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Perhaps it is the area where I always return to, but the Outer Banks don’t strike me as being as out of the way as most people like to make them seem. Heading (much) farther out you’ll find more of the quiet that some people evoke when describing this place; however, in just the three years I’ve been vacationing there it has become more accessible and convenient. Also, expanding outlets, restaurants, and sports companies allow for more “to do.”
Not that I need more to do. The perks of the Outer Banks include getting a huge house (7+ beds) with your friends and family for a decent price, and then spending every possible amount of daylight on the beach. I think it is the feeling of utter relaxation that makes me drawn to the beaches there, and because they are so expansive there is plenty of room between you and your neighbour. I think I became sadly used to the crowded nature of the Narragansett and Scarborough beaches in Rhode Island.
The beaches can be so HOT
The one thing that always nags at me when I come, however, is how the houses are so big and strangely propped up on those tiny stilts. It feels like the neighborhoods were erected so quickly. And, apparently, they were. According to folks that have been visiting the Outer Banks for years, the beaches used to be a nearly deserted, natural landscapes. Oh, well.
I can say that the beaches are very pleasant, there are some fantastic crab shacks, good shopping, starry nights, and lovely sunsets. The beaches are virtually empty at night for those seeking some solitary night-swimming; though that may be the closest to solitude you’ll find because the Outer Banks is acquiring more and more visitors and a glance back from the beach only shows endless rows of floating houses.
I look forward to more sand and sun when I leave for Greece in a few days!
I’ve been unemployed for the past two weeks, and I have spent ten of those fourteen days at Newton’s. I love this sun spot because it has remained a hidden space, not only from tourists but from other locals as well. It’s a place that has been passed on through generations, so I’ll thank my mom for the tip.
The Good: few others visitors, stunning views, no fee, clean, food and drinks allowed (but clean up!)
The Bad: not recommended for swimming, takes some searching for the perfect, smooth lay-space (I bring a yoga mat)
Anyway, as the summer pushes onward and the other state and town beaches fill with Rhode Islanders and non-islanders, I am happy to trade sand for stone and watch the waves from a quieter place.
