If you love beautiful, quiet beaches then you’ll love today’s post where I’m sharing our Outer Banks Family Beach Vacation. I’m also sharing a full guide on what to do at the Outer Banks including the best things to do with kids, restaurants to try, and must-see spots.
Outer Banks Family Beach Vacation – Our Favorite Spots
Happy Wednesday lovelies! Although I miss the smell of salty ocean water and the feel of sand beneath my toes, we had an absolutely wonderful time on our Outer Banks Family Beach Vacation and I can’t complain in the least.
We typically go in the early fall when there are less crowds, but even right now which is one of their busier months, the crowds were still minimal (which was awesome!)
Our Favorite Spots to Visit on The Outer Banks
Hatteras Island, with Avon and Salvo are our personal favorite spots on the Outer Banks. These communities offer the perfect vacation getaway for couples and families who are looking for a great time at the beach. We also always try to work in a visit to Ocracoke Island, which is considered “The Treasure of the Outer Banks”. It’s an adorable, historical town that is only accessible by ferry, and it really is such a neat little town. A visit to the lighthouse and Howards Pub & Restaurant is a must, if you ever head that way!
During this trip I was able to spend so much quality time with both the kiddos, my husband, and all my husband’s side of the family, whom we don’t get to see very often. We all stayed in a beach house together, and it was really nice to catch up with everyone. One of the highlights of our trip was getting to meet our nephew for the first time, and it melted my heart that both our boys really grew attached to him over the week. Both my husband and I definitely enjoyed spoiling him!
The other highlight of my trip? Getting to eat yummy, freshly-caught fish tacos courtesy of my awesome Father-in-law! I mean, is there anything better? Sorry, no photos on this one, they got devoured too quick! 😉
Most of my time was spent out on the beach lounging under an umbrella, building sandcastles with the kiddos, playing in the water, and watching the men fish for fresh seafood!-ha
For the past year, my oldest son has begged his Papaw to help him catch a shark and ironically enough we ended up catching a total of 5 baby sharks. (No worries, we threw them all back in unharmed!) It was the coolest thing ever to see both our boys’ faces light up when they caught one. If I’m being honest, I think my husband was pretty psyched too! 🙂
We also ventured out for lunch one afternoon and visited a local restaurant favorite, The Mad Crabber. It was such a nice restaurant for both adults and families alike, and offered a delicious assortment of seafood items on the menu.
The kiddos really enjoyed coloring on the table until our order arrived, and I think any parent can appreciate this!
I ordered the crab cake basket, and it was so yummy! I especially loved the homemade hush puppies! 🙂
All in all, it was a wonderful trip and we definitely didn’t want to leave. On a happier note, my husband’s parents and aunt are the new owners of a Beach home in Salvo, so I foresee many family trips to the OBX over the next several years and I’m excited for all the memories that will be made there.
My husband and I sat and watched this beautiful sunrise one morning, and it was so nice to just sit and take in all the beauty of the world around us. I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful, fun-filled Summer and are able to take some time off to relax with your loved ones. Spending time with those you love is what it’s all about.
Hope you enjoyed reading about our Outer Banks Family Beach Vacation. I’d love to know if you’ve ever visited in the comments below!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!- Cara
P.S. If you’re looking for more family-friendly areas to visit, check out my other travel posts over here!
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My goodness, the pics from your trip are great! The kids looked like they had an absolute ball!
Thank-you! They had a blast! Playing out in the ocean was their favorite part! 🙂
I LOVE the OBX. Growing up in NC, our family went all the time for vacation. Your pics are gorgeous!
Thank-you! It’s seriously our favorite vacation spot! 🙂
The OBX is our #1 fav spot anywhere in the country! We’re going twice this summer and after seeing your recap I cannot wait! 🙂
Ours too! Hope you have a wonderful time! 🙂
I am a beach girl all the way!! love the pics of those precious babies!! Looks like y’all had a great time.
Thank-you! We had a blast! 🙂
Beach pictures are always so beautiful.
…. so PLEASE tell me baby sharks were OK & put back in the water.
& how does that work? If a baby shark is around, isn’t momma near? Or no? I do mountains – not beaches – so I dont know these things.
Yes, of course- they were fine and we tossed them back immediately after taking a few pics! 🙂 It’s actually illegal to catch and keep sharks under a certain size due to the fishing regulations. (we wouldn’t have anyways, though haha) & usually the baby sharks venture out closer to the beach, where the larger sharks generally stay out in the deeper part.
This beach looks wonderful! My husband and I have listed this on our bucket list.
It’s a great vacation spot, LeighAnn! 🙂
It’s been a while since I’ve been to OBX but it was always beautiful when I went! Love that you guys had such a great vacation and beat a lot of the crowds 🙂
Thank-you! We had so much fun and I’m all about going when there aren’t heavy crowds!
Ahh, you’re making me want to run away to the beach!
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?! I bet Jack will love the beach when he gets a little older! 🙂
Sounds like you guys had the best time and tons of yummy food! I love me some fish tacos and I bet they were even better with fresh caught fish!
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lily
Oh my gosh, they are the best Lily! Soo yummy! 🙂
Such a great family outing! I think to find a beach with no crowd is just priceless! Wonderful photos! Your kids are so adorable.:)
Thank-you so much! It’s always great to be out on the beach with not a lot of crowds!
What a nice looking beach! And baby sharks?! Oh my gosh that’s the coolest, I’d be psyched too!
xoxo, Sam | thehauntedhousewife.com
Thank-you! They were surprisingly adorable! I thought they’d be all scary like the big ones, but they just had tiny nubs for teeth-haha
Beach vacations are the best!! Yay for relatives owning a beach home!!! Precious memories in these precious pictures!!
Yes, we are super excited to make this a yearly trip! 🙂
Looks like so much fun! I love beach family trips! <3 Plus it's the best with no crowds!
It was a lot of fun! The beaches weren’t crowded and we felt like we had the whole beach to ourselves-haha 🙂
I live in NC so we head to the outerbanks often, we prefer in the fall so not so busy. I will have to try out the mad crabber next time we go! nom : )
That’s awesome! It was really good! Their hushpuppies are amazing!:)
Sounds like you had an amazing time and this looks so lovely! I definintely need to put the Outerbanks on my travel wish list! Hope you are having a wonderful week! XO -Kim
Yes, you should definitely visit! It was a blast! 🙂
Love the photos. It must be the best feeling ever to look into the face of you smiling kids 🙂
Thank-you! It definitely is! 🙂
Love the Pictures. Maybe we can go to the Beach with you sometime. This looks really nice.
Thanks! Yep, we should!
Ah, I just LOVE the outer banks! I wish we didn’t now live so far away from there 🙁 Looks like you all had a wonderful time!
Isn’t it amazing!? So much fun! 🙂
So, so beautiful! You have me over here dreaming of being at the beach right now. We are staying in Corolla in the fall with my brother and his kiddos so we are looking very forward to spending time with everyone and relaxing and all of the cousins get to play! I’m pretty sure I will be terrified if the boys are catching sharks. but they would think it was awesome..lol!
Haha I was worried at first too, but they barely had any teeth in their mouth, and it was just little nubs so not too scary! 🙂 Hope you enjoy your fall vacation seeing all your family!
So jealous right now! Looks like y’all had a wonderful time! I am glad you back though! 🙂
You all should go sometime, Erin! It’s such a great vacation spot! 🙂
It looks like you had an amazing time! I love the Outer Banks!
We had so much fun! It’s such a beautiful beach! 🙂
I want to do a road trip to the Outer Banks! You’re pictures are beautiful!
Thank-you! The drive over to the outer banks is so beautiful too! 🙂
What a great place to vacation! Growing up that was one of my favorite places to go. It still holds a very special place in my heart!
Aw, so glad to hear that! It’s a beautiful spot!
Looks like such a fabulous vacay with the fam, and dare I say those baby sharks are too cute! I’ve been telling my husband I’d like to make a tradition of going to the OBX when our kid(s) are old enough to make memories there <3
Green Fashionista
It was wonderful! The baby sharks were surprisingly cute!-haha I thought they’d be scary like the big ones, but they had little tiny nubs of teeth. That would be a great tradition, and we definitely love visiting each year! 🙂
What a fabulous family time! We just came back from a beach holiday ourselves. Always so nice relaxing and catching up and doing great beach stuff with the kids. Looks like a great place to be!
It was so much fun! Glad to hear you all were able to have a great vacation as well! 🙂
When we lived in DC our neighbors always vacationed at the Outer Banks in the summer. It was sooooo on our bucket list and then before you know it, we moved and are now on the west coast. Sad I never got to spend time there, especially after seeing your photos! I’m dying over that big fat smile your littlest has eating !!
Aw, hopefully you’ll get to make the trip one day! I’m sure the west coast is amazing too, though! 🙂 He’s definitely rotten! haha
I’ve always loved spending time on the beach in North Carolina! This looks like it was such a fun trip. And all the food you ate sounds good. I’m ready to hop on a plane now! 🙂
It was amazing! Hope you get to visit soon! 🙂
It looks like it was a lovely trip!
*** I do hope that the sharks were not harmed??
Thank-you! Yes of course, we tossed them back in immediately! They were just fine! 🙂
What a beautiful place! It looks like a great time and I can’t believe they were able to catch baby sharks!
Thank-you! Yes it was pretty amazing! Now they will expect it every time-haha 🙂
Great photos! It sounds like a wonderful family trip. So awesome your family bought a house there!
We might try to visit Ocracoke on the way to Emerald Isle next year!
Thanks! We are so excited to make it a regular yearly trip! Ocracoke is such fun little place! 🙂
Your pictures are beautiful! I’ve never been that far up the east coast ( only florida) but it looks like a great place!!
Thank-you! It’s definitely a beautiful place! Hope you get to visit one day! 🙂
Seriously beautiful pictures! I am so happy you had such a good vacation…it sounds magical!
Thank-you! I definitely miss it right about now! 🙂
Looks like so much fun!!!!
It was, Stephanie! Great to getaway! 🙂
Love OBX! I went last year and it was such a nice vacation! Looks like you had a great time!
Laura | Laura Aime Vous
We had an awesome time! Glad you all were able to visit last year! 🙂
What a fantastic trip! I haven’t been there in years but it’s such a great setting!
It is a great vacation spot!
I have never been to Outerbanks but it looks gorgeous! I have always read about the area in Nicholas Sparks books and I just know it would be for me. Looks like you guys had such a great time!
Coincidentally I always think about that when I’m there. They have the wild ponies on the island which is really cool, but I’ve unfortunately never spotted them! We always have a blast though! 🙂
I’ve heard so many excellent things about Outerbanks, I’d love to go!! xx Adaleta Avdic
It’s a great vacation spot! Hope you get to visit some day! 🙂
I love OBX! It’s so beautiful. And that’s so neat about the baby sharks!
Me too! One of my fave vacation spots for sure! 🙂
What a fun trip!! We’ve never been to the Outerbanks, but it looks like a gorgeous place to go! I can’t believe those shark pictures. My family would have loved that. Looks like your boys had a blast and now I’m craving crab cakes. Glad your trip was so filled with so much family fun 🙂
Thanks! It’s a great vacation spot especially for families! Hope you get to visit one day! 🙂
What a fantastic trip! And that beach is empty! How fun to be on the beach by yourself…and shark catching definitely my highlight!
Yes! I always feel like we have our own private island, which is awesome! 🙂
WOW! IT looks incredibly beautiful there. What a great trip.
http://www.amemoryofus.com
It’s so nice, Darcy! It always feels like we have the beach to ourselves which is amazing! 🙂
Visiting NC is on my bucket lists to do one of these days. It looks like y’all had an amazing time! I can’t wait to be on the beach soon. And catching those sharks! Brave!
We had an amazing trip! Hope you get to visit soon, it’s a great vacation spot! 🙂
Oh my gosh that beach is just so beautiful! It looks like a painting, so vibrant and clear! I feel like it would be so relaxing to just sit on the sand and watch the ocean!
La Belle Sirene
It is beautiful, Courtney! That’s always my favorite part is just going out to the beach to sit and watch the ocean- soo peaceful! 🙂
What a perfect vacation. Love every picture. Your boys are precious. I so need to visit NC. IT looks amazing.
Xoxo,
Angelle
http://www.dashingdarlin.com
Thank-you! It’s a great place to vacation, Angelle! 🙂
Looks like some serious fun!
We had a blast, Emmy! You all should visit one day if you can- it’s a great vacation spot! 🙂
This looks like the best kind of family vacation… it’s exactly what I feel like doing over the 4th of July… but somehow I think it would be less relaxing?? Regardless, it looks like you all had a great time!
It was perfect! Always good to get away from the real world for a few days! 🙂
I love Outer Banks!! It is one of my all time favorite beaches!
Sarah
http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/
That’s awesome, Sarah! It’s my favorite too!