New to OBX and have some questions!

[Anonymous]

We weren't going to go anywhere this summer because we have a 11 week old. But DH and I are weary from exhaustion and badly in need of a vacation and so considering getting away...but still with the kids (we have two).

We want a quiet, non-commercialized place that isn't touristy where there are lots of sea life, sea shells, beaches, and lots of ocean front homes with the possibility of renting one. The baby still wakes up a couple times at night to feed so I wouldn't want to stay in a condo, hotel, or the like where the baby could disturb anyone's sleep. I did just a little bit of searching and "ocean front" doesn't exactly mean directly on the ocean does it? We want something directly on the beach.

Can anyone provide information as to which places in OBX would provide that quiet, non-touristy vacation? Also, a neighbor of ours goes to Figure8 island yearly. Yet I hardly see any information on Figure8 island on any of the outer banks web sites. Why is that?

TIA.

[Anonymous]

Corolla, Southern Shores, Avon, Duck are all more quiet yet within decent distance to restaurants (if you want that). There are oceanfront properties in all of these locations, right on the beach. You may have to access the sand is steps because there are large dunes, but you are on the beach, not across the street. You may not be finding properties because a lot of rentals are snapped up early in the year, especially oceanfront.

[Anonymous]

Oceanfront means it's in the first row of houses, in many parts of the Outer Banks there will still be a dune between you and the beach, but you will have direct beach access (usually via a deck w/walkway) and views of the beach. That said, many of the ocean front homes are ENORMOUS, so it can be tough to find one that is affordable for a single small family.

You may want to consider Sandbridge as an alternative if you're having trouble finding what you want in NC. It's part of Virginia Beach, but outside of the town and is just houses, no commercial stuff. Also a shorter drive from the DC area.

Had never heard of Figure 8 Island. Just looked it up and it looks beautiful, but it looks like it's a separate island, not part of the Outer Banks. Quite a bit further south.

[Anonymous]

1) soundbound traffic was HORRIBLE (backed up for miles) around 1 pm Saturday on the highway before the Wright Bros. bridge, up to the north/south turn in Kitty Hawk. People were so frustrated they were blocking the box and stopping people who were trying to leave.
Looked like a ton of people were heading north to Duck & Corolla - I guess that area is getting more and more popular. Felt bad for all the people we saw heading towards the OBX loaded with beach gear with that "almost there!" look on their faces, who didn't know they would be hitting that backup.

We came in really late pm Saturday, no traffic - try to time your departure. With delays on 95/Springfield area it took more like 8 hours than the 6 or so we anticipated.
Also bad at the northbound turn onto 664 from 64 - we sptted the backup just in time and opted to go through Norfolk over Willoughby Spit heading back.

We just stayed in Avon, found a 3 BR beachfront house using Sun Realty. The dunes are a bit hot walking over but you are only one or two dunes back from the beach. Oceana in Avon, and Dajio (especially good) on Ocracoke were family friendly restaurants we tried.

There is a community pool with a baby pool if you get a house in the Kinnakeet Shores community, Hatteras Realty might also offer one through Club Hatteras, the pool appears to have a playground next door or maybe it was a small waterslide - both sound side.
If you want to use a pool but do not get a house with one or a community pool, the Koru Club at the Avon Pier is a beachfront pool that offers day passes for $10 per person and weekly passes for 200 per house. The Koru Spa down the road offers massages & facials, a steam room and a gym. The owner has a nice little thing going on! I was obsessing about pools this year - the kids (3 & 5)actually preferred the pool to the beach because of the heat/wind/sun/waves I guess.
Hubby liked the beach access, the stars, the roar of the ocean, the weathered shingled houses, and there were actually fewer skeeters than in our DC neighborhood. The drive to Ocracoke takes up the whole day but is totally worth it.
Once again I was tempted but failed to take windsurfing lessons. HIB offers windsurfing lessons at the Frisco Campgrounds soundside and there are a TON of board and wind sport shops all the way down - maybe next time! Lot of people were kitesurfing near the Haulover day use area on Hatteras.
Recommend Kill Devil Coffee for a muffin and a cup of joe heading up or down.
Realty offices we spotted: Sun Realty, Surf or Sound, Hatteras Realty, Twiddy.

[Anonymous]

We are in Kill Devil Hills now at the Croatan Surf Club - definitely recommend. Not too crowded at all but since you turn right on the main beach road after the bridge, instead of left to head to Duck, there was no traffic (multi lane roads down here instead of 1 lane headed into Duck and parts South). Nags head gets pretty congested and I don't think I'd stay there again but I like our location here. Across from the Wright Brothers Memorial and just a mile or so to Jockey Ridge State Park. Lots of restaurant options and we haven't had to wait more than 5 minutes for a table since we got here (party of 6, eating around 6).

We are in a one level 3 bed condo but they do have 2 level townhouses so that might work for you with the baby waking, etc.