Hi, all.

My wife and I will be visiting Nags Head, NC in a few weeks to celebrate her 50th birthday. We are staying in Kill Devil Hills. I was wondering if anyone had any specific suggestions on what to do and where to eat while we are there. We have done a little research and it sounds like a dolphin boat tour is a popular and cool thing to do, and there are some nice coastal, natural, and historical attractions to see. We're also looking for a nice fine dining experience for one night and other meals we'd like to take in the local flavor and culture. We will be there for 3 nights (Thurs-Sun). Thanks for any recommendations you can provide!

Chris

This is my favorite place. It’s small and sort of divey but awesome views and great food https://www.nagsheadpier.com/

Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills is one of my families favorite places in the world.

Here’s song of my family’s favorite places:

Places to go:

1. Jockeys Ridge State Park (especially at sunrise or sunset)
2. Wright Brothers National Monument
3. Island Farm on Roanoke Island
4. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island
5. Jennette’s Pier
6. Either Currituck or Bodie Lighthouses (Cape Hatteras if you’re willing to drive down, really fun drive)
7. Chartered drive up to Corolla to see the wild horses and drive on the beach (there’s four or five private enterprises that offer these)


Places to eat:
1. Kill Devils Frozen Custard and Beach Fries
2. Bobs Grill OBX (slogan is Eat and get the hell out)
3. Slice Pizzeria
4. The Kill Devil Grill
5. Surfin Spoon Frozen Yogurt
6. Millers Seafood and Steakhouse

Have fun! Let us know how it went!

There’s a very cool aquarium in Manteo.

I can’t speak to restaurants as it’s been a few years since I’ve been there.

Millers Waterfront seafood was the best seafood I've ever had.

Oh yeah, don’t drive on the beach’s unless you lower your air pressure to 10-15 psi or you’ll wind up on the internet.

Thanks, all! Great suggestions. We have some more research to do.

Agree that Miller's is good food. Found the Miller's on beach road (in KDH) to be better than Miller's Waterfront on the bypass. Not fancy/fine dining by any means, but good food.

For more local color, Sam & Omies in Nags Head and the Jolly Roger in KDH. Jolly Roger used to have excellent breakfasts too.

Agree as well that the aquarium in Manteo is nice, as is a stroll out on Jennette's pier.

We are headed to Corolla in a few weeks. If you have a capable vehicle definitely drive on the beach at Corolla. As mentioned, you will need to lower your tire pressure before doing so. You will get to see the wild horses. We absolutely love it there. There is also the Alligator River National Wildlife preserve a short distance away. We take a ride through there every time we go. We got to see a huge black bear casually walking about 10 feet from us last year. As far as restaurants go, we absolutely love Owens restaurant in Nags Head. Have fun and enjoy. We are headed down this Sunday for a week.

The Kill Devil Grill

I've been to the OBX a dozen times or more. We stay further south but try and time it to hit the Kill Devil Grill on the way in or out or both each time. Their chili is great and you can never go wrong ordering off their special board.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse can give you amazing sunsets if the clouds are right.

We have vacationed in the OBX every year since 2009, loved it, and wound up buying a place in KDH 10 years ago.

There are couple of very unique things that are worth considering:

1) Wright Brother's Memorial National Park. Where it all happened

Flight museum, plus you can walk the grounds where the flights started and landed, with markers. Located on the main drag in KDH https://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm For all the hoopla about "Kitty Hawk" they did their flying in KDH, and it was the telegraph station in Kitty Hawk they reported from that got the news.

2) Wild Horses in Corolla (20 min north of KDH)

For historical reasons, there are horses that live on their own up north of Corolla. They are protected wildlife but there are tours that know how to find them and can get you close. If you're into horses, worth the drive.

Restaurants
We haven't been to any bad ones in recent years. The competition and the OBX market is such that bad ones don't last. I will caution you that the OBX has had issues getting their usual summer labor force in the era of COVID, so there can be long waits for popular times. Most places don't take reservations, unfortunately. What we do in the current situation is to either eat take out, go early/late, or go to places where we can sit at the bar while waiting.

Bottom line: don't wait till someone's starving to head out.

Specific restaurants:
Out and about
We like Barefoot Bernies for sandwiches, The Thai Room for Thai. Kill Devil Grill is another great option in KDH. Dare Devil Pizza is very good also.

Pubs, etc.
Outer Banks Brewing Station for a quick micro-brew and/or casual dinner, Jack Brown's for a burger and pub sort of vibe.

Our current favorite for a fancy meal is the Black Pelican in Kitty Hawk. If you're up in Duck, try the Sunset Grille.

If you like traditional American breakfasts (pancakes, eggs, french toast, bacon, omeletts, etc.) then don't miss "Stack Em High" - two locations KDH and Kitty Hawk, owned by brothers.

Duck Donuts is a great place for doughnuts. Freshly made; you pick the topping, and they put it on while you're there. Several locations, KDH as well as Duck.

Other activities
If you want to rent a sailboat or get lessons, check out Nor' Banks up in Duck.

For a fun shopping trip, if you're up in Duck there's a sound-front boardwalk crammed with jewelry, art, souvenir shops, etc. The Waterfront Shops

If you want a quick trip to an indoor range with rental guns, a short drive inland you'll find The Gun Shack. I usually get in one session there. Guests who have never shot love getting a chance to try it out...and I can always use more practice.

Scratching the surface only. Birding? Golfing? Lighthouses? Beaches? Aquarium? Fishing? Surfing? Waterslide? Wetlands parks? Airplane/helicopter rides? Hang Gliding?

The shrimp & grits at Sugar Creek Seafood is really good.

For seafood the best place is Sam and Omie's. It has been there over 50 years and looks like a dive but has the best steamed shrimp on the beach. Thursday night is prime rib on special and it is cooked perfectly and the steak will hang over the plate. If you want some great Carolina barbeque then High Cotton is the place but it's now take out only. Spanky's is the place if you want a good inexpensive lunch with some good home cooked meals.

Check out Tortguga’s Lie, one of the best burgers I’ve have had. High Cotton BBQ in Kitty Hawk and Miller’s were also very good

Actually headed to the OB right now. After some bourbon touring and a visit with our daughter in NC. Thanks for the intel. We are staying in Buxton but plan on visiting some of the places listed.

I am on the OBX now near KDH. Don't leave without trying Chili Peppers and Tortuga's Lie. Also Basnight's Lone Cedar in Nags Head. All good eats!!