A Fun Girls' Weekend in the Outer Banks

Check in to your hotel on a Friday afternoon and put your feet up for a few moments. If you can, sit outdoors and watch the crashing waves as you set your evening plans.

You can take your pick from a multitude of wonderful restaurants on your first night in the area. If you’re craving seafood with a Caribbean flair, I’d go to Goombays in Kill Devil Hills — their Cabarete Shrimp is to die for. For a lively bar scene, try out Barefoot Bernie’s in Kitty Hawk. Both of these restaurants have great food and colorful décor.

Get ready for a fun-filled day in paradise!

You may choose to head out to the beach early in the morning to catch the brilliant sunrise. If you’d rather catch some Z’s, a lazy morning in your hotel room is another great option. To complete your morning, head down to Ashley’s Espresso Parlour in Kill Devil Hills for a light bite and a coffee. Choose from their extensive list of specialty espresso drinks, or try a single origin drip. While at Ashley’s, browse the local art for sale. You may find a souvenir!

After caffeinating, you can choose how active you want to be. You can go back to your hotel room to sit on the beach with a good book. Or, the area is full of interesting stores, if you’d like to spend your day browsing. Go to Sunsations for all of the beachwear and equipment you’ll ever need. Browse to your heart’s content in one of the many boutique clothing stores, such as Farmer’s Daughter or The French Door. Test out all of the fun seating at Nags Head Hammocks. There’s a fun store for everyone in the region!

For a break from your shopping or beach time, I highly recommend Fish Heads for a late lunch. The seating is primarily outdoors, and if the weather’s good, I recommend sitting out on the pier, listening to the crashing waves below you. They have tasty seafood items including seared ahi, peel-n-eat shrimp and coconut shrimp. The relaxed vibe and great food make Fish Heads one of my favorite places in the world!

When out and about on the weekend in the Outer Banks, be aware that traffic on the two major roads can get thick. Plan accordingly and leave enough time to reach your destination.

When you’re ready for dinner, you can return to one of the options mentioned in Day 1. Or, if you’d like something fancier, try the Blue Water Grill and Raw Bar in Manteo. Many of their specialties include local oysters. For a local flavor, try their Shrimp and Grits.

In the summer, Hurricane Mo’s often has live music in its upstairs bar area, which is a great place to watch the sunset. And their peanut butter pie is a must-have!

Take in your final morning at the beach. Head up to Art’s Place in Kitty Hawk and enjoy an omelet or a breakfast sandwich from their top deck, which looks right out onto the ocean.

My favorite thing to do right before leaving is sitting on the sand and staring out into the water, as if I’m telling it goodbye. I love mornings on the beach with a to-go coffee from Ashley’s, mentioned in Day 2.

Take a final few minutes buying souvenirs — Ben Franklin’s is a great one-stop shop and shouldn’t be missed. If you can stay for lunch, Fish Heads is always great for a second visit. Those who are more time-crunched can grab a to-go sandwich from Ladles Soups.

As you and your friends drive back home, reminisce over the great time you had in the OBX, and start planning your next visit!