Outer Banks Articles & Shorts

If you’re like a lot of people – like hundreds of thousands of people – you love the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You might consider us presumptuous drawing this conclusion so quickly, and we would agree with you . . . except for the fact that we’re right. You love the Outer Banks beaches, the Outer Banks water sports, the Outer Banks towns, Outer Banks shops, the Outer Banks events and Outer Banks activities . . . everything about this place (you wouldn’t be on this site if you didn’t). We do too. And, lucky for you, we also love writing about the Outer Banks. Locals and visitors alike value our Outer Banks information.

Our local writers tell you how to negotiate dining out if you have a big crowd. We show you, step by step, how to pick a crab. We’ve written articles highlighting Corolla and the Currituck Outer Banks or about charming Manteo on Roanoke Island or telling you the mysteries of Ocracoke Island. We cover the events happening on the Outer Banks – and, boy, are there a lot of them to cover! Outer Banks activities, everything from water sports to walking tours to lighthouse tours to birdwatching trips, are focal points. Businesses, rituals and legends local to the Outer Banks are detailed in our articles. You’ll find out how that restaurant got its name or the modest beginning of that now-booming business. We give you insider Outer Banks information about staying safe in the ocean, how to navigate those pesky turn lanes, which restaurants to check out for the best Southern cuisine in the area and resorts’ present and future aspirations. Our Outer Banks articles are good reading. You’ll feel like a local with all the knowledge you’re sure to collect! And we’re adding to them all the time. Click on in to learn about the Outer Banks from the locals' side!

 

Embracing Timeless Shopping Traditions at The Cotton Gin

By Hannah Lee Leidy
Over on the Currituck mainland, a flurry of excitement surrounds The Cotton Gin. The flagship store – a fixture and attraction on N.C. Highway 168 – has been closed since October 2019 when a fire engulfed the historic building in flames. However, the store’s long-time owners, the Wright family, haven’t let that (or a... Read More
Country Deli Chicken Salad Sandwich

Sandwiches with a Smile

By Molly Harrison
Building the biggest, most satisfying sandwiches on the Outer Banks since 1990, Country Deli is a local lunch institution. This is a true family business, with a second generation now running the deli and the third generation, the teenage sons, helping out. The guiding principle at Country Deli is to create and serve... Read More

The Best Places to Find Outer Banks Books

By Molly Harrison
From mystery and romance novels to history and coffee-table photography books, nature and travel guides to children’s classics, local bookstores offer a great selection of books in which you can learn more about the Outer Banks or get the feeling that you’re here … even when you’re not. A gracious handful of... Read More

A Moment Captured with Jewelry

By Lexi Holian
Amid the changing tides of the Outer Banks, award-winning designer Gail Kowalski is inspired by the movement and fluidity of the sea. Her handmade jewelry is marked by asymmetry and a motion that you can feel as you look upon the wearable art. Since 1977 Jewelry by Gail has been bringing one-of-a-kind designs to... Read More

So Much More Than a Craft Gallery

By Molly Harrison
You haven’t really visited Ocracoke Island until you’ve wandered down Howard Street and discovered this enchanting gallery. Tucked down an unpaved, tree-covered lane, Village Craftsmen has developed over the last 51 years into a beloved Ocracoke Island shopping tradition known for its exquisite traditional and... Read More