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by Corolla Classic Vacations

Carolina by the Sea
Oceanfront: Pine Island
Bedrooms: 9 Sleeps: 22

A View to Sea
Oceanside: Ocean Sands
Bedrooms: 7 Sleeps: 18

Waverly
Semi-Oceanfront: Whalehead
Bedrooms: 9 Sleeps: 22

Dune Deck
Oceanside: Ocean Hill
Bedrooms: 7 Sleeps: 16

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Posted By: Guest

Subject: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

I JUST RETURNED FROM VACATIONING WITH MY FAMILY IN NAGS HEAD FOR A WEEK. WE HAD DECIDED TO VACATION THERE BECAUSE WE HAD HEARD HOW PEACEFUL AND WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE IT WAS. WE WILL NEVER GO BACK! THE FOOD AND ANY ENTERTAINMENT WAS EXTREMELY OVERPRICED. MOST OF THE OVERPRICED FOOD WAS HORRIBLE. THE BEACH WAS DIRTY.WHERE WE STAYED THE OWENS MOTEL (WHAT A DUMP BUT I WON'T EVEN GO THERE,) THERE WAS STILL DEBRI FROM HURRICANE ISABEL ON THE BEACH. THERE WAS NO TRASH RECPTACLES ON THE BEACH AND TRASH WAS EVERYWHERE. THE PLACE WAS NOT RELAXING OR QUIET IT WAS COMMERCIAL AND NOISY. THE OCEAN TEMPERATURE WAS SO COLD THERE WAS NO WAY YOU COULD SWIM. THERE WAS BEAUTIFUL BEACHES NORTH IN COROLLA AND SOUTH AT HATTERAS BUT MY ADVICE IS DON'T VISIT THE OUTER BANKS ESPECIALLY NAGS HEAD UNLESS YOU HAVE BIG MONEY TO SPEND AND YOU WANT A NON RELAXING VACATION.ALSO ALL THE WAITERS IN RESTUARANTS IN THE SUMMER ARE TEENAGE KIDS WHO ARE THERE FOR THE SUMMER WORKING AND THE SERVICE THEY GIVE IS HORRIBLE.

Message Replies:

1941: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 10:09:59 AM

Posted By: Guest

I just got back too, had a great time! Yes, the water was cold. Oh Well. Whoever said 'Nags Head was quiet & peacful'?

Trash on the beaches is a horrible shame! Beach-goers NEED to be RESPONSIBLE for their own trash. Thats disappointing to hear.

As for Restuarants, we were fine. Have to do your homework.

1942: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 10:29:48 AM

Posted By: Guest

Sorry you were disappointed.

Of all of the places on OBX, I've read that Nags Head is the least quiet and peaceful. The trash on the beach is sad to hear. Yuk.

Every summer resort town up and down the east coast (and elsewhere probably) uses college aged kids for wait staff. I'm sure that the restaurants management would like to know that proper service is not being given.

1943: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 11:19:31 AM

Posted By: guest

Sorry your vacation was unsuccessful. I have lived in Nags Head for 6 years and love it! Last week was our busiest week of the season. You should come when everyone else does not come to vacation. Then you will see why so many people love to vacation here. I wonder what your other choices for vacation spots included? Our prices are not overpriced compared to most resort communities. As for the hotel, we are NOT known for our hotels. We are known as a family vacation spot where people primarily vacation with their family and stay in a house. The hotels have been around for 50 years and are know to not be luxurious. The Colony V in Kill Devil Hills has been completely remodeled and would be a better choice. The water temp is typical for the Atlantic Coast in June! Like most beaches, there is debris from the ocean. We have cleaned up dramatically from Isabel. Trash is from the tourists...definitely not the locals.

1945: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 11:27:27 AM

Posted By: Guest

My family and I just spent a week in Ocean Sands. Heaven on earth!!!!!! Ocean water was cold but it didn't stop us from getting in and having fun. You really can't blame the OBX for mother nature. The litter is a shame. I saw very little when I was there but what we did see we picked up and threw away ourselves. As for the prices I don't know where you normally vacation but I think all vacation hotspots are pricey. I paid $2.50 for an icecream at Walt Disney World in 1987. I thought the guy should have been holding a gun. I paid no more in the OBX in June. Maybe next time you could stay where you could cook for yourself and save. Good luck finding a cheap vacation.

1952: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 12:08:13 PM

Posted By: Guest

As all the others replied, sorry you had ONE bad vacation experience. I have been to Nags Head several times and absolutely love it! I know people who ALWAYS vacationed at Virginia Beach, Ocean City and yes even Myrtle Beach and the second they stepped on to the Outer Banks vowed to never go back to the other places and only go to OBX. I think the restaurants are great - you do have to do your homework - and once again, it is a tourist area, you have tourist prices. My sister always went to Myrtle Beach and I know the prices there are the same or higher than the Outer Banks. We are leaving in 4 days to stay at Nags Head - can't wait. To say that your experience was bad or your expectations were not met, isn't the TRUTH about Nags Head, it is simply the truth about your bad experience and should not influence others from vacationing there when they have all had wonderful experiences. Once again, I am sorry that your experience was bad and I do have to say that I have talked to many many people who vacation there - all having wonderful experiences, yours is not the norm. I wish you better luck at Myrtle Beach! - leave the OBX for us true fans.

1954: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 12:48:22 PM

Posted By: Guest

We all know that you are upset, but the CAPS are not neccessary. Much more difficult to read your post.

1958: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 2:16:51 PM

Posted By: Guest

We have vacationed on the Outer Banks approximately 10 times over the last 22 years and are coming again in August. If someone is looking for a quieter, less commercial area, try the Crystal Coast which is Atlantic Beach to Emerald Isle NC. However, keep in mind there is not as much to do since there are fewer businesses and restaurants. The ocean water tends to be warmer with less undercurrents there.

1961: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 4:09:24 PM

Posted By: Guest

I have been going to OBX for years now, and I absolutely love it. Just as you (original poster) are entitled to your opinion, so are the people that love it there.....I don't think it's quite fair to say that "this message board paints a better picture than the real deal" - I don't think anyone here has attempted to mislead or a "paint a picture" of anything - I think the people on here (such as myself) post here because THEY love the Outer Banks, that's all.

1962: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 5:15:16 PM

Posted By: Guest

This year will be our ninth at the Outer Banks. We stay in Duck and it is wonderful.

1966: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 7:57:14 PM

Posted By: Guest

Summer ocean temps are a result of the winds. Winds from the ne or e tend to warm the water rapidly by blowing the warm surface water in causing downwelling, while west or sw winds produce upwelling which blows the warm surface water out to sea and the cold bottom water upwells. One day last week in Duck the ocean was 72, the next day 66. Keep in mind the east or ne winds that warm the water also increase the risk of rip currents which will close the beach.

1967: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/5/2005 8:26:40 PM

Posted By: Guest

Great info - thanks 1966

1971: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/6/2005 12:31:18 AM

Posted By: watshakinranch

I've never been to the OBX, this will be first trip. But I feel compelled to write. You need to learn to express your opinion in a manner that people will respect. Ranting and raving in CAPITAL letters will not achieve this.
P.S. Next year please do not chose Pensacola. There is hurricane debris scattered 50 miles INLAND that used to be HOMES!!! There's not just one clean up day and it's done--IT'S MASS DESTRUCTION!!

1972: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/6/2005 12:58:45 AM

Posted By: Guest

Re: Post 1971. I am sure you will have a great time. I was down in June. It is a beautiful place and I did not encounter one person who was unpleasant or rude. Not even when I stood in line for what seemed to be hours at the local food lion. Guests and locals pleasant alike. I will be returning in September. I will be coming with friends who have never been to the obx before. I can't wait, I'm counting down the days.
So enjoy, don't pay any attention to the original post. Have a safe trip and enjoy!

1979: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/6/2005 8:05:35 AM

Posted By: Guest

We have been to Nags Head six times in the past decade. Until this year, our vacation there has been in mid-July when the hotel prices were higher and there were more crowds. This time we went the first week of June and loved the more pleasant weather and less traffic. Yes, the ocean was colder than what we'd experienced before, but it didn't stop folks from surfing, swimming, etc. We wouldn't keep going back if we didn't like it. Yes, the restaurants are a bit more expensive than those at home, but that's to be expected at a big vacation spot. We love The Dunes, Miller's Waterfront, Mrs. T.'s Deli, Bob's Grill, Nags Head Pier Restaurant--there are plenty of good places to eat. OBX locals are friendly and nice, and we will continue to vacation there. Hooray for Nags Head and the OBX!

1980: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/6/2005 8:39:28 AM

Posted By: Guest

I'm feeling a little sad for the original poster - I think they missed out on something really great. To read all that everyone else wrote it sounds like it is definitely an isolated incident.

1981: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/6/2005 9:14:04 AM

Posted By: Pittsburgher

If you want peace and quiet, stay at a beach house on the 4WD beach in Corolla. After traveling for years and staying at various resorts, once we found Corolla's 4WD beach area, we haven't had any desire to vacation anywhere else. It's all the peace and quiet you could ever ask for. And if you're lucky, the wild horses will stop by for a visit. Give it another shot, you won't be sorry.

1985: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/6/2005 12:53:58 PM

Posted By: Guest

This year will my 35th year going to the outer banks! I started with my parents and sisters and now all of us girls still go with my parents and our children. We will continue to go with our children's children as well. We started in Nags Head and when it became popular and a bit too crowded we moved down to Cape Hatteras...what a wonderful spot that is!! We love it and will continue to go until it is no longer possible.We always rent a beach house for two weeks and cook most of our meals in. Large family dinners can be a lot of fun. Besides...it's not really about the solitude and peacefulness, for us...it's about being with your family..large or small. Everyone out there who is planning a vacation in the outer banks...Enjoy! After 35 years of summer vacations there...I wouldn't recommend any other!!

1988: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/6/2005 1:48:27 PM

Posted By: Tammy

This question is for post 1943. Can you tell me anything about the Outer Banks Motor Lodge? I think it used to be Miller's Motor Lodge.

Thanks.

1993: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/6/2005 3:01:16 PM

Posted By: LOCAL LADY

Man sounds like you just had a bad time all around.. you know nags head is a really great place and being a local I probably prefer NH over KDH... but maybe next year if you are truley in search of "peace and quiet" you should go a little further south..say like hatteras, rodanthe, waves salvo.. it is a little less "touristy" (if thats possible) as far as trash on the beach.. man what a shame.. locals here are tired of it too we are the ones who after the season have to organize beach "sweeps" in order to clean the trash that people leave and we get to see how it kills our wildlife over and over. You know resturant wise.. I have been every where in the US and service here is no different than anywhere else.. there are alot of college kids who wait tables everywhere and unless you ate some where that didn't serve liquor or beer there are no "high school" kids who work at these resturants as waiters or waitresses because it is agaisnt laws for them to serve beverages.. Anyhooo sorry to hear ur experience was so bad.. sure hope you can find something more suitable to your needs and expectations... happy vacation hunting :)

1996: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/6/2005 5:04:13 PM

Posted By: CHGOGIRL822

My husband and I have been visiting the Outer Banks for 13 years. I have experienced Peak & Off season times. I prefer off season, but anytime we have been there we have had a wonderful time. There are a couple of expensive restaurants there, but you will find that anywhere you vacation. We have always received great food and service whenever we have gone out to dinner. It's a shame they had such a horrible time. It's a great place to relax and unwind.

2010: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/7/2005 10:07:52 AM

Posted By: Guest

Hey give the original poster a break. We also just returned from Nags Head and received a lot of ill will from locals. Our family was respectful of our beautiful enviroment and tried to be very courtesy, yet we were met with very rude attitudes by many of the "locals". One went so far as to approach my husband and children (who were sitting quietly while i paid the restraunt bill) to tell them "You gotta love it. You people come down here and spend thousands fo dollars on vacation only to have it rain. I love it!!" We were floored. This was only one of many rude encounters we had. As for the $ of meals, they were high but we had the food was great. We found all the young kids working to be very nice. All in all I don't think we will go again, purely for the way we were treated as unwelcome outsiders.

2022: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/7/2005 4:26:42 PM

Posted By: Guest

Sorry to hear about your experience. Nags Head is too commercial for me. Hatteras or Corolla is a different story. I agree the trash is the tourists doing. Each year we vacation I am amazed at how lazy people can be not throwing their trash away makes me sick. As for the restaurants gotta do your homework the restaurants are unique and a little more pricey but I say keep the chains out.....sorry Applebees.

2033: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/8/2005 10:28:37 AM

Posted By: LOCAL LADY

Amen to the keeping the chains out!! I prefer to try all the local places and like most on here say.. you have to do your homework..but there are great ones here with great prices and great service. The secret is asking locals at the places you visit what their favorite local place is.

2038: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/8/2005 1:06:19 PM

Posted By: Guest

Sorry you had a bad experience but if you can arrange to go back during off season you'll certainly see what brings everyone back - We (4 adults)rented a house close to Corolla in mid-May. Someone told us about the SeaFood Mart (near Wal-Mart)so every couple of days we made the drive there to stock up on seafood, steak and their fresh salad bar. - Gourmet food without the hassle and prices of the restaurants. That's not to say we didn't eat out, we tried SoundSide which we loved and Fishbones which we hated (mainly due to the service!) We're looking forward to our next OBX vacation

2053: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/8/2005 4:59:25 PM

Posted By: Guest

So your "heard" it was quiet and peacefull. What is peacefull for some isn't for others. Did you research? Did you find out how many people visit that area annually or even during the time of your visit? All of this info can be found on the Chamber of Commerce site for almost any city. You can visit the website of most of the local hotspots and view menus, prices, hours, etc. I suggest for your next vaca do more research and be a bit more respectful when comveying your opinions. This will be our second family vaca to OBX. We stay in Duck where it is a bit more quite and peacefull. We had a terrific time our first visit and have declared Duck our family vaca spot every other year. BTW.. we visit in peak tourist season and had no negative experiences to speak of. I've found you get out of any situation what you're willing to give.

Littering is dispicable. We clean the beach located by our house when we go. We do that anywhere we go. Leave behind only footsteps!!

2055: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/9/2005 12:11:52 AM

Posted By: Guest

i live in chesapeake va and my family and i drive an hour and half every weekend in the summer for the past 20 years to oregon inlet and spend the day on the beach fishin and havin a good time, we love it-----we dont need people like you coming down here no way!!!!! find you a cheap vac. elsewhere

2057: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/9/2005 10:25:14 AM

Posted By: Guest

We have vacationed on OBX for several years and have never been treated rude by locals. If anything they have been most helpful and willing to discuss the OBX (good and bad)! I agree that you get what you put into a given situation and frankly I don't know what you were looking for but next time do the homework or stay home.

2087: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/10/2005 9:00:24 PM

Posted By: Guest

hmmmmmm.. well what can you say about all of this?. Its a bad thing to focus on negative experiences. Grab all the pleasure you can as fast as you can. Original poster should certainly drink more hard liquor on next visit.

2202: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

7/18/2005 10:58:49 PM

Posted By: local gal

I hate that there was a bad experience for you. It's really not fair to be SO hateful. I've had bad experiences lots of places, but I don't go screaming on message boards about it. And to be honest, it's more your fault than ours that you had a bad time. If you want WARM water, go to FLA. OBX has warmish water sometimes, but as a PP said, it all depends on the wind. One windy day I remember going fishing (in the middle of summer, mind you) and decided to put my feet in and the water was so cold it literally hurt. But you can't blame that on anyone. I went to Ohio in the middle of spring wearing my flip-flops and when I got there it was SNOWING. I hate snow. On the subject of trash...hate to tell you this, but locals aren't the ones that trash up everything...and how can you expect ALL the debris to be rid of when the hurricane was really not that long ago? I have to say I've been going to the Outer Banks beaches from Corolla and Duck down to Salvo and Rodanthe all my life and I have yet to have a bad experience. As a matter of fact, I've been to beaches in other places and liked them far less. On the subject of the service in restaurants...I've not had bad service, but maybe I know where to go. I think you have to know how to take the locals. We have our own sense of humor that tourists may or may not get. Yes, some of us are a little resentful of tourists, especially when we hear them complaining. I mean, imagine if you had guests come to your home and all they did the whole time was complain! It also seems to be the tourists that cause us locals problems with traffic and littering. We're laid back people, and most tourists are not. It can cause problems from time to time. I agree with the general consensus on the board...next time, do your homework, and try to grow where you're planted.

2451: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

8/4/2005 9:31:33 AM

Posted By: NagsHeader4Lyfe

Sorry, I don't mean to beat a dead horse but I too am sorry that the original poster had such a bad experience on his one trip to the Outer Banks (Nags Head specifically). I've been going to the Outer Banks since I was 6 years old in 1971 and with the exception of one stay in Kitty Hawk in 1999 we've stayed in Nags Head. Sure, it's a bit more crowded and commercialized than it was 30 years ago but like so many other posters have pointed out, if you do your homework and think a little bit, you can plan a vacation that's just what you're looking for. We've always been treated well by the locals and the service has always been good no matter where we dined or shopped.

Go to Souvenir City at MP 16 on the beach road in Nags Head if you want to meet the friendliest shop owners in town and a long time Nags Head business. I remember going there as a young boy when it was actually the Surfside Supermarket but along with the groceries (similar to a Cahoon's Variety) they had the T-shirts and gifts that we all know and love. Going to the Outer Banks in the off-season is more peaceful and relaxing (if that's what you're looking for) but you could miss out on some really great activities since many of the attractions are seasonal.

The "Lost Colony" outdoor drama in Manteo is one that comes to mind as it only runs from early June to late August but is always entertaining and shouldn't be missed. One poster has the right idea though, it's what you make of it and I agree that for me, it's about family. My Uncle and Aunt took my family to stay a little beach house on the beach road at MP 17 1/2 back in 1971. Back then, our entire trip budget (our portion of the rent, gas for the car, meals and entertainment) was $100 dollars. It was my families first real vacation as we had only went to visit relatives in West Virginia in the past so seeing the ocean for a 6 year old boy was a big thrill (and it still is at 40!).

We visited the Bodie Island Lighthouse, Jockey's Ridge Sand Dunes, the Wright Memorial, went to Cape Hatteras for a day, stopped by the Oregon Inlet, visited Fort Raleigh, even went to the Indian Village for a Pow-Wow (long gone now) in general just did a lot of things that didn't cost anything or very little and had the time of our lives. My family had a reunion of sorts in Nags Head in 2000 and there were nearly 50 of us staying in 4 different cottages but we would meet on the beach every day and plan most of our outings all together. It was so much fun and to have all of my family (aunt's, uncles, cousins, brother, sister, parents) that were there back in 1971 together again with their families at the beach was great. The fact that we were all still here, alive and well, and were all able to make it the same two weeks from locations all around the country (some from as far as Texas) was amazing and will probably never happen again. I love the Outer Banks and always have. We spend every vacation there and my children love it as well, just as I did when I was younger. There is more to do and more to see now and yes, it does cost more than that $100 dollar trip that we took so many years ago but then so does everything else. The unfortunate feeling that I took away from the original posters comments is that I believe that he or she just probably doesn't know how to relax or enjoy a good time with family and most likely wouldn't be satisfied anywhere if they depended on someone else to make THEM happy. My advice, slow down, think about what you want and put forth the effort to make your vacation what you want it to be. You can gripe, complain and be negative or you can enjoy the simple things and make the best of it. Nothing better than a beautiful Outer Banks sunrise or a nice evening bon fire on the beach (permit required of course), a leisurely stroll along the water's edge to Jennette'e Pier or a little surf fishing. Plenty to keep you busy and relaxed. There is no other place to clear your head and your mind than in the sands of the Outer Banks and I can only hope that once I make it to retirement in about 10 years, I can make it my home because when I visit after all these years of vacationing there, that's exactly what it feels like already ... home. I'm sorry to have rambled on but I just felt compelled to write and defend the greatest vacation destination on earth, THE OUTER BANKS!

2461: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

8/6/2005 9:57:34 PM

Posted By: Guest

My husband and his family have been vacationing in Nags Head for over 30 years. Since we were married in 1980, we have missed very few summers going to Nags Head and our 2 children have been raised "beach babies" spending at least 1 week, if not 2, there. We would not think of going anywhere else. We have never been treated rudely by the locals. There are expensive restaurants, but if you do your research (we use the Restaurant Guide book normally found at rental cottages or in motel rooms) you can find really good places to eat that are not that expensive. Sorry your experience was so bad!

3068: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

11/12/2005 6:29:09 PM

Posted By: Guest

Sorry to hear the original poster had such a bad time. My husband, myself and our 15 yr old son have been visiting the Outer Banks twice a year (the off-season is the only time we can afford an OF home!) for the past 8yrs. We have stayed anywhere from MP 2 to 21 and absolutely love it. Yes, we have eaten at some overpriced, yucky food restaurants, but that happens anywhere you go. We have just found certain places we like and stick to them. There are not many places that rival the OBX's fall and spring seasons. We are leaving this Saturday to spend yet another Thanksgiving week with the WONDERFUL locals, so please, anyone who read the original post, don't be discouraged. Once you try it, you'll love it!!

7881: RE: NAGS HEAD NEVER AGAIN!

8/31/2006 1:45:36 PM

Posted By: Guest

You need to go south Avon or Buxton is very nice or Frisco and Hatteras Village for its quant charm .
We have been vacationing down here since 1991 and can't say we havn't had a bad time you have to watch and ask the locals were to eat, but up at Nags Head Kitty Hawk that is the busy places to avoid if you want peace and quit.
Try going down during mid season the prices are better and don,t stay in a Hotel try a house or a Condo
Stashy

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