Outer Banks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon CT.
Outer Banks
We are going on vacation in mid August to the outer banks. I have never been and was looking for any suggestions of things to see or information that will make it more interesting.
Thanks
Rod
Thanks
Rod
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,664
Likes: 15
From: Wellsboro Pa
We came up all of the islands via road and ferry in 1990. It is quite a nice trip for sure. Watch the times of the ferry departures so that you don't get stuck on one of the islands unexpectedly. Enjoy!
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Beckley WV
We vacation in Nags Head every year in June....always have a good time. The light houses (cape hatteras in particular are something to see), and then their is the Wright Brothers Museum. Kitty Hawk is the location of the largest sand dune on the East Coast. If your adventurous you can hand glide there or take Kayak trips, parasail, rent ski doos. There is plenty of good restaraunts (Palmico Jacks MP 15, Nags Head). Its hard not to have a good time there. If you go to the northern end (Corolla, Duck area) there are wild horses, early mornings are a great time to see them. Enjoy your vacation!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 813
Likes: 5
From: Northwest corner Connecticut
We vacation in Nags Head every year in June....always have a good time. The light houses (cape hatteras in particular are something to see), and then their is the Wright Brothers Museum. Kitty Hawk is the location of the largest sand dune on the East Coast. If your adventurous you can hand glide there or take Kayak trips, parasail, rent ski doos. There is plenty of good restaraunts (Palmico Jacks MP 15, Nags Head). Its hard not to have a good time there. If you go to the northern end (Corolla, Duck area) there are wild horses, early mornings are a great time to see them. Enjoy your vacation!
The only warning I can give is to not count on the ferries. While they are run by the state and are free to use, they are overrun now.
We went down the National Seashore to Hatteras intending to go to Okaroke Island on the ferries............Long lines with 5 to 6 hour wait times. The guy lining up the vehicles told us they were down a couple of boats and that commercial traffic has the right of way. He said if you can arrive at the ferry terminal at sunrise you might get on the first or second one to leave in the morning, but could be a long wait to get back.
Otherwise a beautiful area.....we'll be going back in the near future.
One more word of warning.......after sundown, the crabs take over the beach!!!!!!!!........It was very entertaining to watch the people walking along from out of the darkness into the hotel floodlights and suddenly notice the crabs all around them........
Enjoy your vacation
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,230
Likes: 4
From: Allentown, Pa
You will love it down there. The only thing I can say is get on the island early. If not, you will be sitting on route 168 crossing the bridge onto route 12 for a while
Here we are starting on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. You should stop at the rest stop and take pics and do the usual tourist thing. Its a neat location.
We stayed in Kill Devil Hills. The beaches are pretty empty compared to beaches in the NE. At night, take out a flashlight and go looking for the little crabs that come out. Its fun to take the kids out and watch them.
The Wright Brothers Memorial is something to do. It is not a huge place however lots of neat information and realize that flight started right there and to see the markers on their first attempts.
To show the car will not melt in rain
Another cool thing to do is Oregon Inlet. You can drive your four wheel drives on the beach and do surf fishing. It is fun to pull out people who try and take their two wheel drives or even four wheel drives there.
A must to do is Jocky's Ridge state park. Huge sand dunes. People go there to fly their kites and also hang gliding. At sunset is when most people are there. It is well worth the hike up the dunes to watch.
Make sure you know where the ABC stores are
I hope this helps a bit.
Here we are starting on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. You should stop at the rest stop and take pics and do the usual tourist thing. Its a neat location.
We stayed in Kill Devil Hills. The beaches are pretty empty compared to beaches in the NE. At night, take out a flashlight and go looking for the little crabs that come out. Its fun to take the kids out and watch them.
The Wright Brothers Memorial is something to do. It is not a huge place however lots of neat information and realize that flight started right there and to see the markers on their first attempts.
To show the car will not melt in rain
Another cool thing to do is Oregon Inlet. You can drive your four wheel drives on the beach and do surf fishing. It is fun to pull out people who try and take their two wheel drives or even four wheel drives there.
A must to do is Jocky's Ridge state park. Huge sand dunes. People go there to fly their kites and also hang gliding. At sunset is when most people are there. It is well worth the hike up the dunes to watch.
Make sure you know where the ABC stores are
I hope this helps a bit.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: Corvette Sales, Service, Parts & Restoration West Chester Pa
Where abouts in the Outer Banks?
Heading to Duck the second week of August myself. This will be my third year in a row and it gets better every year. The one major thing to do while in the Outer Banks that makes it different than other shores is NOTHING. Grab a beverage of choice and relax. Check out the local fresh seafood stands and be prepared to eat in.
Best of luck and enjoy yourself!
Heading to Duck the second week of August myself. This will be my third year in a row and it gets better every year. The one major thing to do while in the Outer Banks that makes it different than other shores is NOTHING. Grab a beverage of choice and relax. Check out the local fresh seafood stands and be prepared to eat in.
Best of luck and enjoy yourself!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,278
Likes: 6
From: If I say it's safe to surf this beach ......then it's safe to surf this beach
It's a great place, we love it.
Precautions: Don't pull over onto the sandy shoulders, you'll get stuck. Softest shoulders anywhere.
If you go down the islands and pull over onto one of the beach accesses, wear shoes or sandals. We thought the beach was just over the dune............it was over something like the 3rd or 4th dune and my barefeet paid the price. Sand was hot as coals until you reached the water.
Plus: Great seafood in all the small towns.
Precautions: Don't pull over onto the sandy shoulders, you'll get stuck. Softest shoulders anywhere.
If you go down the islands and pull over onto one of the beach accesses, wear shoes or sandals. We thought the beach was just over the dune............it was over something like the 3rd or 4th dune and my barefeet paid the price. Sand was hot as coals until you reached the water.
Plus: Great seafood in all the small towns.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon CT.
Where abouts in the Outer Banks?
Heading to Duck the second week of August myself. This will be my third year in a row and it gets better every year. The one major thing to do while in the Outer Banks that makes it different than other shores is NOTHING. Grab a beverage of choice and relax. Check out the local fresh seafood stands and be prepared to eat in.
Best of luck and enjoy yourself!
Heading to Duck the second week of August myself. This will be my third year in a row and it gets better every year. The one major thing to do while in the Outer Banks that makes it different than other shores is NOTHING. Grab a beverage of choice and relax. Check out the local fresh seafood stands and be prepared to eat in.
Best of luck and enjoy yourself!
Sounds like a great plade to vacation.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Corvette Sales, Service, Parts & Restoration West Chester Pa
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Reading Pa
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 752
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From: Lebanon CT.
I drove over 1600 miles in my 550+ HP car (it has a maggie and other goodies) ran the A/c in stop and go traffic with temps in the 90's and got 25+ MPG and engine temps never when over 200 degrees. THE RIDE WAS WORTH THE TRIP. The wife and I like to see different light houses all over the country so this trip satisfied that criteria. My family stayed with us including the grand kids so they occupied much of our time. Had some great seafood(crabs) and shrimp. If you are planning a trip the place is crazy on Satuday when everyone moves in, but after that all is cool. We left early on check out day to afford the traftic both leaving and new guests moving in.
Rod
Rod
