Planning a family weekend trip to the Outer Banks? Check out all of the things ‘OBX’ has to offer for a fun family getaway! The Outer Banks is a group of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. It’s known for beautiful beaches, lighthouses, shipwrecks, and even some pirate lore.
We planned out a 3-day weekend trip and boy did we have a full itinerary. The Outer Banks offers a little bit of everything- history, nature, lighthouses, entertainment, and let’s not forget to mention… beach fries and frozen custard!
Exploring Sand Dunes in the Outer Banks
Most of the sand dunes along the coast of the Outer Banks are protected and you cannot walk on them. But…. at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, you can hike right to the top of the giant dunes! This park is home to some of the tallest sand dunes on the East Coast. When we visited, people were flying kites, sandboarding, or just rolling and sliding down the dunes (the kids also took part in this very fun very sandy activity). You can reserve hang-gliding lessons in the park and if time allows, stick around to enjoy a gorgeous sunset.
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
There are so many lighthouses all along the coast of the Outer Banks! The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Bodie Island Lighthouse, and Ocracoke Island Lighthouse are all located within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a stunning coastal scenic drive.
The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is operated and maintained by Outer Banks Conservationists. It is the northernmost lighthouse, located in the Historic Corolla Village. The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is located on Roanoke Island in the town of Manteo. Some of the lighthouses offer lighthouse climbs! Be sure to check their websites for more information and to make reservations.
We visited Cape Hatteras Light Station, Bodie Island Lighthouse, and Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Good luck choosing a favorite, they were all unique in their own way!
Corolla Wild Horses
If you visit the northern part of the Outer Banks, you can take a tour (or your own four-wheel drive vehicle) on to the beach and see wild horses! We opted to take a tour with Back Country Safari Tours, and all I can say is wow! This was a bucket list activity that we didn’t even know should have been on our bucket list.
We enjoyed it so much (and took soo many pictures) that we thought it deserved its own post. Check out our ‘Wild Horses in the Outer Banks‘ post to read more about the amazing experience watching wild horses on the beach in Corolla, NC and learn how you can too.
National Park Sites in the Outer Banks
Did you know that there are three National Parks in the Outer Banks? Wright Brothers National Memorial, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (located on Roanoke Island).
Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers beautiful beaches, lighthouses, and scenic drives. Learn about the “Lost Colony” at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. Or explore the world of aviation at the Wright Brothers National Memorial and learn why North Carolina is called “First in Flight”.
Outer Banks Recreation and Entertainment- So much to choose from!
Along with all of the natural beauty that the Outer Banks offers, there are also plenty of options for entertainment and recreation- from mini golf and go-carts, to hang gliding and tons of water sports.
We soaked up just about as much nature and history as we could (or the kids would allow us, haha) during the first part of our stay. And… since life is all about balance, we ended the weekend with a little mini golf at Lost Treasure Golf! There is a train ride (a big hit with the kids) that takes you up to your starting spot and you play one of the 18-holes in a pirate ship!
After mini golf we refueled at a popular hot spot on the island, Kill Devil’s Frozen Custard and Beach Fries! They offer a full menu of American classics, but we opted for the namesake and ordered a bucket of their famous beach fries and a waffle cone with the delicious seasonal frozen custard flavor. The restaurant is only open Thursday- Sunday, so make sure to plan accordingly.
Planning our next visit to the Outer Banks
For our next visit, we plan to make the trip over to Ocracoke Island to visit the quaint village and explore the beach and lighthouse. Ocracoke Island is only accessible by plane or water, and we did not have enough time to take the ferry over on this trip.
Soak up some sun, take in the scenery, enjoy the attractions, and even learn a little history on your trip to the Outer Banks!
