If you’re planning your next family vacation, why not set your sights on The Outer Banks in North Carolina? Also known as OBX this is often thought of as a premier vacation destination, it offers rich history, unspoiled beaches, diverse outdoor activities, and so much more. If you’re a nature-loving family with a thirst for adventure, you’ll undoubtedly find what you’re looking for in OBX. However, if you’re stuck for ideas when planning your itinerary, the following activities are worth considering:
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A Classic Beach Day
If you’ve booked OBX oceanfront rentals for your family during your trip to OBX, a classic beach day is a natural activity to include on your list. After all, the beach will be mere feet away!Â
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The wide, uncrowded beaches of North Carolina are undoubtedly the main drawcard of visiting OBX. You can go swimming, build sandcastles, try surfing, and even keep the kids happy with shell collecting. Sometimes, even just watching the waves crash against the shore from your rental is a fun activity the whole family can enjoy.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
If you can’t get enough of the beaches in the Outer Banks, then pay a visit to Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Dare County. This state park is bound to be a favourite with the kids, as it has the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic Coast.
Alongside seeing the dunes, you can also fly kites and even try hang gliding. If you’re a family of adventurers, visit the second access area through wetland habitats to try kiteboarding, swimming, paddling, and windsurfing.
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
If you don’t mind navigating crowds, a trip to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is a must. Here, you’ll be able to see alligators, river otters, and sharks, and even get an up-close-and-personal view of stingrays.
There are so many wonderful indoor and outdoor exhibits and habitats, including the Seven Rivers, highlighting the animals tied to the waters of the Albemarle, and the Wild Wetlands, featuring river otters, alligators, and turtles. The Ironclad Sanctuary is also worth visiting, as it provides the history of the U.S.S. Monitor. There are also fun activities, events, and programs every day, including 30-minute theatre programs, shipwreck stories, shark feeds, and ray feeds.
Dolphin-Watching Boat Tours
We know that OBX is a top vacation destination for water lovers, but it also appeals to animal lovers. No trip to the Outer Banks is complete without a dolphin-watching tour. A number of companies offer dolphin tours with 90% + sighting success rates, as wild bottlenose dolphins are frequently spotted around the Roanoke Sound and near Oregon Inlet during the warmer months.
Guided Wild Horse Tours
Many people have only seen tamed horses living on people’s properties, but that’s certainly not what you’ll see in OBX. Here, there are wild horses. The Corolla wild horses descended from Spanish mustangs and evolved into a breed known as Banker horses.
Today, they roam the northernmost beaches of the Outer Banks, particularly around Carova Beach, North Swan Beach, Corolla, and Penny’s Hill. Join a guided 4×4 tour, and local experts will help you safely discover herds of wild Banker horses to enhance your vacation in the area.
If you’re planning a vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, there are so many family-friendly activities that will make it memorable for all the right reasons. Take the time to review the options above and enjoy a trip to remember.
