Outer Banks Highlights 2012

Ah, the annual trip to the Outer Banks, where we hit a few tried and true spots and try to find something new. Which can be hard, since we've been going since I was about 11. No trip is complete without a leisurely dinner at Kill Devil Grill, and this year I had an awesome soft shell crab with sweet corn, black beans and polenta. They truly never disappoint.

This year the parents discovered a Jamaican-inspired spot down the road from us in Southern Shores, called Rundown Cafe, which I'm fairly sure also owns Tortugas' Lie down in Nags Head as the menu is pretttt-tay similar. But Rundown differentiates itself with a great coconut milk soup with fish, yams, tomatoes an onions that "run down ya throat sooo good, mon."

But the best discovery of the year was made by Rob and I on our way to the fishing pier one morning. We always drove by Duck Donuts, a mini chain down in the OBX, without giving it a second thought, given the name and its association. But what's in a name; will another donut taste as sweet? Fortunately the donuts here are nothing like the DD's I was expecting. They actually make the donuts fresh here, while you watch, and then dunk them in a glaze while its still hot. We got lemon. And the cakey yet greasy donut was still warm and sticky by the time we got down to Avalon Pier. 

Kill Devil Grill

2008 S Virginia Dare Trl
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

(252) 449-8181

 

Rundown Cafe

5218 Virginia Dare Trl N
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949

(252) 255-0026

Tortugas' Lie

3014 S Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959

(252) 441-7299

Duck Donuts

5230 N Virginia Dare Trail
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949

(252) 261-3312

Fun Summer Treats

Play doh ice cream from Hershey's in Nags Head, North Carolina

Lobster roll from the Lobster Joint in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

White chocolate nonpareils from Perkins Cove Candies, Ogunquit, Maine

Cashew caramel ice cream from Annabelle's, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Beer sampler from Portsmouth Brewery, New Hampshire

Popovers (with maple butter!) from Popovers on the Square, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Molasses taffy from the Goldenrod in York, Maine

Roquefort, cheddar and red pepper-studded sheep's milk Rustico Peperoncino from Corks n Curds, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Coffee frozen custard at Kill Devil's, Outer Banks, North Carolina

Outer Banks Highlights

My family and I visit the Outer Banks for vacation every year or so. It's taken us awhile to weed out the bad restaurants and stick with the good ones. In the name of brevity, this year I had...

Amazing top sirloin and cold smoked chicken at Kill Devil Grill...

... a great tuna salad and lemongrass beer from the Outer Banks Brewing Station...

... and mint chocolate chip ice cream in a melty chocolate chip cone at Sunset Ice Cream in Duck.

How could vacation get much better than that?