Nights in Rodanthe

Cooking breakfast for the whole crew.

I have spent a lot of nights in Rodanthe. Rodanthe is a small, beautiful outer banks town that has been kept far from the newer modernizations that are hitting other coastal towns. Rodanthe is a very small town that doesn't have a lot of stores and restaurants. When you visit Rodanthe, expect to be taken back to nature and also prepare to lose cell phone service! My husband and I go camping in Rodanthe every year! It is such a beautiful and natural area. You will see plenty of wildlife if you adventure out into any of the close by nature reserves! Additionally, camping in Rodanthe gives my husband and I time to unwind and relax. We don't plug up our cell phones, we spend time together with friends and grill outside not fifteen feet from the sound.

John and I heading to get pizza at Lisa's Pizzeria!
What a beautiful sunset!

 Rodanthe is beautiful and there are so many different things to enjoy. If you have time to investigate the few and far in between local stores I recommend doing so. My husband's favorite spot is Forbes Candies, where he loads up on plenty of tooth-aching sweets! I love to grab a delicious frozen coffee and drink it while browsing their other offerings. If you adventure into Stingwray's Bar & Grill on the right night, you may see a lovely old man singing Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire." Trust me, it's worth it to stop and enjoy this show! Don't forget to try their fried oysters, because they are to die for! When we go to Rodanthe, we do spend a little bit of time visiting the restaurants and the stores, but we also make an effort to unwind and relax. If you are going to Rodanthe, you need to make sure you stop by the local gas station and grab a fire permit and some logs. Head out to one of the empty beach accesses and build a fire. You and your family will love watching the crabs run around on the beach all night! You will also never find a clearer view of the stars. One of my favorite things to do is lay on the beach and listen to the ocean and look up at the stars. It really reminds you how small you are in this big old world.

Hammerhead shark they caught
while we were swimming.

Don't assume that because Rodanthe isn't a manicured beach that you can't go swimming! If you visit at the right time the ocean is just right to cool you off on a hot day. If you are too chilly though or the beach is too rough, just walk thirty feet to across the street and take a family friendly dip in the sound.Enjoy the cool wildlife caught from fishermen on the beach and the pier! Another thing you don't want to miss while in Rodanthe is the sunrise and set. One of my most wonderful experiences is sitting on the beach and watching the sun peak out from the edge of the world, and then the same day, sitting on the sound and watching the sun set behind a beautiful array of colored clouds! This is one of those things you have to see once in your life. Don't take my word for it though, go, explore, and find out for yourself!