Outer Barks: Mini Guide to Fun at Outer Banks with Your Dog

Stella has taught me that Labs aren't just water-loving dogs, but also sand-loving dogs.  Or at least, it's just her expecting the ocean on the other side of those dunes.  If you want to roam free and your dog is athletic enough, you can go for a hike here, off the trails and into the unknown.  Entering from the Kitty Hawk kite shop, you'll be smack-dab in the middle of the dunes.  Of course, for others, there is a convenient nature trail on the other side of the dunes (so we were told).

Be warned.  Whatever way you choose to get to the dunes, it can get quite extreme out here.  Stay hydrated and prepare yourselves for the heat from the sky and the ground.  After a while, though, as you approach the Sound, you'll notice a lot of non-native "avians" in the area!  This is no mirage.  Jockey's Ridge is probably the best place to fly and view kites throughout the entire OBX, making the trek through the desert worth it.

This is an activity we often find ourselves doing: on a whim, we pull over and walk at least six miles in one direction.  Here, we eventually encounter flocks of energetic dark birds that knew Stella had no chance of approaching.  A dog can only dream!  They aren't your ordinary seagulls and sand pipers, but some awesome black cormorants commonly seen in these parts of the Atlantic Flyway.  If you want to do the same and see these birds, just prioritize vocal or physical control of your canine, since we are their guests!

There is something cathartic about being in raw nature, completely devoid of umbrellas, chatter, music, and footprints on the sand.  Like shadows lengthening throughout the day, the harrow marks on this undisturbed beach trail behind small shells and shell fragments.  With time, more high winds pushing back wet sands may create a more permanent rippling.  They are a snapshot in what may very well be mother nature's sketchbook, the foundational underdrawings of a masterpiece.  Is this what ancient inhabitants, the majestic Croatans, and the early explorers felt when they first encountered this shore?  

There are many great churches like Our Lady of the Seas and Holy Redeemer.  However, we so happened to celebrate mass at Holy Trinity by the Sea.  Though not so traditional in many ways, they welcomed Stella with open arms.  

Mass was filled with reflection, prayer, and gratitude.  As calm as the ocean waves directly behind the church, the atmosphere was relaxing and contemplative both indoors and outdoors.  

Okay, of course this was something we were really craving when arriving in Duck.  Unfortunately, they were unexpectedly closed that day!  There were still plenty of other things to see near the sweet shop.

The Duck Boardwalk faces the sound and offers pleasant sights of the Currituck Sound.  Dotting the boardwalk are a collection of shops featuring local arts n' eats as well as fresh open breezes.  

When people say a beach is a beach, they have obviously never been to these shores.  Usually after a storm, several shells wash shore, but not like this.  Though it looks rough, the carpet of shells submerged in the clear water provide a smooth walkway to nearby sandbars.  No need for booties here.

It's a beachcomber's dream, really.  You can find intact coquinas, broken whelks, striped scallops, oysters, clam halves, moon snail pieces, mussels, quahog shards, and beach glass.  Often, loads of these treasures gradually accumulate in the little basins behind the sandbars.

If there's anywhere in the world I would see a sunrise on the beach, Hatteras would be among my top choices.  There is something about how the shore boldly juts out into the Atlantis that makes you feel surrounded, and you look back knowing the waters of the sound are also behind you.  After all, Outer Banks is one of the few places you can see the sun rise and set over the water in the same spot!

I think one of the reasons why I find the sun rise extra-beautiful here is that I have fond memories of the area.  One of my closest friends, a true Southern Belle, introduced me to OBX long ago.  My first amazing sunrise was here on the shores of Buxton, followed by a bowl of homemade grits that her dad made.  Surely, it's more than enough to make anyone fall in love with the South.  Good friends, good times, and good memories.

When you finally reach land's end at Hatteras Harbor, the adventure doesn't stop there.  Legend has it that beyond these waters is an island of cats.  To a dog like Stella, that must mean the world's biggest candy shop lies ahead of us.  But how in the world can you get there, especially in an unplanned and spontaneous adventure?  Where there's a will, there's a way, and that way just so happens to manifest itself as a ferry.

Another perk to being an early bird is you get first dibs on the ferries that shuttle between this legendary isle of cats and Hatteras Harbor.  Yes, you can bring your car.  More importantly, yes, you can bring your dog!  And it doesn't cost a dime - free rides, because this is a free country!  Amazingly, this is still part of the scenic Route 12.  

To wrap up our mini guide, we decided to include our adventure on Roanoke Island, which parallels the area of Nag's Head to Bodie on the other side of the sound.  What, you thought it was mainland over the sound??  

At Manteo, named after the Croatan chief that English colonists eventually befriended, one of the main attractions is the Elizabethan Garden, a lush and beautiful natural timepiece.  Though it is a small garden, one can easily spend more than an hour or two admiring the architecture and manicured floral pieces, or watch the endless undulations of the Roanoke Sound at the edge of the gardens. 

Do note the royal decree:

Hark, ye good folk!  The Elizabethan Gardens doth extend a gracious welcome to those who journey to the Outer Banks, and in this verdant haven, yea, even our four-legged companions are accorded a place of honour!  Forsooth, 'tis a pet-friendly excursion that doth embrace the presence of well-mannered hounds, when tethered with leash in tow.