1st time to OBX/Corolla - any recs?
Mar 21st, 2008, 12:56 PM
#1
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1st time to OBX/Corolla - any recs?
I know there are lots of OBX threads out here and I've really enjoyed reading them.
My family of about 30 has planned our next family reunion for this July in Corolla (in part thanks to the treads here). We have two houses rented just steps from the beach! Of course there is a wide range of ages, but as my immediate family doesn't have any little ones, I'm going to plan/research adult activities!
The men in my immediate family love to golf, fish, and kayak. Mom and I love to shop and drink wine
Of course, we all love to chill on the beach.
We plan on cooking most meals together, but we may go out a night or two. We're all drinkers, so we don't want to be driving after we've had a cocktail or two.
So does anyone have any Corolla favorites, activities or restaurants? Or day trips that are not to be missed? Golf at least 3 days is a must- so which courses are your favs? What do YOU do in OBX?
Finally, we're flying into Norfolk at 2pm on a Saturday and renting a car. Will the traffic be pure madness? Any tips?
Thanks so much!!
~TXgal (not in GA anymore)
My family of about 30 has planned our next family reunion for this July in Corolla (in part thanks to the treads here). We have two houses rented just steps from the beach! Of course there is a wide range of ages, but as my immediate family doesn't have any little ones, I'm going to plan/research adult activities!
The men in my immediate family love to golf, fish, and kayak. Mom and I love to shop and drink wine
Of course, we all love to chill on the beach. We plan on cooking most meals together, but we may go out a night or two. We're all drinkers, so we don't want to be driving after we've had a cocktail or two.
So does anyone have any Corolla favorites, activities or restaurants? Or day trips that are not to be missed? Golf at least 3 days is a must- so which courses are your favs? What do YOU do in OBX?
Finally, we're flying into Norfolk at 2pm on a Saturday and renting a car. Will the traffic be pure madness? Any tips?
Thanks so much!!
~TXgal (not in GA anymore)
Mar 25th, 2008, 02:57 AM
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We've been to the Outer Banks probably 12 times over 35 years. The last three times we've stayed on the Northern Beaches - mostly at Ocean Sands, just south of Corolla.
Nicoletta's is a great Italian restaurant - a bit pricey, but delicious food.
We always have steamed spiced shrimp to go or the Steamers Pot to go from Steamers in TimBuck II shopping center - great local seafood and very good salads and sides as well. We'll order from there several nights per week.
The Duck Deli has great breakfasts and BBQ sandwiches.
I've played golf at The Currituck Club and at The Pointe (on the mainland) - they're getting pretty pricey as well - but they are both good courses. Will probably play Sea Scape Links this year as well.
We're going down for the first two weeks of September - really looking forward to it.
Nicoletta's is a great Italian restaurant - a bit pricey, but delicious food.
We always have steamed spiced shrimp to go or the Steamers Pot to go from Steamers in TimBuck II shopping center - great local seafood and very good salads and sides as well. We'll order from there several nights per week.
The Duck Deli has great breakfasts and BBQ sandwiches.
I've played golf at The Currituck Club and at The Pointe (on the mainland) - they're getting pretty pricey as well - but they are both good courses. Will probably play Sea Scape Links this year as well.
We're going down for the first two weeks of September - really looking forward to it.
Mar 25th, 2008, 03:23 AM
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Things to do/day trips:
Several fishing piers for the fisherman. I went deep-sea fishing once out of Oregon Inlet in late May - had a fantastic time - caught lots of tuna and dolphin (mahi-mahi). Those boats will take 5 or 6 fishermen for a half-day or full day.
You can tour the Whalehead Club - kind of interesting - and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse as well - along with the "old village" buildings.
Lots of places to do para-sailing on the sound side of the Banks. Also kayaking and you can rent almost any kind of water craft.
Drive all the way down to the southern end of the Outer Banks and take the ferry over to Ocracoke - great shell beaches there.
The North Carolina Aquarium over on Roanoke Island is a nice trip - you can visit the Elizabethan Gardens as well - and see the play The Lost Colony although I've never done the play.
Several fishing piers for the fisherman. I went deep-sea fishing once out of Oregon Inlet in late May - had a fantastic time - caught lots of tuna and dolphin (mahi-mahi). Those boats will take 5 or 6 fishermen for a half-day or full day.
You can tour the Whalehead Club - kind of interesting - and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse as well - along with the "old village" buildings.
Lots of places to do para-sailing on the sound side of the Banks. Also kayaking and you can rent almost any kind of water craft.
Drive all the way down to the southern end of the Outer Banks and take the ferry over to Ocracoke - great shell beaches there.
The North Carolina Aquarium over on Roanoke Island is a nice trip - you can visit the Elizabethan Gardens as well - and see the play The Lost Colony although I've never done the play.
Mar 25th, 2008, 04:11 AM
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You will love Corolla! I can't help you with the bars/restaurants...we usually have many children with us and just cook and do BYOB at the house.
Another vote here for Steamers to Go in Timbuck II shopping center. There is a limit to how much they can put in the pot, so make sure you have enough burners on the stove for multiple pots if needed. Also takes maybe an hour to cook.
Activities... My sister and her husband bring their own kayaks and push off near the Corolla Lighthouse (so they are on the sound side not in the ocean); there are places around to rent them. DH has golfed at the Currituck Club and enjoyed the course; it is very expensive, but you can get a lower rate if you golf in the afternoon, maybe a 3pm or later tee time. He has also golfed somewhere south of the bridge, about 45 minutes to an hour from Corolla. A few from our group last summer went hangliding off the dunes at Jockey Ridge State Park - some loved it, some not so much. There is mini golf around - a grass course north on Rt12 and a regular one at Timbuck II (also go carts on a track there). If you have 4WD can drive on the northern end beaches, just be careful when you stop of cars driving through. In the late afternoon (3-5) you may luck out and see the wild horses running; my cousin has a great video clip of a couple with a foal right between the cars. The lighthouse was mentioned - can climb to the top for a small fee.
Shopping: there are tons of shops around. Timbuck II has a great selection right in Corolla. There are some others in the Food Lion shopping center, as well as a Wings on 12. There is also a cute shopping area on the water in Duck near where many of the realtors' offices are; I'm blanking out on the name right now though.
Have a great time!
Another vote here for Steamers to Go in Timbuck II shopping center. There is a limit to how much they can put in the pot, so make sure you have enough burners on the stove for multiple pots if needed. Also takes maybe an hour to cook.
Activities... My sister and her husband bring their own kayaks and push off near the Corolla Lighthouse (so they are on the sound side not in the ocean); there are places around to rent them. DH has golfed at the Currituck Club and enjoyed the course; it is very expensive, but you can get a lower rate if you golf in the afternoon, maybe a 3pm or later tee time. He has also golfed somewhere south of the bridge, about 45 minutes to an hour from Corolla. A few from our group last summer went hangliding off the dunes at Jockey Ridge State Park - some loved it, some not so much. There is mini golf around - a grass course north on Rt12 and a regular one at Timbuck II (also go carts on a track there). If you have 4WD can drive on the northern end beaches, just be careful when you stop of cars driving through. In the late afternoon (3-5) you may luck out and see the wild horses running; my cousin has a great video clip of a couple with a foal right between the cars. The lighthouse was mentioned - can climb to the top for a small fee.
Shopping: there are tons of shops around. Timbuck II has a great selection right in Corolla. There are some others in the Food Lion shopping center, as well as a Wings on 12. There is also a cute shopping area on the water in Duck near where many of the realtors' offices are; I'm blanking out on the name right now though.
Have a great time!
Mar 25th, 2008, 07:01 PM
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I've done the drive from Norfolk airport to OBX a number of times, the traffic is not bad and you get to drive by the home base of the legendary monster truck "Gravedigger"!
As for steamer pots our family prefers the ones from Seamark Foods which you'll drive by it on your way to Corolla(its on 158 between after the bridge and before you head north on 12).
As for steamer pots our family prefers the ones from Seamark Foods which you'll drive by it on your way to Corolla(its on 158 between after the bridge and before you head north on 12).
Apr 8th, 2008, 09:20 AM
#6
TXgal, my extended family did this same exact trip last year. One of my brothers landed in Norfolk around 4 I think. Around 7:15 I got a phone call from him that said "I am still on that fu**ing Duck Road." Expect traffic.
We always go crabbing on the sound, rent jet skis, have a Walleyball tournament in the indoor facilty at Corolla Light, climb the lighthouse, buy shrimp from the truck in front of TimBuk 2, & drink lots of wine and beer. Have fun!
We always go crabbing on the sound, rent jet skis, have a Walleyball tournament in the indoor facilty at Corolla Light, climb the lighthouse, buy shrimp from the truck in front of TimBuk 2, & drink lots of wine and beer. Have fun!
Jun 13th, 2008, 09:42 AM
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I've got another question
Each family is in charge of dinner for 1 night... my family, being from Texas, is going to do beef fajitas! We're bringing our own meat and tortillas... I'd like to find a Mexican restaurant in town where I can get to-go rice & beans for 20 people. I came up with Bad Bean... any other recs?
Also, what are these steamer pots you speak of? They sound delish... if we have ~20 adults, how many pots would we need? Are they expensive? We'll have at east 8 burners between the 2 houses...
Each family is in charge of dinner for 1 night... my family, being from Texas, is going to do beef fajitas! We're bringing our own meat and tortillas... I'd like to find a Mexican restaurant in town where I can get to-go rice & beans for 20 people. I came up with Bad Bean... any other recs?
Also, what are these steamer pots you speak of? They sound delish... if we have ~20 adults, how many pots would we need? Are they expensive? We'll have at east 8 burners between the 2 houses...
Jun 13th, 2008, 10:41 AM
#8
http://www.steamersshellfishtogo.com/menus.html
Looks like it is about $21 a person. There is a place in the Corolla shopping center too.
Looks like it is about $21 a person. There is a place in the Corolla shopping center too.
Jun 13th, 2008, 11:31 AM
#9
There is a local chain of maybe 3ish Mexican restaurants in the OBX called La Fogata. I'm almost certain one of them is in Corolla. The food is very americanized mex but I'll bet they have the rice and beans you're looking for.
Have to agree with the Suki about the incoming traffic on a summer Saturday afternoon headed to Corolla. It'll be slow going. Tips? Have patience. If you need gas or a bathroom break, consider stopping before you cross the Albemarle Sound. Not that you can't do those things after crossing, it's just a PITA getting in and out of the column of traffic headed north to Corolla.
Have to agree with the Suki about the incoming traffic on a summer Saturday afternoon headed to Corolla. It'll be slow going. Tips? Have patience. If you need gas or a bathroom break, consider stopping before you cross the Albemarle Sound. Not that you can't do those things after crossing, it's just a PITA getting in and out of the column of traffic headed north to Corolla.
Jun 22nd, 2008, 07:13 PM
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TX
In Corolla dining wise:
Route 12, Bad Bean Taqueria, Cosmos Pizza, Steamers, Tomato Patch.
Bars:
Sundogs, Tomato Patch, take a cab to Sunset Grille (Duck) on Reggae Night.
Golf:
Currituck Club, DuckWoods Country Club, Kilmarlic are a couple
ABC Liquor Store is on the way in to Corolla by the Visitors Center another one is in Duck. TimbucII and Corolla light are the closest shopping though there are outlets in Nags Head if you are interested in making a drive.
Check out the Corolla lighthouse, 4wd beaches, Wright Brothers, Jockeys Ridge and Cape Hatteras Seashore if you bored.
Any questions you can email me
http://therealouterbanks.com
In Corolla dining wise:
Route 12, Bad Bean Taqueria, Cosmos Pizza, Steamers, Tomato Patch.
Bars:
Sundogs, Tomato Patch, take a cab to Sunset Grille (Duck) on Reggae Night.
Golf:
Currituck Club, DuckWoods Country Club, Kilmarlic are a couple
ABC Liquor Store is on the way in to Corolla by the Visitors Center another one is in Duck. TimbucII and Corolla light are the closest shopping though there are outlets in Nags Head if you are interested in making a drive.
Check out the Corolla lighthouse, 4wd beaches, Wright Brothers, Jockeys Ridge and Cape Hatteras Seashore if you bored.
Any questions you can email me
http://therealouterbanks.com
