What's to Love in the Outer Banks
- By Allen Wright
- Published 08/16/2008
- Destinations
- Unrated
Part of the fun of the getting Outer Banks vacation rentals is the fact that it's relatively close to mainland civilization, but you still feel disconnected enough to where you can relax and enjoy being away from the grind of every day life. People tell me that they attribute this to several factors, the first being the unique construction requirements on the islands that give it an 'other wordly' feel.
If you've never been there, the houses are all up on foundation of huge 6x6 posts to keep them out of the water during storm surges and flooding. Being at sea level has it's advantages (namely that you're right on the ocean), but it has it's disadvantages as well, and that can be seen in the Outer Banks by the extraordinary measures the must take to keep their beach houses dry. Driving around, you're in the midst of massive houses that rise fifty or sixty feet in the air, some with lattice around the bottom to make for a more private area or conceal storage buildings. If you get a chance to watch a construction crew while you're out there, grab a cold beverage and enjoy the show.
The other feature of the Outer Banks that
makes it feel different is the common differences that you see. For example, it's very popular to carry fishing poles and fishing gear in a rack on the front of your truck. You'll commonly see vehicles with a rack that has a series of vertical tubes sticking up, with fishing poles set in them and a rack for a cooler in between. It makes for a uniform 'strangeness' that adds to the feeling that you're not just down the road from the office or your house.
Next, the fact that you can drive right up on the beach is just fantastic. Trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps, some with their fishing racks in place, drive up and down the beach which can be accessed via designated passages through the dunes. It's not a steady flow of traffic since the areas are so sparsely populated, but it is a common practice. Again, being able to drive right up to the water with your 4x4 vehicle gives the place a somewhat exotic or tropical feel. Like everything is just a little more laid back, and everyone wants to have a good time. And it's not just the fisherman either. Families pack up all their beach paraphernalia in their SUVs and drive on out to a nice, secluded spot where they can stake their claim to a little piece of Outer Banks heaven right on the water.
If you've never been there, the houses are all up on foundation of huge 6x6 posts to keep them out of the water during storm surges and flooding. Being at sea level has it's advantages (namely that you're right on the ocean), but it has it's disadvantages as well, and that can be seen in the Outer Banks by the extraordinary measures the must take to keep their beach houses dry. Driving around, you're in the midst of massive houses that rise fifty or sixty feet in the air, some with lattice around the bottom to make for a more private area or conceal storage buildings. If you get a chance to watch a construction crew while you're out there, grab a cold beverage and enjoy the show.
The other feature of the Outer Banks that
Next, the fact that you can drive right up on the beach is just fantastic. Trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps, some with their fishing racks in place, drive up and down the beach which can be accessed via designated passages through the dunes. It's not a steady flow of traffic since the areas are so sparsely populated, but it is a common practice. Again, being able to drive right up to the water with your 4x4 vehicle gives the place a somewhat exotic or tropical feel. Like everything is just a little more laid back, and everyone wants to have a good time. And it's not just the fisherman either. Families pack up all their beach paraphernalia in their SUVs and drive on out to a nice, secluded spot where they can stake their claim to a little piece of Outer Banks heaven right on the water.
Allen Wright
Allen Wright is a freelance writer who follows whatever topics hold his interest. Look for more information on Outer Banks vacation rentals and other Outer Banks vacation rentals information here.
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