The Syren's Guide to Living Like an OBX Local
What to Do
We totally condone sitting on the beach for your entire vacation. But if you're motivated to move off the sand, here are some places worth checking out.
The Avalon Fishing Pier is a 5 minute walk from The Syren. It features an arcade, snack bar, bar (beer only) and off-pier fishing! Be sure to visit this iconic OBX destination!
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Avalon Fishing Pier
The Avalon Fishing Pier is a 5 minute walk from The Syren. It features an arcade, snack bar, bar (beer only) and off-pier fishing! Be sure to visit this iconic OBX destination!
OBX is home to the first flight, and you can learn all about it at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Great for history buffs!
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Wright Brothers Memorial
1000 N Croatan HwyOBX is home to the first flight, and you can learn all about it at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Great for history buffs!
Climb to the top of the Jockeys Ridge sand dunes for amazing ocean views! This is a great spot for family photos. Jamie's family used to climb the dunes every year and the kids would roll back down. It's best to go in the evening when the sand is cooler. (If you have littles, be prepared to carry them - the dunes are taller than they look!)
You can also take hang gliding lessons at Jockeys Ridge!
FUN FACT: If you're driving along HW 158 and see what looks like the top of a castle covered by sand peaking out of part of the sand dunes, you're not going crazy. It's an old mini golf corse that the dunes reclaimed!
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Jockeys Ridge
Climb to the top of the Jockeys Ridge sand dunes for amazing ocean views! This is a great spot for family photos. Jamie's family used to climb the dunes every year and the kids would roll back down. It's best to go in the evening when the sand is cooler. (If you have littles, be prepared to carry them - the dunes are taller than they look!)
You can also take hang gliding lessons at Jockeys Ridge!
FUN FACT: If you're driving along HW 158 and see what looks like the top of a castle covered by sand peaking out of part of the sand dunes, you're not going crazy. It's an old mini golf corse that the dunes reclaimed!
Where to Eat
There's nothing quite like eating and drinking on vacation! Here are some of our favorite spots.
Whether you're looking for a great cup of coffee, a bag of beans, beer, wine or even local art work, Ashley's Espresso Parlour is our favorite spot! Located at the corner of HW 158 and E Helga St., it's a 2 minute drive away. Or walk north on the beach for the perfect morning pick-me-up then stroll back home with your latte!
Bonus, you might meet the resident doggo who LOVES pets!
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Ashley’s Espresso Parlour & All-Time Roasting Co.
100 E Helga StWhether you're looking for a great cup of coffee, a bag of beans, beer, wine or even local art work, Ashley's Espresso Parlour is our favorite spot! Located at the corner of HW 158 and E Helga St., it's a 2 minute drive away. Or walk north on the beach for the perfect morning pick-me-up then stroll back home with your latte!
Bonus, you might meet the resident doggo who LOVES pets!
The classic OBX beach shack restaurant, Goombays services up awesome seafood and has amazing daily specials! They also serve steamers until after midnight!
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Goombays Grille & Raw Bar
1608 N Virginia Dare TrailThe classic OBX beach shack restaurant, Goombays services up awesome seafood and has amazing daily specials! They also serve steamers until after midnight!
Another great beach box food spot, Bonzer Shack has a smaller menu that focuses heavily on daily specials and fresh catches. They also have a great outdoor area with corn hole boards. Located on Virginia Dare Trail south of The Syren.
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The Bonzer Shack
1200 S Virginia Dare TrailAnother great beach box food spot, Bonzer Shack has a smaller menu that focuses heavily on daily specials and fresh catches. They also have a great outdoor area with corn hole boards. Located on Virginia Dare Trail south of The Syren.
It looks like an old school diner, but it's so much more! Stop in for fresh seafood, great pasta, huge salads, daily specials and a surprising good wine selection! Kill Devil Grill has Jamie's favorite fried shrimp in the entire world.
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The Kill Devil Grill
2008 S Virginia Dare TrailIt looks like an old school diner, but it's so much more! Stop in for fresh seafood, great pasta, huge salads, daily specials and a surprising good wine selection! Kill Devil Grill has Jamie's favorite fried shrimp in the entire world.
Located just up the road at MP 4.5, Trio is your go-to place for wine, beer, sake, cheese and great eats! Stop by for a cozy meal (fresh seafood, paninis, apps) and one of the best draft beer selections in town and a great by-the-glass wine list! Then browse the shop for some goodies, beer or wine to take home.
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TRIO Restaurant & Market
3708 N Croatan HwyLocated just up the road at MP 4.5, Trio is your go-to place for wine, beer, sake, cheese and great eats! Stop by for a cozy meal (fresh seafood, paninis, apps) and one of the best draft beer selections in town and a great by-the-glass wine list! Then browse the shop for some goodies, beer or wine to take home.
Where to Buy Seafood
There is no shortage of amazing, fresh seafood when you're visiting the OBX! These are a few of our favorite shops. Ask what's fresh or for recommendations, everyone is very helpful!
Want the freshest fish in town? Check out Austin's! It's been a family favorite for decades. Make sure you go in the morning to get the best selection. They also sell cooked steamers if you want a ready-to-eat lunch! Please note, Austin's is closed during the off season.
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Austin Fish Company
3711 S Croatan HwyWant the freshest fish in town? Check out Austin's! It's been a family favorite for decades. Make sure you go in the morning to get the best selection. They also sell cooked steamers if you want a ready-to-eat lunch! Please note, Austin's is closed during the off season.
Love seafood and want to cook up a feast at home? It doesn't get much fresher than this! Stop in and see what they have on any given day. Not sure what kind of fish to try? Ask they staff, they're super knowledgable. If you don't see what you're looking for just ask, they often have other stuff out back. Whalebone's is open year around (with some hour limitations during the off season).
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Whalebone Seafood Market
101 E Gray Eagle StLove seafood and want to cook up a feast at home? It doesn't get much fresher than this! Stop in and see what they have on any given day. Not sure what kind of fish to try? Ask they staff, they're super knowledgable. If you don't see what you're looking for just ask, they often have other stuff out back. Whalebone's is open year around (with some hour limitations during the off season).
Adult Beverage Time!
You're on vacation, so you might want a few drinks. Here are some of our favorite places for adult beverages! Please drink responsibly!
This is exactly what it sounds like ... a drive-through beer shop! There are several Brew Thurs throughout the Outer Banks and the drink selection is a little different at each. This is our favorite because it's close to the house and has a good selection. (They have some sodas for the under 21 crowd who want to come along for the ride). This is experience you won't want to miss!
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Brew Thru Kill Devil Hills
3101 N Croatan HwyThis is exactly what it sounds like ... a drive-through beer shop! There are several Brew Thurs throughout the Outer Banks and the drink selection is a little different at each. This is our favorite because it's close to the house and has a good selection. (They have some sodas for the under 21 crowd who want to come along for the ride). This is experience you won't want to miss!
North Carolina has specific liquor laws and you can only buy liquor at state-run stores called ABCs. There are a few on the island. PLEASE NOTE: These stores are NOT open at all on Sunday!
ABC Liquors
5400 N Croatan HwyNorth Carolina has specific liquor laws and you can only buy liquor at state-run stores called ABCs. There are a few on the island. PLEASE NOTE: These stores are NOT open at all on Sunday!
A long-time favorite, Outer Banks Brewing Stations makes their own beer but also services cocktails and has a full restaurant menu. They have a HUGE backyard with a pirate ship play structure, making it a great spot for the whole family to chill.
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Outer Banks Brewing Station
600 S Croatan HwyA long-time favorite, Outer Banks Brewing Stations makes their own beer but also services cocktails and has a full restaurant menu. They have a HUGE backyard with a pirate ship play structure, making it a great spot for the whole family to chill.
A local craft brewery that opened in 2022, this is a beautiful space with great ocean views!
Swells'a Brewing Beer Company
A local craft brewery that opened in 2022, this is a beautiful space with great ocean views!
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Seeing the famous OBX wild horses
The wild horses are a famous and beautiful part of the Outer Banks. The heard it located mainly near Corolla, which is north of The Syren OBX. If you'd like to see the horses we recommend booking a professional tour. If you're visiting in the summer, plan extra time for travel as traffic is typically very heavy.