My family and I are thinking of vacationing in the Outer Banks, N.C. this summer. We have never been there but have heard wonderful things. Can anyone recommend resorts, hotels, and/or reputable rental properties in the area? Money is not an issue. I appreciate any information. Thank you.

We had a very good experience 2 years ago when we used Carolina Designs Realty for a rental house. They seemed to have a nice selection of homes. I'd use them again if we were headed that direction!

http://www.carolinadesigns.com/

Good Luck

I think you'll love the Outer Banks. I went there for the first time about 25 years ago, and much has changed since then, but it's still a beautiful place to spend a vacation. You'll have to determine where you want to stay ... there's the northern beaches of Duck and Corolla, and the busy towns of Nags Head and Kitty Hawk, all the way down to the southern tip, Cape Hatteras (which happens to be my personal favorite, although sometimes I wish it was a little MORE populated.) If you go to Dogpile.com (a search engine compiler) and type in Outer Banks Realty, you'll find several rental companies from which to choose. I also found a discussion board and the Insiders Guide that you may find helpful. Their URLs follow. Have a wonderful trip. You'll want to go back again and again!
http://www.aesir.com/OuterBanks/StayComments.html

http://www.insiders.com/outerbanks/index.htm

We rented a beachfront house from...

http://beachrealtync.com/

in Kitty Hawk for a week last year and had a great time. Kitty Hawk is more laid back that some of the pricier towns like Duck and we only paid $900
and were right on the beach. They have online property searches and have a nice printed calalog too.

Dear dlynn,

You really do need to decide whether you want a resort or a rental property, then decide how densely populated an area you want. My own preference is to go as far north or south of the overdeveloped Kill Devil Hills/Kitty Hawk/Nags Head area as possible, but the further you go, the fewer the non-beach attractions (restaurants, miniature golf, etc.). Going north will get you into areas of Duck and Corolla where, for the most part, you have your choice of HUGE rental properties with many bedrooms, hot tubs, etc., designed for extended families. Going further south will get you into less developed areas with fewer of these palaces but also fewer amenities.

I'm enough of an "isolationist" to prefer Ocracoke -- a quaint but very quiet island at the far south, with best beaches, some decent restaurants, but not much happening after 9pm except a couple of leisurely bars.

If I had to choose a resort, it would be the Sanderling, north of Duck, hands down! Outstanding restaurant, lovely accommodations, reasonably self-contained beach area, etc.