There’s a lot to the Outer Banks. North from Carova, at the border with Virginia, and south to Ocracoke, that’s well over 100 miles of some of the best beaches in the world!
Of course, the Outer Banks is much more than just our beaches though. From the beauty of the sound to the incredible maritime forests and stunning landscapes to explore, the OBX is full of natural wonders.
There is so much to see and do on the Outer Banks that a lot can get missed, especially those things that are maybe a little less obvious, so we’ve put together a list of what we’ll call the hidden gems or less common and unusual things to do on the Outer Banks.
Below you will find a few of our favorite hidden gems and unusual things to do in the Outer Banks such as …
- The Beach Almost No One Knows About—The Jug Handle Beach
- Soundside Beach Jockey’s Ridge State Park
- The Other Sand Dune—Run Hill
- Disc Golf in a Maritime Forest
Learn more about these points of interest below.
The Beach Almost No One Knows About—The Jug Handle Beach
When word came that NCDOT was getting close to finishing the Jug Handle Bridge that would bypass the S Curves north of Rodanthe, US Fish & Wildlife told everyone not to worry, that they would put a parking lot in at the north end of the bridge and the public would be able to access the beach.
They were true to their word; the parking lot is there and although it’s a bit of a trek to the beach, that trek is worth the effort.
Very few people seem to know about this beach making it find its place on our list of unusual things to do on the Outer Banks even if spending the day at the beach seems like the most obvious thing to do on the Outer Banks.
A couple of things that are important to consider when visiting this beach:
Carry food, water, drinks, and anything that will be needed; the nearest store is a good four miles away and there are no restrooms at the parking lot—although USFW did indicate they have plans to put one there at some point in time.
Depending on the time of year, there may be areas of the beach closed off because of sea turtle nesting activity. But even when that’s the case, you are sure to find a spot to yourself to enjoy this incredible beach away from the crowds.
Soundside Beach Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Our Atlantic Ocean beaches are amazing, but also quite powerful. If you are looking for calmer waters, the beaches on the soundside are the place to be!
These waters are not only calm, but they can also stay relatively shallow 20 or 30 yards out or more—perfect for those looking for a calm Outer Banks water experience.
What may be the best soundside beach on the Outer Banks is on the south end of Jockey’s Ridge State Park off West Soundside Road in Nags Head.
There’s a parking lot, the beach is sandy and the water is shallow and perfect for those with kids and those wanting to wade in the calm waters of the Outer Banks sound.
The Other Sand Dune—Run Hill
As hidden gems go, Run Hill is about as hidden as it gets. There’s a small grass strip by the side of 10th Avenue in Kill Devil Hills that serves as the parking area for the main entrance.
It is a North Carolina State Natural Area, meaning it’s protected land, but there are no facilities, no trails, and almost no information from the state. What’s there is 127 acres of living sand dune, meaning it’s migrating and always in motion.
But calling Run Hill a sand dune is a disservice to how diverse the environment is. Patches of dense forests dot the landscape. Birds flit through the trees; in the dune environment an occasional black snake is seen—they’re harmless. Tracks of raccoon and possum are common and there’s an occasional coyote track as well.
The entrance on 10th Avenue directs hikers west. Get to the top of the first ridge and find a trail to the left or south to get a sense of how wonderfully complex the ecosystem of the dune system is. That will lead to two freshwater ponds at the base of the dunes.
Disc Golf in a Maritime Forest
Located at the end of a dirt road that parallels the First Flight High School athletic fields in Kill Devil Hills, the Casey Logan Disc Golf Course was created with the idea that the course would take full advantage of a beautiful maritime forest filled with towering trees.
As a consequence, the course is considered challenging—those trees create some unique hazards—and beautiful. So beautiful that some people simply choose to walk through the course rather than play it.
If disc golf in a maritime forest isn’t an unusual thing to do in the Outer Banks, we aren’t sure what is!