Outer Banks Beach Fun for Families

Other than Florida, the Outer Banks in North Carolina is one of my favorite U.S. beach destinations, particularly Nags Head. The Outer Banks are very family friendly and provide a quiet and diverse vacation.

When visiting the Outer Banks, I highly recommend renting a house. You can find something that is quaint for a small family or this beach destination provides a venue for large groups and family reunions. If you have some flexibility in your travel schedule, be sure to check out the rental calendars as you will notice a big drop in prices outside of what is considered high season. The ability to cook together is one of my favorite aspects of an Outer Banks beach escape, not to say there are not some good local seafood joints to sample.

There is no entertainment venue here such as the Ocean City (Maryland or New Jersey) boardwalk scene, but the amazing beaches, wildlife, history, and excursions put the Outer Banks on the map. Following are some recommended excursions for the entire family.

Lighthouse Tour: There are four coastal lighthouses along the Outer Banks. Two of these can be climbed including the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla, Currituck County (a fee of $7 for anyone 8-years-old and above) and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton, which is also recognized as America’s Lighthouse and is the tallest (208 feet) brick lighthouse in the world ($7 for anyone 12-years-old and above; children 11 and under, seniors and disabled pay $3). There is also the Bodie Island Lighthouse and the Ocracoke Lighthouse, the latter of which is the oldest still operating lighthouse in the state, according to Aaron Tuell, director of Public Relations, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. “A harbor light, it emits a constant beam and does not ‘flash’.”

Sand Dune Park: A must-see, hard to miss attraction is Jockey's Ridge State Park, which according to Tuell was the state's most visited attraction in 2007, with over 1.5 million visits, an increase of 43 percent over last year. This park is free and don’t be surprised when you see kids rolling down the 90 foot sand dune. If you are not up for hang gliding, another popular activity is kite flying. One of my favorite memories at Jockey’s Ridge is watching fireworks on the 4th of July…a very unique venue.

Ocracoke, NC: Kids enjoy taking the free 40-minute ferry over to Ocracoke to experience remote stretches of beaches, wildlife and sealife. And, do not forget the lighthouse. When you come back to shore, be sure to watch the fisherman come in with their daily catch. This is quite a scene.

Of course there are other great beach escapes up and down the Eastern coast that all have its own attributes including the Hamptons, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Amelia Island and others. Whatever your favorite U.S. beach destination, just go away, step back into your childhood, relive the sand and sea through the eyes of your children, and soak up the rays (don’t forget the sunscreen)!

Photo Credit: Outer Banks Visitors Bureau