Are the Outer Banks like the Cape?

[calgal Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close calgal]

Planning for summer 2011 and aim to spend a week at a Marriott on HHI, plus a week somewhere else in the same vicinity. I was considering OBX, and get the impression it's a lot like the Cape in terms of ambience. Is that correct? Also under consideration is Myrtle Beach, which I perceive as a cross between beach and Orlando. Am I on the right track here? By then the kids will be 18, 11, and 11, if that helps with advice. Thanks!!

[pcgirl54 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pcgirl54]

I would say that OBX is closer to the laid back Cape and I really liked it. I'm from MA and 45 minutes from CC and I have been to Outer Banks.(softer sand)

MB is commerical and there is a lot to do that tweens and teens will like but it is not like OBX nor is like HHI. ( all of these have harder sand)


I like them all for different reasons.

[mschatz Member Find all posts View Profile Close mschatz]

Beautiful but not a lot to do

We found the beaches on the Outer Banks to be beautiful, but did not get a Cape Cod feeling at all. For the most part the Outer Banks are large house after large house on the beach. There is one main road running through the Outer Banks, no real towns. We said the only way we would go back is renting one of these large houses with a couple of other families. Then I reminded my wife that the point of a beach vacation is to get away from people, not be with them!

That being said, we love Cape Cod and are leaving on Friday for our nearly annual week there.

Matt

[laxtimer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close laxtimer]

We love OBX

Planning for summer 2011 and aim to spend a week at a Marriott on HHI, plus a week somewhere else in the same vicinity. I was considering OBX, and get the impression it's a lot like the Cape in terms of ambience. Is that correct? Also under consideration is Myrtle Beach, which I perceive as a cross between beach and Orlando. Am I on the right track here? By then the kids will be 18, 11, and 11, if that helps with advice. Thanks!!

We much prefer the Outer Banks to Cape Cod. Its very tough to compare the Cape to the OBX (both have their own charm). However, we find the locals much friendlier in the Outer Banks. Maybe its southern hospitality. Because of the commercialism, we stay as far away from Myrtle Beach as possible. Although compared to Myrtle, the Outer Banks are quieter, we never had a problem keeping the kids occupied. With kids the age of yours, I would stay in Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk or Nags head. Hatteras Island may be too quiet for them.

[janej Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close janej]

We've been to OBX twice and Cape Cod for the first time this summer. They are very different in my mind. We stayed at the Duck area both times on OBX. Everywhere you go, you can see the ocean or bay nearby. The island is very narrow. The beach was beautiful.

We stayed at the Mashpee and Falmouth area on Cape. We hardly see any beach when driving around. You have to pay to park to go to almost any beach. We did enjoy the area. But we spend most of the time touring. My kids commented that one beach we went had too much sea weeds, another one too many rocks, the third one too many bugs. The coast guard beach was perfect. But we got there too late. It was a long drive from our timeshare resorts too.

I'd go to OBX if I just want to relax and enjoy the beach.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

If you are looking for beach OBX is where to go, history Write bros first flight. The Cape has ferry service to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Now if you really want something out of the ordinary go to P-town. What I also like about the Cape you are about an hours drive to Boston, New Port RI, NH or even Maine.