Enjoy your Summer on the Outer Banks
The Outer Banks (also known as OBX) is a 200-mile (320-km) long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States. They cover approximately half the northern North Carolina coastline, separating the Currituck Sound, Albemarle Sound, and Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.
The Outer Banks is a beloved tourist destination known for its temperate climate and wide expanse of open beachfront. Every year, millions of visitors travel here to play in the coastal waters and the local towns. From the northern beaches of Corolla to the southern shores of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, beautiful scenery and adventure are yours for the choosing. Enjoy over 200 miles of fun in these unique beachside towns filled with entertainment, restaurants and quaint shopping plazas. Despite the continual popularity of the Outer Banks, the small-town charm of yesteryear is still very much alive.
Area Attractions
On your time off of work, you will find there is so much to do right near your rental house. From climbing the historic Bodie Island Lighthouse and parasailing across the monumental dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, to biking through the pristine Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the natural splendor of the Outer Banks is yours to explore! Have a memorable summer on the Outer Banks and experience all the area has to offer.
More Information about the Outer Banks
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau
North Carolina Division of Tourism
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
More than 1 million hikers, hang gliders and sightseers annually visit Jockey’s Ridge, the East Coast’s tallest sand dune. The Soundside Nature Trail highlights the area’s unique animals and plants. Guided hikes, lectures and activity programs are available for all ages.
Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island makes a wonderful day trip from Kill Devil Hills. It is a quaint area with multiple attractions including Roanoke Island Festival Park, the Elizabethan Gardens, the North Carolina Aquarium, and The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama.
Wright Brothers National Monument
The National Park Service site offers exhibits and programs, full-size replicas of the Wright brothers’ 1902 glider and 1903 powered flyer, and reproductions of their camp, workshop and hangar.
Other Things to Know
Two medical clinics are located nearby, a new hospital facility is in the Nags Head area of the Outer Banks, and two larger hospitals are located within a one-hour’s drive.
In North Carolina, alcoholic beverages cannot be sold to those less than 21 years of age.
Most items you will need, such as clothing or personal toiletries, are available on the Outer Banks at reasonable prices. In fact, a major part of the tourist industry relates to shopping areas and stores oriented to the tourist trade. If you choose to travel lightly and purchase some of your clothing or other items on arrival, you should encounter no problems. Prices for food, clothing and personal items will be reasonable and not much higher than anywhere else in the country. Prices for items that are targeted to the tourist population may be more expensive.
