of Duck is Southern Shores. Southern Shores is a beautiful town, with much of the natural vegetation left intact, and has a marvelous stretch of beach with low-density oceanfront development. Southern Shoers beach accesses are not public; only residents and vacationers staying in the area are allowed to use them. The soundside of the town offers dense maritime forest vegetation and canals leading to the sound.
Kitty Hawk
Continuing on our southbound OBX journey, we hit Kitty Hawk next. Kitty Hawk is located in the geographic center of the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk offers access to golf, fishing, mini golf, restaurants, nightlife, fine dining, shopping and movies. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the East and the Albemarle Sound to the West, Kitty Hawk is a water enthusiast’s paradise.
Kill Devil Hills
Next stop, KDH. Kill Devil Hills, home of the Wright Brothers Memorial, has easily-accessed beaches with parking, fishing, crabbing, mini golf, restaurants, night life, fine dining, shopping and movies.
Nags Head
To wrap up our OBX tour, we’ll hit Nags Head. Nags Head was named #1 family-friendly beach by TripAdvisor® for 2007. Home of the east coast’s largest sand dune, the area features attractions, shops, restaurants, night life, water sports and more. Jockey’s Ridge State Park is the perfect spot to fly kites, hang glide or sand surf. Close to Roanoke Island, historic Manteo and Oregon Inlet.
Just to the West of the Outer Banks (but really still part of the OBX), is a tiny little town called Manteo that may remind you of Mayberry…in fact, Andy Griffith lives there!
It is a definite hidden treasure, so we figured we swing the “Spotlight” over yonder to give you a quick tour.
The Town of Manteo wraps around Shallowbag Bay on the eastern side of Roanoke Island, part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Named the seat of government for Dare County in 1870, this waterfront community incorporated in 1899.
It is home to the NC Aquarium, The Lost Colony outdoor drama, the Elizabethan Gardens, Roanoke Island Festival park, and a super cool waterfront that has shops, restaurants, and some amazing art galleries.
During the Spring and Summer, Manteo hosts an outdoor event each first Friday of the month, cleverly called “First Friday,” that offers some outdoor entertainment, food, music, and art.
Manteo is a definite must-do for your next OBX vacation.
But to get back to that whole Mayberry comparison, here’s what RoanokeIsland.net has to say…
The Roanoke Island town of Manteo is often compared to Mayberry because it holds a similar small-town character — and characters — and all the charm, hospitality and friendliness that come with that designation. Since this town bears so much resemblance to fictional Mayberry, is it a coincidence that Andy Griffith has lived here off and on since the 1940s? Most likely not, since Griffith himself once said, “If Mayberry is anywhere, it is Manteo.”
Manteo is the lively Dare County seat and an up-and-coming shopping/dining/cultural center that throws out the welcome mat for visitors.
Now I’ll zip it so you can enjoy the tour…
PS – As a bonus, here’s a video for Brad Paisley’s “Waiting on a Woman” that won Video of the Year a couple years ago and was filmed on the Outer Banks featuring Andy Griffith…welcome to Mayberry…I mean Manteo.
Time for another edition of our “Spotlight on the OBX” video series. I’m a huge fan of these videos; 1., because it gets us out of the office to enjoy gorgeous days on the Outer Banks, but mainly because it gives us a chance to share some insight with you, our guests, about the people, places, and things that we love about the OBX.
Today we are going to continue our tours of OBX towns with a quick tour of Nags Head. Let’s shine the “Spotlight” on Nags Head, shall we?
A little Nags Head history to start: Legend states that early inhabitants of the area tied lanterns to the necks of horses and led the horses up and down the beach after dark to lure merchant ships. Sailors who saw the lights would mistake them for lights from ships and decide to come closer to shore. When they did, they would run aground and Nags Head residents would pillage the ship’s cargo.
Shipwrecks, pirates, pillaging…so Outer Banks.
Nags Head, North Carolina is often used synonymously with the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Strange, isn’t it? Do you know anyone that still says “I’m going to Nags Head” when they are really going to Duck? There are still some highway signs in Virginia that use Nags Head rather than the Outer Banks for directional purposes. Perhaps because it was the most popular OBX destination for so long?
As one of the most developed cities on the Outer Banks, Nags Head is a wonderful place for vacation living. But don’t let the “most developed cities” moniker fool you. OBX “development” is far from built-up. There is still plenty of empty space to roam, lots of natural habitat, and a hefty dose of amazing history. Plus, amazing restaurants, Jockey’s Ridge, shopping, lighthouses, fishing, etc. just a short drive (or walk) away.
Known for its pristine beaches, Nags Head is also home to many attractions including the east coast’s largest sand dune, shops, restaurants, night life, water sports and more.
In my humble opinion, Nags Head packs the best bang for the buck. When I talk with guests who are new to the Outer Banks and are not sure where to stay, I generally refer them to Nags Head. Nags Head has a great Outer Banks feel, but still offers plenty of great activities to keep people busy.
As the Nags Head Guide says, “A Nags Head vacation experience offers a blend of the old with the new. Visitors still can revel in timeworn traditions while enjoying a host of modern-day comforts.”
The beaches along the Outer Banks are pretty amazing. Mile after mile of unspoiled beaches, white sand, gorgeous fishing piers, an abundance of wildlife, and most of the time you can find a quiet spot all to yourself. This gorgeous beach environment is awesome, but it can also overshadow some of the other amazing aspects of the OBX.
It’s easy to be so focused on getting to the beach, setting up your chair and cooler, that you miss what’s going on around you. As the wise Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
At a quick glance, from a car speeding to the nearest beach access, the towns along the Outer Banks may seem pretty similar, but in reality, they all offer their own unique charm. So our hope with the “Spotlight” is that we can help you slow down and take a look around, and today we’re going to shine the “Spotlight” on Corolla – that’s Co-RHALL-a, not like the Toyota car.
Corolla, NC is the northern most town of the Outer Banks, situated just south of the Virginia/North Carolina line. Corolla is rich in history and full of tradition for many.
Corolla is an unincorporated community and home to more than 100 wild Spanish Mustangs. The horses can be found on 12,000 acres in Corolla, north of populated areas. Approximately 500 permanent residents call the community home.
Up until the development boom of the 1980s, some 30 years ago, Corolla was little-known and little-traveled and was often referred to as North Carolina’s last beach frontier. That’s all changed today. Corolla has grown quite rapidly, and the number of people who have decided to move to this edge of the world location has steadily increased.
Today, Corolla is a popular vacation destination for families from all over. Although you may not be able to enjoy the convenience of super stores and malls, you’ll find all the amenities you want for a great vacation. The beautiful beaches are clean and vast, and usually just a short walk from your vacation home. There is great shopping and a fine recreation scene, including kayak tours, jet-ski rents, surf lessons, fishing, wild horse tours, go-carts and more. Dining and entertainment is top notch, many of the renown restaurants provide live out-door music for those beautiful summer nights.
Corolla has a little something for everyone, “It is a world of contemporary luxuries, where vacationing is easy and life is civilized.”
I’ll zip it so you can enjoy the tour, but remember to slow down once in awhile …
Let’s spin the “Spotlight” towards Kill Devil Hills today. KDH (as it is lovingly known around these parts) has a little something, something for everyone – awesome beaches, gorgeous houses, great restaurants, the Wright Brothers, playgrounds, skate parks, an awesome fishing pier, fantastic local shops, amazing art, and the list rolls on…
The oldest township in the Outer Banks, Kill Devil Hills should not be confused with Kill Devil Hill, where the Wright Brothers made the first successful flight in a powered machine. The Wright Brothers Memorial Monument stands sixty feet high on the ninety foot high Kill Devil Hill.
Situated in the middle of the northern Dare County beaches, KDH is the most populated of the Outer Banks town. The majority of our OBX locals reside here, with a total population of approximately 7,500.
Today, Kill Devil Hills is one of the most popular vacation destinations on the Outer Banks. The many beach accesses make for an easy trip to the beach with lots of public parking. Lifeguards are stationed every half mile or so, making KDH beaches ideal for families with children. With thousands of rental homes, great restaurants, sports and activities, and shopping, Kill Devil Hills is at the center of an Outer Banks vacation.
Our surroundings play a large role in our happiness. A quiet, natural environment tends to bring out our calm, relaxed nature.
I think any neighborhood shrink – ah hem, I mean psychologist – would agree. Any psychologists in the audience?
Anywho…that’s how it works for me anyway. Give me a nice calm beach day, and any worries I may have seem to melt away. I think the Outer Banks has this effect on most visitors. Once we cross that bridge and hit the OBX, our mentality seems to change. As the Mad Magazine dude use to say, “What, me worry?”
The OBX as a whole seems to have this worry-melting effect, but for today’s addition, I’d like to shine the “Spotlight” on just one tiny little road…a microcosm of the macro Outer Banks, if you will.
This one road has the same worry-melting effect for me. It’s quiet, out of the way, Soundfront, a smooth glide for a bike or skateboard, and one of the best spots for an OBX sunset.
Can you guess what road?…don’t look at the title.
Ok, it’s Bay Dr.
Bay Drive is one of my favorite places on the Outer Banks. Not only is it one of the best places to catch the sunset, but you can always count on seeing someone you know and catching up with friends. There is a warm sense of community in this neighborhood as you see neighbors waving as they pass each other on the street, chatting in their front yards, or biking/running at sundown.
Located in Kill Devil Hills, NC, Bay Drive is a beautiful residential street that runs along Kitty Hawk Bay and is home to many Outer Banks locals.
I’ll zip it so you can enjoy the tour…and the Outer Banks sunset…
The Outer Banks offers some amazing communities, but keeping them all straight can be a challenge. To help, from time to time, we’ll shine the “Spotlight” on some of these communities to give you an up close look.
For today’s installment of the “Spotlight on the OBX,” we’re going to focus on one of the biggest and best, the Currituck Club. The Currituck Club is located on the Northern Outer Banks near historic Corolla. It is a gated community located between the beautiful, unspoiled, northern Outer Banks beaches and the famous Currituck Sound.
In my latest trip to the Currituck Club, I was pleasantly reminded of the amount of gorgeous homes in this gated community. It had been a while since I had visited the neighborhood and I was truly taken back by the number of beautifully constructed houses.
Not only is The Currituck Club an exclusive private neighborhood, but it is also home to an awarding winning Rees Jones Golf Course. Aside from being recognized as one of the “Top 25 Courses in North Carolina,” the Currituck Club also houses seven tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, kiddie playground, fitness center, bike trails, lawn games, beach shuttle and more.
With so much going on in this residential resort community, there is no need venture too far. You can ride your bike or take the trolley, everywhere you need to go.
Cruising through a new area can create that mouse lost in maze effect. Too much stimulus to take it to really discern the unique aspects of the area. The Outer Banks has this affect on visitors all the time. Where am I, what town am I in, what milepost is this, didn’t I just pass that beach access two miles ago?!
We can relate, and we want to offer some assistance. The Outer Banks is comprised of a few different towns, and while the towns may blend together as you drive down Rt 12, they really are quite unique. So, from time to time, we like to shine the “Spotlight on the OBX” towards some of the OBX towns to help you distinguish where your beach cruise has taken you.
This week, we’ll focus on Southern Shores. Located between Duck and Kitty Hawk, is the town of Southern Shores. Comprised of mostly single-family homes, Southern Shores is predominately a quiet residential paradise….hmm…perfect for an OBX vacation?
The beaches in Southern Shores are private, used only by residents and visitors to the area.
There are a variety of rental homes in Southern Shores, from grand oceanfront homes to retro flat-tops.
Southern Shores is home to the Duck Woods Country Club golf course, a semi-private facility. The town also has a wonderful bike path for walkers, joggers and bikers, and it connects to the commercial areas of town.
Let me step aside and allow Chelsea to give you quick tour of Southern Shores…
Here’s the newest installment to our “Spotlight on the OBX” video series. Today we’re going to focus on the town of Kitty Hawk.
The town of Kitty Hawk is located on the northern beaches of the Outer Banks and is home to both Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty and Seaside Vacations. Established in the early 18th century, Kitty Hawk is rich in history and culture.
Kitty Hawk is the first town you bump into as you cross the Wright Memorial Bridge and arrive on the OBX. It is sandwiched between Southern Shores to the north and Kill Devil Hills to the south.
The Town consists of a thriving Village that has been around for generations, a newer beach community of residential cottages, and a maritime forest called Kitty Hawk Woods.
Kitty Hawk accounts for approximately 5 miles of the northern Outer Banks coast. The beaches are beautiful and full of memories for so many people…visitors and locals alike.
Having grown up here, I may be slightly biased when I say that there are no other beaches quite like the ones on the Outer Banks. There is something about the feeling of a Kitty Hawk beach that, for me, lets you escape for a short while and appreciate the natural beauty that’s around you.
On the other side of the by-pass (aka “highway in OBX lingo), in the heart of Kitty Hawk, also referred to as the Village, you’ll find families that have lived here for generations. It is amazing how much history the OBX offers! There’s a small town feeling that you’ll notice as neighbors wave while passing each other on the road, by car or bike. The Village is home to most of the year-round residents of Kitty Hawk.
This side of the Kitty Hawk bumps up to the Sound and all of the fun the Sound has to offer…fishing, boating, skiing, etc. Oceanfront is great, but there’s something very special about soundfront homes too. The view from the Sound is fantastic, and there’s no better way to spend a sunny day than cruising on the calm waters of the OBX Sound.
