Wild horses, warm beaches and worthy eats found in the Northern Outer Banks.
In need of a sunny sojourn? The Northern Outer Banks awaits—and there’s more to these 4×4-friendly beaches than off-roading through the sand. The area’s unrefined natural beauty, historic lighthouse allure and rurally rooted eats run the gamut—but, of course, a sunny off-road escapade is still the main event.
Just a three-hour jaunt from Raleigh, NC’s northeastern-most county is shaped by the sea: Long barrier islands, marshy shorelines and sandy dunes set the stage for a peaceful—or adventure-filled—beach getaway. From coastal rural landscapes to a smattering of sophisticated shops, NOBX handles the rest. Coastal state of mind—activated.
DO
Corolla Horse Tours
Currituck Beach Lighthouse A literal beacon of light since 1875, the last of the major brick lighthouses built on the NC coast still serves both as a safeguard for mariners and a stately historic site. Roam the well-kept grounds, then take on a 220-step climb for panoramic views worth every stair. obcinc.org
Corolla Horse Tours It may be the year of the horse, but the NC coast has long held serious pony power. Get the story straight from the horse’s mouth (!) on a safari-style tour of the Spanish mustangs roaming the beaches—or catch a glimpse of the steeds from a safe distance. seewildhorses.com
Whalehead Club Take a break from beach mode and get lost in old-money energy at this grand art nouveau-style estate, a relic of Currituck’s heyday. Built by the Knight family—known for spending faster than they earned—the home has seen it all, from a world war to Gatsby-esque galas. outerbanks.com
EAT
The Blue Point
The Blue Point When at the coast, all signs point to seafood, natch. This sibling-led seaside spot delivers with Southern staples and a touch of whimsy, alongside a constantly evolving wine list and nightly specials that keep classic plates feeling fresh. And trust—dessert is nonnegotiable. thebluepoint.com
Theodosia “A taste of place” is found at celeb chef Vivian Howard’s grounded and quietly mysterious Duck restaurant. Reopening for its second season this month, the spirit of the NC coast lives in the menu’s regional inspo and ingredients—think tomato pie, fresh-catch ceviche, shrimp and grit souffle, and a 10-layer chocolate cake that seals the deal. thesanderling.com
Coinjock Marina & Restaurant Part rest stop, part rite of passage, the Intracoastal icon has been fueling travelers since 1978. Come for the fresh local seafood and famously hefty 32-oz. prime rib, stay for patio views of yachts and sailboats gliding by that all but demand a second pour. coinjockmarina.com
DRINK
The Kind Cup Gallery meets cafe in this kitschy coffee stop showcasing work from 30+ local artists while roasting beans in-house daily. Translation: a mean cuppa + baked goods worth lingering over. Hot take: Don’t sleep on the Corolla Fog. thekindcup.com
Corolla Beer Garden Cool people, cold beer and no fuss are the MO at Corolla’s seasonal hangout just off the sound, hitting the sweet spot between beach bar and dive. Come as you are for crisp pours, wine, growlers and snacks—best paired with live tunes in the garden. corollabeergarden.com
Buffalo City Distillery A nod to the Banks’ Prohibition-era past, Buffalo City crafts whiskey, vodka and gin from ingredients grown on their nearby farm. Grab a cocktail, take a distillery tour, then settle into the dog-friendly backyard. buffalocitydistillery.com
STAY
The Sanderling | Photo by Michael Clifford
Corolla Village Inn A historic home turned coastal B&B, the newly constructed inn boasts cozy chic rooms bedecked in coastal-esque decor, with private entrances to porches and breezeways—plus lighthouse views and proximity to Historic Currituck Village. In short: all the comfort you want on vacation—and then some. corollavillageinn.com
The Sanderling It’s iconic for a reason. Sea, sand and sky set the tone at this idyllic and intimate luxe respite nestled between the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic. Pristine oceanfront views, a splurgeworthy spa, myriad on-site dining and drink ops (see: Theodosia), and plush furnishings make leaving the hardest part. thesanderling.com
Wild Horse Inn Leaning into its namesake—and earning its spurs in Southern charm—the boutique stay strikes a perfect balance between spirited and serene. Cozy suites, yard games, pergolas, and generous patio and porch space—plus an on-site lounge and cafe—make the stay feel less like a hotel and more like a home base. wildhorseinnobx.com
The Coachella of soccer is almost here. Back for its fourth annual year, The Soccer Tournament is less of a textbook bracket tourney and more of a festival, competition and temporary village all rolled into one. Whether you’re a die-hard fútbol fanatic or don’t know what a corner kick is, there’s something here for you.
Dubbed the world’s premier 7v7 soccer fete, the tournament brings together star players and club teams from around the globe to go head-to-head at WakeMed Soccer Park May 27–June 1. The draw: a shot at three winner-takes-all prizes of $1M—decided across ~150 games over the course of six days.
And these aren’t your standard matches. Keeping things unpredictable—and fast—games start with two 19-minute halves, or “Target Score Time.” Once the clock runs out, the game shifts—the first team to reach the current leading team’s score plus one wins. Read: If it’s 3–2 at the buzzer, the first to 4 takes it.
The format guarantees every match ends on the hype of a goal—cue storm-the-field energy—and curbs the drag of a goalless game. Stirring the pot even more, one player is pulled from each side every three minutes after regulation. Upping the intensity, teams drop from 7-on-7 to 6-on-6, then 5-on-5—eventually down to 2-on-2.
Seven fields host three to five matches simultaneously, so the energy never dips. And instead of sitting 300 feet from the field, fans are encouraged to get close to the action.
“You have World Cup winners like Hope Solo, Heather O’Reilly and Carli Lloyd playing 10 yards in front of you,” emphasizes Public Relations Coordinator Freddy Stanley. “Sergio Agüero, who’s played in the World Cup for Argentina and won the Premier League with Manchester City, is out there playing—and you’re right next to the field.”
This year’s roster also includes standout stars Landon Donovan and Gerard Pique, with more global giants set to participate. Field footwork aside, select celebs will hold meet-and-greets, all included with your ticket.
Fueling the fun: Local and international F&B ops, live music, club stores and fan activations, plus kids’ clinics (with a potential trip to Italy on the line) dot the park to fill time between matches, or to just take the edge off of an intense game. So while the stakes may be high, the vibes promise to be even higher. May 27–June 1, WakeMed Soccer Park, tst7v7.com
If you thought grilled cheese sandwiches were only for grade-schoolers or college students with zero culinary skills, think again. The gooey staple is the flip-flop of the culinary world—easy yet comforting, casual yet endlessly versatile—and Raleigh’s grilled cheese game coaxes all palates. Whether you’re a soup-on-the-side sandwicher or a grilled cheese purist, these local selects are sure to satisfy.
Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen To dip or not to dip? The all-day DTR eatery answers the call with a steaming bowl of tomato soup paired with the sharp white cheddar, Gruyere, white American and fontina-packed number smothered in silky garlic cream sauce. Fayetteville Street District, @birdiesraleigh
Postino
Postino The nostalgic sando gets adultified at the chic wine and tapas bar, thanks to the OMG grilled cheese’s layered Gruyere, brie, whipped goat cheese and white cheddar—stacked with bacon and paired with creamy tomato dip, not soup. Village District, @postinowinecafe
Flying Saucer Extraterrestrial contact confirmed via an out-of-this-world sandwich. Three cheeses loaded with bacon melt together between thick-cut sourdough, served alongside a bowl of tomato bisque for the ultimate childhood throwback. Capital District, @flyingsaucerraleigh
Union Special | Photo by Forrest Mason
Union Special The standard grilled cheese gets an artisan spin at this fan-fave bakery with honest bread and real food (and a little something green). Think fontina, sharp cheddar, kale pesto and pepper jelly stacked between hefty slices of Union sour for a version that’s equal parts comfort and craft. Iron District, @unionspecialbread
State of Beer Current state of mind: Sometimes simple is the most satisfying—especially when it’s a classic. Cheddar is better when melted together with American on grilled bread and savored in the sun with a pint. Capital & Warehouse Districts, @stateofbeernc
Relish Not one, but six cheesy melts headline the menu at this Southern sup staple, serving up almost every twist imaginable. Expect creative riffs feat. raspberry preserves, pulled pork and slaw, pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes, and salami—for the ultimate cheese spread. North Raleigh, @relishraleigh
Refusing to pick a side is in. Mixing silver and gold jewelry—once considered a fashion faux pas—has reemerged as one of the season’s easiest styling plays, spotted across NY Fashion Week runways and on the wrists, necks and fingers of street-style regs. The old “rule” about picking a single metal? Consider it officially retired.
Don’t overthink it—the appeal is in the effortlessness. Done right, the look is chic yet low maintenance. Start small with your go-to tone as a base (gold for warmer skin tones, silver for cooler) and layer in the opposite as contrast.
The key is balance. Try throwing on a shorter silver chain with your usual gold necklace-and-earring pairing, stack a single gold band among your everyday silver rings, or mix hoop finishes across each ear. For a more structured approach, block the metals: gold at the fingers, silver at the neck and ears—or vice versa. The repetition yields a cohesive look while still delivering dimension. For something bolder, lean into a full stacked moment with as many mixed-metal necklaces and rings as you fancy.
One jewelry “house rule” worth keeping? Wear it like it’s second nature for a more mod, warm-meets-cool sitch that feels unforced. Mixed metals work best when they feel lived in—not labored. The goal isn’t symmetry; it’s rhythm. A little warmth, a little cool, all in sync. Find multitoned inspo locally for your arsenal—er, jewelry box—here.
There’s no denying it: Americans—Raleighites included—are drinking less, and the NA bev scene in Oak City is flourishing. With mocktails, THC seltzers and the like becoming increasingly mainstream, a new local menu is catering to the ~damp~ experience.
Enter The Haymaker’s first-to-market “pick-your-proof” cocktail menu, letting imbibers sip the same flavors with a Goldilocks-style buzz factor: full-proof, half-proof or zero-proof in most every bev. (Some ’tails—like an old-fashioned—simply can’t be concocted half-proof unless it’s a half pour, notes the bar’s new owner, Glenn Shriver.)
Shriver—who recently reopened and revitalized the Fayetteville Street cocktail bar after a short hiatus—says the idea is simple: Meet drinkers where they are.
“One of the issues coming up for people who are drinking less is that going out and getting drinks is part of being social, even if it’s not about the alcohol,” says the mixology veteran. “They just end up going home, but we want people to stay and talk and meet strangers.”
Translation: The menu adapts to the bargoer’s preferences—not the other way around. And the price point reflects that proof point: $14 for full-proof, $11 for half-proof and $8 for zero-proof.
The Haymaker isn’t alone in embracing the shift. Other local bars like Dram & Draught, Killjoy and Watts & Ward have long been pouring a mean mocktail—proof that Raleigh’s spirits culture is expanding well beyond the traditional buzz.
Bottom line: Whether you’re boozing a lot, a little or not at all, a beverage—and a good time—are now on the menu for everyone.
