One of the best things about visiting the Outer Banks is that it’s one of those rare places that offers plenty of things to do for family members of all ages. And when you’re kids are younger, it’s easier to get away for a week because you don’t really have to worry about school schedules and homework. There is an art to traveling with toddlers and preschoolers but if you plan in advance and seek out child-friendly activities, visiting the Outer Banks with your toddler or preschooler can be one of the most fun and rewarding experiences that you can have. Keep reading for our recommendations of some of the best things to do on the Outer Banks with toddlers or preschoolers as well as a few tips and tricks to make the most out of your Outer Banks vacation.
Things to Do
When you come to the Outer Banks, spending some time at the beach is a given. With temperate weather and clean, wide beaches of warm, yellow sand, the beaches of the Outer Banks offer many fantastic opportunities for your toddler or preschooler to experience the cool water on their toes and the excitement of building a sandcastle. But when the time comes for a new adventure, here are a few recommendations for fun, kid-friendly things to do with your toddler or preschooler.
Visit the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island
When it comes to the perfect thing to do with your little one during your Outer Banks vacation, a visit to the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island has to be at the top of the list. Let the kiddos run around outside before heading in. Get a picture with the shark and turtle statues, dig around in the Fossil Hunt pit, and explore the sounds of wildlife on the nearby nature trail. Once inside, the lights are on the dimmer side, not only making it comfortable for the animals but creating a calm environment for even the most excitable little one. During the summer months, keep an eye out for arts and crafts and fun photo opportunities. Let your aspiring marine biologist nurse their own (toy) turtle to health in the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (S.T.A.R.) Center and watch their faces light up with shock and delight when they see the sharks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic Exhibit. Check with the front desk for feeding times and conversations with divers in the shark tank during your visit!
Visit Island Farm
Open April through November, Island Farm in Manteo is a fantastic place for your toddler or preschooler to get a glimpse at traditional farm life while being able to get up-close and personal with some loveable farm animals. Bring the little ones to enjoy live demonstrations like feeding the animals or weaving and spinning wool, something that will captivate even your smallest children. Keep an eye out for hands-on crafting events that your older preschoolers (4-6) will have a blast doing. Kids aged 3 and under are free, so this can be a great experience for the whole family.
Step into the past at Roanoke Island Festival Park
While there are plenty of exciting things for older kids to do at the Roanoke Island Festival Park, your toddler or preschooler will also be able to have a lot of fun exploring the longhouses and planting areas in American Indian Town, marveling at historical reenactors aboard the Elizabeth II, and playing dress-up in the Adventure Museum. Check the website for more information about the annual Children’s Performance Series and other fun activities that will be loads of fun for your young child and the perfect photo opportunities for you!
Go on a Dolphin Tour
One of the more exciting adventures on our list, consider taking your toddler or preschooler on a dolphin tour! These cruises usually last about 2 hours and are fun for the whole family! Hear facts about bottlenose dolphins while you scour the water and wait to see your child’s eyes light up when they see a dolphin jumping through the waves or swimming alongside the boat. And when you stay with Seaside Vacations, guests can receive one free ticket to a dolphin tour at Captain Johnny’s Dolphin Tours in Manteo or receive a free kid’s meal at The Landing Grill when you take a tour with Harbor Star Wild Dolphin Tour in Wanchese through our Club Seaside Program.
Hunt for Ghost Crabs
When you’re looking for something fun, easy, and free to do with your little one, why not take them out after sunset for a little before-bed crab hunting adventure? Hunting for ghost crabs is a family-friendly activity that has taken off in recent years for its simplicity and accessibility for people of all ages. All you have to do is head out onto the beach after dark with a camera (or your phone!) and a flashlight and you’re set to go. Your preschooler will have a blast shining their flashlight at the sand as you search for these tiny, white crabs that pop up out of their burrows and scuttle away. And if you’re worried that your little one might get too excited and drop their flashlight, a headlamp is always a great alternative and adds that little extra sense of adventure.
Fly a Kite at Jockey’s Ridge State Park
A great option for kids of all ages is a trip to Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Throughout the summer, there are plenty of fun events that your toddler or preschooler is sure to enjoy. Stop by in the spring for the Fly Into Spring Kite Festival or enjoy the spectacular views of the Kitty Hawk Kites Sunset Festival or the Annual Rogallo Kite Festival. Any time of the year, Jockey’s Ridge is a great place to explore nature, run around on the dunes, or pick up a kite to fly at the top of the dune! With so much to see and do, this is a great outdoor excursion that promises fun for everyone. Piece of advice from a local mom: if your little one is sensitive to sand, be sure to bring a thin scarf/bandana/gaiter, hat, or sunglasses that they can use to keep the sand out of their eyes if the wind starts blowing too strong off the sound or the ocean.
Visit Dowdy Park
Not only is Dowdy Park a great place to visit the Farmer’s Markets during the summer or the Holiday Farmer’s Markets during the winter, but it’s an all-around great place to let your toddler or preschooler run around and enjoy the fresh ocean air and sunshine. The park is located on the corner of South Croatan Highway and Bonnett Street and offers 5 acres of space to explore. Take advantage of the playground, which offers activities for kids of all ages, as well as a fitness trail for adults. And with on-site restrooms and multiple picnic areas, this is the ideal place to come hang out when the kids just need to run around and get some fresh air.
Let off some steam at JumpMasters OBX
Sometimes when you’re traveling with little kids, you just have to find a safe place for them to let off some steam, bounce around, and get all those wiggles out. JumpMasters OBX is a great place to do just that. With open jump trampolines and a foam pit, there’s something for everyone to enjoy while exploring in a safe environment. And the best part is that every Wednesday from 10AM to 12PM, Jump Masters offers Toddler Time specifically for kiddos 5 and under! This a great way to break up the middle of the week while also taking advantage of a fun, safe way to get airborne and spend some quality time with your little one. And when you stay with Seaside Vacations for the week, be sure to take advantage of our Club Seaside program which will earn you a 20% discount on your Jump Masters OBX adventure.
Tips and Tricks
Traveling with kids of any age can be a little bit of a challenge, but heading out on a family vacation with your toddler or preschooler requires some extra planning. Here are some tips and trips for keeping your whole family happy while still getting to enjoy the fun and excitement of an Outer Banks family vacation with little kids.
Plan excursions around nap time
Whether it’s going to the beach or visiting the park, try to plan around the times that your preschooler will start getting cranky. Often this can look like getting out earlier in the day or late afternoon. Early to mid-morning and late afternoon also tend to offer the more moderate and tolerable temperatures of the day so there’s less chance of your little one getting overheated. But you also know your little one better than anyone else so you know what the best time will be to head out for an adventure. Fortunately, many of the fun things that you can do on the Outer Banks open early and close right before dinner time, so all it takes is just a little pre-planning to make the best of your schedule. And there’s no stress; it’s the beach. We’re ready when you are!
Always bring snacks
We’re sure you’re already prepared for this, but being sure to bring plenty of snacks and drinks for your toddler or preschooler is still worth mentioning. Even if you’re only planning on being out for a little bit, you don’t want to risk a meltdown because you left their favorite fruit snacks at the beach house. Keep granola bars and crackers on hand as well as a sippy cup and extra fluids. Sometimes all your little one needs to boost their mood is their favorite cheesy crackers and some juice. These reusable snack bags from Amazon are great for bringing pretzels or crackers with you to the beach and they also come in fun designs like ocean animals and dinosaurs, so your kiddo will be doubly entertained! Reusable sandwich bags are also great because they’re washable, so there’s no extra litter to worry about leaving behind on the beach!
Let them pick
This may sound a little intimidating at first, but hear me out. Studies over the past few years have shown that some of our kids’ most challenging behaviors are rooted in feelings of helplessness and a desire for agency. One of the best ways to combat this, especially if your little one suffers from anxiety that could spark up during a vacation due to a change in routine, is to give them the opportunity to take control of the vacation itself. Obviously, we’re not suggesting you let them run around and do whatever they want, but giving them choices and letting them feel like they’re part of the family and the decision-making process can help alleviate some of those more intense tantrums in the middle of the grocery store or while waiting in line for dinner. Ask them if they’d rather go the aquarium or the beach today. See if they’d prefer heading over to Duck Donuts or getting frozen yogurt at Surfin’ Spoon for an afternoon treat. There’s no guarantee that this will always work, but if your preschooler feels like they have a stake in planning, they’re more likely to cooperate.
Give them plenty of time to run around
Whether it’s right after you’ve been in the car for 8 hours or they’ve just been sitting still a little bit too long during the lunch rush at your favorite Outer Banks restaurant, sometimes young kids just have to get up and move around. Avoid the extra stress and heartache by planning for mobile activities in advance. Schedule time to let them go wild at the beach or promise them a trip to the park before dinner. When you give them plenty of time to work off that extra energy, chances are that the rest of the vacation will be a little bit easier on everyone.
Change activities frequently
When it comes to planning your activities, try to change activities regularly or plan for things that don’t require a lot of sitting. Young children, especially toddlers and early-aged preschoolers, get bored very easily. The best way to avoid meltdowns and keep everyone cool, calm, and collected is to make sure that you’re not doing the same thing for too long. Spend an hour or two at the aquarium, then head over to the beach, then maybe catch an afternoon movie or head back to the beach house for nap time and snacks. There are so many amazing things to do on the Outer Banks so be sure to take advantage of the different options and let your kiddos enjoy the break from routine.
Be Flexible
With that in mind, try to be flexible. It can get really overwhelming trying to fit in a bunch of activities when you’ve got everyone in the family pulling you in a different direction. We know that you want to make the best out of your Outer Banks vacation, but sometimes the best activities are the ones that are simply spent enjoying each others’ company. Maybe your toddler won’t be able to settle down for nap or the lines were too long for dinner so you had to make a spur-of-the-moment scheduling change. Either way, things happen, so it’s important to be gentle with yourself and your kiddos so that everyone can have fun. It’s the Outer Banks! Kick back, relax, and embrace the beach life.
Have Fun and Take Plenty of Pictures
This is probably the most important thing to remember when planning an Outer Banks vacation with your toddler or preschooler. These are the really fun years when your kiddo things everything is exciting because everything is new and something to learn. Enjoy seeing the Outer Banks through fresh eyes and be sure to take as many pictures as you can. They’ll only be little for a little while and while they may not remember this when they get older, you will. So be sure to make happy memories that you can hold on to and tell your toddler about when they’re older.
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And when you're ready to get away with your little one(s), take a look at our available rentals! With homes of all different sizes and with a wide variety of amenities located up and down the beach, you're sure to be able to find the perfect Outer Banks vacation rental for you and your family. Don't wait for the littles to grow up! Book your unforgettable Outer Banks family vacation with Seaside Vacations today.
About the Author: Lauren is a mom, author, and travel enthusiast. She grew up on the Outer Banks and only left for a few years to get her degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and complete a tour in the Coast Guard before making her way back to the beach in 2017. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with a book and cup of tea in hand, planning her next travel adventure.
