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

[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.

Oh heavens to betsy! I can't possibly be around someone who didn't vote the same way I did!

I thought you're all about inclusion?? Except when it comes to someone who voted for a different candidate than you did

You should just stay home in your bubble if you can't bear to be around anyone different than you.

[Anonymous]

The Outer Banks is very overrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Outer Banks is very overrated.

The yearly OBX thread 🥱

[Anonymous]

Grew up in CT spending summers on the Cape. LOVE Cape Cod. It’s just special. That said, live in the DC area now and it’s just too far. We go to OBX almost every year (Corolla and duck) and never get tired of it, nor do our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rather than drive all the way to nc, sandbridge va has the same beach vibe but is closer to DC and is closer to more activities nearby

+1 Sandbridge is nice

I have a friend in Sandbridge I used to visit, beginning in the very late 90s - it was really nice then.

In the last couple of decades they built huge abomination condo towers at both ends of the beach and many of the beach houses in the community have been upgraded to ugly McMansions on the beach. It’s crowded and gross all summer.

Does not hold a candle to Cape Cod’s beaches.

[Anonymous]

I love all of these “cape cod is so special” posters. Certain (very expensive) pockets of Cape Cod are charming and have nice beaches. Much larger parts of Cape Cod are cheesy, run down, crowded and the beaches suck. And rentals are expensive for musty old homes that require a drive (with little parking) or long bike ride to the beach.

There are charms to Cape Cod. But it is not
nirvana by a long shot.

(I grew up going to Brewster every summer and as an adult have rented various other places on CC.)

Now back to OP’s questions - imo the biggest selling points to the OBX are the nice beaches on ocean water warm enough to swim, and the large modern houses for rent which is great if you’ve got a good sized family/friend group.

Personally I’d skip both and go to Ocean City, NJ . Much closer drive from DMV than CC, and cuter towns than OBX.

[Anonymous]

We don't like the OBX either. Sounds like you need to go just a little further south. We go to Bald Head Island which is on the NC/SC border. Charming, not a ton of people, no cars (the houses all have golf carts and bikes), and sandy beaches for miles and miles. Stay in the Cape Fear Station end of the island near the Shoals Club and East Beach.

[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.

Clearly people are as they run a flight out of Reagan directly to New Bern to access OBX in the summer.

[Anonymous]

OBX is much cheaper for weekly rentals. Tell your husband that. Cape Cod weekly rentals are exorbitantly priced and book up a year in advance.

[Anonymous]

Ex DMV, now live in NC.

OBX is pretty but boring. As others have said, good for large group trips. We did it a few times when the kids were babies because it wasn't like we'd be doing anything very active otherwise. If you're going to go, recommend Corolla - nicer houses and developments than farther south.

And appreciate this won't work for a lot of DMV people because of the distance, but now that I live down there ... I will pick ANY SC beach over NC beaches all day long. HHI, Kiawah, IOP - all lovely beaches close to nice dining and shopping. Totally worth the extra time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Clearly people are as they run a flight out of Reagan directly to New Bern to access OBX in the summer.

New Bern is nowhere near what this board traditionally views as "OBX." Very convenient for Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach, tho. Norfolk is still closer for most OBX locations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't like the OBX either. Sounds like you need to go just a little further south. We go to Bald Head Island which is on the NC/SC border. Charming, not a ton of people, no cars (the houses all have golf carts and bikes), and sandy beaches for miles and miles. Stay in the Cape Fear Station end of the island near the Shoals Club and East Beach.

If you rent on BHI, does that include access to the BHI Club or Shoals Club? Seems like lots of houses on BHI do not have pools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OBX is much cheaper for weekly rentals. Tell your husband that. Cape Cod weekly rentals are exorbitantly priced and book up a year in advance.

OBX has bigger, cheaply made houses that are rentals, so they may seem/smell older than they are, but you can pack three generations in, if that is your thing, or go to the pool at the beach, also if that is your thing.

The Cape's homes are generally either modest (old), or very big and custom (mix of old and new), but the very big ones are often not rented out (for as many people to cram in as possible, like OBX). At the Cape, most NE residents drive to their homes for weekends and weeks at a time to enjoy their homes. I know people who grew up an hour from the beach, so it is something that they always did, growing up - a day trip was not unusual.

Agree Cape Cod is much more expensive to rent a house, so it seems people in this area default to OBX. Cape Cod does not really seem to be on the radar of most DMV people. OBX is usually two hours closer, and draws heavily from the DMV. It is not unusual for our friends to have the same week or two booked as us, and we see each other there.

Agree with other PP that Cape May NJ, and the NJ beaches, are a nice compromise for distance and beach quality. Parts are not built up as much as OBX, which is nice. We did find the food in OBX lacking, and the Brew Thru isn't really our thing. Many DMV people tend to think that "the beach" is either a boardwalk, or OBX, and that simply is not so.

[Anonymous]

OBX in the Summer = major traffic, avoid the weekends, it's awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OBX in the Summer = major traffic, avoid the weekends, it's awful.

This is true, but if you time it right, you can get there early and hang out at the beach for while. Or even souvenir shop. Some houses let you use the exterior of the property before check in and you can use the pool. Grab lunch at a local place and take it to eat by the pool. Then walk to the beach. I suggest grocery shopping late that night (Saturday or Sunday) or best is Monday am. Don’t do food or pizza delivery. Just call ahead and do pick up.