We never expected to spot a river otter emerging from the waves when we visited Oregon Inlet for a family camping and fishing trip. The feeling was mutual – the otter was surprised also. The otter sighting was only one of many special memories we made on this trip to the Outer Banks.
Fishing at Oregon Inlet, OBX
Oregon Inlet is a renowned world-class fishing area due to its proximity to the Gulf Stream.
Shore fishing for red drum is optimal in the spring or fall months. Lucky for us, we were there for the action in April.
On this trip, the first catch of the day was a large black drum – too large to keep according to the NC fishing regulations! Our grandson was delighted to see his dad holding the large fish before returning it to the ocean.
Not long after the black drum returned to the deep, a stingray found the bait!
The stingray was lively as our son worked to get the hook out of its mouth. No sooner was the stingray back in the ocean than we spotted a river otter south of us, a short way down the beach,
He emerged and looked over at us curiously. We were just as curious, wondering why he or she swam onto the beach. He must have swum from the sound through the inlet. He appeared a bit confused as he scurried along the beach heading south toward the inlet.
We continued fishing and enjoying the beach for the remainder of the afternoon. The day at the beach had been perfect…we did not think it could get much better then the night show began.
Milk Way at Oregon Inlet, Cape Hatteras National Seashore
We arose early to view the Milky Way, around 4:30 AM to be exact. We took the Milky Way photos with an iPhone, so not the best (:/ ).
Seeing the stars over Venus (our camper) was magical. We watched as the early morning light soon took over the skies. As dawn approached, it was so peaceful.
Sunrise at Oregon Inlet Campground, OBX
We sat in the dunes waiting for the next grand show – daybreak.
The colors were stunning and softly changing before our eyes. Daybreak was beautiful as the glowing sun emerged. The sunrise gave us renewed energy for the day. We needed it after watching the Milky Way for part of the night.
Oysters and Ice Cream in Nags Head, OBX
The next day, we ventured into Nags Head for some seafood. We decided to check out the Sugar Shack Fish Market, a few miles north of the campground.
Sugar Shack Fish Market and Oyster Bar Grill
The Sugar Shack Fish Market and Oyster Bar Grill is located on the Roanoke Sound on Route 64. The outdoor seating area has beautiful views of the water. After enjoying the seafood and views, we ventured into Nags Head in search of dessert.
Keyz New Zealand Style Ice Cream
As we headed north into Nags Head, we soon found Keyz New Zealand Style Ice Cream. Keyz is locally owned by folks who grew up in the Outer Banks and wanted to bring New Zealand-style ice cream to the locals. We loved it – just what we needed (wanted 🙂 ). Keyz is about 5 miles south of the Wright Brothers National Monument, where we had visited the day before.
Oregon Inlet Campground, OBX
The campground at Oregon Inlet is one of our favorites. The campground is divided into two sides – one for tents and one for campers. We have stayed at both. We always try to book a site that backs up to the dunes. There are several trails over the dunes to the beach. On the south side of the campground, there is a 4-wheel drive access road.
Several sites have electric and water hookups. The dump station is across Highway 12 at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.
The Fishing Center is a full-service marina with an impressive charter boat fishing fleet (on our bucket list). The restaurant has beautiful views, and there is a bait and tackle shop. Everything you need just across the road from the campground.
That’s not all. The Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Center is on the south side of the Oregon Inlet. From the campground, the 2.8-mile Basnight Bridge over Oregon Inlet will take you from Bodie Island to Hatteras Island, where the 5,000-acre refuge is home to over 370 species of birds.
Head north about 3 miles, and you will find the Bodie Island Lighthouse.
There is so much to see and do in the Outer Banks, no wonder it’s one of our favorite camping destinations.