I’ve never been to the Outer Banks, NC…beyond Kitty Hawk, that is. The family is considering an extended weekend getaway in a few weeks (before the beach season really starts). So, what’s your advice on where to stay? Best eats? Is it worth going all the way to Ocracoke or is Avon good enough? Etc., Etc?
I usually spend a week every year on Ocracoke because I love it so much, but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. My parents and my siblings didn’t care for it at all. Unless you want to see the lighthouse (which isn’t particularly impressive) or the wild ponies, I’d suggest making do with other areas of OBX.
With that caveat, I’d point out that Ocracoke does have a lot to offer IF you are interested in spending time in a small village that is friendly to pedestrians and offers some nice restaurants. But a lot of people just can’t seem to decompress enough to enjoy it.
Try the seafood.
If you haven’t been before, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse should definitely be on your list of things to see.
I stayed in Avon a couple years back.
When you’re down there, you may notice a store called “Super Wings.” You cannot miss it, there is one literally on every block, in some cases directly across the highway from each other. No matter how much you bother them, they DO NOT have any chicken. Trust me.
If you do make it down toward Hatteras, if you have small children or anyone who doesn’t like swimming in the ocean, Pamlico Sound is very, very tame. Shallow in most areas, the average overall depth is 5-6 feet, but there are huge areas that are 2 feet deep or less and extend way, way out into the Sound.
You might try turning north (left) over the bridge toward the communities of Southern Shores, Duck, and Corolla. From what I’ve seen they are a good combination of the busy-ness of Kitty Hawk and the remote peace of Ocracoke. Corolla has a road-less area (4WD vehicles only) where wild ponies roam, and you can rent a house there if that’s your cup of tea.
I’m an OBXer for 40 years. Vacations, not a resident.
I’d need to know who’s going, ages, interests, and budget. WHY are you people going? If you’ve never been further South than Kitty Hawk, you’re pretty much a tourist in my mind. A tourist might like Ocracoke for a day, but that would be it, but they have the best restaurants between Kitty Hawk and Ocracoke.
Avon is where we stay, but we’re there for the atmosphere and fishing. Not much to see or do for tourist. Yeah, the Lighthouse is just south.
I’ll try to post more later.
Those communities are very upscale. Very unlike the touristy Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills.
I haven’t been in several years but, if you like fishing, there is a charter fleet at Oregon Inlet. We alway did the offshore tuna trips. Not cheap but, if you get into the tuna, its a blast. On one trip we stayed in a beachfront house in Corolla - shared with other couples. . I don’t recall there being much to do up there in the way of bars or restaurants but for a few “do nothing” (besides cold beer on the beach/decks) days it was hard to beat.