A Weekend In Nags Head, North Carolina

Looking for a quick weekend trip within driving distance of Washington, DC? Consider Nags Head, North Carolina in the Outer Banks.

Since living in DC, Dane and I have craved the beach. There is something really therapeutic about the ocean for both of us, and with all that we are going through right now, a weekend trip felt like the perfect balm. We decided to heard toward Nags Head, North Carolina for a some time away, because it was within driving distance for a weekend getaway. 

A Weekend In Nags Head, North Carolina

Neither of us had ever visited Nags Head before, so we didn’t know what to expect. Being able to bring our dogs with us was important, so we opted for a dog friendly home rental on Airbnb. Nags Head rentals seem to be a popular option, as we saw hundreds while we were there. We waned to be right on the beach, but there are so many available rentals and price ranges that regardless of needs in a rental (dog friendly, able to accommodate a large family, proximity to the beach, etc), you will be able to find something.

Nags Head Rentals

We had no agenda for the trip other than relaxing and spending time with one another. I don’t think either of us were prepared to cry when we saw the ocean again, but that’s what happened. We made it just in time for sunset on our first night and it is hard to say who was happiest out of the four of us. 

The beaches in the Outer Banks are really wide and long, which is great for dog owners who want to tire out their pups with long beach walks/runs and sunset strolls.

Nags Head, NC

Our first day, despite loading up on reef safe sunscreen, we got burned, so we opted to do a little sight seeing on day two.

Cape Hatteras

We visited Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras, and the Wright Brothers Memorial. They are all maintained by the National Park Service and are really cool to see in person. We are definitely history nerds, so I can’t speak for everyone, but it’s worth a visit while you’re in town in my opinion! 

Wright Brothers Memorial

Bodie Island 

The only complaint (and it’s truly not even a complaint, just a preference) was that a lot of the restaurants seemed to be a little too kitschy for our taste. We enjoyed the fish tacos at Mama Kwan’s and the açaí bowls at Hattera Bowls. We packed a cooler with items to cook breakfast at our house and make coffee, but I think next time we would pack more food to cook other meals at home, too.

Not only was our visit to Nags Head soothing, it is a place I would return to again and again for a weekend getaway from the NOVA area. We would highly recommend it for couples and families alike!

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy Visiting Mount Vernon or A Trip To Leesburg, VA