Traveling is one of the things I want to share the most with my children. I exploration of a new place, the discovery of a new culture, the understanding that someone who may not look or act like you may share a whole host of things similar and be closer than it seems are all things that are important to me and I want them to be important to them.
So needless to say, finding different places to explore is important. Hopefully, once the kids are a little older, we will do more international traveling – when they can sit still on an airplane for long periods of time. Until then, we will explore the United States. As it is there are so many unique places to find and so much history to discover.
One great place to go with kids is the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The Outer Banks is actually a collection of small towns along the coastline, making up several connected barrier islands. Some of the more popular towns are Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head, but many of the smaller towns are absolutely beautiful and offer a little bit of a quieter feel while still within distance of the more popular sites to be day trips.
Where to Stay
Though there are some hotels and motels along the stretch of towns, the most popular type of accomodations are vacation rentals. These are a perfect option for families or groups. What is really nice is that many of these vacation rentals, from homes to condos, are right on the beach with wonderful beach access. This is especially nice for families as you don’t have to worry about making long treks from hotel rooms or cars with all of the necessities that come with a beach adventure.
If you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing, try to find a vacation rental towards Nags Head or Kitty Hawk. These are more centralized locations to the big attractions such as The Wright Brothers’ memorial, one of the longest pier in America, and the lighthouses.
If you plan on spending more time on the beach, you might find some of the lesser populated areas, such as Duck or Hatteras. These towns are smaller and you will have to travel some to do some of the sightseeing, making day trips to Nags Head or Kitty Hawk, but the beaches will not be as crowded.
What to Do
Each little town has its own draw. From shopping to history, horses to beaches, there is a little of everything depending on where you look.
If you are looking for boardwalk shopping, check out Duck. They may be the newest of the towns, but they have cute shops located on the water as well as a jazz fest that is a must see, if you’re in town for it.
For history, there are the several lighthouses in the area. Bodie Lighthouse, located in Nags Head and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, located in Hatteras, are two of the most famous lighthouses. These make for phenomenal photos, but be prepared for the climb up, as it is several flights up, and for it to be extremely windy once you get up there. Besides lighthouses there is also famous Kitty Hawk, known as the location for the Wright Brother’s first flight and the memorial of the first flight located in Kill Devil Hills. At the memorial, you can walk the length of their flight, walk up the hill to the memorial, and have an amazing 360 degree view of the islands.
If you are interested in the wild mustangs, check out Corolla. This is where the mustangs will tend to call the beaches their home. There are driving tours where they will take you to where the mustangs are, but respect the wildlife and their home. These are beautiful horses, and their history on the islands has waned since the start of their existence there. We want to make sure they can live there as long as possible.
For beaches, there are long stretches of beautiful beaches between Nags Head and Hatteras that fall in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beaches. These long stretches have white sandy beaches, cool driftwood to discover, and seashell hunting to partake in. Take a quick detour beforehand to purchase a kite and a collapsible sand pail. The beaches can be windy and the kids will love flying the kite. For babies, purchase a little pinwheel to stick in the sand in front of them. Be sure to stay on the lookout for dolphins off the coast!
There is also plenty in between including the home from the movie Nights in Rodanthe, the lost colony and Elizabethan gardens on Manteo, and fishing off the many piers including one of the longest piers in the Outer Banks, the Nags Head Fishing Pier.
What to Eat
Like many American towns, there are a variety of options of types of foods to eat. This can be particularly helpful when you have picky eaters in your family. You can find everything from fresh seafood to burgers.
There are a couple of restaurants that you should try if you can. The Kill Devil Grill is an establishment in Kill Devil Hills. Be prepared for a bit of a wait and go early because when a special is gone, it’s gone, but this is a restaurant worth all of that. The food is amazing, the key lime pie was to die for, and the atmosphere is a charming diner, bustling with energy.
If you’re in the mood for a burger, check out Bros Sandwich Shack. It may seem like just another strip mall burger joint, but their food is heavenly. Not only are the burgers good with delicious combinations, but I’m pretty sure I could live off of the waffle fries.
Looking for a nice date night while you are in the Outer Banks? Travel down to Hatteras and have dinner overlooking the water at the Pamlico Inn. The Pamlico Inn is a charming bed and breakfast with an adjoining restaurant. The staff is beyond friendly and the food is delicious. It will make for a peaceful date.
No matter where you go for meals, it is hard to find a place that doesn’t have tasty options!
When to Go
This was a mistake that we made when we traveled to the Outer Banks. We went in March just after what we thought would be the “spring break crowds.” Little did we know that this is considered the off season for the Outer Banks. During this time, many of the restaurants and shopping areas will close down. Beyond just the closures, it is also much cooler than you would expect and there is a high chance for storms. We were able to enjoy many delicious restaurants, there were some warmer days to enjoy sightseeing and the beaches, and the areas were much less crowded with cheaper rates, it was definitely slimmer on options.
Instead, plan to go during the on season. The season for the Outer Banks runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day with the best prices and options being just before and after these times in late April-early May and Late September. During these times, you are most likely to have the greatest availability of restaurants, open shops, and longer times that museums are open as well as better accomodation options and prices during the shoulders.
The most important thing is to be aware of hurricane season. The Outer Banks can be in the paths of hurricanes, however they are very prepared and know what to do. The biggest issue may be rain during your trip.
Best for Kids
Kids may not find the lighthouses quite as thrilling as we do as adults. Although it may be tempting to spend greater amounts of time viewing these beauties, make sure you spend plenty of time on the beaches collecting shells and flying kites. Kids will love playing in the cooler waters, watching for dolphins, and climbing on the driftwood that can be found all along the stretches of sand. We tried to spend a little bit of time everyday on the beach. Our favorite locations were along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beaches because the walk to the beach was not far, they were fairly secluded, and there was plenty of space for flying the kite, making a sand castle, or walking the shoreline looking for shells and driftwood.
Dotted along the islands are several sightseeing items that kids will love. As mentioned above, children will love running around the flight strip where the Wright Brothers’ first flight took place. Down the road is the Nags Head Fishing Pier where they can fish (no license required) and spend some time in the adjoining aquarium. Little Mister absolutely loved the aquarium and the pier, running up and down, watching the fishermen pull up their lines.
If your kids are into shipwrecks, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum may peak their curiosity. Located in Hatteras, this museum also holds the original light that sat atop the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Finally, don’t forget to take a day trip over to Manteo to explore the Roanoke Island Family Park. Exploring one of the first towns in America, kids have the opportunity to see how the people lived, climb aboard a replica Elizabeth II, and talk with actors who are representatives of the people who might have come across. Little Mister really enjoyed watching the blacksmith hammer out a nail that we were able to pack in our checked bag to take home.
The Outer Banks are an amazing option for a summer trip for your family. There are a variety of options, sure to please every member of your family. The accommodations are adaptable and you’ll easily find something to fit any size of family. No matter what you’re looking for, the Outer Banks is sure to deliver.