OBX with Kids?

[Anonymous]

Is there anything for an active six year old to do in OBX? She is not one to sit on the beach all day, nor play with the elevator in the beach rental. Any suggestions are welcome. TIA.

[Anonymous]

There are putt-putt courses, restaurants, and strip/gift malls. Possibly a swimming pool near your rental? I am sure sandcastles and the like might be a welcome distraction on the beach.

I don't know that there are a ton of kid-specific activities, though I think you could picnic, go to a national park, look at wildlife, go for a hike/walk, play on the dunes at kitty hawk, etc.

[Anonymous]

Excellent. Any specific suggestions would be welcome. I thought the kid friendly activity suggestions would be pouring in! We are no strangers to the beach, but I understand them NOT wanting to stay there ALL day! What's the attraction to OBX? There must be something for the kids to do? Are we the only ones with kids going there?

[Anonymous]

Fly a kite?

[Anonymous]

OBX is great with little kids (i.e. toddlers) because you can usually leave your stuff on the beach and walk home to nap. I love the beaches there because they are mor enatural (i.e. no boardwalk and junk).

We haven't been there since my oldest was 3.5 since we've been living out of the area, but we're going back this year and our DC are 4.5 and 7. This year, we picked a condo in a development sort of place so there would be a pool and playgrounds. We may also bring the kids' bikes.

Our kids love the beach, though. DH does, too, so he plays in the water with them most of the day. We will alos probably play putt-putt and things like that, but we have to drive to those from where we are staying.

In Corolla, there is also a go-kart track kind of thing if I remember correctly (it has been a while and my DC were too young then).

Most of the rentals also have board games and things like that to keep you busy. We'll probably bring some card games and things like that (and of course, movies).

I love OBX. It's very relaxing and non-commercial (or at least that's how I remember it).

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but there are wild ponies up in Corolla and Four Wheel Drive area.

[Anonymous]

My 2.5 loved Bodie's Lighthouse. You can't climb the stairs though, but he didn't mind in the least. There's also a lighthouse in Corolla. Jockey's Ridge has toddler activites- check their calendar.

[Anonymous]

Love the ponies and 4WD idea - can you do that on the beach?

See, it's so much better to get a "regular's" perspective. Keep the great ideas coming!

[Anonymous]

There's a pirate adventure cruise that runs from Manteo, I believe. There's also an aquarium there. THe Wright Brothers National Memorial has a junior ranger program and a few hour-long programs about flight. http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/parknews/national-park-service-programs-enjoyed-by-outer-banks-visitors.htm

If you stay at Corolla Light (we did) there are basketball courts/volleyball courts/shuffleboard/playground and kids activities. They brought in a climbing wall 2x per week. Also, go crabbing, climb the Corolla lighthouse....We had no problem staying busy for a week.

[Anonymous]

Do people actually differentiate between different parts of OBX? What differentiates one part from another? Isn't OBX - well, OBX? Isn't the whole area driveable within a short time? Duck? Corolla? WTF - Ever? It's NC, right? Experience? TIA!

[Anonymous]

I would definitely differentiate the beaches of OBX. The drive from Corolla to the Wright Brother's memorial or to Manteo is on the order of an hour depending upon the traffic. Not killer, but I do not go on vacation to spend lots of time in my car. There are many beaches even further away from a lot of the action, if you drive even further South. That being said, we find lots of things to do in Corolla -- visit and climb the lighthouse, visit the wildlife center, go crabbing, rent a kayak (either ocean or sound side), ride bikes, hit the pool, play putt-putt, drive go-carts, go four wheeling and look for ponies. Hanging out on the beach is fun too -- we look for shells, build sand castles and moats, chase sand crabs, watch dolphins, go body surfing (boogie boarding, wake boarding). In addition the community where we stay has tons of activities for of all ages -- arts and crafts, basketball tournaments, home run derby, wii tournament, trivia contests, bingo, etc. We also always make a stop at one of the tacky tourist shops and let the kids pick out a souvenir. There is also a cute bookstore in Corolla that does an arts and crafts project every afternoon at 3pm (great for a rainy day) -- example project: a lighthouse that is lit up with a battery powered light. When visiting the bookstore, we also stop by the ice cream shop two doors down. I've also seen people parasailing closer to Duck. Our friends who visit at the same time always go out on a fishing boat.

When my littlest kids are a bit older, we'll take a trip where we stay closer to Kitty Hawk and/or Nags Head and pay a visit to all those other tourist venues.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the pp about driving. On a map it appears as though the towns are close together but the towns are far apart. This year when we will spend our time staying close to Duck/Corolla.

This maybe too much for small kids but a co-worker told me about surfing classes for kids in Corolla.

[Anonymous]

I'd love to hear more about the logistics. What is a day trip, for example? You guys have been so helpful, keep the info. coming. Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Just a little background, our beach house is somewhere entirely different (!) from OBX and we are going to be visiting people who don't have children.

That is why I am less familiar (and less inclined to be familiar). This is actually a favor to DH. Ideally, I'd really love the amenities that our beach house has, since I'm biased and you've already provided a bit!

[We rented our beach house out for part of the summer and will be splitting our time between there and different parts of OBX. If we like it enough, and people are positive about it, we may even buy a house in OBX, since it is a fraction of (aforementioned). So this is a great help.]

I ordered a recommended book from Amazon, but there is NOTHING like hearing from people with positive experiences.

For example, I've heard that in part of OBX, you have to cross a highway to reach the beach? Is there any truth to that? That is not something we are accustomed to.

We really like the idea of someplace, safe and kid friendly, where she can ride her bike safely if she wants to.

Maybe I should start a new thread on OBX logistics?

I just remember being in OBX a few years ago and it did not meet my expectations. Maybe it has changed? Maybe we were not in the proper area?

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

I think it helps to know what you didn't like about it, then people may be able to help you.

We have always stayed in Corolla, so that's the only part I'm really familiar with. I've driven down in Kitty Hawk and places in that area and did not like it. Those are more crowded with lots of strip malls and traffic, etc. Corolla is a bunch of little developments. There is traffic on the main road, but not on the streets wher emost of the houses are.

I think it's safe and kid friendly. They can ride bikes within the developments or on the bike path along the main roda, depending on your comfort level and their age.

If you are on one side of the peninsula, you would have to cross the main road. So just rent/buy on the other side, that's what we do.

I'm not sure where you normally go, so it's hard to compare. Compared to the DE/MD beaches, I like it better because it's more laid back (but to some that's boring). I hate the boardwalk scene. OBX is farther away, though, which is a factor. The houses are newer in OBX, so it doesn't have some of the charm of some of the NJ beaches or Cape Cod -- but the water's warmer. It all depends on your preferences.