We recently sat down with Outer Banks Child Magazine publishers KC McAvoy and Lee Hux, and we were amazed at the wonderful kid-friendly tips and activities they had to share about our very own Outer Banks! Outer Banks Child Magazine is a free quarterly print magazine providing residents and visitors to the Outer Banks with kid-centric articles, information, and an up-to-date kid-friendly calendar of events.
The magazine can be found in a variety of libraries, local businesses, coffee shops, and visitor centers throughout the Outer Banks, and an electronic version is published on the website. Here's what they had to say about some of the top OBX kid questions!
1. What are the Must-Do Activities for Families Visiting Corolla for the first time?
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Outer Banks Child:
- Of course, going to the beach is the number one activity for families visiting the area for the first time! Build a sandcastle, fly a kite, or hunt for ghost crabs. Outer Banks Child Magazine Summer 2015 issue (available in stands or online) has two great articles on going to the beach.
- But there are a ton of great things to do aside from the beach as well. A visit to one of the four lighthouses is something that every family should do, whether on their first or 100th visit to the Outer Banks.
- A visit to Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head, Nags Head Woods in Kill Devil Hills, Pea Island Refuge, and Alligator River Wildlife Refuge all offer a great opportunity to see a different side of the Outer Banks and they all offer educational programs (which change seasonally) for all ages. Or visitors can guide themselves if they choose.
- Watersports, including kayaking, stand up paddle boarding (SUP), jet skiing, parasailing, and sailing on the sound are fun for older kids. There are several places (including Nor'Banks Sailing in Duck and Kitty Hawk Kites) that offer rentals of kayaks, paddle boards, and jet skis.
- For running families, Outer Banks Runcations offers a series of 5k races every week in the summer. The Town of Duck has family friendly events all summer long at their amphitheater and on the town green, there's also a great boardwalk along the sound in Duck.
- The Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo is great to explore with kids of all ages. In the summer, they offer weekly children's programs.
- Island Farm, Festival Park, and the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island are great places to check out if you're spending the day in Manteo. A visit to one of the local fishing piers where you can spend an hour or the whole day fishing, or just take a walk down the pier and see what's being caught that day. Jennette's Pier in Nags Head offers weekly educational programs.
2. What Are Some Favorite Kid-Friendly Things To Do Specifically in Corolla?
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Outer Banks Child:
- A family visit to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, and the Whalehead Club are great places to visit in Corolla. Be sure to take a walk along the boardwalk near the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, if you decide to visit this. The Wildlife Center for Education has educational programs for all ages. Whalehead Club has Whalehead Wednesdays throughout the summer, which is a ton of fun.
- Miniature golf is always fun for kids (and adults!), and there's even a real grass miniature golf cours in Corolla.
3. Do You Recommend Any Children's Stores in the OBX that Parents/Kids Should Visit?
Outer Banks Child:
- Pirates and Pixies (in Nags Head and Kitty Hawk) and Monkey Business (located in Kill Devil Hills) are both amazing toy stores. Kitty Hawk Kites also sells more than just kites - they have a huge selection of toys and games and have locations throughout the Outer Banks.
- For clothes, Carolina Keiki in Duck, My Little Sunshine in Kitty Hawk, and Rock-a-Bye Baby in Nags Head are some of our favorites!
4. Are There Any Day Camps Kids Can Participate In If They're Visiting For the Week?
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Outer Banks Child:
- There are several day camps available for visitors in the summer. In Corolla, the Corolla Lifesaving Association has the SEALS camp that is a gree two-hour ocean safety mini-camp for kids interested in learning about the ocean, first-aid, marine life, and physical fitness. Local ocean rescue lifeguard instructors teach the camp. www.Corollalifesaving.org has more information on Corolla SEALS.
- Outerbanks.com offers more camp and day camp information, and we offer an online calendar just for camps.
5. What Do You Recommend Families Do in Corolla on the Occasional Rainy Day?
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Outer Banks Child:
- Rainy days are great for checking out some of the local shops. If you're looking for something inside, visit the Wildlife Education Center in Corolla. Or check out Children at Play, a children's museum in Kitty Hawk.
- Rainy days are also great for art projects, and there are several studios around the Outer Banks that offer make-and-take type projects for kids. Glaze and Go-Nuts in Kill Devil Hills has pottery and canvas painting, Hang 12 Art in Kill Devil Hills has kids art classes too. In Corolla, check out What the Shell for crafts for kids - a perfect activity for an inside type of day!
6. What Are Some Annual Events That Are Kid-Friendly?
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Out Banks Child:
- There are a lot of annual events that are family-friendly on the Outer Banks. Outdoors Day at the Wildlife Center for Education in April, KidsFest in May, Outer Banks Watermelon Festival in July, Outer Banks Pirate Festival in August, Aviation Day in August, Art-rageous Art Extravaganza in September, Outer Banks Seafood Festival in October, Duck Jazz Festival in October, Mustang Music Festival in October, and WinterLights in December are just a few of the annual activities for families.
- There are also annual kite festivals, surfing competitions, art shows, craft fairs, and more, which are all fun for kids and adults! Easter, July 4th, and Christmas also offer great annual activities all around the Outer Banks. Check the Outer Banks Child calendar for the most up-to-date information about family-friendly events around the Outer Banks.