OBX location most similar to Bethany or Stone Harbor

[Anonymous]

Just relocated from the Midwest to the DC area. I grew up going to Stone Harbor, NJ and DH remembers Bethany from when he was a kid. It’s been quite a few years since we’ve been to either, but we have friends wanting to rent in OBX and we’re curious if any towns are similar to either of those locations. We don’t want a trashy big boardwalk, but walking to ice cream, coffee, and playgrounds would be nice.

[Anonymous]

Duck. No playgrounds thought that I can remember. Biking is big though.

[Anonymous]

No question Duck

[Anonymous]

Duck

There is a playground off the sound boardwalk by the amphitheater and lawn by the city offices.

[Anonymous]

There is NOTHING going on in duck. Hardly even a decent restaurant to eat at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is NOTHING going on in duck. Hardly even a decent restaurant to eat at.

For many people, it’s a good balance of quiet & restaurants/coffee shop/market/shops. Just enough if you need something but not as crowded as other places. And it’s quiet but not as isolated as Corolla.

[Anonymous]

Trust me, you will find NOTHING in OBX anywhere close to being as nice and charming as Bethany.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trust me, you will find NOTHING in OBX anywhere close to being as nice and charming as Bethany.

This is so hilarious I don’t even know where to start.

Bethany is not charming, and the beaches are super crowded because all of the housing is so dense. You couldn’t pay me to vacation there. I’ve never been to NJ beaches, although if you like it there it’s no further than OBX.

OP, there are no boardwalks in OBX but to avoid what you are talking about stay north (Duck, Corolla) or far south (South Nags Head, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, etc.)

[Anonymous]

NC beaches are beautiful but boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NC beaches are beautiful but boring.

+1

And pretty, but not beautiful. Better choices elsewhere, OP.

[Anonymous]

Duck is the closest but it does not compare to Stone Harbor or Avalon. There aren’t any good little pizza or sub shops in Duck like you get up north. Cravings is good but they get slammed every day so the wait is forever. There is one main road in Duck so the traffic is awful. It’s not grid streets like the Jersey shore. There’s no boardwalk to drive to and the charm is just not there IMO. It’s a lot of preppy Southerners wearing monogrammed clothes and Lilly Pulitzer stuff. I grew up in the northeast and I miss going to the Jersey shore so much. Better towns and people.

[Anonymous]

I was just looking at listings in the outer banks last night and it looks like there is not much available at this point

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NC beaches are beautiful but boring.

+1

And pretty, but not beautiful. Better choices elsewhere, OP.

Every beach in the world is beautiful. I find NC beaches, all of them, to be more beautiful than the crowded, commercial Delaware beaches. The Delaware state park beaches, on the other hand, are quite beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duck is the closest but it does not compare to Stone Harbor or Avalon. There aren’t any good little pizza or sub shops in Duck like you get up north. Cravings is good but they get slammed every day so the wait is forever. There is one main road in Duck so the traffic is awful. It’s not grid streets like the Jersey shore. There’s no boardwalk to drive to and the charm is just not there IMO. It’s a lot of preppy Southerners wearing monogrammed clothes and Lilly Pulitzer stuff. I grew up in the northeast and I miss going to the Jersey shore so much. Better towns and people.

That is true for everywhere that isn’t NY/NJ/PA.

If you are in Duck, Duck Pizza isn’t bad.

I love NJ beaches but sometimes end up in OBX with friends/family because it’s much cheaper/easier to get a big house with a pool to share in Duck. It’s fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NC beaches are beautiful but boring.

+1

And pretty, but not beautiful. Better choices elsewhere, OP.

Every beach in the world is beautiful. I find NC beaches, all of them, to be more beautiful than the crowded, commercial Delaware beaches. The Delaware state park beaches, on the other hand, are quite beautiful.

I love all beaches but for actual swimming OBX isn’t pleasant. Rough sand and surf. Great for walks and views though.