Going to Duck in late August/early September. Already have the house reserved.

Good places to eat? Things to see?

I plan on seeing Kitty Hawk, Jockey Ridge for sandsurfing. and the lighthouses and want to take the drive to Ocracoke. Duck Donuts is our only planned place of eating.

We got 4 kids, ages 12 to 2.

TIA

You are hitting all the main stuff for sure. Could also go north and hit Corolla. Less developed and can see wild horses roaming around the beaches. Duck also has the boardwalk with a bunch of shops on the sound side. Duck, Kitty Hawk and Nags Head are very commercialized and crowded but have everything you need and want (movies, bowling, miniature golf, etc...). On south towards Rodanthe (you can see the house from the Richard Gere/Diane Lane movie if you want) and Hatteras it gets much, much more secluded and narrower with a couple of the lighthouses on the way. At one point there is only about 100 yards on each side of the road between you and the water. It's really cool.

Also as you drive south down 12 you will run by the Oregon Inlet, where the Wicked Tuna (if you watch the show) boats and other major charter fleets come out of. Pretty cool to watch them come in with whatever they catch in the afternoon. Plenty of fishing off the docks or any way you like.

Manteo is worth checking out as well perhaps. They have Pirates Cove which is similar to the Oregon Inlet. Also have a quaint little downtown on the sound side and pirates ship adventure your kids might like (we didn't do it, so can't speak to it).

Ocracoke island was our favorite. It's very small, secluded with a cool tiny "downtown" and open air bars, etc, around a little inlet. Their lighthouse is down a little residential street. You will drive for about ten miles once you get off the ferry to get to the "downtown", with nothing on either side of the road but beaches and ocean. They are the best beaches in the OBX (imo) and you can find plenty of spots to stop and have a whole section to yourself. Ocracoke is probably close to a 2 hr drive from Duck though. It's a very cool and scenic drive, however--cool spots, lighthouses, etc are all on the way. Once you get to south Hatteras you then take a 45 minute ferry ride to the island. You are at least getting away from peak season (not really sure though), but depending when and what time you go, you can wait an hour and half to get on the ferry. They run a lot of them throughout the day, but there can be a good amount of cars trying to get there. Especially in the morning from Hatteras, and near the end of the day from Ocracoke as people are leaving. We loved the ferry rides though and actually had a sunset trip back. We went twice and one trip we hardly waited to get on the ferry's, the other day we waited a ton.

Plenty of incredible food options everywhere, just look them up on Yelp when you are there and can't go wrong. Can't ever go wrong with Duck Donuts, but the lines will be insane in the morning. We have one in Cary NC, close to where we live, so we get those way more than we should!

Hope this helps and let me know if I can answer anything else. You will have a blast, it's a very unique setting.

I just booked a 4 night stay in Kitty Hawk in early September for my wife and I, so this thread has perfect timing!

We've only vacationed in southern Nags Head, but the OBX is a great time! Be sure to get a pot of fresh seafood from a market and have a boil one night at the house. If you have a craving for bbq, don't be scared to stop at High Cotton BBQ in Kitty Hawk. It's close to road that comes in from the mainland. That was our stop for road food on our way out and it was the best bbq (Including brisket) we had the entire time we lived in Virginia.

Out of the entire OB, I liked Duck the most.

Headed to Duck today.

Looming forward to a great trip and hoping the disturbance doesn't cause any problems.

Got plenty of food and beer, ready for TS Irma

Transportation
If you drive in on Virginia 168, there is a short toll road that can be from $3 during the week to $8 on the weekends. A short detour avoids this toll road. We had no traffic on the alternate route. Take exit 8B and follow Battlefield BLVD.

Lodging

We rented a house for a week from Kitty Hawk Vacation Rentals. Things we liked was close to beach (but not on the beach due to price), had a pool and hot tub, and plenty of room for all. Pool was not heated, which didn't bother the kids. Heated pool was about $500 more. Only odd thing was while linens were provided, you had to put the sheets on the bed. Some places do not provide linens.



Food (North to South)
We brought groceries with us. We ate out just a few times, usually for donuts...

Donutz on a Stick
Interesting idea. They make donuts in shop, put whatever topping you want, then skewer them. You can also get ice cream. Tried the cinnamon roll, pancake, and tuxedo. Cinnamon roll was better. They do have gluten free, but a limited amount. If you get there late, they might be out for the day. You can pre-order them for the following day.


Dockside N Duck
Seafood market. We picked up steamed shrimp for dinner.

Outer Banks Popcorn Shoppe
It's just popcorn, but it's really good popcorn.


Duck Donuts
Same thing as Donutz on a Stick, minus the stick. Custom made donuts. I think my kids liked these better, but they were just about the same. No gluten free donuts.



Outer Banks Brewing Station
For a place that's only claim to fame is that they are powered by the wind, it's pretty good. Had one of their beers, the olsch, and enjoyed it. Ate the flounder for meal, pretty good.



Attractions (North to South)

Currituck Banks Reserve






2 trails here, we took the shorter boardwalk. About mile each way, with a viewing platform at the end overlooking the sound. Saw birds and heard frogs. Nice short walk. There is


Currituck Heritage Park
Lots of cool things in the park. Fishing, crabbing, Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, Whalehead, and the Currituck Lighthouse


Currituck Lighthouse


Saw it from the Currituck Heritage Park.

Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education
Small neat museum. Has a scavenger hunt for the kids.



Whalehead
Some old inn. You can take tours. We did not.


Duck Boardwalk
A boardwalk runs along the sound side of Duck. Lots of shops and nice views of the Sound



Fishing on the Boardwalk
Fishing and crabbing is restricted to one spot, just north of the town park.
There is a bait and tackle shop (Bob's Bait and Tackle) on the boardwalk. Picked up string and chicken necks and the kids had a blast.

Beach in Duck
There is no public access to the beach. Where ever you stay should have private access. Ours had a boardwalk over the dunes at the end of the street.

First few days we were there, a rainstorm was moving up the East Coast. The "No Swimming" flags were out. We went most days, but never were able to get into the water due to rip currents and high surf.





Wright Brothers National Memorial
Spent about 2 or 3 hours here. They have Junior Ranger program. Listened to a Ranger talk, walked to the top of Kill Devil Hill where the monument is, walked to the recreated hangers/workshops, saw where the first flight took place, and checked out the recreated flier with doubles as a playground.


National Monument to Flight


Where the first flight took off from

Jockey's Ridge State Park
Came out to explore the sand dunes and fly kites. Really cool place and the kids had fun.






Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Drove the seashore from the north to Cape Hatteras. There is no fee to enter.

Bodie Island Light House

You can climb the lighthouse

Haulover Day Use Area
Because of high surf and rip tide, we decided to not go to the beach on the ocean side and instead went to the sound side. We found this day area. It was small, but good for small children. Has bathrooms and washoff showers and changing areas. Kids enjoyed playing in the water and sand.





Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
We climbed this lighthouse. It was $8 for adults.



View from the top

I'm disappointed by the lack of ducks pictured.

I went several years ago with friends and stayed in the Corolla / Currituck area. They go every year. At that time, it was much less developed and fewer people than the Nags Head / KDH area. Duck was moderately developed. The pros were fewer people, but the cons are fewer restaurants and stores.

From looking at the aerials now, the it is pretty densely developed from Nags Head to Duck, and even Corolla has filled in a lot.