The Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina

For years, my family and I vacationed in the Outer Banks (OBX), and those trips left me with treasured memories. When warm weather arrives, the region comes alive with outdoor concerts, long beach days, dinners at local restaurants, and afternoons browsing coastal shops filled with art, books, and one-of-a-kind gifts.

One of my favorite pleasures is sinking my toes into the sand with a good beach read in hand. A few years ago, as my husband and I began counting down to retirement, we bought a beach house in Kill Devil Hills. The town’s unusual name has several possible origins, including stories about strong “kill-devil” rum and the “killdeer” shorebird once common along the dunes.

Wilbur and Orville Wright

Kill Devil Hills is best known as the place where Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first powered airplane flight on December 17, 1903. On my daily walks near our house, I can see the Wright Brothers National Memorial rising above the landscape.

Manteo, Andy Griffith, and Blackbeard

I also love nearby Manteo, a quaint coastal town known for its harbor, Kill Devil Rum, and deep ties to early OBX history. The town is named for Manteo, a Native American from the Croatan tribe who served as a liaison between Roanoke Colony settlers and the indigenous peoples. He received the title Lord of Roanoke.

Manteo is also connected to beloved actor Andy Griffith, who made the area his home, and to the legends of Blackbeard, the infamous pirate associated with the waters of OBX.

Visitors can still enjoy Blackbeard-themed boat tours from Manteo’s harbor.

Lighthouses, Wild Horses, and Coastal Landmarks

The OBX stretches for miles along the shoreline, moving at a relaxed pace from sunrise to sunset. There are six lighthouses in OBX. Of those, visitors can climb the Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras and Currituck Beach lighthouses for sweeping coastal views, then head to Corolla to see the wild Spanish mustangs roaming freely along the dunes.

A 4x4 tour is one of the best ways to spot these horses, descendants of Spanish mustangs brought to North America in the 16th century. After centuries of adapting to the coastal environment, they are now protected under law as a unique herd in North Carolina. The area also offers landmarks such as historic Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head and Jockey’s Ridge State Park, home to the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast.

For me, the OBX is more than a summer destination—it is a cherished part of my home state of North Carolina, and a place filled with beauty and history. When I retire in December 2027, I plan to split my time between the Virginia and North Carolina coasts while staying connected to the OBX writing community.