Can anyone tell me where Carova is in the Outer Banks. Can't find on my map. Found a rental only accessible by 4wd. Try to decide if it is worth working a getting 4wd.

ttt

I think you mean Carolla. It's in the north end of the OBX.

Here is an explanation of where it is - apparently it's the last bit of undeveloped land (except for the giant mansions)north of highway 12, 12 miles beyond Corolla. Ends with a fence on the Virginia border! Hence the name CaroVA.

http://www.carovabeach.info/aboutcarovabeach.shtml

I am right now trying to book a 12 bedroom vacation home for a family reunion, and some of the only homes left (who knew it was late?) are in this area. I haven't verified this, but I think the roads might just be dirt roads, 4WD not essential?

I have driven up there in a 4 WD. You must have 4 WD to rent in Carova. You will be driving on the beach, and then through heavy sand to get to your house if you are in Swan beach. If you are in Carova, you will be connected from Swan Beach to Carova by dirt roads behind the beach that give you access to rentals houses. But you must drive down Swan beach to get to any of hte houses in Carova. There is NO PAVED ROAD. The rental companies ( all warn that you MUST have 4 WD to rent in these areas. There are tow truck companies that make a nice living hauling people out of those areas, at a premium price, all summer.

thanks for the info, emd!

I always wonder about it up there. Are you lying on the beach with 4 wheel drives running around? It just doesn't sound very pleasant!

Only on Swan Beach. If you are in the water, or right on the sand by the water, you do have to be vigilant about walking too far out of the beach, because SUVs and trucks are going by. You have to really watch the little kids there. But beyond Swan beach, it is ok as peopel drive, for the most part, on the roads- although there is still beach driving up there. It is much less populated than the rest of the OBX from Carolla to South Nags Head, and that is why some people like it. It is pretty quiet up there. I don't know if there are even any convenience stores at all up there (I doubt it) or if you have to drive all the way down to Carolla for that, and then all the way down past Carolla to Food Lion or Harris Teeter for bigger grocery shopping.

The houses are not really cheaper to rent up there either...

Where is poster obxgirl? I miss seeing her chiming in on these OBX posts.

emd's description is spot on. 4WD vehicles only.

You'll enjoy Carova if you're comfortable with 4WD on sand and are the sort who cocoons all week in the house or on the beach. You'll probably find it a big PIA if you're a shopper, like to go out to eat a lot or even if you have kids who want/need mini golf, ice cream and trips to Walmart.

>>Are you lying on the beach with 4 wheel drives running around? <<

There's much less traffic than you would imagine, especially depending on how far up the beach you're staying. It is a factor to consider, however, when you've got unescorted younger children going back and forth to the beach/house.

The homes tend to be pretty large so you'll also need a group who're all comfortable with relative isolation. We spent a week in Carova a few years back with a bunch of friends. The guys were all golfers and would head out for an early morning tee time and then call on their way back to see if we needed anything from the grocery store. That worked well for most of the girls & kids but there was one woman who whined nonstop about being so far from civilization. Made everyone miserable.

The 4WD homes are typically available well into the main season and at prices slightly lower than equivalent road accessible homes. That tells you something.

Hey emd! We must have been composing at the same time. Nice to hear from you.

I needed a Vacation From Fodor's.

When did the Fodorite Lounge come about? There are some pretty funny threads there but there are also a bunch that are a bit of a freak show.

>>The houses are not really cheaper to rent up there either...<<

My experience of slightly cheaper homes is a few years old. I'll defer to you on this.

I get the sense that there has become kind of an elitist attitude about owning in Carova; I don't mean that in a bad way, just seems like it is viewed by some as a haven away from the rest of the overdevelopment of the OBX. The prices have gone up in past few years when we have looked at the rentals. There used to be mostly older homes up there but now there are new mega-homes just like in other areas. As long as there is no paved road, it will not become as developed as the rest of the other areas south of it.

obxgirl, I hear ya. But glad to see you back as I thought maybe you were a goner like many others. I am not as active on here as before either. The flavor has changed a lot.