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!

 

Enchanting Manteo

By Beth P. Storie
These days, it might seem naïve to describe a town as enchanting. That word is often reserved for made-up tales, right? Ones where you also expect magic and fanciful events to occur. But the story of Manteo, North Carolina, isn’t make believe. It’s a very real town on a very real island, and locals and visitors alike... Read More

Fresh Flavors for Summer

By Lexi Holian
For families that return to the Outer Banks each year, tradition is what makes the summer special. One long-standing Nags Head tradition is heading to Fatboyz Ice Cream & Sweet Treats, the classic walk-up ice cream shop across from Jennette’s Pier. If you’ve ever been to the pier, then you know Fatboyz. The beach... Read More

Adventures in Ocracoke

By Hannah Lee Leidy
As you expect of a travel destination that can only be reached via ferry or private plane or boat, everything about Ocracoke Island comes with a touch of adventure. This is a place where “typical” isn’t really in the vocabulary. If you want what’s expected, you might be in for a (worthwhile!) surprise. A big part of... Read More

A Different Rush with Shopping in Duck

By Hannah Lee Leidy
Ah, Duck. When you enter the town, following that corridor of N.C. 12 under the canopy of live oak trees both calms the senses and stirs the spirit. For one, the scene is an image of soundside tranquility. An inviting pedestrian path hugs the town’s length, and bits of the Currituck Sound peek out between the shops... Read More

Bookselling in a Time of Crisis and Beyond

By Molly Harrison
It takes a special kind of person to be an independent bookseller. The job requires large amounts of passion, creativity, hard work, people skills, tenacity and resiliency, and at no time has that been more apparent than during the pandemic. During the COVID-19 quarantines, many people were saved from the madness of... Read More