Info on Nags Head, NC?

[tdparker10]

I am planning a week long summer vacation to Nags Head, NC with family. There will be 5 children, ages 3 to 8 years old. I am searching the "VRBO" (Vacation Rental By Owner) website for a home to rent. Does anyone have any information on where the best places to stay are located?? Favorite restaurants? Any info would be appreciated. We usually go to Jekyll Island,GA and thought we would try something different this year! Thanks! :)

[LisainVA]

We go there all the time. I love Nags Head. I have stayed in several places because a good friend of mine parents own a home in Kill Devil Hills, my old boss owns a home in Nags Head, and my brother's ex-SIL & DH own a home further up the coast that is beautiful (they just bought it last year).

It's a wonderful beach for family. I have many, many rests. that I love and various other things. I've got some work that I have to do for at least the next hour but I will get back to you and let you know.

Kill Devil Hills, Corolla, etc. are all great.

[Veecee]

I agree with Lisa - great area, we like Duck and Corolla especially.

[Kaler]

We go to Nags Head and surrounding area several times every summer, albeit just for the day. It's touristy, but I still love it (I guess touristy is relative, it can't hold a candle to Myrtle Beach for example). I love Jockey's Ridge State Park. There's hang gliding available there. I love to go to Kitty Hawk and visit the Wright Brother's memorial and find a new resturant to try out. We usually drive on down to Hatteras and visit the lighthouse and the national seashore. The seashore is actually my favorite. It's undeveloped and beautiful.

Be careful getting into the water around Nag's Head. There seems to be more problems with Riptides there than other areas of the Outer Banks. I never get into the water there.

[LisainVA]

My niece lived down there this past summer and worked at Steamers . She had a ball. Drive up to see the horses running wild. Visit all the lighthouses or the kids would probably love the NC Aquarium. There are various shipwrecks throughout the Outer Banks. I too like Jockeys Ridge and the Wright Bros. Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. The Lost Colony is a neat show to see. Ocracoke Island is nice (available by ferry).

Pigman's is a pretty good BQ place there. I think everyone goes to Awful Arthur's at one time or another. There was a great rest. that we went to way up the coast but I can't remember the name of it for the life of me. Since we stayed in a home, we always had a kitchen and we would go to the fresh seafood market and get what seafood we wanted and cook it up at home or grill fish on the grill (the Outer Banks is the fishing capital of the world!). We'd get a bushel of crabs and spread out the newspaper and have a blast.

The weather is normally pretty nice. It can get quite hot in August. They are nice, clean beaches and you don't have to wade your way through people to find a place to sit or lay.

There are lots of realtors in that area that handle rentals of homes for people. I don't know if anyone is better then another as I always got the house to stay directly through the owner. As usual, the closer to the beach you are - the more you will pay for rent. The refer to where a house is by "I'm staying at Mile Marker 8 1/2" and so on.

My Mom and a large group of friends get a house there every year further up the coast and all split the cost. The place is beautiful and is right on the beach!

[luckydog]

tdparker--

Here a few of my Outer Banks vacation favs....

We've enjoyed Pirate's Cove for last couple years (lots of amenities for kids & hubbys love to watch the charter boats come in with their catches). When we trek to the beach, hands down we go to Coquina beach because it is a public access area with bathrooms & inside/outside showers. Our fav casual drop in spot to eat is one of the local hangouts--Sam & Omie's. The burgers at Mulligan's are absolutely not to be missed. A trip to Jockey's Ridge State Park is a must for the kids. My fav shop closed this summer after decades--The Christmas Shoppe in Manteo...sniff, sniff. The seafood market right across from Jockey's Ridge (can't remember name, sorry) is tops for picking up goodies for eat in. I personally love RV's for a couple night out with some candlelight. I never miss the Gap & Polo outlet or The Farmer's Daughter. Awesome boutique shopping in Duck (love the Urban Cottage & there's a really cool toy store) We enjoy a day downtown Manteo at the boutique & antique shops too. The Dune's is a great breakfast, not bad for family dinner. We love miniature golf --the one that has the Pirate theme is our kids fav & in great shape compared to the one at Dairy Queen next door (thumbs down to that one). Hubby's love a visit to Oregon Inlet Fishing Center to see the charter boats come in with their catches too. Duck is great area to stay in general, but we haven't done so in years & have stuck around other end of beach towards Manteo.

If I had my dream vacation there... I would stay in a cottage, with the ocean right out the back door--and a private pool.

Nothing like... coffee, at sunrise on the ocean, without getting dressed to go anywhere...or early walk for shelling before everyone awakes...or romantic late afternoon walk at sunset...or just hanging out in chairs with a drink right up to dusk & no worries about driving anywhere...or being able to run back up to the cottage & come back with a child quickly/effortlessly... or never feeling like your waiting around wasting your vacation time while someone naps, etc & holds up progress, because your vacation is always just outside your back door....I could go on & on. But that option is mucho $$$.

Pirate's Cove is a permanent resident resort community with world class marina, public restaurant & retail boutique & many amenities like pools, playgrounds, etc. soundfront in Manteo--minutes from the beach. They have rentals available in condos & cottages: www.pirates-cove.com is the realty group we use to rent, but other rental agencies offer places there I think. You can google "Pirate's Cove Manteo" or "Pirate's Cove NC" to get more info in general.

You will have an awesome vacation on the Outer Banks! I grew up in the area & visit/vacation there each summer now...if you have other questions, I'll try to help.

[luckydog]

Forgot to add--LOST COLONY and the Aquarium in Manteo are awesome!

[LisainVA]

My fav shop closed this summer after decades--The Christmas Shoppe in Manteo...sniff, sniff.

I LOVED this shop. I didn't know that they closed!!! :(

[LisainVA]

Outer Banks Grocery (http://www.outerbeaches.com/OuterBanksShopping_GroceryStores)

I found this by googling. I can't find the name of the place where we used to buy fresh seafood at. It might not be in business anymore. :(

[Groa]

two words of advice:

1. BUY TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE if your trip falls anywhere near hurricane season, which begins in July, I think. If you are run out of town by a storm there's no rental company/individual who will refund your money.

2. DO NOT let your kids dig deep holes at the beach. Kids (and adults) die being buried in the sand on the NC and VA beaches far too often. Sounds silly but it's tragic when it happens. My coworker's nephew was severely handicapped in such an accident even though his father was right there---it takes forever to dig a kid out. (and teach your kids what to do in riptides: swim parallel to the beach until they reach a place where the currents are weaker)

I love the OBX! You've gotten great ideas from everyone! Have fun! :)

[JeannineH]

Outer Banks Grocery (http://www.outerbeaches.com/OuterBanksShopping_GroceryStores)

I found this by googling. I can't find the name of the place where we used to buy fresh seafood at. It might not be in business anymore. :(

Are you thinking of Austin's seafood? That's right across from Jockey's Ridge. As far as I know, they are still there.

Everyone above as given you, tdparker, some great ideas of things to do. Another restaurant we really like is the Outer Banks Brewing Station. It's a micro brewery and kid friendly.

You might also want to check out some condo rental agencies. That way you could be on the beach and have pool access.

[LisainVA]

Are you thinking of Austin's seafood? That's right across from Jockey's Ridge. As far as I know, they are still there.

AUSTIN's...yes that is it! Gosh I couldn't remember the name and I had to look it up online because I would have told you that the shark out front in the cage was the place I was thinking of! :)

This summer we stayed way, way further up the coast in a friend's house & didn't go there so I wasn't sure if it was still open when I couldn't find it on the internet. For many years we stayed at MM 8 1/2 right in the heart of Kill Devil Hills so it was very close to our house.