The Happy Camper Bucket List is about the two things we love the most… traveling and RVing! Each episode, we explore a new destination and showcase the best activities and fun experiences. We also try out a brand-new RV while visiting one of the area’s best campgrounds. Come along with us, Camping World, and Isaac Arron Media and let us help you add these wonderful destinations to your happy camper bucket list!
In this episode, we explore one of the country’s most unique beach communities. How many beach communities can claim to be the birthplace of modern flight, to have wild horses roaming freely along the dunes, or to be the place of the first English settlement in the United States? The answer is one, and only one. On top of that, there are over 100 miles of beautiful coastline waiting to be enjoyed, which makes the Outer Banks one of the best places to take your next beach vacation.
Fun Things to Do in The Outer Banks (Besides Hanging on the Beach)
See The Wild Horses Roam in Corolla
Wild Horses have roamed the dunes and beaches of the outer banks for the last 500 years. Exactly how these horses found their way to the Outer Banks is unknown, but it is likely that they arrived with the first Spanish explorers that landed on the North Carolina coastline. Regardless, the combination of wild horses roaming a beautiful beach and surrounding dunes is hard to resist. It’s fascinating to have horses grazing right next to a vacation beach home.
We had the pleasure of going on a wild horse tour with Wild Horse Adventure Tours. It was an excellent experience. Our guide was really personable, provided lots of information about the horses, and shared lots of great stories about the area. For the tour, we rode in modified Hummers which made getting around the beach easy, but also provided good visibility for everyone on board. Luckily, two horses wandered out onto the beach which was exactly what we were hoping!
Get an Elevated View of the Outer Banks
One of the best ways to take in the breathtaking views of the Outer Banks is to see them from the air. And, one of the most fun ways to see them from the air is by tying a parachute with a long rope to the back of a boat and hitting the throttle a.k.a parasailing! We had a thrilling experience parasailing nearly 500 feet in the air with Hatteras Parasail. From our elevated position, we could see all of Hatteras Island as well as wildlife in the ocean! Parasailing is so fun and a great way to experience the Outer Banks!
Experience the Birthplace of Modern Aviation at the Wright Brothers Memorial
Most of us take for granted the ability to fly to the far reaches of the globe on any day, at any time. Hundreds and thousands of people fly on airplanes every single day without blinking an eye. But, in 1903 when the Wright Brothers successfully completed 4 short flights with the world’s first airplane, it must have seemed like the most incredible achievement in history. And arguably, it was.
Today, you can celebrate and relive their achievement by visiting the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devils Hill in the Outer Banks. You can walk the path of the first recorded flights, see a replica of the airplane as well as venture to the top of the hill and check out the memorial. All in all, the visiting the Wright Brothers National Memorial is a thought-provoking experience and one that is definitely worth checking out!
Visit the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
The iconic black and white lighthouse is a symbol of the Outer Banks and one of the most famous lighthouses in the world. It’s the world’s tallest brick lighthouse and the powerful light beams an incredible 20 miles out into the ocean. The lighthouse is one of the most popular attractions in the Outer Banks and worth a visit! While you’re there, push yourself by climbing the 257 stairs to the top of the lighthouse. Make it to the top and you’ll be rewarded with amazing views (and hopefully a nice breeze to cool you off 🙂 ).
Where to Camp
There are many wonderful campgrounds all along Highway 12, and what works best for you will largely depend on what part of the islands you plan to spend the most time. For this episode, we spent time at Camp Hatteras RV Resort. Camp Hatteras is a large RV resort that offers sites facing both the sound and the ocean. The park was clean and well maintained and we loved that you could get on the water right from your RV. There are also lots of other great amenities including an outdoor pool, indoor pool, kiddie pool, basketball court, tennis courts, playground, and a Jacuzzi!
The RV
For this episode, we checked out a Pioneer 5th Wheel. This is a wonderful RV with plenty of space and features that truly enhance the camping experience. We loved the outdoor kitchen, and while not a unique feature, it makes being outside even more enjoyable. The living area of the RV was good and the swiveling big screen TV made it easy to get comfortable to enjoy the game of movie night. As with most fifth wheel, there was plenty of storage making it easy to bring all of your gear with you.
Want More of The Happy Camper Bucket List?
The Happy Camper Bucket List Ep. 1 – America’s Historic Triangle
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Our family loves the Outer Banks of NC especially down near Buxton, NC. Our first camping trip was to Buxton and we made a ton of memories!
Awesome! It is such a fun and unique area! Thanks for reading and for sharing 🙂