Seeking an east coast adventure? Your search is over! Visit North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a must-see and fun-in-the-sun getaway. Known as OBX and boasting quaint coastal towns along the Atlantic, it’s a vacationer’s paradise. With over 175 miles of seashore, parks, and nature areas to explore, the beauty of the region where “sun meets sand” beckons visitors.
The Outer Banks are barrier islands located off the coast of the North Carolina mainland. Each charming town, connected by lengths of roads and bridges, maintains its own identity and attractions. The Northern parts of the island are energized with restaurants, shopping, great nightlife, and fabulous beaches. The Southern parts offer more peace and tranquility and a chance to commune with nature. Thus, there is something for everyone.
With an abundance of beach home rentals, hotels, campgrounds, and more, visitors will have no trouble finding the ideal accommodations. The Outer Banks offers some large rentals suitable for family reunions. Private seaside cottage rentals or a stay at one of the Outer Banks’ lovely inns can provide the ideal romantic getaway. Pet-friendly accommodations can also be sought at some locations.
Let’s explore a sampling of OBX beach towns with access to fun must-see attractions:
- Kitty Hawk – The Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve offers visitors the unique chance to observe birds and wildlife in their natural habitats, including maritime deciduous forest and maritime swamp forest, marshes, and creeks.
- Kill Devil Hills –Stay near the Wright Brothers National Memorial, the famous site where two young brothers from Ohio experimented with flight in the early 1900s and succeeded using the world’s first controlled, sustained, powered, and heavier-than-air flight.
- Nags Head – Jockey’s Ridge State Park is among Nags Head’s greatest attractions. The park is where two of the highest sand dunes on the East Coast are located, and it makes the perfect take-off point for hang gliders.
- Rodanthe – The small island village is both a vacationer’s and fisherman’s paradise. By day, walk the beachcombing for seashells and cast a rod from the Rodanthe Pier. By evening, return to the pier to watch the sunset and listen to some live music on special event evenings.
- Avon – Located at the center of Hatteras, Avon is known for its famous fishing pier and ocean air sports, including surfing, windsurfing, waterskiing, jet-skiing, and more.
- Buxton – Visit the Cape Hatteras Light House, the nation’s tallest brick lighthouse on the east coast that protects one of the most hazardous sections of the Atlantic, where strong currents can pull ships towards the twelve-mile-long sandbar known as Diamond Shoals.
- Hatteras –For those seeking more privacy and seclusion, with breathtaking views of long stretches of beaches, sand dunes, and the Atlantic Ocean, Hatteras is for you. Take the free ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands to gain lovely views and experiences of each island.
- Ocracoke – Visit this enchanted island that boasts over 15 miles of pristine beaches. As one of the southernmost islands of the Outer Banks, the location offers a white sandy shoreline and a sheltered harbor ideal for water sports. There’s also a lighthouse, museums, shops, lodging, restaurants, and more. Come see the protected wild ponies that roam in a secluded 180-acre area and add to the town’s charm.
These are just a few of the many Outer Banks’ beautiful seaside towns to explore. Each offers unique coastal vibes, special activities, attractive rentals, some with camping and RVing options. Pack your bathing suit, flip flops, and suntan lotion, and come celebrate the summer in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where the vacation of a lifetime awaits you.