Things to Do in Nags Head, NC (OBX) with Kids

Last week, my little family joined our bigger family in Nags Head, NC for a beach getaway. It was both strange and wonderful being back in a place I used to vacation at when I was a kid and then share it with my own family. Although the place has changed over the years, A LOT was still the same and brought back so many memories that a week just wasn’t enough time to relive it all. However, we covered a lot of ground anyways…

Places to See & Things to Do

The beach – because that’s what you’re here for! Our family is avid beach-goers. If we’re NOT at a beach one weekend during the summer, it’s weird. So, before we even got to Nags Head, we knew we’d try to spend every day at the beach if we could—and we succeeded. My biggest warning to those wanting to hit the beach here, the water is known to get rough sometimes. Keep a look out for Rip Tides (you can see most of them from the shoreline) and changing of tides. Other than that, the beach is clean, beautiful, and a blast!

Beach bonfire – I had no clue Nags Head allowed this again (they didn’t when I was a kid) so when we saw some out during an evening walk, we immediately looked up permit information. It’s super easy—you just go to this website between 5-9pm to purchase a permit for the night (if they allow them that night). It’s $11. We had a blast treating all of the kids to s’mores on the beach.

Sunset walks – yes, the sun sets in the west, but Nags Head beach is still gorgeous at sunset. We lucked out with beautiful pink skies every night, so we tried to take advantage of some family walks when we could (besides, they were a good excuse to walk off our dinners!). Plus, Ellis LOVED getting extra walking time on the sand.

Jockey’s Ridge – Jockey’s Ridge is a state park that has a huge sand dune that guests can hike and play on. They even have hang-gliding and sand surfing (which some of my family members took part in). However, because sand can get incredibly hot, I suggest this particular adventure take place either early in the morning or early evening when you don’t risk burning your feet off!

Fishing/Crabbing – I personally did not partake in this (because I have a 1-year-old to keep up with), but some of my family members did. Many of the piers in Nags Head will allow you to fish for a fee (and the fee covers your fishing permit, otherwise you’d have to get one separately). For crabbing, I think it’s better on the Roanoke Sound side. The water is calmer and there’s a better chance getting the bigger ones. You can rent crab traps, but I really like the old school way—raw chicken tied to a rope. It’s exciting reeling them in slowly and it’s safe (and easy) enough for kids to get involved.

Shopping – I know, I know… it’s a beach getaway! Why are you shopping? I’m with you, but rainy days come and sometimes you just need to get out of the beach house. There are not a lot of “shopping districts” in the area. There’s one small outlet center and a few department stores, but that’s about it… except… Nags Head has a lot of local spots that are worth checking out. My favorites are Whalebone Surf Shop and Foxy Flamingo Boutique which sells my favorite jewelry brand, All Washed Up Jewelry.

Matching swimsuits by Kortni Jeane.

Food, Drinks, & Bites

Full disclaimer, I am not a huge fan of the seafood in New Jersey or NYC (and I don’t have the funds to pay for the good seafood restaurants they do have), so I was determined to spend this vacation eating as much great seafood as possible! So, here are our favorite restaurants that delivered:

Tortugas Lie – we came to this dive a lot when I was a kid, but seeing it again through an adult lens is a lot different—mainly because I can enjoy the bar this time. Their menu has plenty of options, but I went for the fish tacos which were probably the best I’ve had in a long time and Richard had the Jamaican ‘Jerk’ Chicken (the dark meat option, because duh!).

Sam & Omie’s – this local jewel has the best she crab soup around (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s kind of like a crab bisque). Seriously, that alone made me go! They also have a great steam bar—my mom and I split an order of crab legs and spiced shrimp, which were worth the work.

Outer Banks Brewing Station – now that I’m a parent, I really appreciate that family-friendly breweries are popping up all over the place. It’s so nice to be able to grab a drink with friends or family while your kids play nearby. Outside of its huge drink selection (we had the “Daddy Wit” in honor of my Papap whose last name is Whitt) and live music, this place had outdoor games galore in the back—for kids and adults.

I think Nags Head will always hold a special place in my heart—it’s literally what comes to mind first when I think about my childhood summers and my uncle getting us to the beach by 7am and not leaving until dinner time (or later). It’s a local, family beach vacation at its finest.

-J