Outer Banks North Carolina Activities

[Thirty4]

Looking for some help in figuring out what kids activities are available for a trip to the Outer Banks. Does anyone have any experience with this and could offer any advice? Of course they will have the beach....but I am looking for something outside of that. They do not fish yet, so that would be off the list. Any light trails for the 4runner? Please, let me know.

Also, would you suggest anywhere different than the Outer Banks? Somewhere better for kids?

 

[jgmx893]

I don't know of too much in terms of entertainment for your kids, but there's a lot down there. Lots of restaurants, a couple mini-golf places, etc. Probably wouldn't be hard to find somewhere. In terms of trails for the 4runner, it depends on what part of the outer banks you're going to. Up on the north end is Carova, you can drive on the beach all the way up to the VA border, and there's also trails that branch off of the beach and work their way inland to the sound. Further south, you can drive on the beach at Oregon Inlet, and Cape Hatteras to name a couple. Oregon/hatteras do tend to get kinda crowded though.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

Looking for some help in figuring out what kids activities are available for a trip to the Outer Banks. Does anyone have any experience with this and could offer any advice? Of course they will have the beach....but I am looking for something outside of that. They do not fish yet, so that would be off the list. Any light trails for the 4runner? Please, let me know.

Also, would you suggest anywhere different than the Outer Banks? Somewhere better for kids?

Jockey's Ridge State Park is fun. It is a big sand dune that you can climb and ride down on a boogie board. It was free when we were there. It has been about 5 years now. The lighthouses, Roanoke the lost colony and Kitty Hawk are great too for education and viewing. There is also a long pier people walk and fish on. It is named for a lady and it was rebuilt recently. There is way more to do of course, but other than eating and more traveling those are some highlights. we drove to Ocracoke Island too. Wanchese has some really good restaurants too.

 

[01100101]

Looking for some help in figuring out what kids activities are available for a trip to the Outer Banks. Does anyone have any experience with this and could offer any advice? Of course they will have the beach....but I am looking for something outside of that. They do not fish yet, so that would be off the list. Any light trails for the 4runner? Please, let me know.

Also, would you suggest anywhere different than the Outer Banks? Somewhere better for kids?

There are plenty of things to do there inland with kids as stated previously. This site may help you.

Outer Banks

 

[mhaze]

Looking for some help in figuring out what kids activities are available for a trip to the Outer Banks. Does anyone have any experience with this and could offer any advice? Of course they will have the beach....but I am looking for something outside of that. They do not fish yet, so that would be off the list. Any light trails for the 4runner? Please, let me know.

Also, would you suggest anywhere different than the Outer Banks? Somewhere better for kids?

One popular thing to do there is to see the wild horses on Coralla. You could drive on the beach. See: https://www.outerbanks.com/driving-on-the-beach.html

This is a comprehensive guide to the Outer Banks. Tons of stuff to do there.

 

[Thirty4]

I don't know of too much in terms of entertainment for your kids, but there's a lot down there. Lots of restaurants, a couple mini-golf places, etc. Probably wouldn't be hard to find somewhere. In terms of trails for the 4runner, it depends on what part of the outer banks you're going to. Up on the north end is Carova, you can drive on the beach all the way up to the VA border, and there's also trails that branch off of the beach and work their way inland to the sound. Further south, you can drive on the beach at Oregon Inlet, and Cape Hatteras to name a couple. Oregon/hatteras do tend to get kinda crowded though.

I will definitely check out the areas you can drive, I am sure my kids would love that especially around sunset. I will also have to look at what encompasses the Outer Banks as I do not know if we are talking minutes or hours to navigate. Thanks for the help!

 

[Thirty4]

Jockey's Ridge State Park is fun. It is a big sand dune that you can climb and ride down on a boogie board. It was free when we were there. It has been about 5 years now. The lighthouses, Roanoke the lost colony and Kitty Hawk are great too for education and viewing. There is also a long pier people walk and fish on. It is named for a lady and it was rebuilt recently. There is way more to do of course, but other than eating and more traveling those are some highlights. we drove to Ocracoke Island too. Wanchese has some really good restaurants too.

Sand dune's is definitely going on the list....thanks for that!

 

[Thirty4]

One popular thing to do there is to see the wild horses on Coralla. You could drive on the beach. See: https://www.outerbanks.com/driving-on-the-beach.html

This is a comprehensive guide to the Outer Banks. Tons of stuff to do there.

That wild horses would be a site to see for sure. You just don't see that everyday. Thanks for the site, I will check that out now!

 

[Thirty4]

Thank you everyone for the great info....this helps as I like to receive comments/information from those in the know. You usually find the best spots that way.

 

[OBXrunner88]

The aquarium over in Manteo has recently been renovated and is a great place to take the kids. Also check out the Children's Museum in Kitty Hawk. The activities available to you really depend on where you are staying.

 

[Thirty4]

The aquarium over in Manteo has recently been renovated and is a great place to take the kids. Also check out the Children's Museum in Kitty Hawk. The activities available to you really depend on where you are staying.

They have a Children's museum here and the kids love it, so that would be great. The aquarium should be a hit as well. Thanks for the advice.

 

[ncst8fan]

Hatteras and Ocracoke are fun. However. You now need an ORV permit to drive on the beach now. Gotta take a ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. The island is fun but not truly touristy



https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm#ORV

 

[01100101]

Hatteras and Ocracoke are fun. However. You now need an ORV permit to drive on the beach now. Gotta take a ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. The island is fun but not truly touristy



https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm#ORV

I may try that the next time we head out to OBX.

 

[01100101]

This place just opened.

https://www.h2obxwaterpark.com/

 

[chowbus]

OB fun

The Lost Colony play is well worth it. Especially if the kids are learning sponges.

Rent bikes & ride all around the village in Ocracoke.
Pea Island National Wildlife Sanctuary. Bring binoculars & bug spray.
Climb the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. Well worth it.
Climb all the OB lighthouses. From Ocracoke to Corolla. (some you can't climb but are well worth the visits)
Walk out on any pier, night time is cool.
Breakfast at the Orange Blossom in Hatteras.
Duck Donuts in Kill Devil Hills.
Wright Brothers memorial & museum. You must walk to the top of the memorial. A very long walk, but well worth it.
Jockeys Ridge. Take some cardboard or boogie board to slide down the dune. Or just run down.
Roanoke Island Festival Park (be sure to take the kids on the Elizabeth II replica), Walk around downtown, Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Just as long as the kids understand it is the beach & not a amusement park, yall will have fun. There's a reason why people all over the country come to
NC Outer Banks.
Have fun.

 

[Thirty4]

The Lost Colony play is well worth it. Especially if the kids are learning sponges.

Rent bikes & ride all around the village in Ocracoke.
Pea Island National Wildlife Sanctuary. Bring binoculars & bug spray.
Climb the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. Well worth it.
Climb all the OB lighthouses. From Ocracoke to Corolla. (some you can't climb but are well worth the visits)
Walk out on any pier, night time is cool.
Breakfast at the Orange Blossom in Hatteras.
Duck Donuts in Kill Devil Hills.
Wright Brothers memorial & museum. You must walk to the top of the memorial. A very long walk, but well worth it.
Jockeys Ridge. Take some cardboard or boogie board to slide down the dune. Or just run down.
Roanoke Island Festival Park (be sure to take the kids on the Elizabeth II replica), Walk around downtown, Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Just as long as the kids understand it is the beach & not a amusement park, yall will have fun. There's a reason why people all over the country come to
NC Outer Banks.
Have fun.

Great info....thank you!

 

[johnbt]

Nags Head Woods, if you're up for a short walk or two. The Nature Conservancy has 1200 acres of maritime forest on the sound side. Towering trees, fresh water ponds, bugs... take spray.

Here's an excerpt from www.nature.org/magazine/archives/june-2015-four-wild-trails.xml

"Nags Head Preserve, North Carolina

This tranquil sea-level hike traverses an extremely diverse range of coastal settings. Here, forested dunes covered with oak and beech trees transition to swamps and eventually a rugged shoreline—all in a couple of square miles. It can feel like a summery walk on most days of the year, but catch Nags Head Woods on a foggy morning and the swamps and historic sites take on a eerie and pensive tone.

Nags Head Woods Preserve protects one of the largest intact maritime forests on the Eastern Seaboard and provides a host of ecological services, from storm buffering to nesting opportunities for migrating birds. The value of this landscape lies in its diversity. “We’re not just focusing on species-specific conservation here,” says Aaron McCall, the Conservancy’s Northeast regional steward. “We’re looking at protecting the system as a whole. That’s what’s endangered, the maritime forest itself.”

The half-mile-long Discovery Trail meanders by open freshwater ponds and forested wet-lands filled with black gum trees. Then the Roanoke Trail takes you through a towering forest—with two 400-year-old live oaks—down to the banks of the Roanoke Sound, where you catch a view of Roanoke Island. Along the way, you’ll also pass historic homes and a cemetery that dates back to the 1870s."

 

[johnbt]

And one of my favorites, the Nags Head Pier Restaurant - sit inside or outside.

The price of a meal includes a free walk on the pier.

Pier Cam - Nags Head Fishing Pier

 

[Nervo19]

Where are you staying? OBX spans over 40 miles and I guarantee once you get here you are not going to want to spend more time in the car. We are in Kill Devil Hills and when my kids were very young they loved all the Manteo attractions mentioned above. There's also a heritage farm on Manteo. The Island Farm ? A Living History Site Also there's a 1918 movie theater that shows every night at 8:00 mostly kid movies. Popcorn is a dollar. https://www.facebook.com/Pioneer-Theatre-Manteo-NC-181402108567082/ The Queen Elizabeth ship is what most kids will remember.

If you go to Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head there's a kite store and bunch of shops "Kitty Hawk Kites." You can rent kayaks and SUPs from them or buy a kite and hit the giant dune. If you turn on the street just south of the dune there's a parking lot and a sound side beach. It's very shallow and calm and my kids had little kid kayaks we used to take there.

To 4WD on Hatteras you have to get a permit. If you want to 4WD in Corolla it's free and the beach is actually Rt. 12 and goes to the VA line where there is a fence and you can't cross it. They just instituted an air down law. There's a convenience store where you can air up/down but you need quarters. I bought a cheap air compressor off Amazon that works great. Corolla is 20 miles north of Kill Devil Hills. Hatteras is about 12 miles south. Here's a link about driving in the sand from another forum I'm on. I think Salvo Jimmy belongs to this forum too.

Driving in the Sand Info | OBX Connection Message Board

 

[johnbt]

Carova to Ocracoke is about 129 miles - I don't recall if that counts the ferry ride to Ocracoke. I've always enjoyed the day trip from Nags Head to Hatteras Village and back - 60 miles. Pick a rainy day and cruise with the ocean on one side, the sound on the other.