amygordonfisher

We will be driving north from USC and want to stop for a few days in August at Willmington beaces and somewhere later on outer banks...don't know which towns, we want an upscale B&B if possible near beach, quiet, maybe a good restaurant. Any suggestions. New Yorkers just dropping off last kid in college heading home!!

GoTravel

You realize that Wilmington is a long drive from the Outber Banks?

University of South Carolina? If so Columbia is a long way away from the Outer Banks. The distance doesn't seem so bad but lack of accessable roads make it an eight hour out of the way drive.

Charleston is an hour from Columbia. What about a couple days at one of the Charleston beaches?

artsbabe

Assume the OP means Wilmington, NC, which is only an hour or two south of the southernmost island in the outer banks, which is Bogue--where Emerald Isle is.

HKP

I'm guessing you've looked at a map and decided to hopscotch your way north from Columbia along the NC coast. However, distances ARE an issue, especially since the roads that get you up the coast aren't exactly interstates. Nonetheless, if my guess was correct, here's what I might do:

One night in Wilmington - no B&Bs on the water there, but some very lovely ones around the older part of the city (CS Worth, Verandas, Graystone, etc.). If you wanted ocean there, you'd have to go out to Wrightsville or one of the smaller beach towns up and down that peninsula - and none of them really has any B&B-type places, only a scant few hotel/motels and mostly rental beach houses.

From there it could be a long but interesting day in which you might take Rte. 17 to rte. 24 (in Jacksonville) to Morehead City where you pick up 70 out to rte. 12 to catch the Ocracoke Ferry. You will love Ocracoke (try the Captain's landing or the Cove B&B) and might well want to spend a night there.

Whether or not you do, the next leg is the LONNNNNGGG drive up Rte. 12, up the spine of the OBX (from Ocracoke to Hatteras there's a little ferry-hop across). The heaviest concentration of motels, restaurants, etc. is between Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills - not so much fun, but archetypal - and from there you can either head inland to get back to the interstates northward or consider spending a night in Duck or Corolla.

Please come back and tell us how you are thinking about this trip -- how many days, etc.

WARNING: whatever you do, try to avoid going from Richmond to DC/Baltimore on a Sunday. You will spend 3 lives in a 6-lane parking lot.

HKP

By the way, that LONNNNGGG drive up Rte 12 is gorgeous, at least until you get to Nags Head. That's why you'd go that way, and since it's a National Seashore, there are places to stop and look.

obxgirl

In the Outer Banks, I'd recommend taking a look at the First Colony Inn in Nags Head (historic B&B) in Nags Head or the more modern resort Sanderling Inn in Sanderling (just north of Duck). The First Colony is across the street from the ocean and the Sanderling is oceanfront.

SAnParis2

I'm not sure how much time you have but if it is only a few days I would reserve OBX for another time, or you'll likely spend most of your time driving. Bot Charleston & Wilmington are good suggestions.

HKP

A few days is plenty of time to do the OBX drive.

SAnParis2

If all you want to do is drive, then that would be correct.

HKP

A day in Wilmington, a day in Ocracoke, a day in Duck or any 2 of those three - perfectly do-able. The drive from Ocracoke to Duck is about 4-5 leisurely hours and part of the enjoyment (not the same as "all you want to do is drive" on a boring highway). I referred to it as "LONNGG" because people who haven't done it tend to think of it as shorter than it is.

But what is it with you, SAnParis2, that whenever someone asks about going to the Wilmington/Wrightsville/Outer Banks areas, you tell them not to do it - very often recommending somewhere SC instead? Or is it that whenever I go to the trouble of answering a question specifically about NC areas, it's a red flag for you? (And no, I'm not stalking you - I posted here first.)

SAnParis2

Not at all, personally if I am making the trek out to OBX, I want at least a week to enjoy it. I don't want to be in a car every day, or even every other day. The beaches I do typically refer people to are the islands south of Wilmington, & are located in NC (Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle & Sunset Beach). The Brunswick Island chain. Perhaps you have me confused w/someone else ? + I just said I thought Wilmington was a good suggestion (didn't I just say that ??!), although I'd rather go to Southport myself, but that may be too far off the beaten track for them.

HKP

Maybe I do have you confused with someone else - and if so, my sincere apologies. It's Monday.

SAnParis2

Not a problem, I am having one of 'those' Mondays as well.

amygordonfisher

HKP! Please do yu have any hotel/inn suggestions. sounds like this may be too long. We are leaving Columbia th emornoin of the 17th of Au and want to land someplac that night Wilmington?? And then drive to outer banks the nextday Ocracoke for 2 ays..place to sta??? And then do you suggest driving north by what routwe to eventually head back towards 95? Thanks

SAnParis2

That would be ludicrous @ best

Gretchen

At the risk of offending HKP by offering anything on "His" thread---
Columbia to Wilmington would be about a 5 hour drive on interstates.
If you want to go to the OBX area, why not just go to Ocracoke and spend some time there.
You haven't really said how long you have to do this trip. The Carolina beaches (like Wrightsville) below OBX are really fun and pretty themselves, if you haven't done them.
August is still a prime month for last vacations, unless it is late enough that public schools are in session.
Maybe take a look at a map of the OBX and see the drive north to get to Virginia and major highways. I think that might be what SanParis is talking about.

HKP

Please do carry on, Gretchen, since you clearly don't want me to help amygordonfisher any further. She'll just have to follow your advice and do it your way. At least you can answer her direct questions about where to stay.

SAnParis2

Also, since you will be traveling in prime time/Summer season, many places will have minimum stay requirements as well. From Columbia to Wilmington will be a good 5 hours. From Wilmington up OBX to say Virginia Beach, likely another 10-12 hours. Granted, the scenery is wonderful, but you will spend 1/2 of your waking hours (since it appears you have 3 days) driving & I'm not even counting Va. Beach to your final destination. I'd just go to Wilmington & leave it at that. HKP - you are aware that the purpose of this board is for people to gather opinions, yes ? It is unlikely that we will all have the same one (opinion). There isn't a right or wrong answer here, some of us are just trying to help the OP make the best use of the short amount of time they have available. Narrowmindedness is not a virtue.

pamela231

HKP, anyone, I booked an oceanfront home on a whim (from looking on the Internet) in Kure Beach. We'll have 3 teens and 2 10 yr. olds. Think we'll have plenty to do? We're coming June 27th- July 4th. Think it will be warm enough to enjoy the ocean? I guess I'm just worried about entertaining the teens..lol. Thanks!!!

SAnParis2

Kure Beach would not be my first choice so I will leave that to others. The water is warm enough to get in, right now, it will likely be @ bathwater temps by the time you arrive. I have never founds kids of any age having difficulty finding things to do at the beach, I don't think I'd be too worried about that...You may have better luck if you originate a new post/topic as well.