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2508 Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, North Carolina, 27959, United States
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Sunrise over the Atlantic
Sunrise rakes the field near a Lighthouse
Sunrise near Nags Head
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We will be coming there in mid July for 3-4 days. I am checking out a few motels that have direct beach access. I see that there is Nags Head and then there is Kill Devil and Kitty Hawk towns. Which area is best to visit if we want nice shoreline, small shop type of shopping, not outlet malls, family things ? Family consists of 6 , me, wife, two teen daughters and two 5 yr old boys.
Thanks for the info on the differences between these areas.
I was there a couple of years ago and Nags Head/Kill Devil/Kitty Hawk seemed to have merged into one town, with no real divisions between them. So I do not think there is much reason to pick one over the other. I prefer to get as close to the Hatteras end as possible.
No matter where you stay, uou will not be far from the Cape Hatteras park area with its beautiful undeveloped beaches.
My favorites activities are: watching the sunset from Jockey Ridge sand dune, visiting the Wright Brother's Memorial/museum, and going fishing either at the local pier or Hattaras point or on the sound or by charter/head boat from Oregon Inlet. You may want to take the ferry daytrip over to Ocracoke island.
If you want a really old time beach experience with no distractions, try Sunset Beach, a little island between N and S Carolina, that is reached by an old drawbridge. Just like all the Carolina coast used to be in the good old days!
You might also want to go to Manteo some evening and see the "Lost Colony" play.
http://www.thelostcolony.org/
In 1587, over 100 men, women and children journeyed from England to Roanoke Island on North Carolina’s coast and established the first English settlement in America. Within three years, they had vanished with scarcely a trace. While England’s initial attempt at colonization of the New World was a disaster, it nonetheless created one of America's most intriguing mysteries.
Thank you Dave , I will take your advice and check the specifics you mention. Now instead of starting blind I can have some things to do that you have suggested.
Since your going to be in the area another option is to rent a home for the week. Between friends we have done this several time with great success often you have to get one a year in advance to be on the beach. Keep it in mind for the future. As was said by others there really isn't a "town" anymore. It's strip mall heaven with a beach. Not to say it isn't nice. We go there twice a year for a long weekend in the off season and have a great time camping. The idea of seeing the "Lost colony" is a good one I really enjoyed that, it gives a history of the the outer banks. If you would like a smaller town beach experience think about Ocracoke Island a bit farther south. From your accommodation you can walk to just about anywhere. The beaches are really nice and clean with nice people.
I have not been down in the area since the storm Isabell this year so I can't tell you how bad it is, Nat (B1bob) said Isabel hit hard, check out his NC travel logs of the damage. I do know that just north, Assateague & Chincoteague Islands in Virginia were hit pretty hard. First hand the sand covered every thing and took some time to clear, so I can't imagine.I would call local visitor center for more updated information.
The Dareolina was a more affordable counterpart to Owen's Seafood Restaurant directly across the street. It was a little less spectacular in terms of restaurant decor, but with an ocean view on three sides, they let Mother Nature do the decorating. The food was just as good as Owen's and cheaper once the sons took over for their parents and it went upmarket...and even snooty. We hadn't been back to Owen's since 1981. Ironically and sadly, the Dareolina closed some time in the late 1980s. My favourite dish here was either the fried scallops or the Seafood Norfolk, both with baked potato and salad bar. The thing that stands out most to me is the appetiser. They would always serve a crock of soft champagne cheddar cheese.
Papagayo's was, for many years, the only Mexican restaurant in the Outer Banks. The restaurant took the place of the old Croatan Inn and was built into the sand dunes. They incorporated locally caught seafood in some of their dishes. The up close and personal ocean view was every bit as good as the food. I had the good fortune to be able to bring both Luc (from France) and Fernando (from Spain) here in 1992 and 1995. It closed in 1996, giving way to a similar restaurant called Quagmire's. More sadly than that, Quagmire's closed down in September, 2005 and the former Croatan Inn and its latter-day incarnations was torn town to give way to condominiums. So-called progress isn't always for the better.
We love to just sit, lay, walk, run or just be on the beach with the wave crashing. could sit for hours just watching the wave crash up on the beach, and if you wait long enough you may be able to catch one wit ha camera! Catch a curl it's cool!
If you plan on hiking the dunes, it's proably a good idea that you wear sandals. Tennis shoes tend to slide easily in the sand, but sandals had better traction. Plus, you can always walk barefoot around the Dunes, but the sand can get very hot!
Deep sea fishing is unlike any other type of fishing that you can imagine. Out on the water, there are fish that are often times bigger than you are. No spin caster or fly fisherman would ever land such a beast as can be found on the open ocean.
It allows you a day to just enjoy the bounty of the ocean, the comeraderie of good friends and the chance to bring home seafood finer than any you can get in the local market! Friends, food, beverages (and rememer, more than just beer, bring plenty of water. The sun out on the ocean can dehydrate you in a hurry!), plenty of sunscreen and if you need to, take motion sickness pills BEFORE you get on the boat!
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Q: Getting to Nags Head from New York City "Hello, Can anyone give me suggestions and options to get from New York to Nags Head with driving NOT an option. I believe..."
A: "Do you mean Nag's Head, North Carolina? If so, no, you need a car. You could take a train/bus to Washington D.C. and possibly another one to Norfolk/Virginia Beach..."
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