Visit The Outer Banks

Plan Your Own Outer Banks Adventure

By Rebecca Deurlein
Jun. 18, 2024

I love the beach, though not exactly in the expected way. I first saw the ocean at 18, and from that moment on, sand and surf kept calling me back for decades. Each year brought at least one trip to a beach, island, or coastline, and over time I began to notice what made each place distinct.

So arriving in the Outer Banks felt especially exciting. This chain of islands offers so many different activities, flavors, settings, and personalities that a trip here feels like stepping into a Choose Your Own Adventure book.

Understanding the Islands

The Outer Banks sit within reach, yet still feel removed enough to truly unplug. In some places, your cell phone signal may disappear — and you may find you don’t mind at all. That fits the mood of this peaceful hamlet: welcoming, nostalgic in the way beloved beach towns once felt, and perfectly suited to putting devices aside and taking in the ocean air.

Getting there is straightforward. Fly into Norfolk International Airport, pick up a rental car, and follow bridges and scenic roads that seem to hover over blue water while inviting you farther in. Traveling from north to south, you can explore Duck and Nags Head, then continue across the Jug Handle Bridge toward Rodanthe and Cape Hatteras. Along the way are quieter communities with charming shops, mom & pop restaurants, and calm stretches of shoreline.

A Wide Range of Things to Do

With so many islands to explore, OBX becomes a full sensory playground. You can fill your day with high-energy adventures, then an hour later be completely disconnected, drifting into a beach nap with waves as the soundtrack.

While moving through the Outer Banks, I found plenty of both. In Frisco, I met the team at Equine Adventures for a memorable ride through tropical forest, then laughed as my horse splashed through the water. The trail opened onto a broad beach, where we picked up speed and sent sand flying. Riding beside the water, with waves reaching the horses’ hooves and beauty in every direction, is an experience worth making time for. Families can go with ease because horses are paired to each rider’s skill level, and the guide will take photos so the moment is saved.

In Kitty Hawk, known for Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight in 1893, I climbed into a cherry red biplane with OBX Airplanes, strapped in, and soared over the barrier islands as the pilot turned left and right for better views. From above, I saw pods of 10 or more dolphins, a lone shark moving slowly through the water, and pale shipwrecks scattered through the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The flight also passed over the Wright Brothers Monument, circled Bodie Island Lighthouse, and took in Jockey’s Ridge, the rolling sand destination loved by hang gliders.

Farther north, Manteo quickly became the kind of town I wished I could linger in longer. On the Manteo Historic Walking Tour, I joined other visitors for a deep look into the area’s past, the kind of tour that leaves you knowing more than many locals. Another favorite Manteo afternoon unfolded from a bar stool at Kill Devil Rum, a distillery devoted to its craft and skilled at making a standout cocktail.

There’s no shortage of ways to shape a trip: fly kites on the windy beach, book a fishing charter for a rewarding day on the water, see the wild horses in Corolla, speed over calm water on an airboat tour, search for shells along Cape Hatteras National Seashore, try hang gliding from the dunes, or bring children to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Food Rooted in OBX History

Seafood is expected in any beach town, but OBX goes further. With over 200 miles of shoreline, the Outer Banks support a wide range of catches, from bass and drum to tuna and marlin. Its temperatures, currents, and terrain also create excellent conditions for crab and oyster harvesting, a meaningful piece of OBX history. Visitors can get closer to that culture by spending a day on the water learning about seasonal catches and, if luck cooperates, reeling in something impressive. Fishing charters operate on nearly every island, and hook and cook restaurants — including Sugar Creek Seafood Restaurant in Nags Head — can prepare your catch as a fresh dinner.

For a seafood experience that doubles as a fascinating science lesson, visit Endurance Seafood, located just outside Manteo. There, guests can see the crab tanks and learn about the trapping and growth process behind the prized softshell crabs for which the area is known.

Between the signature flavors of OBX, the history of these barrier islands, and the sheer variety of activities available, the Outer Banks stands apart as a beach destination. The source page closes with a nod to Oleta Adams, using the reference to encourage travelers to make their way there if they can.

Category

Outdoor Enthusiast

Author

Rebecca Deurlein is a freelance writer covering travel and the discoveries that come with it. She also writes about wellness, food, cocktails, and wine, with a love for sharing stories about interesting people in small towns doing great things. Rebecca lives in Houston. https://rebeccadeurlein.com/

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