Things to do with kids in the Outer Banks, NC (OBX)

Are you heading to the Outer Banks with your kids this summer? Here are a few not-to-miss opportunities for your family to enjoy. If you’re looking for more ideas of things to do with kids in the Outer Banks, NC, check out outerbanks.org.

S.E.A.L.S.

If you’re up around Corolla and have children ages 5 though 12, do not miss this FREE opportunity. It’s a fun opportunity for the kids to spend 2 hours learning beach safety and health and you’ll learn quite a bit about safety as well. We had a unique opportunity to really get to know the guards and the program when Middle became dehydrated during the program. The guard found us right away and we worked with their staff at the tent to help him feel better. S.E.A.L.S. not only offers the kids an interactive learning experience, but it also offers them the chance to feel comfortable approaching a life guard.

jump aboard one of the many charter, adventure or still boats at the Outer Banks. Featured in this image, the Elizabeth II

Pirate Adventure

Ahoy there, Mateys! Take your kids ages 3-10 (all ages are accepted, but the program was created for this age range) down to Manteo for a real-life pirate experience. The kids will be dressed up in pirate vests and made-up with tattoos and face paint to journey on a real pirate boat out to “sea” (or Sound. But you get it.) Immediately, our kids joined the adventure with about 12 other pirate-friends–they shot water cannons at a bad pirate and made him fall off a boat, they searched for the X that marked the spot of real treasure, enjoyed Pirate Grog (about a sip of ginger ale or cream soda), learned to talk like a pirate, walk like a pirate and dance like a pirate. The staff were fabulous in engaging and including the children and full of laughs and jokes for the adults. Make your reservations in advance because the program fills up quickly and get there 30 minutes early.

Each Insiders’ Guide® to North Carolina’s Outer Banks is packed with useful tips on places to stay, restaurants, events, attractions, fun things to do with the kids, nightlife, recreation, shopping, local history, and much more–as well as information on real estate, education, health care, and more.

Rainy Day Activities

We’ve always stayed up in Corolla. This year (2012) we were disappointed to find that the Corolla theater had closed for the summer. We’re hopeful that they’re updating it and it will be re-opened for 2013. In the meantime, there’s a Kill Devil Hills theater playing the latest releases. If you’re looking for other indoor activities, there are several pottery painting studios, including a cute little ice cream shop in Monterrey Bay (Corolla), Stonie’s Ice Cream, where kids can paint pottery, t-shirts and do other crafts.

Love adventure and history? Check out the Wright Bros. Museum or fly a kite by the birthplace of aviation. Check with OuterBanks.org for information about the Kite Festival in July.

Miniature Golf, Race Car Go-Kart Driving, Bumper Cars

The island is speckled with Miniature Golf courses including enormous, neck-craning-courses-when-you’re-driving-on-routes-12-and-158. The kind your kids will shout “stop the car! I want to go there NOW!” when they see them. Two on our list are Lost Treasure Golf in Kill Devil Hills, a few in Nags Head and a new one in Corolla just south of the Currituck Lighthouse. You can also find Race Car/Go-Kart driving and Bumper Cars in several of these spots and in Timbuck II in Corolla across from Buck Island.

Take your kids fishing or crabbing on the piers or on board a boat on the Sound. You can walk on the beach at night and try beach fishing.

Rent a boat

The ages of your kids will really help you determine which boat is best. We’ve rented pontoons in the past on lakes, bays and sounds because our kids were young and they’re fairly calm. Next year, we plan to rent a kayak for the week and take it out early in the mornings to kayak with the dolphins and flying fish in the ocean. Kitty Hawk Surf Shops which are all over the island have a variety of boating opportunities for rentals, including a cruise for a day on the sound that we also plan to take advantage of next year.

Are you planning a trip to the Outer Banks? What would you like to do with your kids? Leave a comment and let me know!

Image Credits: outerbanks.org

Julie Meyers Pron

mom of 3 and wife living in the Philadelphia suburbs, Julie is a former elementary school teacher and a Public Relations manager. She is the owner/editor of Julieverse, a merchandiser with Chloe + Isabel (jewelryverse.com) and founder VlogMom and Splash Creative Media. A marketing strategist and freelance education and parenting writer by trade, Julie attempts to carve out time to enjoy playing with her kids, PTO, cooking and exercise.