I'm already thinking about next year's vacation! We loved Myrtle Beach so much, but I'm wondering if there are any cool beaches in North Carolina. I've seen some web sites showing the Outer Banks, and it looks really neat, but maybe more historical than recreational...hard to tell. Any opinions? I talked with a girl from NC yesterday who said she and her family always went to Myrtle Beach for vacation. Is the area of Kill Devil Hills, Corolla, or Roanoke interesting for a family to vacation? Can you swim there? Any attractions? (not amusement parks...don't need those) TIA!

By Hol on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 01:23 pm:

I used to live in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, which is right on Albemarle Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. We used to go to the Outer Banks for day trips. The beaches are BEAUTIFUL!! The water is very warm, and there are stretches of the beach that you can have all to yourself. It is a lot more built up out there now than when I lived there, but there is a lot of history. The Wright Brothers Museum is in Kill Devil Hills. Kitty Hawk, where they first flew from is right there. They have a replica of the original plane. There is also an outddor amphitheater that presents a drama about "The Lost Colony" every evening in the summer.
In Elizabeth City, on the mainland, and the surrounding area, there is a lot of Civil War history. They also have the best oysters and other seafood, in the world. I would highly recommend it.

By Janet on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 02:52 pm:

I saw the info on the Lost Colony drama... my girls (and me) know all about the story (it was one of my favorite "mysteries" as a kid), but I had to tell dh about it last night! LOL Wouldn't that make a great movie? Anyway, it sounds lovely! I read there are wild ponies, too...ever seen any?

By Hlgmom on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 03:06 pm:

My husband lived on the Outer Banks for 12 years.. I lived there for 5 years.
It is a great place to vacation! You can see the wild ponies in Corrolla.
It is definetely nothing like Myrtle Beach...but that is the appeal for some. It is a lot less commercial.
It is definetely a "beach town". It is starting to grow much more rapidly now though- that is part of the reason we left! But it is still a great place! We just started getting our first chain restaurants a few years ago- it was quite a scandal for us locals!
There was a thread a little while ago on the Outer Banks...lots of us lovers chimed in- you should do a search!
Also try OuterBanks.com for more "tourist" info if you have not! If you decide to go- email me at hlg mom @ hotmail .com- I can give you some specific restaurant reccomendations etc!
Have fun!

By Janet on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 10:06 am:

OK, this is a reeeeeally dumb question...
if an island is only 1/2 mile wide and 6 miles long, isn't it terribly crowded? (I can't even begin to imagine such a place, being from the Land of Wide Open Prairies!)

By Karen~admin on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 12:14 pm:

I was there with DH for a week over July 4th in 1997 and it wasn't crowded at all - not compared to many other beaches I've been to. The crowds appeared on the road LEAVING the island. LOL We had a GREAT time.

By Janet on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 12:50 pm:

I certainly wouldn't miss the "touristy" things that other places have, but I would definitely want places to eat seafood and some shops and things to see, and a beach to hang out on. Do the Outer Banks islands fit that bill?