For a long time, the Outer Banks was a hidden gem of North Carolina. But word of mouth, great advertising, and, of course, Netflix’s popular series with the same name have firmly put the Outer Banks on the list of top vacation destinations in the U.S.
Now, more than ever, new visitors, families, and photogs come to see its beauty for the first time in their lives. The local resident population continues to incrementally grow, and the tourist counts have been at an all-time high over the past few years. Nearly 50% of groups staying in our homes are first-time customers, quite likely first-time visitors as well. Clearly, the Outer Banks is the place to be.
So, if you’re considering a first-time visit to our beautiful barrier islands, here’s some important information to know, as well as some good stories from friends of Carolina Designs who recall their first visits.
What you need to know for your first visit:
Shopping: Plenty of small shops and big box stores supply everything you need and more. Come prepared, but know you’ll have plenty of options should something be left behind or you want to wait to get it once you arrive.
Beaches: The Outer Banks is known for having miles and miles of pristine beaches, and no matter which town you visit, you’re never too far from a beach access point. Wind and waves reshape the shoreline, and Dare County actively maintains the area’s beaches through beach nourishment and dune stabilization projects. Regardless of what time of year you come on vacation, there are plenty of beach activities to enjoy, from boogie boarding to surf fishing.
Wildlife: The Outer Banks has all kinds of wonderful wildlife (follow us on Instagram for some highlights). Most notable are the wild horses in the Corolla area — how often do you get to see wild horses? You can watch for birds, dolphins, and the occasional surfacing whale. Seals and manatees are also spotted here, although rare. If you drive in from the south, you might even see bears and alligators as you pass through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
Food: Obviously, seafood is the #1 choice when you are on the water, and there are plenty of amazing restaurants and seafood shops to choose from. We have a whole Outer Banks restaurant guide for you, so we won’t go into detail here. Popular spots in our area, which includes Duck, Corolla, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Southern Shores, are The Blue Point (Duck), Art’s Place (Kitty Hawk), Mike Dianna’s Grill Room (Corolla), JK’s Restaurant (Kill Devil Hills), Basnights Lone Cedar Cafe (Nags Head), and Steamers (Southern Shores).
Activities: Whether you envision filling your days with relaxing things like long walks on the beach, building sandcastles, and watching the sunset over the sound — or you want to pack in as many exciting activities as possible, you can do it on the Outer Banks. Our area offers just about every watersport you can imagine, as well as lighthouses, museums, fishing piers, fishing charters, three national parks, an aquarium, multi-use paths, wild horse tours, golf courses, annual festivals, and so much more!
Traffic: It’s a thin barrier island, technically connected to Virginia where Corolla meets the state line, but without a connecting road. Bridges connect the Outer Banks to mainland North Carolina, and there are one-road-only access points in some places, so traffic can get backed up — mainly on changeover days (when guests are coming and going). Try to keep your beach state of mind behind the wheel, too.
Weather: The Outer Banks experiences distinct seasonal variations in weather. Summer brings warm and sunny days, making it the most popular season for beachgoers. Fall is a close second favorite, offering pleasant temperatures (and fewer crowds). Winter typically cools down quite a bit; being surrounded by water, the humidity can make it feel colder than it is — but it’s the perfect season for a quieter experience. Temperatures become more moderate in spring; things start chilly and gradually warm up by May. Like most anywhere, the Outer Banks’ weather fluctuates year-to-year, and storms are possible no matter the season.
History: The Outer Banks is well known as the location of the first successful powered flight, but there is so much more to our area’s rich history that came before — and after — that claim to fame. Native Americans, early European settlements (including the “Lost Colony”), pirates (including Blackbeard), shipwrecks (an estimated 3,000, including German U-boats from WWII), Civil War battles, one of the first Freedmen’s colonies, and on and on! There are numerous museums and historical sites to check out during your stay.
Stories about first-time visits to the Outer Banks:
“I first came to the Outer Banks probably 15 years ago visiting Hatteras based on my brother’s recommendation, encouraging a family stay. I was not used to beaches with whiter sands so it immediately struck me as nicer than anything I knew. But coming to the Outer Banks a few times since, it feels new each time. I’ve started staying in Duck and love the charm of a small beach town. Like many who visit, I have aspirations to move there some day.” – Michael
“I was in second grade when my parents first brought me to the Outer Banks. I remember going to the Wright Brothers National Memorial, although I didn’t appreciate its significance at the time! Boogie boarding at the beach made a much bigger impression on me — it was all I wanted to do. My family went to Jockey’s Ridge State Park, and those dunes looked as tall as a mountain to my 7-year-old eyes. The vacation was a hit for my entire family; it became our favorite vacation spot, and we made it our tradition to return. I can’t imagine that ever changing. We’ve made so many important memories here. It’s a special place for us.” – Lex
“My husband and I had heard many stories over the years from our friends about their vacations to the Outer Banks. The way everyone talked about it made it seem like the greatest place to be. Neither of us had ever been so one year, we decided to learn for ourselves. Our first time visiting the Outer Banks we stayed in Nags Head with our two labrador retrievers. The four of us had the best time and we were immediately in love with the area. Where we lived in Maryland, the closest beach was an hour and a half away, you had to pay for parking, and you needed a real stroke of luck to find a spot on the beach that wasn’t totally crammed with people. The Outer Banks was different in the best way possible – the quintessential beach vacation destination.” – Taylor