The beach: Who can resist it with its warm sand, hot sun, buoyant salt water and, of course, a great book? But for some, those thoughts also come with visions of crowded, noisy and littered beaches where you have to fight your way into the water and then spend an hour trying to identify your block of beach towel on the parking lot-like sand.
If this is you, then perhaps you've never been to North Carolina's Outer Banks. The thin strip of protective barrier island on the north end of the U.S. coast stretches almost 100 miles from the town of Corolla all the way to Ocracoke island, forming a buffer between the Atlantic Ocean and the mainland of North Carolina. But, for vacationers, it provides a buffer from the crowds, noise and chaos of some other beach resorts. Thanks to North Carolina's strict coding and the protection of coastal land through the North Carolina Department of Parks and Recreation, the Outer Banks remains a pristine coastal area, free from the development gone wild that has taken over many other state coastlines.
In fact, while we can recommend a few good hotels to you, you may be hard pressed to find one with availability on the Outer Banks. The town of Corolla has only two, offering just 160 hotel rooms to vacationers, and that's not atypical. Most families opt to rent one of the many large and still affordable rental houses that are just steps from the ocean and, yet, not on top of the neighbors.
Once there, you'll delight in the wide beaches, lukewarm southern waters and the gorgeous scenery. But that's not all. You can visit the sight where the Wright brothers made their first test flight, or visit the first English Colony in the New World, which dates back to 1587. Between those historic stops, there are plenty of things to do for nature-lovers, as well. You can visit wildlife refuges or rent four-wheeler, and hit the beach, where a limited number of cars is allowed for pristine fishing and swimming opportunities.
Wherever you stay on the Outer Banks, we think you'll find the endless seashore and the Southern hospitality reason enough to come back again and again.
Outer Banks Family Vacations
Outer Banks Family Vacations
Families will love:
- Miles and miles of beaches
- Large beautiful multi-family vacation rentals
- Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial
- Chance to spot wild horses crossing the road
Written by Amanda Orr
Read more about Outer Banks Attractions
Latest Outer Banks Trip Report
by nancyannr
In August we traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and rented a beach house near the town of Duck. Our group included my husband and myself ...
Read more Outer Banks Trip Reports
Best Outer Banks Family Hotels
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