OBX in November

[mkredhead]

BF and I are heading to the Outer Banks next week for the OBX 1/2 Marathon. We have a B&B reservation, but I am at a loss for places to eat, sights to see, etc. Thoughts? Recommendations?

Thanks so much!

[ManteoChik]

Hey. Give me a little bit to get my recs together but I've got a bunch of them since I live there. What B&B are you staying at?

[mkredhead]

We're staying at the Inn on Pamlico Sound. It's on Hatteras Island!

[andrew&shannah]

I've only been there once but this past weekend we ate at Penguin Isle on the sound side. The seafood was very good and it wasn't overly priced. They also had a great wine list :)

[ManteoChik]

Hmmm, staying in Hatteras makes things a little bit more difficult because you have to travel up to Nags Head for pratically everything. I'm in Manteo, which is on Roanoke Island (hence my screen name...lol).

Here are a few suggestions from a local. Keep in mind that since you're staying in Hatteras you will have to travel up to the Nags Head area for most of the activities. This is copied from a post to another CCer who was traveling there so I've added some things in *****'s.

Fun

The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama It's the longest running outdoor play anywhere. It is the story of the colonist. It's really fun but I sugguest buying your tickets in advance. It runs at night and starts when it gets dark outside. It's really a great show and I love going to see it every summer. ***Since its past season they play will not be in production but you can still go to Fort Raleigh and see everything and the set, its pretty cool. www.thelostcolony.org

Kitty Hawk Kites I worked for this company for three years when I was in High School. It is a great place. They do Hang Gliding off of Jockey's Ridge (it's a beginner class and anyone from 85 - 225 pounds can do it) I think it costs $89.00 per person and it is WELL worth it, so much fun. They also do kayaking trips in like 7 different places on the outer banks and they are all really reasonable in price, I think about $35 per person. They also have a rock climbing wall as well as jet ski rentals and parasailing and kiteboarding. They really are like "the" company for outdoor activities on the OBX. Their website is.... www.kittyhawk.com (1-877-FLY-THIS is their number) and you can go to any of their stores to book trips or get more info. You can also call the main reservation number (where I worked most of the time) and book it online. Just keep in mind they have a 24 hour cancellation policy so if you book your trip the day before you want to take it you will not get a refund if you cancell, they will give you a voucher to come back and do it again someday. ****Also, I know they have a location in Hatteras that offers a few things like kayaking and jet skis and parasailing but its probably too cold for it now.

Jockey's Ridge Even if you don't go hang gliding you can still go to Jockey's Ridge and climb the dunes and it's free. Kitty Hawk Kites (right across the street is their main store) is like a huge kite and toy store with Columbia clothing. They have a whole upstairs devoted to kites of all prices, a lot of people go buy and kite and take it accross the street to Jockey's Ridge and fly them. http://www.jockeysridgestatepark.com/

The Wright Brother's Monument This is where the Wright Brother's Flew the very first airplane. Park admission is like $4.00 a car - very cheap. You can climb up to the monument or go into the museum. http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/
http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parkphotos/WRBR%20375x100%2Ejpg
Far away pic of the monument up on the hill

Elizabethan Gardens
This is a really pretty garden that is HUGE. I do a lot of my photography and portraits there. Its near the Lost Colony (Fort Raleigh) and the admission is pretty cheap but the gardens are lovely.
www.elizabethangardens.org

Barrier Island Aviation
If your interested in something different you can take an air tour of the Outer Banks with Barrier Island Aviation. Its a fun way to see the area and take some aerial pictures.

The Beach Last but not least the beach, it's free and beautiful. If you stay at a hotel on the ocean you can walk right onto the beach. If you stay on the island it's just a 4 min. ride over the bride and there are plenty of public beach accesses. If you have a 4-wheel drive truck then you can drive down on the beach at Oregon Inlet (just a south of Nags Head) and spend the day relaxing on the beach...it's free to drive on. When I was in high school we would all take everyone's trucks and a grill with coolers of food and spend the day at the beach grilling out and eating. It was a lot of fun and people still do that.

Food One of the most important things, here are just a few of my MUST GO TO places....

Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe I was a Hostess there in high school until I was old enough to wait tables there. They have an awsome lunch menu that is reasonably priced, you MUST also go there for dinner (people can't help to go back). This restaurant is owned by Senator Marc Basnight and his daughters and wife. They all run the place and he walks around every night to say hello to everyone. They start serving dinner at 4:30pm....it may sound early but people line up. As long as you are there by 7:30 the wait shouldn't be too long but after that it can get up to 3 hours some nights (Well worth the wait....keep in mind they don't take reservations) You can eat eitehr inside or outside on the back patio...they open the enclosures if its nice but if the rain starts all they have to do is close them and you can still eat out there. They usually have a live band playing every night during the summer outside. http://www.lonecedarcafe.com 252-441-5405 You can see a sample of their menu on the website. ****You should have no problem getting a table while you are in town because it's the off season.

Owen's Restaurant Just down the street from Lone Cedar but they are pretty pricy. If you want to have one night out for a fabulous dinner, this is the place, they also don't take reservations but their Filet and Lobster is to die for and so is the Lobster Bisque....just makes me hungry thinking about it...lol.
Owen's Restaurant
Milepost 16 1/2, Beach Road
Nags Head, NC
252-441-7309

Sunset Bar and Grill
SUNSET GRILLE & RAW BAR
1270 DUCK RD, SOUTHERN SHORES, NC 27949
Phone: (252) 261-3901
~They are pretty good, my family pulls a banner for them and they are really nice people, they also have a live band most nights.
http://www.fishbonessunsetgrille.com/

Stripers Bar and Grill
They are loacted in Manteo (on Roanoke Island) at the Shallowbag Bay Club. Great food and its reasonably priced, this is a locals hang out as well.
http://www.stripersbarandgrille.com/stripers/aboutus.htm

1587
This restaurant is located in Downtown Manteo, on the waterfront. The restaurant is located at the Tranquille House Inn, and its FABULOUS but its also pricey.
www.1587.com

Mama Kwans
This is a great funky little restaurant that is another locals favorite. They have a little island flair but their food is great.
www.mamakwans.coom

If I think of anything else I'll come back to post and feel free to ask any more questions or PM me if you can think of something else you'd like to know.

[Smillow]

The Dolphin Den in Avon has some good food!

[KRL626]

I've vacationed in Avon every year since I was 5! You can go see the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. They have a cool museum with the history of the area. Also if you drive down to Hatteras (name of the town) there is the Austin Creek Grill which is kind of expensive but the food is awesome and the sunset view amazing! Have fun! I'm jealous of you!

[mkredhead]

Thank you all!! This is SOOO helpful.

We leave on Thursday, and I will make sure to report back. Thanks again. I sincerely appreciate it.