Guide To OBX

If you are a lover of nature and all its glory, Jockey’s Ridge State Park may be the spot for you. This park is known for the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States located in Nags Head.This is definitely one of the most significant landmarks on the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park is a place where anyone can relax and cut loose. If walking the sandy dunes isn’t on your agenda, take a stroll along the 384-boardwalk. Enjoy the spectacular view from the tree-lined walkway while reading the panels that describe the various plants and animals found around the dunes. Take a seat on the bench and rest your feet while you overlook your family and other visitors playing on the dunes. Also, with a 24-hour prior notice, transportation to the top of the dune may be available.

You can enjoy all the commodities of the Jockey’s Ridge State Park year round. If you plan on walking the dunes, plan accordingly, the sand is usually 25 to 30 degrees higher than the air temperature. If you find the need to explore, enjoy the self-guided trails such as the Soundside Natural Trail and the Tracks in the Sand.

Experience the world of the desert with its shifting sands and high winds comparable to the Sahara Desert. Take your visit to new heights by flying the same skies as the world’s most famous pilots such as Orville and Wilbur Wright. Fly a kite in the sky or better yet you can hang high in the sky by hang gliding. Take advantage of what nature has to offer by working on your tan or even sandboarding and kiteboarding in selected areas.

Let your inner student learn all about the history and cultural of Jockey’s Ridge State Park and the Outer Banks at the park’s exhibit hall. Here you will learn how and what the dunes are made from. You can also discovery the history where the names “Kill Devil Hills”, “Nags Head”, and other legends such as Blackbeard’s treasure originated. There are also special programs available for students and educators.

Anyone can enjoy Jockey’s Ridge State Park with its wide range of recreational activities. Where else can you learn about history, enjoy a breathtaking view, have a picnic, partake in some extreme sports, or simply take a hike—for free? Contact the park’s office for more details such as required permits and park hours at (252)441-7132.

Contact Information:
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
300 W Carolista Drive
Nags Head, NC 27959
http://www.jockeysridgestatepark.com/
252-441-7132

2 Comments »

If you are searching for some old fashion fun and entertainment for the entire family, check out the Outer Banks Daredevils. This local baseball team is definitely a reason baseball remains America’s favorite pastime.

The active baseball league, located in the Outer Banks, is a member of the Coastal Plain League. This team is supported by those far and near, by volunteers and sponsors, who go as far as to open their home so a player may have a place to stay during the season.

This team is as traditional as a home baked apple pie with each home game played at the First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills. Fans are always welcomed to come out and meet the players and walk away with an autograph from one or all of the Daredevils. Who knows, you may even encounter a future MLB player as they are known to have 15 players who have been drafted to play in the pros within the past two years!

Don’t expect to dig deep in your pocket to enjoy a great baseball game. The Outer Banks Daredevils offer affordable ticket prices and special group rates, with individual tickets starting at $5. Take advantage of the discounts if you are a senior citizen or student, plus if you have a child who is under the age of five, they are free.

There’s entertainment for the entire family. Cheer on the team with “Homer” the wild pony mascot and bring out your kid at heart. Also, if you want to share the “hometown” experience with others, the Daredevils can host your summertime fun events such as birthday parties or corporate outings. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the game with a bite to eat from their concession stand.

With less than 70 days left until opening night, you have plenty of time to plan for a priceless night of memories. You can purchase your tickets at the gate or pay for them advance online. Visit their website at www.obxdaredevils.com for more information.

Contact information:
111 Veterans Drive
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
252-202-1842

No Comments »

If you are looking for a good barbecue place along the Outer Banks, then you definitely want to check out Pigman’s BBQ located around the 9 Mile Post in Kill Devil Hills.

Their menu features mostly barbecue but even expands into chicken and other normal menu items. Pigman’s is a local favorite for lunch or even carry out.

Hours Of Operation:
In Season (March – October)
Sunday – Saturday: 11:00am – 9:00pm

Off Season (November & December)
Sunday – Saturday: 11:00am – 8:00pm

Closed January & February

Address:
1606 S Croatan Hwy
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Phone: (252) 441-6803

As with any other restaurant on the beach, you’re also going to find a wide selection of t-shirts and other goods within the establishment.

No Comments »

Looking to grab a quick lunch before going back onto the beach? Then check out Spanky’s Grille for sure. If you like hot dogs and burgers, then this is the place you want to go.

Spanky’s has a GREAT atmosphere and incredibly friendly people running the place. As soon as you enter the door you are greeted with a smiling face and a “Hello!” Once you decide what you want on your hot dog or burger, its only a couple minute wait before your food is brought right out to you. Nothing like spending under $10 for 2 people to grab some lunch.

Besides the great service and great people, Spanky’s has some GREAT t-shirts for sale. Check them out and be sure to pick one up. Purchasing t-shirts from the local restaurants and shops is a great way to support the local businesses instead of the big chain restaurants.

It is a little bit of a drive if you are staying in Nags Head or further down, but Spanky’s is one of my personal favorite lunch spots and I always make the drive to Kitty Hawk at least once when I am at the beach.

Oddly enough, even though Pizza is in the name, I’ve never caught it on the menu!

Located in Kitty Hawk at the 3.5 Mile Post along the highway side.

1 Comment »

What To Do At The Outer Banks During Bad Weather

I have been at the Outer Banks about the same time frame in May for the last two years – about the second or third week of May, and both times it has been junky weather. There has not been much of any sun, the wind is blowing like crazy, and the rain seems to keep coming.

So, when you are vacationing in a spot where the beach truly is the main attraction, what else is there to do when you can’t go to the beach? Here are some ideas to help you make it through your vacation and not think that you picked the worst week to come to the Outer Banks. Of course, these depend on the different weather conditions you may be having – rain, overcast, windy, cold, etc.

• Mini Golf – probably the most obvious and easiest one to check off your list while on vacation. As soon as your cross onto the Island, you are hit with a ton of different options to play mini golf at. There is the grass mini golf course, the lost treasure course, and even the courses where you can play all day for one low price. No matter which course you choose, you should have a good time – remember you are on vacation, so do not take the game too seriously. Here is a recent listing of the mini-golf courses on the Outer Banks, including their phone number and location:

Miniature Golf Courses
(252) 261-4900 – The Promenade (Kitty Hawk)
(252) 261-0101 – Bermuda Greens (Kitty Hawk)
(252) 441-7626 – The Grass Course (Kitty Hawk) (252) 480-0142 – Lost Treasure Golf (Kill Devil Hills)
(252) 441-5875 – Pink Elephant Mini Golf (Nags Head)
(252) 441-4541 – Blackbeard’s Miniature Golf Park (Nags Head)
(252) 441-6841 – Jurassic Putt (Nags Head)
(252) 995-5480 – Avon Golf (Avon)
(252) 995-6366 – Cool Wave Ice Cream Shop & Mini Golf (Buxton)
(252) 453-4198 – The Grass Course (Corolla)

• Go To The Movies – now, do not think that you will be the only family there. As soon as the clouds come out and the rain starts, the movie theatre gets lined up. Being the only theatre now, it will be busy, so either buy your tickets online at Fandango or get there early. You can call the theatre for movie times or check them online. Since it is now the only theatre, they are featuring the newest movies that come out, so go enjoy the show and some popcorn.

• Wright Brothers Memorial Monument and Museums – If you are a history buff or just interested in doing some of the “touristy” things and seeing the sights, check out the Wright Brothers Memorial. Ever since the centennial celebration, they have added a bunch of newer museums and exhibits. The current price is $4/person but for many, it is worth it. Make the climb up to the monument and get some great pictures with the kids where the first flight took place! For more information about fees and hours, visit the National Park Website for the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

• Hit the Outlet Mall – OBX does not have a lot of chain/commercial shopping, but a lot of smaller boutique type stores. So, if you don’t want to drive from store to store (even though they are not that far apart), you can always make your way to the Outlet mall. The mall features many of the favorites and usuals that you would expect at any Outlet mall include Polo, Nautica, Coach, Bass shoes, and much more. This is definitely a spot where you could spend a bit of a cloudy afternoon getting in some retail therapy! Check out the Tanger Outlets website for hours and a full list of stores: http://www.tangeroutlet.com/nagshead

• North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island – If you are a fan of the beach, the ocean, and animals, then you and your family should make your way to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. The Aquarium is the largest in the state and features a 285,000 gallon ocean tank complete with sharks, sea turtles, and hundreds of fish. The Outer Banks Aquarium is located on Airport Road just three miles north of Manteo off of Highway 64. It is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM and feedings happen around 3 PM. For more detailed information, you can visit their website: http://www.ncaquariums.com/ri/riindex.htm
  

What do you like to do when it is bad weather along OBX? We will be posting more ideas for cloudy day fun as the summer goes along! Also, be on the lookout for more restaurant reviews and other things to do.

1 Comment »

The Outer Banks is pretty much the same as any other town or city when it comes to fast food restaurants. You will be able to find all of your favorites down here.

• McDonald’s
• Wendy’s
• Burger King
• Taco Bell
• Arby’s
• KFC

Most of them are located around the 9 Milepost along the Bypass highway.

Some “slower” fast food joints include Sonic and Five Guys.

However, I encourage you to check out some of the local favorite quick lunch spots including Pigman’s BBQ, Spanky’s Hot Dogs, Kill Devil Grill, and others.

No Comments »

The Hot Spot On The Beach!

Slammin’ Sammy’s has set up a great restaurant on the Outer Banks just around the 10 1/2 Milepost on the Bypass (or Highway). If you are looking for good food and a good time, this is this one place to eat while you are on your vacation at the Outer Banks.

You can check out their website for their full menu online, but they carry the usual American foods (burgers, chicken, steak, etc) as well as some excellent seafood. Check out the full menu here.

The restaurant and bar also features some games to keep you busy while hanging out with your buddies or when you are waiting to be seated. They have Shuffleboard, 2 8′ pool tables, Golden Tee Golf Live, EA Sports PGA Golf, 2 Mega touches, Daytona 500, Crane game & a jukebox.

And, of course, you can buy t-shirts and other items while there!

1 Comment »

If you are looking for some of the best pier fishing along the Outer Banks, then you need to check out the Nags Head Fishing Pier. This pier is a great place to spend the early morning, mid afternoon, or all day fishing for the next big catch! The pier also features a great restaurant with great food right on the ocean.
I recommend the Nags Head Pier mostly for breakfast, because it is just amazing. No matter what you like to eat for breakfast, the pier is a great place to head for your morning start.

The pier also has a great offer to cook up the fish that you catch off the pier! Check out their website at www.nagsheadpier.com for more information about the pier, their restaurant, and you can even view a webcam of the ocean and pier.

Nags Head Fishing Pier
P.O. Box 7
Nags Head, NC 27959
Main: 252-441-5141 | Restaurant: 252-441-4200

1 Comment »

Even though there may not seem like there is a lot to do on a chain of islands, there really is a lot to do and see. Hopefully this site will give you some more options or ideas while you are on your vacation and in case you get a rainy day while staying in OBX.

Places we will highlight include:

• Jockey’s Ridge State Park and Sand Dunes
• Hatteras Island Light House
• Oregon Inlet Fishing Center
• Different Mini Golf Courses
• Kitty Hawk Kites shopping complex
• Duck and Corolla
• Ocracoke

And of course much more! Keep a look out for it coming soon.

No Comments »

Over the next few weeks we will be adding a ton of different restaurants to check out for your eating pleasures.

Some of these include

• Sam and Omies
• Slammin’ Sammy’s
• Awful Arthurs
• The Nags Head Pier and Restaurant
• Sunburn Bar
• Bob’s Grill
• Spanky’s Grille & Pizza (and Hot Dogs)

And of course much more as time goes on!

No Comments »