You won't want to leave the Outer Banks once you get there, so try to plan to stay for at least a week. Here are a few of our favorite things about the Outer Banks.
Photo by Mary Ann Barton
Currituck Sound, just across the street from the Sanderling Inn, is great for bird-watching at sunset.
Sanderling Resort
The luxe Sanderling Resort in Duck can't be beat with a location just up the road from "downtown" Duck. With three swimming pools, you can get some laps in and then (literally just a few steps from the beach) plop down for a siesta under an umbrella or stroll the beach look
ing for seashells. (And yes, rates are steep when compared to your average hotel or Airbnb, but an alternative might be to stay elsewhere for a week and then tack on two extra days here.)
Lots of other options abound, including rentals and hotels such as Burrus House Inn or White Doe Inn in Manteo or the Lighthouse View Oceanfront Lodging in Buxton.
To Do
Just down the road from Sanderling is an awesome coffee shop, Duck's Cottage, 1240 Duck Road, where you can pick up a New York Times or a great book and some coffee and grab a seat on the front porch. Coconut Crunch is their most popular coffee flavor. Duck's Cottage opened in 2002 and is housed in a cottage built in 1921.
Photo by Mary Ann Barton
Sunset at Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head, N.C.
Two of the best places for watching the sunset in the Outer Banks are th
e Blue Point Bar & Grill Back Bar and Jockey's Ridge State Park. At Blue Point, grab an Adirondack chair, your favorite girl or guy and a cold beverage and watch the sunset over the Currituck Sound. Jockey's Ridge features a 100-foot tall sand dune and is the perfect spot to take photos of the sunset or portraits during "the golden hour." Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to arrive, park and climb the ridge (about a 10-15 minute walk). And beware: Your feet are going to get sandy!
For some fun activities, try sailing if you have an experienced sailor in your group. You can rent a catamaran at Nor'Bank Sailing & Watersports at 1314 Duck Road. You'll want to be sure your sunglasses are secure while you're out on the water — Nor'Bank sells eyewear retainers. While you're on the water, you'll wear a life jacket they provide and staff will keep an eye on you as you zip up and down the Sound.
Photo by Mary Ann Barton
Wild horses can be found among the dunes on Corolla Beach.
Another fun activity while visiting the Outer Banks is going looking for wild horses in Corolla, just 20 minutes up the road from Sanderling. There are several tour outfits you can choose from. If you go that route, you'll ride in the back of a large jeep and might do some off-roading to find the horses. We've done the tour and also seen wild horses from our own car and both were fun! You'll be close enough to snap photos but not so close to disturb the horses.
Dining
There are plenty of great places to enjoy seafood (or other options) in the Outer Banks. Here are some of my favorites:
Morris Farm Market
If you're going to be doing some of your own meal prep during your vacation or are staying at a hotel with a mini-fridge, a great stop on the way to OBX is the picturesque Morris Farm Market at 3784 Caratoke Hwy. Grab one of their little red wagons and load up on fresh corn, watermelo
Photo by Mary Ann Barton
Pies line the case at the Black Pelican Oceanfront Restaurant in Kitty Hawk.
n, pickles, pies and lots of other farm-fresh goodness. After your shopping, you're just an hour away.
The Black Pelican, 3848 Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk. When you first walk in, you'll notice about a dozen pies in a lighted glass case. If you have room later, you might want to try their coconut cream pie or key lime pie. For dinner, check out the bacon-wrapped sea scallops. Ask for a seat in the "old section" of the restaurant; the original part of the eatery served as a life-saving station constructed in 1874.
Steamers, 1 Ocean Blvd., Duck. This upscale restaurant features two floors of indoor and outdoor dining. You can't go wrong with the Steamers Street Tacos featuring wild-caught fish and cumin-spiced vegetables.
Sunset Grille & Raw Bar, 1264 Duck Road, is another great place for lunch or dinner around sunset. It can get a tad windy outside if the breezes are blowing too hard (or you can wear a hat). Some standouts here are the She Crab Soup, Coconut Shrimp and Broiled Lump Crabcakes.
Day Trips
Photo by Mary Ann Barton
A beautiful view of the boats outside Avenue Waterfront Grille in Manteo.
Some nice day trips from Duck include Manteo, about a 40-minute drive from Sanderling, where you can stroll around the downtown waterfront area and photograph the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, a replica of the original 1877 lighthouse. Get a wonderful dinner at Avenue Waterfront Grille, 207 Queen Elizabeth Ave. The views of the boats are terrific and the food is superb. Everything is good, especially the fresh catch of the day which can be prepared blackened, sauteed or fried.
If you have time for an overnight in Ocracoke Island (population 550) take the ferry from Hatteras for $10 roundtrip (including your car) and stay at The Castle Bed and Breakfast, 155 Silver Lake Dr. Once you check in, stroll over to SmacNally's Bar & Grill, a busy little hangout that sits on Silver Lake Harbor where you can people watch and check out the boats as they return with their catch of the day.
Photo by Mary Ann Barton
The Castle Bed and Breakfast, Ocracoke Island
Back at the B&B, you can take a dip in the pool out back, catch a nap and head out to dinner at Dajio, 305 Irvin Garrish Hwy., within walking distance of the B&B. Try the Calamari and fresh local fish of the day, grilled or tempura fried. Dajio (pronounced DAH-gee-oh) is an acronym for the husband and wife owners Doug and Judy and stands for "Doug and Judy in Ocracoke." They began their 13th season there this year.
You might need the light from your phone to help light the way back to the B&B. There are no sidewalks and no street lights — just stars. A full breakfast is served at the B&B before you head to the ferry.
Travel time from Alexandria to the Outer Banks: Five hours.
