Is Outer Banks worth it? Help convince my husband it’s better than any New England beach

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thank you everyone! I clearly have never been to any of the OBX beaches. I am also not a boardwalk beach fan if that matters.

He’s actually also been to Sandbridge. His main thing is the beaches here are all so similar because he’s grown up going to them that he appreciates beaches that are different. He absolutely disliked OC as a child. He liked Bethany the most if he had to pick one local-ish beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you everyone! I clearly have never been to any of the OBX beaches. I am also not a boardwalk beach fan if that matters.

He’s actually also been to Sandbridge. His main thing is the beaches here are all so similar because he’s grown up going to them that he appreciates beaches that are different. He absolutely disliked OC as a child. He liked Bethany the most if he had to pick one local-ish beach.

Maybe get him to agree to try OBX one year and if he hates it, you never have to go back. But be sure he sees a sampling of the available areas before ruling out the whole "OBX." It's a big area with differences in each; not just one beach.

[Anonymous]

There is not even a slight comparison between OBX and NE beaches. Some of the beaches in Massachusetts are world class. No one is flying in to OBX just to see the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NC beaches are nice and smooth. New England beaches are rocky.

You are referring to Maine. The most coveted beaches in NE are spectacular (Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, Rhode Island)

Block Island has gone to the dumps !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is not even a slight comparison between OBX and NE beaches. Some of the beaches in Massachusetts are world class. No one is flying in to OBX just to see the beach.

I was hoping you could generalize more vaguely.

[Anonymous]

OBX beaches are definitely better than DE beaches. DE beaches tend to be insanely crowded and had a very steep drop off. OBX beaches are less crowded due to lack of public parking.

I grew up going to Cape Cod. beaches are ok, but water tends to be cold. I actually think RI has better beaches. I do like NE beach towns.

We live in DC area now and did a few trips to OBX (Duck) and enjoyed them when the kids were younger but after our 2020 trip we decided we were done. Weather is too unpredictable and we experienced sea lice a few times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is not even a slight comparison between OBX and NE beaches. Some of the beaches in Massachusetts are world class. No one is flying in to OBX just to see the beach.

This is hilarious. And I say that as a Massachusetts native with friends/relatives living on the Cape and MV.

[Anonymous]

I hate DE beaches. Have never understood the hype. I grew up in California so to me, the quality of the beaches is really bad, and the boardwalks are meh.

I actually think Virginia Beach is nicer than the DE beaches. Yes, the crowd is not as good (it's basically all military or biker bros or a combo thereof, with some families thrown in). But the beach itself is nicer and we have found it more affordable than the DE beaches, so for a drivable beach, it's fine.

I've been to OBX several times (Corolla 3x and Kitty Hawk once). I like it fine. The drive down sucks. Every time we've gone, we split a house with friends, and that's the big draw. The beach is decent and there IS a lot of other stuff to (Wright Brothers museum, sand dunes, lighthouses, decent food). For me the big downside is the drive. Also we got tired of vacationing with friends -- we love our friends but prefer to do our own thing, and it's not cost effective to do OBX as a family of 3.

Our favorite beaches are all places we fly to -- Florida gulf coast, or the Caribbean. If we don't have the time for that, we will do a night or two in VA beach or Lewes (my favorite of the DE beaches because it's so chill).

I've never been to any of the NE beaches except Maine, which yes is a totally different experience. I'd definitely try Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard at least once. We don't know people up there though so it's unlikely we'll prioritize it.

[Anonymous]

For a family of 4, you can find other nice beaches that are easier to get to.

If you are having a family reunion and need a huge house with lots of bedrooms/bathrooms and hang out space, the Outer Banks is the place to go. You have many options and you it's not as cut throat to book something as other beaches. So for a multi-family gathering, it's the best.

[Anonymous]

We only go to Duck. There are no big trucks or MAGA flags (or flags of any kind). There is a quiet boardwalk with some shops and restaurants. My kids love that they can just ride their bikes all over the place. The beaches in Duck are IMO never really crowded (but we always go late August). The water can be hit or miss. Last year it was red flags our entire stay so we couldn't get in the water. But a few years ago the ocean was like glass and it was so much fun. Most of the time it is in between, the waves can be big and there is an undertow to be aware of (although it has never been an issue for us).

We always get a condo and just do a long weekend (thur-Mon) and its affordable (that way we don't have to split with friends).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is not even a slight comparison between OBX and NE beaches. Some of the beaches in Massachusetts are world class. No one is flying in to OBX just to see the beach.

+1

Direct flight to Nantucket is wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Op, surely, you can ask dh why he likes the NE beaches and why he doesn't like the DE/MD shores. What does he do at the beach? What does the family do at the beach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God I hate OBX. Spent every summer there for 25 years and would never go back. Never been to the New England beaches, but they have to be better.

+1 for OBX hater. Grew up going there and it was ok but have tried going back several times, and the entire family hated it. Medicocre at best food, traffic is awful, ok beaches but can’t believe how much they’ve eroded. We go to New England and, other than the drive, prefer everything else. Not crowded beaches. Depending on what we feel like can either do a wavey or calm beach, amazing food, cooler temps at night, amazing sunsets, no traffic, and no jelly fish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OBX: big house, big sandy beaches, big flags, and big trucks/SUVs. You’ll definitely come across MAGA/Trump flags, especially as you head north to Carova on the beach 4WD road.

That said, my in laws love OBX and we go every year so we can have 15 people in a house with a pool and one block walk to the beach. It’s hard to find that in the Northeast for under $20K/week.

Its a 100 miles of beaches and towns. They all aren't the same. There are options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NC beaches are nice and smooth. New England beaches are rocky.

Lol tell us you have not been to m/any new england beaches without saying so.

OP, some people do not see the attraction of obx and/or don’t see the point is going south in the summer - too hot!