It was Nancy’s birthday weekend.
“Take me to the beach,” she said. “Let’s go to Nag’s Head,”
She didn’t have to ask me twice.
I secured reservations for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and we broke camp from Charlottesville at 9AM Friday morning. Destination Nags Head.
The Outer Banks of North Carolina ranks right at the top of our choices for a getaway. Occasionally, we can stay as long as a week, but busy schedules usually restrict us to 3 or 4 nights. Hey, we’ll take what we can get.
Nags Head is pirate country, or once was. The strange name “Nags Head” comes from the days when ships looked for safe harbor. Lurking pirates often hung a lantern round the neck of an old horse, an old nag, which was visible out at sea. As the captain of the vessel headed for shore, pirates attacked and looted the unsuspecting ship.
Geographically, Nags Head is in the center of that long sliver of land they call the Outer Banks. Some like to go as far north as they can, to Corolla, while others head south to Hatteras Village or Ocracoke. But why drive an extra hour or more when everything you need is in Nags Head? The beaches are as pristine, the ocean waves just as enticing, and there is lots more to do in Nags Head than in those other remote locations. Fishing opportunities abound. There are crabs to catch, sights to see, shopping that needs to be done and some of the finest restaurants are in Nags Head – a number of great restaurants, not one or two.
About as many Virginias head for Nags Head as do the folks from the Tarheel State. This issue of Cville Buzz will reveal some of our favorite places and activities. Compare them with your experiences if you go regularly to the Outer Banks. If not, what are you waiting for?