We were lucky enough to have two quick trips to North Carolina's Outer Banks in the last few months. And I am already trying to plan a weekend trip for the summer! The Outer Banks of North Carolina are such an easy and fun beach getaway for Virginia families, and there are so many fun activities to try with kids in tow.
While I've visited North Carolina's coast many times growing up in Virginia, this year was my experience bringing the children along. At just about 3 hours from RVA, this was an easy and quick road trip for us. We enjoyed the North Carolina coast for three days in Duck, and four days in Buxton. If you love beach vacations, you can definitely spend the entire week in the Outer Banks!
Never been to The Outer Banks? Here's a little information about this section of North Carolina:
The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. You will find Atlantic Ocean beaches like Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Avon and Hatteras. You'll also find beaches on the Pamlico Sound with calm, shallow water. Most of the accommodations in the Outer Banks are vacation rentals, but you'll find a few hotels scattered along the North Carolina coast.
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The Outer Banks are about 3-4 hours from Central Virginia. If you need a pit stop as you travel from Richmond to The Outer Banks, check out these locations along the route:
1.Children's Museum of Virginia: The Children’s Museum of Virginia is 72,000 square feet - the largest museum for kids in Virginia! It has 2 floors of interactive exhibits, including a safety zone, working port, bubble play, and a Tot Lot. Our favorites were the model trains & Toddler Tracks, Happy Paws, My Backyard & Beyond, and Dr. Forces Traveling Energy Extravaganza.
Tickets cost $11 for adults, $10 for kids (2-17) and 2 & under are free. AAA members can save $1 per ticket! Children's Museum of Richmond & Science Museum of Virginia members have reciprocal rates, too.
Location: The Children's Museum of Virginia, 221 High Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704
Distance: 1 hour and 50 minutes from RVA, and 1 hour and 30 minutes from Duck, North Carolina
*Check here for my review.
2.Historic Greenbrier Farms: On over 300 acres, this pick your own farm has strawberries, tulips, peaches, wildflowers, sunflowers, pumpkins & Christmas trees! Greenbrier Farms also has a nursery, play area, event space and a restaurant. While visiting a nearby museum, we added this spot to our trip before heading home. We spent about an hour picking tulips & exploring.
Location: Historic Greenbrier Farms, 225 Sign Pine Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 23322
Distance: 2 hours from RVA, and 1 hour and 16 minutes from Duck, North Carolina
If your children love monster trucks and things that go, you must make a quick pit stop to see the monster trucks at Digger's Dungeon in Currituck County, North Carolina. It's located right off the highway -- 5650 Caratoke Highway -- you will see it.
Visiting Duck, North Carolina with Kids
For our trip, we opted to stay in Duck, North Carolina because we wanted to stay in a resort, not a vacation rental. We stayed in The Sanderling Resort, the only luxury resort in the Outer Banks. Located in between the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound, this OBX resort has 2 pools, a private beac access, full-service spa, multiple restaurants, and a fitness center. While we stayed in the hotel rooms, you also have the options of booking a vacation home on property, and you will still have access to all the resort amenities.
Things to Do with Kids at The Sanderling Resort:
1.The Beach: The Sanderling Resort has private beach access and a large, expansive beach. You'll also find showers right before you climb the stairs over the dunes. This is really helpful when coming back from a day or swimming and playing on the beach.
Duck is also known as being one of the most pet-friendly beaches in the USA. Dogs are allowed to be off-leash on the beach as long as they are under the owner's control. Our hotel the Sanderling is also pet-friendly.
About the Beach: Swimming in this water is not like swimming in Cape Charles, Virginia. The water can be rough on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Outer Banks - it's very similar to Virginia Beach water & waves. But don't let this deter you from visiting OBX with little kids -- it's beautiful and there is so much to do! If you're looking for calmer water, look at the western side of the Outer Banks. The sound tends to be calmer and shallower than the oceanfront. Also, I specifically picked The Sanderling Resort because it also had a zero-entry family pool - my kids could have an easy water play experience in it.
2.The Family Pool: The Sanderling Resort has a zero entry pool for families, and it is completely fenced in. There's also a hot tub in this area with plenty of lounge chairs. The pool area does not have any shade - so prepare for full sun on hot, summer days.
The Sanderling Resort also has an adult only pool with laps, and an adults only hot tub. This pool is separate from the family pool. See first image of the adult pool.
3. Yard Games: The Sanderling Resort has a variety of lawn games in the open space between the family pool, dunes and casual dining area. You will find bocci ball and corn hole, plus space for children to run around. There is also a second, large fire pit by the family pool. These are lit nightly for guests. These activities are complimentary for all guests.
4. Fire Pits: While you can book a room with a private fire pit, The Sanderling Resort has two, large fit pits for all resort guests to use. There is a fire pit by the family pool, and there is a fire pit by the main lodge and adult-only pool.
These fire pits are lit nightly, depending on the weather. You can also purchase a smore's kit from the lodge for $40. The smore's kit comes with chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers and sticks for 4 people. I felt the kits were generous in size -- we were able to use our s'mores kit over 2 nights.
5. Walks & Bike Rides: There are sidewalks all around The Outer Banks, so walking around Duck is really easy with kids. Most of the pathways are wide, and the roads are very flat. It's a pretty easy walk with strollers, on foot or on bikes.
If you'd like to rent a bike directly at The Sanderling Resort, it costs $15 for 2 hours, $25 for half day, and $35 for full day.
6. The Activity Center: The Sanderling Resort's Activity Center is open in peak season between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Guests can sign up for water sport rentals, wild tours, surf lessons, dune hang gliding, kayak tours, bike rentals, sailing rentals, boat cruises, jet ski rentals & tours, and more! I also found the front desk to be very helpful in suggesting local Outer Banks activities for kids and dining options!
Prices vary by activity, and start around $15 per hour.
Things to do with kids in The Outer Banks:
While you don't have to leave your hotel or vacation rental, there are plenty of things to do around the Outer Banks with kids! Since we visited during rainy and cold days, we were actively looking for things to do with our kids.
1.North Carolina Aquarium: North Carolina has three aquariums around the state, and we've been lucky enough to visit two - one in Pine Knolls and one on Roanoke Island. The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is the closest aquarium to Duck, North Carolina. It took us about an hour to drive there from The Sanderling Resort.
At the Roanoke Island aquarium, guests can see wildlife native to the Carolinas, visit the touch tank to feel sting-rays, and explore on the outside trail. This aquarium is stroller friendly.
Tickets: Advanced tickets are reservations are required to visit this aquarium. It costs $12.95 for adults (13-61), $11.95 for seniors (62+), $11.95 for military, and $10.95 for children (3-12). Children under 3 years old can visit for free.
You can also visit Jennette's Pier in Nags Head - it's part of the North Carolina aquariums. See more details about Jennette's Pier below.
2. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: The famous Cape Hatteras Light Station was built in 1870 to protect ships from the most hazardous areas of the Atlantic Ocean, also known as The Graveyard of the Atlantic. It is also a part of the National Seashore of North Carolina.
The lighthouse is undergoing renovations, and it will not be open for climbing until the Summer of 2026.
Heads Up: Buxton Beach Access and the adjacent beach are temporarily closed due to petroleum contamination. Please visit the National Parks website for updates.
3. Bodie Island Lighthouse: Located in Dare, County, this lighthouse stands 156 feet tall, and it's located on the Roanoke Sound side of the peninsula.
You just pull off Route 12, go into a parking lot, and the light house is right there. You can run around it. If you want to go up it, you have to buy tickets.
4. Jennette's Pier: Jennette's Pier offers fishing and youth adventure camps. It costs $14 per adult for all day fishing, and $7 per kiddo to fish. At the pier, you will also find free parking, bathrooms and beach access. Jennette's Pier has a few interactive science exhibits too! You can also walk through the exhibits for $2 per adult, and $1 per kiddo.
On the day of our visit, the water was very rough! The Outer Banks were experience gale force winds of 45 mph, and the ocean swells were 15-18 feet.
Next to Jennette's Pier, there is a public park with playground -- Whalebone Park. The ship themed playground has slides, climbing areas, and an all-accessible surface.
Places to Eat with Kids in Duck, North Carolina:
One of the reasons we picked The Sanderling Resort is because it has multiple dining options on property. We never had to leave the resort unless we wanted to! We ate breakfast at the resort almost every day because it was very good and so convenient. And I highly recommend the pecan waffles at Lifesaving Station. They were devine.
We tried these Duck, North Carolina restaurants with kids:
1.Duck Donuts: The famous Duck Donuts was founded in Duck, North Carolina in 2007. They offer made-to-order donuts in so many flavors and combinations. You can get Bacon in the Sun, Beach Ball, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and more! These donuts are a can't miss if you're visiting The Outer Banks. Duck Donuts is about a 9 minute drive from The Sanderling Resort.
2. Coastal Cravings Bar and Grill: This family-friendly restaurant in Duck, North Carolina serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. You'll find indoor and outdoor seating, plus they have a drive thru window! During peak season, they also have live music and entertainment. Coastal Cravings does not accept reservations. It's about 8 minutes from The Sanderling Resort.
3. The Village Tavern: Located on the Currituck Sound, The Village Table and Tavern serves everything from Seared Halloumi and Fried Calamari to burgers, sandwiches, and meatloaf. The kids menu has classic American fare. This family-friendly restaurant has inside and outside seating, plus they have a bar under the restaurant -- you can walk right to the sound! It's about 5 minutes from The Sanderling Resort.
My kids can be picky eaters - this restaurant kindly accommodated the request of "plain, buttered pasta."
4. The Waterfront Shops: The Duck Water Front Shops have over 27 boutiques and restaurants. This shopping area is located on the sound, and they even have a boardwalk with seating. You have beautiful views the entire time you shop and eat!
My kids favorite store is Duck Toy and Ice Cream. This locally owned gift shop sells toys, coffee, ice cream and treats.
Looking for more kid-friendly fun in The Outer Banks?
If you're looking for more kid-friendly water, check out the sound side of Buxton. We stayed in a vacation house on the sound side, and the water was incredibly calm and shallow. It reminds me of Cape Charles Beach in Virginia.
Buxton is about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Duck, North Carolina. This is a quieter area with a lot of vacation rentals, but the calm water is so perfect for little kids.
things to do with kids in RVA, Virginia family travel, things to do in OBX with kids, North Carolina travel
Did your favorite OBX spot make my guide? If not, send me an email at megan@thewestnednmom.com . Can't wait to check it out!
Looking for more family-friendly vacation destinations around Virginia? Check out my guide on The Best Virginia Getaways for Families.
For more things to do with kids in Virginia and North Carolina, follow our family on @thewestendmom on Instagram!