The first stop of our trek across North Carolina was the Outer Banks, namely Nags Head, NC. The Outer Banks consists of roughly 200 miles of barrier islands and sand dunes that stretch from the Northern Beaches (at the North end, natch) down through to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at the tip of Hatteras Island.
We absolutely loved it.
It was hard to start our trip there because it was so hard to leave!
Where we stayed in Nags Head NC:
View of Nags Head Beach from Jennette’s Pier
Comfort Inn South Oceanfront
We spent four days and three nights at the Comfort Inn South Oceanfront . Located directly on the beach, the location is great and the rooms are decently sized. Our family of four was perfectly comfortable. I was pretty surprised at how clean and well-maintained the hotel is. A beach vacation of this nature can really take its toll on a property and the rooms. And we were often sandy and damp trekking back for hot showers and getting ready for dinner or bed. The public areas and rooms (well, our room anyway) are holding their own against the sand and seawater.
Ocean View Room, Photo Courtesy Choice Hotels
Comfort Inn South Oceanfront : Rooms
The beds were very comfortable and we all slept well. We really enjoyed the spectacular ocean views and it is definitely worth the splurge for balcony-side rooms. I would love to keep the door open all night to enjoy the sounds of the ocean. However, I was too afraid of A) critters flying in the open door and B) possibly sleepwalking children.
Great pool with beach view at Comfort Inn South Oceanfront
I was a little surprised the hotel didn’t have a stash of beach chairs and/or sand toys to borrow. But we brought our own beach towels and had no issue getting set up in the sand. The pool is one of the few in the area with a beach view from the pool deck. It’s a little small but the pool is clean and well maintained, and the kids really enjoyed it. The pool is accessible for those with disabilities, and the property has a few accessible rooms. The Comfort Inn South Oceanfront is also pet-friendly.
Playing in the ocean in Nags Head, North Carolina
The majority of visitors to Nags Head seem to rent vacation homes or condos. There is a small smattering of classic beach motels. It sticks out of the landscape a bit, but the Comfort Inn South Oceanfront offers great value for families. The location is so great. You can easily walk to a 7-11 and many wonderful little restaurants as well.
Where we ate in Nags Head NC:
Breakfast at the Comfort Inn South Oceanfront …
A hot breakfast buffet is included in your stay at the Comfort Inn South Oceanfront . For for families an included breakfast is great value. I may or may not have eaten my weight in biscuits and gravy, lol. Every morning we were greeted with sausage links and scrambled eggs, yogurt, a variety of breads and muffins, make-your-own waffles, cereal, and a small selection of fresh fruit.
It was more than enough for our family to start our day. Other than the hard-boiled eggs, they couldn’t confirm that any of the products were gluten-free. However my gluten-free husband was able to eat the scrambled eggs and sausage with no issues.
Sam & Omie’s – Nags Head, NC
For our first night’s dinner, I was jonesing for some seafood. And although driving around the Outer Banks is super easy and finding parking isn’t an issue, I wanted to walk. I asked at the front desk where we could eat that was walkable. I was delighted with all the options! And Sam & Omie’s was highly recommended. Now we know why!
I had probably the best crab cakes I’ve ever eaten. My daughter enjoyed her cheeseburger. Gluten-free husband went for the blackened tuna steak over caesar salad (no croutons). Bub went hardcore with his broiled shrimp and scallop platter. The food was absolutely delicious and dinner was very affordable. Pinot Grigio by the glass is only $5!
On weekends it’s busy, and it can be a bit of a wait for a table. We opted to sit at the bar for a great dinner with no wait.
Dune Burger – Nags Head, NC
We were incredibly tempted just to eat at Sam & Omie’s again, but we were sandy and a little damp and just a tad *hangry* so we checked out Dune Burger , which is just across the street from the Comfort Inn, behind the 7-11. There was a bit of a line, and the food was a bit of a wait, but it was worth it.
The food was yummy–classic burger joint fare. Gluten-free husband took his chances with french fries, and Carolina BBQ pork in a cup instead of on a bun. He was fine but in future we’d order two. And, we discovered the magic that is cheese fries. I’m not entirely I’m sure I’m better for this knowledge, but we sure enjoyed them! Dune Burger is very inexpensive, too. Dinner for all four of us was around $25. Such a great local treasure that’s been around for decades.
Fat Boyz – Nags Head, NC
Just a tad past Sam & Omie’s (again, we were tempted to go back!) is Fat Boyz , another burger and ice cream joint that’s a bit bigger and “fancier” than Dune Burger . Food was a bit pricier here than at Dune Burger as well, but we all enjoyed it.
What really sets Fat Boyz apart from anything else nearby is their ice cream, and custom sundaes. I had the Peanut Butter Jammer (I think it was called that?). It had peanut butter cups, vanilla ice cream, and (I think) chocolate syrup. It actually got the better of me and my daughter had to finish it! So good though.
Try to get to Fat Boyz early. We arrived around 6pm and managed to snag a table for our dinner. By the time we were on to the ice cream it was super busy and the line was quite long.
What we did in Nags Head NC and the Outer Banks:
Replica of the Wright Flyer, Wright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial
One of our absolute must-visits was the Wright Brothers National Memorial . Mr. HBWT is an absolute aviation nut, so our first stop after a great first night’s sleep was the birthplace of flight at Kitty Hawk.
The museum itself is pretty low key, with a replica of the famous plane that first flew. I’ll be honest, the kids found it a little dull–especially since they just wanted to return to the beach. But the gift shop sold these inexpensive ($5) propeller-type things that you can launch in the wind, and then they were off launching their own fliers. The grounds are expansive. I felt ok letting them roam a little, but getting to the monument is a bit of a hike.
Learning the basics of aviation at the Wright Brothers National Memorial
A few tips–though the breezes kept us comfortable, the sun was quite hot here. Be prepared with hats for the kids and extra sunscreen and water. And little planes
