Exploring Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk is located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Kitty Hawk is home to year-round residents and vacationers.  Kitty Hawk has so much to offer from the beaches, to the maritime forest and its village.

Kitty Hawk became famous due to the Wright Brothers first flight that took place in Kill Devil Hills in 1903.  After the flight, the brothers walked to Kitty Hawk to send a telegram sharing their success.  This is why Kitty Hawk is often thought of as where the first flight occurred.

While visiting Kitty Hawk you need to plan time to visit the Duck Woods Country Club, the beautiful beaches, fishing at the Kitty Hawk Pier, and to take time to explore Kitty Hawk Woods.  A hidden treasure is located at the Aycock Brown Welcome Center which is home to the newest monument in the Outer Banks “The Century of Flight”.

There are a variety of restaurants located in Kitty Hawk from Seafood, Mexican, Sushi and even the classic John’s Drive In.  There is something to please even the pickiest eaters in your group.
   
You will love the beauty and friendliness of Kitty Hawk.  One trip to this fun city will make you want to come back to visit again and again and even decide to relocate and call Kitty Hawk your home.

Visiting the Outer Banks in the Off Season

As summer is quickly coming to a close I want to share with you a local’s secret here in the Outer Banks.  Something you should not miss is the off season in the Outer Banks.  The weather in the fall is usually in the 60’s and 70’s and the beaches are less crowded.  The locals are friendly, the pace relaxed and there are always great restaurants and stores open in the off season.

In fact, most locals will tell you the off season is the perfect time of the year to visit the Outer Banks.   Imagine having the whole beach to yourself as you take a morning walk.  You have the beauty of the ocean, and peace and quiet all around.  This is my favorite time of year to walk on the beach, it is such a wonderful feeling to stroll without tripping over people everywhere and you will feel like we put the beach there just for you!  

Not only do you have the beach to yourselves, this is the perfect time of year to find seashells.  Locals will tell you they spend the fall and winter exploring the beach and there are lots of treasures to find.  Whelk shells are plentiful as well as helmet conchs, scallops, olive shells, moon snails and countless number of other shells and sea glass. 

After your walk, you can go into town and have a nice lunch, schedule a massage or go shopping.  Yes, some places shutdown for the off season, but never fear there are always wonderful stores and restaurants open.  

 If you don’t feel like rushing out, the beach houses in our area are usually loaded with movies, books, games and even a hot tub to relax the day away.    Want a little romance, light the fire in the fireplace and have a little wine.  There is nothing like snuggling up by the fire with your special someone.

Another plus, the locals are extra friendly, the service quick and the prices are affordable.  When it is off season, we are all relaxed.   Not to say that you don’t have this feeling in the summer but you have a lot less competition in the fall and winter.   

A lot of the child friendly activities are closed unless you love the movies!  You can always find an adventure at Wright Brothers National Memorial, The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum or the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.  

The off season may not be for you, but if you like to escape from the crowds and have a quiet vacation in a beautiful location.  Then join us with our best kept secret, “off season in the Outer Banks”.  This may be the retreat you’re looking for this fall or winter. 

Fact’s about the Outer Banks

• The Outer Banks was named the #1 Best Family Beach in the U.S.A.

•  On December 17, 1903 The Wright Brothers took their first flight in Kill Devil Hills.

• The perfidious seas off the Outer Banks combined with a large number of shipwrecks have given the nickname to our seas “Graveyard of the Atlantic".

• Dare County covers over 800 square miles, covering 391 square miles of land and 409 square miles of water.

• On November 22, 1718, Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard the pirate, was killed by Lt. Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy, in Ocracoke Inlet.

• Over 400 species of birds have been identified at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, located on Hatteras Island.

• Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head is the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States.

• Wild Ponies still run wild along the coast of North Carolina, they are descendants of Spanish mustangs and have been thought to have been here as early as 1523.

• People in Duck are known to run to Duck Doughnuts and then walk back home with hot fresh doughnuts.

• The Outer Banks are a series of barrier islands made up entirely of sand - undersea sand bars.