Curator’s statement
At the end of every summer, a group of my husband's high school friends and their kids venture down to the Outer Banks for a week of last-minute beach time before heading back to school. As the kids have grown up, we have been able to really explore all that the island has to offer. We have stayed in Duck, Corolla, and Kitty Hawk, each town giving a different vibe and activity options to keep each trip interesting and fresh.
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Where to stay in OBX
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Things to do in OBX
Kids surfing the dunes at sunset!
Rent a huge house: There are around 30 of us on this trip, so we rent a huge 10-plus bedroom house that is right on the beach with a pool, game room, and bar room that provides a ton of entertainment for all.
Visit the various beach bars for live music and great views.
Watch the beautiful sunset, which is a stunner every night.
Go out on the beach at dusk to see all of the crabs come out and run all over the beach. The kids love this.
Visit one of the kid-friendly breweries located across the island.
Drive out to Manteo, which is a super cute little town.
Take the kids to do dune surfing in Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head.
Visit the water park (H2OBX) for hours of fun for the kids.
Rent bikes and ride along the flat road for miles.
Places to eat & drink in OBX
Butcher Block in Corolla: The fresh tuna salad is incredible
Sunset Bar & Grill: A staple in Duck—they have a great karaoke night and unbeatable views of the sunset.
The Village Table & Tavern: Have drinks right on the water in their backyard.
Swellsa Brewery in Kitty Hawk: Great beer, and you can bring in your own food. Very kid-friendly.
Outer Banks Brewing Station: Has a great back patio area, which is fun for the kids.
Striper's Bar & Grille: Located right on the marina in Manteo, with great vibes and views for lunch or brunch. The Stripers Veffie Bloody was amazing.
Booty Treats: Great ice cream shop in Kill Devil Hills. This shop was located right next to our house and the kids visited nightly.
Outer Banks Boil Company: For seafood lovers, this company provides a ready-to-go seafood pot where all you need to do is add the liquid and boil. This is great and really easy, especially for a large group.
Tap Shack: Cool outdoor beer garden located in Duck. Very family-friendly with live music and games.
Need to know
If you are arriving on a weekend, make sure to arrive before noon to avoid traffic. There is only one way on and off the island. The same holds true for leaving—we always left super early to avoid the mass departure checking out.
Take advantage of the beach set-up services, which can do all the hard work and set up for your group. There are different packages you can choose from, which makes your time at the beach seamless, especially when traveling with kids. Beach Masters is who we have used in the past.
If renting a house, there are grocery stocking services that do all your food shopping and stock your fridge before your arrival.
If you are going to the H2OBX water park with a group of people, make sure to check the deals they are running to rent a cabana. They sometimes include food and drinks that make the rental worth it.
Travel Advisor
Jen Disler
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