What to do at the Outer Banks
 

My boyfriend and I are planning a vacation for the 1st week in June. We are thinking of driving from Philadelphia to the Outer Banks. We would like a place where we can sit in the sun in the mornings and experience lots of different culture/activities during the rest of the day/night. Does anyone have any reccomendations, either at the Outer Banks or on the way? Thanks!!

try searching "outer banks," and you'll get some decent info from prior posts. However, I tried it and noticed that at least one recent post didn't show up. If you scroll back, you'll see a 5/4/01 post about camping in the outer banks. <BR> <BR>Just in case you don't find much, here's a very brief summary of things I've enjoyed/impressions: hang-gliding at Jockey's Ridge; wright brothers museum; lighthouses (most famously, Hatteras); car ferry to ocracoke; relative unspoiled beach areas of Duck & Corolla in northern part of OB; manteo (site of the lost colony). <BR> <BR>One other thing, OB are fairly isolated and fairly straightforward--sea, sand, cottages. Not really sure what "culture" you're looking for, but wanted to give you a heads up on that.

Chuck forgot to mention Manteo and Roanoke Island with the Elizabeth II, music in the park, museum, aquarium, Elizabethan Gardens, and the production "The Lost Colony."

We found the outer banks to be a calm, beautiful vacation spot, but not tons to do. The beach was not too welcoming, we were there in late May and it was overcast, cool, and there were dead pufferfish on the beach each morning, but it was ruggedly beautiful. <BR> <BR>We mostly just drove around and saw all the sights listed above (wright bros museum, etc) we also went to all the lighthouses within driving distance. They were a highlight for me. But the real pleasure of the trip was sleeping in late, eating junk food, and reading good books. Have a great time!

Cheryl, Ditto to everything above, but wanted to mention one thing my husband and I like to do when we go to the Outer Banks. There is a restaurant near the outlet mall and a minature golf course just before you turn to go to Manteo. It's called Windmill Point (I think!) You'll see the windmill in the back. The owner has lots of memorabilia from the USS United States including the kidney shaped bar where the Kennedys, John Wayne, and other famous people sat. We like to sit in the bar and watch the sunset over the sound (may be a little late in June), then go down to dinner. The food's good, too.

Cheryl, the atmsophere at the Outer Banks is pretty laid back in general and as Chuck mentioned, "sea, sand and cottages" about sums it up. The Kitty Hawk/Nags Head area has the most to offer in the way of activities and even then it's family oriented and slow paced - mini golf, outlet malls, small museums, etc. Probably not as culturally diverse as you're used to in Philadelphia. Still, the Outer Banks is an area that is beautiful and enjoyable. I would suggest spending a day in Manteo, which has an aquarium, several small museums and if you and your boyfriend enjoy German food and/or beer, a restaurant called The Weeping Radish is excellent. Enjoy your vacation.

I am not into fishing myself, but there are fishing piers all along the coast. I recommend staying in the Nags Head area because there is more to do there - all already listed by others. As you go away to the north or south, it gets quieter. At the lower part of the outer banks, the Atlantic Beach part, you can visit Ft. Macon (an old Civil War fort), visit a small aquarium and natural area, go over to Beaufort (a small town where Blackbeard used to live - the house is still there but privately owned), visit Morehead City for additional restaurant choices, go to the small amusement parks at the beach area, and go to Cape Lookout. New Bern is just inland from there. New Bern is a very historic city named after Bern, Switzerland. The main thing to see there is Tryon Palace, where the British governor used to live. Nags Head and Atlantic Beach would be my choices based on your criteria. Why not a few days at each?

Swim, surf, body board, hang glide, para sail, aero tow, jet ski, kayak, scuba dive, kite surf, wind surf, sail, fish... go all the way down to the Buxton area & over to Ocracoke. I live in Va. Beach, Va. & we spend just about every weekend in the OBX. You can find nice sections of beach with very few people on them! Nags Head/Kitty Hawk is where you want to be for the most "night life", but further south ( Rodanthe - Ocracoke) is less built up & crowded.