The OBX as an Ideal Family Beach Vacation Destination

By Francesca M.
Dec. 01, 2018

I first heard about The Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina decades back through an article in Backpacker Magazine. I can’t say for sure what caught my attention then, but it made OBX stick in my mind. Maybe it stood out because nobody I knew back home in the Midwest had visited. Over the years, the more I discovered about the area, the more certain I became that I wanted to see it for myself.

That chance finally arrived earlier this year with my first trip to The Outer Banks, and the experience surpassed what I had imagined. At this stage of life, what stood out most was how well OBX fits as a family beach vacation destination. That definitely was not what I was thinking about 20 years ago when I came across that Backpacker article. Now I’m here writing about beach vacation destinations, which still surprises me because beaches have never really been my default travel style. But that is part of what makes OBX so appealing: the region is not only about the shoreline. OBX brings together a wide mix of attractions and activities that can interest almost anyone in the family.

A little background on The Outer Banks

For anyone unfamiliar with it, The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. This line of islands and spits runs roughly 200 miles, bordered by Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico Sounds on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

The landscape varies as much as the towns and villages across OBX. Every community has its own character, and visitors can easily move between different experiences because the area is connected by bridges and a ferry system. That works well if your family wants an exploring-style vacation. If not, settling into one town or village for the whole trip is just as reasonable.

The Outer Banks also carries considerable historical importance. Evidence shows the islands had been inhabited for more than 1,000 years before European settlers arrived. One of the most widely known stories, especially among American schoolchildren, is The Roanoke Colony, also known as The Lost Colony. English settlers reached Roanoke Island, in present-day Dare County, North Carolina, in 1587. John White, who governed the new colony, soon sailed back to England for more supplies. Because of the naval war with Spain, White could not return to Roanoke Island for several years. When he finally came back in 1590, he found the settlement abandoned. None of the colonists remained, including his 3-year-old granddaughter, Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the Americas. What happened to The Roanoke Colony is still unknown.

In later history, OBX became the location of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright completed the first-ever controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on The Outer Banks.

Things to experience in The Outer Banks

Between its deep history and its many beaches, OBX gives families plenty to see and do during a beach vacation. Here is a closer look at what the area offers.

Beaches

Once again, variety is the point. Beaches throughout The Outer Banks are not all the same. On the Atlantic Ocean side, you can find beaches with larger waves, while the sound-side waters are much calmer. The right choice depends on the kind of beach day your family wants.

For a quieter, less-developed stretch of sand, go to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. If someone in your group windsurfs, Candian Hole, just a couple of miles south of Avon, is the beach to choose. When you start organizing your OBX family beach vacation, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau website is the place to consult for the most extensive beach information.

Fishing

With water surrounding the area, fishing naturally plays a major role here. OBX offers excellent, year-round sportfishing. Depending on when you visit, anglers can choose offshore or inshore charter fishing, fly fishing, pier fishing, and other options.

Unfortunately, fishing did not make it onto my schedule during my first OBX trip. My family and I are going back later this year, though, and I absolutely plan to spend time on the water.

Crabbing and shrimping

Crabbing and shrimping are not exactly fishing, and they deserve their own spotlight. With Captain Marc Mitchum, time on the water is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser! Captain Marc operates OBX Crabbing & Shrimping from Wanchese, with 2-hour and 4-hour charters for up to 6 people.

The outing works for all ages and levels of interest. You can dig into details about the crabbing and shrimping industry, or simply enjoy watching the kids pull up crab pots. In short, you can participate or just observe. Either way, the trip is a pleasant boat ride on Roanoke Sound, and you keep whatever you catch (all shrimp, crabs, & legal finfish).

Lighthouses

OBX has 4 historic lighthouses: Cape Hatteras, the tallest lighthouse in America; Bodie Island Lighthouse; Ocracoke Light Station, the second oldest operating lighthouse in America; and Currituck Beach Lighthouse. A 5th OBX lighthouse, Roanoke Marshes, stands in downtown Manteo. It is a replica of an old screwpile lighthouse that once helped guide sailors through the nearby marshy wetlands.

Visitors can do self-guided climbs to the top of Cape Hatteras and Bodie Island Lighthouses. Keep in mind that these climbs are demanding. There are no elevators, and the stairways may be hot and crowded. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has 257 steps to the top, while Bodie Island Lighthouse has just over 200 steps. If you are physically able to make the climbs, I highly recommend them because the views from above are unmatched. Timed ticket entry is required for both lighthouses.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse is managed by the non-profit Outer Banks Conservationists, Inc. (OBC). OBC has spent 3 decades and more than $1 million restoring and caring for Currituck Beach Lighthouse, which this year is marking its 143rd birthday. Guests may climb the 220 steps to the top for another set of incredible OBX views.

Climbing is not available at Ocracoke Light Station or Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, but both sites are open to visitors.

Historical sites

OBX history reaches well beyond the two major events already mentioned, but those stories are still great starting points. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site protects the location of England’s first New World settlements and also honors the cultural heritage of the Native Americans, European Americans, and African Americans connected to Roanoke Island. Fort Raleigh is also where The Lost Colony outdoor theater production is staged. Now in its 81st year, the historical drama presents the Roanoke Colony story with detailed sets and a cast of more than 80 actors.

At Wright Brothers National Memorial, visitors can stand where the famous first flight happened. You can learn more about the Wright Brothers and their lives by exploring the reconstructed camp buildings where they lived and worked while staying at Kitty Hawk. Simply being on-site also lets visitors feel the steady wind at Kitty Hawk, making it easier to understand why Orville and Wilbur chose that location for their historic flight.

Where to stay in The Outer Banks

Where you stay in OBX shapes the trip just as much as what you do there. The variety of lodging helps make an OBX vacation workable for families of many sizes and budgets. Although OBX does have hotels and resorts, vacation rentals are especially common. Choices run from simple condos to huge homes, with some reaching 16 bedrooms.

Those larger places, of course, cost more. But when multiple families travel together, or when a big extended family shares the home, the cost becomes much easier to manage. For me, this is one of the things that makes OBX feel especially special. I value destinations that make family travel possible and convenient, whether I’m traveling with my immediate family or joining a multi-generational trip.

The homes can feel like destinations in themselves. In general, they provide the comforts of home, plus extra perks. Many include private swimming pools and beach access, either on the Atlantic side or the sound side. Some may also offer hot tubs, multiple decks, board games, a poker table, billiards, or even something exceptional like an in-home movie theater. Even with so much to do throughout OBX, the amenities in your vacation rental might make it hard to leave.

This only begins to cover why The Outer Banks works so well as an ideal family beach vacation destination. I haven’t even gotten into where to eat and drink. Until then, see these dining articles from my colleagues:

Where to eat in The Outer Banks now by Dana Freeman
The BEST places to eat in The Outer Banks by Chrissy Taylor

Author

Francesca M.

Francesca created The Working Mom’s Travels to show that a working mom with an outside-the-home career can still have meaningful travel experiences with her family. Travel is central to her lifestyle, and she works to balance it with both her career and family life. She and her husband have two children: Lucia, their 9-year-old daughter, and Anthony, their 5-year-old son.

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