Outer Banks Beaches

Activity Overview

The barrier islands separating North Carolina from the rest of the Atlantic Ocean are collectively known as the Outer Banks Beaches or OBX. Each beach location caters to different holiday itineraries. There's an ideal OBX beach if you want a quiet, secluded vacation for your family and another one if you want an active holiday with plenty of water activities.

Things to Do

• Hatteras Beach should be on the top of your mind if you want a small-town feel to go with your family's beach vacation. Try the food from locally-owned restaurants and find unique items at the shops here. Drive to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and catch amazing views of OBX with the sunrise as background.
• Do you want to take your pet on your family holiday? Head to Duck at the Northern Beaches where dogs can roam freely unleashed as long as they are managed by their owners. Duck has no public beach access so if you want to visit the beach here, you need to stay at vacation rentals in the area.
• Ride a 4x4 vehicle and spot wild horses on the beach at Corolla. Next, visit the Center for Wildlife Education where the family can learn about the diverse wildlife in North Carolina. Kids become intrigued as soon as they see a tank of fish endemic to the area.
• Kill Devil Hills is not only known for its beach with plenty of water activities but it's also popular because this is where Wilbur and Orville Wright launched flights. Know more about their rich history at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Outer Bank Beaches Insider Tips

• Refer to Outer Banks Center for Wildlife's calendar on their website and sign up online for free workshops and activities. The onsite list gets full early but you can reserve your slot by signing up online.
• OBX is beautiful all-year round but if you have specific vacation ideas in mind, check what is the best season for your plans here.