Phải có phép thuật trong không khí ở Outer Banks . Làm sao bạn có thể giải thích được nơi mà những chú ngựa hoang nô đùa trên bãi biển và con người có thể học bay?
Đó là những gì tôi nghĩ khi lần đầu đến đó với tư cách là cư dân lâu năm của các tiểu bang không giáp biển, những người mà sự thật là hiếm khi thèm khát một kỳ nghỉ ở bãi biển. Chúng không bao giờ đẹp như những tấm bưu thiếp hứa hẹn – tôi đoán là tôi chưa bao giờ nhận được một tấm bưu thiếp nào từ Outer Banks. Giống như nhiều người khác, gia đình vợ tôi sẽ thực hiện các cuộc hành hương hàng năm, và sau khi họ giới thiệu tôi, cuối cùng tôi đã “hiểu ra”.
Các đảo chắn tự nhiên bảo vệ khoảng 200 dặm bờ biển Bắc Carolina khỏi các cơn bão Đại Tây Dương mặc dù chúng là những khối đất mỏng manh chỉ rộng hàng trăm toes ở một số đoạn. Nơi có hàng chục khu bảo tồn động vật hoang dã quốc gia, bờ biển được bảo vệ và công viên tiểu bang, sự kết hợp giữa vẻ đẹp và sức mạnh, chiều rộng bao la và sự mong manh thanh bình, tạo nên sức hấp dẫn lớn.
Và du khách chắc chắn đã nhận ra điều đó. Khoảng bốn đến năm triệu người sẽ thực hiện chuyến đi đến Outer Banks – hay OBX – trong năm nay, gần gấp đôi số lượng so với 15 năm trước, theo các cơ quan du lịch địa phương và các nhà quản lý công viên, nghĩa là bạn nên lên kế hoạch trước. Mặc dù có rất nhiều sự chú ý, các thị trấn ven biển và quang cảnh phục hồi tâm hồn vẫn giữ được nét quyến rũ nhẹ nhàng đó – một ví dụ khác về sự kỳ diệu của Outer Banks. Sau đây là những mẹo hàng đầu của tôi để tận dụng tối đa chuyến đi của bạn.
Bước 1: Chọn nơi bạn sẽ đặt căn cứ
Vị trí là chìa khóa ở OBX vì mỗi thị trấn đều có cảm giác riêng biệt, nhưng việc di chuyển giữa chúng cũng có những thách thức riêng. Giao thông trên Đường cao tốc 12, tuyến đường chính xuyên suốt Outer Banks, có thể làm giảm cảm giác ở phía bắc, trong khi Đảo Ocracoke ở phía nam chỉ có thể đến được bằng phà. Các bãi đậu xe ven biển cũng nhỏ hơn và ít hơn so với những bãi biển trên đất liền, vì vậy bạn sẽ cần phải đánh giá mức độ quan trọng của việc dễ dàng đi bộ đến điểm tiếp cận bãi biển. Sau đây là một số điểm nổi bật, được liệt kê từ bắc xuống nam.
Tràng hoa
Vibes: Upscale nonetheless unpretentious mixture of posh rental properties, shopping for, and pure magnificence. Whereas geographically the Outer Banks begin in far southern Virginia, usually individuals are referring to the communities of North Carolina when speaking about OBX, and Corolla is as far north as you most likely can drive in OBX with out having a beach-safe 4WD car (Take note of: pronounce the city title as kur-ALL-ah, and don’t get your kah-ROLL-ah caught contained in the sand).
Do: Getting a glimpse of the wild mustangs, ancestors of Colonial Spanish steeds, on the dunes of Currituck Nationwide Wildlife Refuge is a trip-defining spotlight. The nonprofit Corolla Wild Horse Fund has a useful helpful useful resource web internet web page on how you can do this safely your self if geared up with a 4WD, nonetheless when not, a plethora of native tour operators exist. On the town, climb the steps on the Currituck Seaside Lighthouse prior to grabbing a seashore be taught at Island Bookstore.
Eat: Splurge on a crabcake benedict breakfast at Seanna Tavern prior to your lighthouse go to. All through the night time time, cool off with a drink on the laid-back Corolla Beer Yard.
Protect: Journey house leases are in all places and for each value differ all by means of OBX. Go Airbnb for many who’re searching for a smaller or additional low-cost protect, however for big teams I’d advocate one amongst many native journey rental outfits like Twiddy & Company, which dominates the northern OBX market and may have additional workers assist on-call. The Inn at Corolla boasts sundown views of Currituck Sound.
Duck
Vibes: Quaint and family-friendly, the city of Duck is a charmer with a boardwalk lined by memento retailers and seafood joints. Work crawls and free reside reveals contained in the park will assist you to faucet correct proper right into a coastal metropolis setting straight out of Netflix’s Outer Banks (Disclaimer: I’ve not at all seen an episode, however the present is actually filmed in South Carolina anyway.)
Do: Lease a set of wheels from Ocean Atlantic Leases and zip up the bike path prior to deciding on up a kite on the boardwalk retailers to fly on the seashore. Alter to the boardwalk all one of the best ways proper all the way down to Duck Metropolis Park and watch reeds dance contained in the wind.
Eat: Seize an almost-too-pretty-to-eat donut from the distinctive Duck Donuts location that spawned the nationwide chain. The Blue Stage serves up simple however scrumptious takes on seafood classics like scallops or shrimp and grits, whereas the Paper Canoe’s intimate consuming room and creative reveals are good for date night time time time.
Protect: If Twiddy or Airbnb listings in Duck aren’t to your liking, Village Realty has an workplace on the town. There’s furthermore a string of lodges alongside the narrower stretch of land between Duck and Corolla, of which the luxurious Sanderling Resort may be primarily essentially the most elegant.
Kitty Hawk/Kill Satan Hills/Nags Head
Vibes: This trio of neighboring communities has each additional factors to do and additional individuals doing them than elsewhere else in OBX. Look correct proper right here to commerce an additional crowded seashore for additional accessible providers and rental costs.
Do: It was Kitty Hawk the place the Wright Brothers famously launched their proto airplane experiments, and the Wright Brothers Nationwide Memorial stands correct proper right here to commemorate the precise spot the inventors squared off with gravity. Jockey’s Ridge State Park has the tallest dwelling sand dunes system on the Japanese Seaboard. Wish to attempt jockeying your self? Data a seashore horseback journey.
Eat: Beachside grillshack John’s Drive In has been slinging burgers and candy treats for almost 50 years, whereas Sam and Omie’s consolation meals from the ocean has been a crowd-pleaser for almost 90 years.
Protect: You’ll uncover additional motels and nationwide chain lodges on this space if that matches your wants elevated than a full house rental. In case you wish to get away from the crowds, the kid-free Colington Creek Inn on the Roanoke Sound aspect provides a relaxed oasis in Kill Satan Hills.
Roanoke Island
Vibes: The neighborhood of Manteo on Roanoke Island contained in the sound have to be your hub when you’re additional of a museum hound and historic earlier buff than a seashore bum.
Do: Attempt to remedy one amongst many nation’s oldest chilly circumstances by investigating the infamous Sixteenth-century disappearance of the “Misplaced Colony” at Fort Raleigh Nationwide Historic Site, the place roughly 120 British colonists vanished with out clarification. Stroll among the many many many flowers on the stately Elizabethan Gardens, a dwelling memorial on the net web site.
Eat: The oysters, whether or not or not or not broiled or uncooked, at Blue Water Grill for lunch will tide you over until your reservations for a steak dinner on the 1587 Restaurant and Lounge contained throughout the Tranquil Residence Inn.
Protect: The island selections fairly a couple of cozy inns and conventional mattress and breakfasts. There’s the aforementioned Tranquill Residence, however the views and boardwalk entry at the Roanoke Inn are extremely efficient to beat.
Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands
Vibes: On the top of the freeway on the far south Outer Banks are Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, the extra secluded and chilled-out alternate selections to the bustle of northern OBX (although lodging nonetheless fill shortly in peak season).
Do: Merely getting correct proper right here will most likely be a part of the journey. The drive down Hwy 12 to Hatteras alongside Cape Hatteras Nationwide Seashore will deal with you to views of each the ocean and the sound, whereas Ocracoke is barely accessible via ferry. As shortly as settled, benefit from a less-crowded seashore or stroll the path by the use of Buxton Woods.
Eat: Howard’s Pub is a cool favourite hangout in Ocracoke with respectable burgers, or change it up with Thai curry ramen at Cafe Pamilco.
Protect: Residence leases in these areas are finest accommodated by the use of one amongst many rental workplaces that focuses on these communities, like Ocracoke Island Realty or Hatteras Realty.
Step 2: Reserving your lodging
We’ve carried out massive house leases for our journeys to OBX, a should for a dozen individuals touring collectively, together with youngsters, however researching alternatives can truly actually really feel daunting. Not solely are there fairly a couple of rental corporations, however prime spots e e-book up shortly, over a yr prematurely in some circumstances, and Twiddy warns that its inventory of big properties is sort of 80% booked for the summer season season by January 1 of a given yr. What’s strong is that attributable to variable leasing agreements between homeowners and rental administration firms, reserving availability can truly actually really feel a bit scattershot, with costs for future years listed as matter to alter while you’re allowed to position a protect. If going with a rental house, begin wanting now and reserve instantly. Even as soon as you propose to maintain up your eyes open for alternate selections and will forfeit a small protect value for a change, elevated to lock in early.
Residence leases aren’t necessary for each group, understandably, nonetheless when staying in a lodge, splurge on that quaint inn if in the slightest degree potential. Many bars aren’t open late and the OBX nightlife is additional chill than thrill, so protect someplace you’ll benefit from stress-free contained in the evenings.
Step 3: Plan your days
I’ve listed a bunch of concepts above, however all people is conscious of the rationale you’re going to the Outer Banks: the seashores. Pretty numerous alternatives exist for renting seashore gear together with seating and umbrellas, paddleboards and even golf carts to shuttle your crew to fully completely completely different seashore entry parts. Advance reservations are a should to get high-quality devices. Inside the event you’re in a pinch and forgot one issue, title spherical to fairly a couple of rental corporations fairly than merely skimming their web pages for a last-minute Hail Mary probability at snagging one issue.
The Wright Brothers launched their early flights from correct proper right here due to the fastened sea winds, and you might glide alongside your self with kitesurfing or glider classes from Kitty Hawk Kites. I’m additional grounded (i.e. afraid of heights) so a novelty kite that can fly over our seashore chairs is additional my velocity. Protect watch over surf and wind tales prior to committing to a plan for the day; poor water circumstances or a sturdy wind out of the west (which blows in additional mosquitoes and flies from the nonetheless waters of the sound) can also be a motive to skip the seashore that day and check out one amongst many cities as a substitute.
Lastly, take a look at the launch schedules at NASA’s Wallops Island and Kennedy Residence Middle services. They’re sporadic and really dependent upon the native climate circumstances being good at launch time, however we had been lucky ample to witness one in 2023, and watching a craft really go away Earth’s setting is a powerful and humbling expertise. I can solely think about what Orville and Wilbur Wright would suppose.
Step 4: Plan your menu
Infinite mid-scale consuming alternatives exist all by way of OBX, with an emphasis on seafood, naturally, however anyplace that takes reservations will most likely e e-book up days to weeks prematurely in peak season, so make some bookings prior to you even go away house.
Inside the event you’re touring with household or one completely different massive group, a easy and fulfilling option to beat the crowds is to have a seafood boil at house. Outer Banks Boil Company will assemble your most popular combo of shellfish and sides tossed with butter and seasoning, all wrapped to go. You’ll merely want a differ to boil it on. It nonetheless pays to order your pot forward of time inside the acute season.
Step 5: Resolve one of the best ways you’re getting there
The closest principal airport is Norfolk Worldwide, which is a roughly 90 minute drive, with out visitors, to the Wright Memorial Bridge into the Outer Banks, and relying on the place precisely you’re staying, it could possibly be one completely different hour driving by the use of OBX. Key phrases being “with out visitors”, as excessive season will bump this up significantly, notably at choke parts close to the bridge and on the town providers. Do the entire thing potential to reach and go away midweek, as arriving on a Saturday noon will point out spending most of your first day of journey watching brake lights.
Whether or not or not or not coming from Norfolk or from additional to the north, make a pit cease at Morris Farm Market close to Barco, N.C., which has an necessary assortment of issues – and cleanest toilet stalls – of the markets that dot the northern route into OBX. The southern route all by means of Roanoke Island on Hwy 64 is often loads a lot much less crowded, and the principle methodology you’ll go if coming from Raleigh. Ferries to Ocracoke launch from Swanquarter and Cedar Island on the mainland, and as with the entire thing in excessive season, e e-book forward for peace of concepts if going that route.
Nói về lộ trình, hãy kiểm tra lại GPS và đảm bảo rằng nó không vô tình chỉ đường cho bạn đến phà trong nỗ lực tránh tắc đường một cách thiếu sáng suốt. Tương tự như vậy, GPS của bạn có thể định tuyến bạn qua các phố phụ trong khu phố khi ở OBX, mặc dù địa phương đã nỗ lực yêu cầu các công ty công nghệ ngừng đề xuất các lối tắt này (tôi thậm chí còn thấy người dân địa phương đăng biển báo có nội dung “Google Maps nói dối! Đừng lái xe theo hướng này!” để ngăn chặn việc đi vòng). Nếu bạn không thể kiềm chế được, ít nhất hãy đảm bảo lái xe chậm và tôn trọng qua các khu phố ngoài các tuyến đường chính.
Bước 6: Đóng gói hành lý
Đối với chúng tôi, đây là một trong những chuyến đi “chất đầy xe” vì chúng tôi mang theo thức ăn và đồ dùng để dự trữ trong nhà cho thuê trong thời gian lưu trú. Ngoài kem chống nắng và thuốc xịt côn trùng, bạn cũng sẽ muốn mang theo bất kỳ đồ vệ sinh cá nhân và xà phòng giặt nào mà bên cho thuê có thể không cung cấp. Tốt hơn là mang theo từ nhà thay vì lãng phí thời gian xếp hàng dài để trả giá cao sau khi bạn đến nơi.
Hãy mua chiếc ô hoặc tán dù bãi biển đẹp nhất, nặng nhất mà bạn có thể mua được, vì gió sẽ làm hỏng một chiếc ô rẻ tiền hoặc thổi bay nó xuống bãi biển, và bạn sẽ cần một nơi tránh nắng. Hãy chuẩn bị một chiếc áo sơ mi cài nút hoặc váy nhẹ đẹp hơn nếu bạn muốn chỉnh tề cho một hoặc hai bữa tối, mặc dù bạn có thể mặc đồ đi biển thoải mái ở hầu hết mọi nơi.
