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bestyears_gw

North Carolina Mavens -Can you help?

bestyears
14 years ago

We are headed to NC on a combination college visit/family vacation. We would like to explore the NC coast for the vacation part, but aside from a few hours there during a big roadtrip two years ago, we have little to no knowledge of the area. We think we'd like to rent a condo/beach house on the Outerbanks. Since we'll be splitting up for a bit of the trip, and my son and I will end up driving from UVA down to the beach destination, I was thinking the northern end (Nags Head...). Of course, it's probably a bit late for looking for rentals for mid-August LOL. But things usually work out. We'll have four teens with us -will there be enough to do in that area? Would we be better off staying on the Coast, i.e. Atlantic Beach, New Bern, etc.? We have been to Myrtle Beach and are looking for something very different -less t-shirt places, more unexplored beach..

Thank you so much for your help!

Comments (16)

  • mcmann
    14 years ago

    We love renting on the beach in the Outer Banks. Try calling a few of the agencies to see if there is anything available. In fact many of them have web sites that are up to date with availabilities. We usually rent from Kitty Dunes Rentals and their web site is www.kittydunes.com. If you like 'more unexplored beach" then you might want to look at rentals that are really 'north' -like the Carova beach area, it's accesible by 4 wheel drive only! Definitely more remote.

  • bestyears
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Thank you so much! That's a website I haven't tried yet.

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  • bestyears
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Thank you ogoopogo -I am on my way to check those out now! I am seeing some places advertised as soundside and some as oceanside. I understand what that means, but is one preferable to the other, and can you tell me why?

    Many thanks,
    Lynn

  • mcmann
    14 years ago

    We only rent oceanfront- that way we don't have a road between us and the water. Depending on what is available this late in the season I'd still try to rent oceanside rather than soundside if I wanted to be close to water that I could swim in. The soundside properties vary greatly in water access. Some have beautiful views of wetlands, some have direct access to the water. Unfortunately it means you'll have to ask more questions or check the rental maps to determine the location of the properties.

    We've found the rental employees to be really knowledgeable and very helpful. Here's some definitions that might help.

    Oceanfront- no other buildable property between you and the ocean. You may have an ocean view, maybe not. You have to specifically ask about this. Sometimes you have a beautiful open view of the beach and the water othertimes there's an obstructed view or a view from the 2nd floor.

    Semi-oceanfront-- You are one lot from the ocean. You may or may not have direct beach access from your lot. Usually this means there are 2 houses between the road and the ocean.

    Oceanside--- you are on the ocean side of Beach Road. You need to ask about beach access and distance to the water.

    Soundfront- you front the sound, there may be wetlands or marshy areas.

    Soundside- There aren't any roads between your house and the sound. You'll have to ask about how many houses/lots there are and if you have direct access to the sound. Views and distance to the sound varies with rentals.

  • mcmann
    14 years ago

    Here's a link to some other rental agencies in the Outer Banks. We've also rented from Joseph Lamb.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Rental agencies

  • bestyears
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Thank you mcmann! You have no idea how helpful you've been! We had this whole trip arranged around using my sister's timeshare and that fell through, so now we are scrambling a bit.... May I also ask, if it were you, with 4 teens, would you stay at Atlantic Beach and ferry to the Outerbanks, or would you stay on the OBX?

  • fussy_chicken
    14 years ago

    bestyears, while you are waiting for more good advice from others, I'll chime in here. As far traveling between Atlantic Beach and the Outer Banks, I would do one or the other. My choice would definitely be OBX! There is good bit of travel time between the two, long country roads and lengthy ferry ride. You will be at the mercy of the ferry schedule from Cedar Island to Ocracoke and this time of year you certainly need to have reservations so not to be stranded. (you can find out more online on the NC Ferry system website) Once in Ocracoke, you have to drive up to catch another ferry over to Hatteras and above, though those are short and run frequently and are free I think. So, just be aware of the need for a lot of time to get nowhere, if that makes sense. Part of the charm IMO, but it will probably be lost on teenagers.

    I have not done the OBX with teens though used to spend a lot of time there when DS was younger. But as for visiting the first time, I would suggest somewhere like Hatteras  esp. if there is interest in fishing, or around the Kitty Hawk or Nags Head areas. That way you'll have more to do around you but be more centrally located if you want to explore the more remote areas like going north to Corolla or south to Ocracoke. (My personal favorite, but it is quaint, laid back and no ocean front housing)

    Hanging out at the beach will be a lot of fun for teens so I would try for ocean front or easy access. IÂm sure there are plenty of water sports possibilities in addition to sight seeing. We always enjoyed the Wright Brothers museum, the NC aquarium and visiting JockeyÂs Ridge State Park where there is a huge sand dune w/hang gliding.

    ThereÂs lot of info online. I always like to check out tripadvisor.com to see what people have to say about places I visit. IÂve also used the Insiders Guide books when visiting new places. Sorry I canÂt help with recent info. I don't live too far from there but haven't made the trip in a while. I look forward to getting back there soon. I hope that you enjoy it!
    FC

  • bestyears
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Thank you fussy_chicken! Very helful input -especially the reservations for ferries and time-suckers that can be, with the country roads etc. I have been wondering about just that very thing. We'll tread carefully there then. We will only be there a week and don't want to spend too much of it waiting in a hot car!
    Our kids are not terribly hard to please but they will each have a friend with them and of course we'd like to show them all a good time. I've read about the Wild Pony Tour on Tripadvisor.com (which I've been addicted to for a few years now), and would really like to see that. I have been intrigued by the Outer Banks for years and years and am really excited to get there. I would love to go in Sept. when the crowds thin out (like we did to Cape Cod), but right now we are tied to school schedules.
    Thank you again!
    Lynn

  • lkplatow
    14 years ago

    We vacation in NC every year, but well south of the OBX. We stay on Oak Island, which is one of the south-facing beaches at the very bottom of NC, almost in SC. It's very remote and quaint, not really touristy (there are rentals, but it's not built up like Myrtle). And because it's remote and the economy stinks this year, I'm guessing there are still good rentals to be had. But it's a good 4 hrs from the OBX, and I'm guessing you don't want to drive that far.

    So really, I was only posting to chime in on the sound side vs. ocean side thing. On Oak Island, the sound-side houses face the marsh/intercoastal waterway. Beautiful views (though I'd rather look at the ocean) but it can be very swampy and mosquito-ridden. I've taken long walks around Oak Island (it's not very wide - you can walk from the ocean to the sound side in about 15 minutes), and as soon as you get to the marsh side, you get eaten alive. So my vote would definitely be for something towards the ocean and off the marsh. But I"ve never been to the OBX so maybe the sound up there is less swampy and more ocean-like than the one in Oak Island.

    Good luck!

  • mcmann
    14 years ago

    Best Years- I would stay on the Outer Banks. Here are a few more things to consider.

    Rentals are either Sat to Sat or Sun to Sun so traffic heading to and from on weekends is horrendous. It sounds like you will have 2 cars. How many of your teens can drive? If you stay anywhere from Kitty Hawk (milepost 1) down to Nags Head (mile post 17) you'll be centrally located and within easy driving to area attractions and amusements, movie theaters, restaurants and shopping. The more secluded areas above Duck have a more natural setting and as you go North fewer stores. You can still take day trips to Okracoke or even head out for a day of fishing on a head boat.

    My kids always want to go back and they've been going there since infants. They're now in their 20's and they've planed vacations there with their friends. We live within an hour of the New Jersey beaches and have never vacationed there, we've driven down for day trips but would never consider staying for a week. I think it's a wonderful vacation spot. Just remember that September (and even late August) starts the storm season and sometimes people have to evacuate the island to avoid them.

    I hope your trip works out. Keep us posted and enjoy the college visit.

  • bestyears
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Okay, I'm pretty certain we WILL be staying on the OBX. I can't bear to be that close and not see them, and don't want to spend too much time waiting on ferries. So we may have to see the coast another time. My son can drive, though 1 car will be a rental, so he will only be allowed to drive our car. Which gives us some freedom actually! It turns out one of our neighbors goes to Corolla every summer (who knew?!?), so I am going to get together with him on Sunday and pick his brain. Sounds like a lovely place to stay, and the teens can always drive to the more touristy stuff while I lay on the secluded beach with my stack of magazines and books!!!!

  • bebetokids
    14 years ago

    I grew up one hour from the OBX and have to say definitely I prefer them to other NC beaches (all lovely though). Stay oceanfront if you can afford it-if not then others are fine-just not the same ambience and wonderful deck relaxing. Most teens I know collapse on the beach and drag themselves up for a few water/beach games and then collapse again hehe. There are the usual beach activities but much less commercial than Myrtle.

    Definitely go to Hattress and Ocracoke if you have the time for the ferry. Ocracoke is a beautiful place-no commercialism-ride bikes, get ice cream and miles of almost deserted beach.

    Other stuff mentioned is great-Jockey's Ridge, Wright Bros., Lost colony, etc.

    I'm not sure how long you have to spend but would not recommend trying to hit Crystal Coast and Wilmington area all in one shot. Golly I'm not sure how long it would take by car to go from OBX to Wilmington- 8 hours?

  • newdawn1895
    14 years ago

    Anyone of those places sounds wonderful. I am going to Gatlinberg soon which is way up in the mountains rather than the Ocean.

    ....Jane