One of the reasons I love the Outer Banks so much is because it's not super touristy. It's quiet compared to other vacation spots, and it makes for the perfect get away. From Corolla to Hatteras, and everything in-between, the Outer Banks of North Carolina is one of the best places to vacation in the world. Every summer since I was born, my family and I have traveled to the Outer Banks, North Carolina for vacation. Typically we stayed for a week, but, if for some reason, we couldn't do that one summer we would at least go down for a long weekend. I'm pretty sure I've stayed in every part of the Outer Banks that there is, and, if not, I've at least visited.

The Outer Banks (abbreviated OBX) is a peninsula of the coast of North Carolina that encompasses the Currituck Sound, Pimlico Sound, and the Albemarle Sound, and boarders the Atlantic Ocean. The OBX actually begins in Sandbridge, Virginia and includes Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras, and Ocracoke. If you've never been, you are seriously missing out!

Southern Shores

After crossing the bridge to OBX, you either stay straight to Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nagshead, and so on, or you take a left in the direction of Southern Shores. It is a real hidden gem! It is home to beautiful homes and a lovely bike path on the side of the road that leads into the Town of Duck. Southern Shores private beach accesses make for a nice peaceful day at the beach with a spectacular view. I took the photo of the little guy above when I stayed in Southern Shores with my aunt, uncle, and cousins a few years ago and it was one of the best vacations I've ever been on! Not because of the crab, but because of the hospitality and sense of community that you feel when staying in Southern Shores.

Duck

Just past Southern Shores, lies the Town of Duck. A treasure of a town with much more to do than meets the eye! Theres an 11 acre park with a boardwalk about a mile long that stretches along the sound with spots to fish or crab. I took the picture above on the boardwalk at one of the designated crabbing spots just before sunset. It was my first time crabbing and it was a blast! This part of the sound also makes a great spot for canoeing. In Duck, there's plenty of shops and unique restaurants, not to mention home of Duck Donuts. I stayed in Duck once a few years ago, and ever since I try to visit Duck every time I go to the Outer Banks.

Corolla

Beyond Duck is Corolla, the end of this little stretch of Highway 12. Corolla has many beautiful homes, little shops, delicious restaurants, and a beautiful lighthouse. Most interestingly this part of Highway 12 (the road that runs through Southern Shores, Duck, and Corolla) leads all the way to the ocean. Corolla's 4x4 beach allows for people to drive right out on the sand! The beach stretches all the way up to Sandbridge, Virginia, and is home to the wild ponies of OBX. I was able to experience the beauty of these horses last summer when I stayed in Corolla for the first time, and I loved every second of it. I have the privilege of staying there again this summer and I absolutely cannot wait!

Kitty Hawk

Now, when you first cross the bridge into the Outer Banks, if you stay straight the first town you will come to is Kitty Hawk. When I hear Kitty Hawk, I think of Kitty Hawk Kites. While there may be many of these located all throughout the Outer Banks, when in Kitty Hawk, one must visit Kitty Hawk Kites! The beaches of Kitty Hawk are as vast as they are beautiful. This is definitely a must-stay spot for families on vacation.

Kill Devil Hills

Just passed Kitty Hawk lies Kill Devil Hills. Home of the Wright Brothers Memorial, Kill Devil Hills is the oldest town in the Outer Banks. Kill Devil Hills also hosts beautiful beaches and the largest sand dunes in OBX. Many enjoy hang gliding over these hills or just the hike to the top of the first one. The view above is from the house my family stayed in countless times while vacationing here. Even if it's just for a long weekend, you have to stay in Kill Devil Hills at least once!

Nags Head

Passed Kill Devil Hills is Nags Head. Nags Head is known for it's beautiful beaches and dunes, but also has the best surf fishing spots. Pictured above was one of my family vacations where we stayed on the beach all day long. My family and I don't go to the OBX without taking our surf fishing rods because Nags Head is where it's at! A nice bonus to the gorgeous beaches of Nags Head are the Tanger Outlets! An outlet mall that will satisfy all of your retail therapy needs while on vacation. There's always a great sale going on!

Rodanthe

Once you leave Nags Head there's good stretch before you arrive in Rodanthe. If you've never been to Rodanthe, I'm sure you have at least heard of it. Thanks to Nicholas Sparks, many people have heard of Rodanthe from his book and later movie, Nights in Rodanthe. However, if you're like me, you knew about Rodanthe before it was made popular, because you either stayed here or passed through on your way further down the peninsula. Rodanthe is one of the most quiet towns in the OBX and it's beaches are vast with serenity. Unfortunately, when there's a big storm or hurricane, Rodanthe gets hit hard. Yet this town has so much resilience and continues to be built back up and thrive more and more each time. Thanks to the amount of winds this part of the OBX sees, this makes a great spot for wind and kite surfing!

Waves

Some people don't realize they're in Waves because it can be hard to tell that you've left Rodanthe. Just like Rodanthe, Waves is a nice quiet little town with beautiful beaches and perfect winds for water sports! Waves also makes the perfect camping spot!

Salvo

Beyond waves you will find Salvo, a quieter community with mainly locals. If you're truly looking for a quiet vacation spot where the loudest sound you'll hear is the waves crashing, then Salvo is your spot! Like the two towns before it, Salvo is also a great location for wind and kite surfing. But don't forget canoeing on the sound side!

Avon

When you leave Salvo there's another good stretch before you come to the next town, Avon. Avon is located on Hatteras Island and is where I spent a good portion of my childhood in the summers. Home to many restaurants (my favorite is the Froggy Dog), local shops (my favorite is Frank and Fran's Tackle), and of course the Avon Pier, Avon is one of the best vacation spots in all of OBX. This small town is the perfect beach town with beautiful uncrowded beaches. A must visit for sure!

Buxton

Passed Avon you will find Buxton. Home of the Hatteras Light House (the tallest brick lighthouse in America), one of the biggest maritime forests, and many wonderful local restaurants, Buxton is a premier spot in OBX. It's beaches are a wonderful sight and make for great fishing. I used to go to the surf fishing tournament here every year in April, and fun is an understatement. The picture above was taken quite a few years ago when you could drive all the way out on the point, with no restricted areas and no permit was needed. Whether we stayed in Avon or Buxton, Cape Point was the beach we always visited. It is apart of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and is protected by the National Park Service so the access is very limited compared to what it used to be, however this beach is still a must visit and my favorite beach in the OBX!

Frisco

Just passed Buxton you will find Frisco, a town rich with history and Native American culture. Also home to a UFO, if you're a local or a regular vacationer to the spot you know what I'm talking about! Frisco has many unique local shops and a nice 9 hole golf course. It's almost hard to describe unless you've been there yourself, because Frisco is a one of a kind place with a homey feeling that is hard to find anywhere else!

Hatteras

Passed Frisco, at the end of Hatteras Island, you'll find Hatteras. The most fishing charter options in all of OBX can be found here. Hatteras is home to many unique little shops and restaurants, as well as the Graveyard of the Atlantic museum which showcases the history of the area and it's many shipwrecks. At the very end of the island you reach a point on highway 12 where you can't drive any farther unless you want to get on the ferry. This is another cool attraction in Hatteras that I did many times as a kid!

Ocracoke

The ferry out of Hatteras will take you to the remote Island of Ocracoke. In fact you can only get here by ferry, private boat, or plane. This tiny island has beautiful beaches that are known for their cleanliness. It has rich history of Native Americans and pirates, and it's rumored that Blackbeard died here! Between the beaches, shops, and restaurants, you will never get bored in Ocracoke!