Looking for the best non-commercialized area to stay...

Greetings

I%26#39;m looking into planning a trip for a week in July/August, and was thinking of perhaps the Outer Banks since I have not been since I was a child. I%26#39;m sure things have changed dramatically since then, so i need help so i dont end up staying in what may be an area filled with chain restaurants and strip malls.

About us and what we are looking for : My wife and I are both late 20%26#39;s, we are more laid back and will not be looking to a area that is crammed with people. I would like would to rent a home/condo on the beach, be able to stock up of some really good groceries and beverages, hang at a nice pristine beach all day, then go back to the house/condo and cook up a fabulous meal and enjoy some beverages, preferably with a great view to take in. It would also be nice to have a great non-chain restaurant or two close by so we can go out to dinner a couple nights as well. Not sure if this is a tall order or not, seeing how its been so long since i have been there, when it was a nice quaint area.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Looking for the best non-commercialized area to stay...

I have been coming here since 1985 and it has built up a lot since then. The Duck Corolla area is all huge 5-10 bedroom homes, but it is not as commercial there as it is in the Kitty Hawk to Nags Head area. You might like Avon or Hatteras or even Ocracoke Island.

Looking for the best non-commercialized area to stay...

Corolla sounds like the perfect area for you and your family. We will be making our 5th trip in august.

If you want a beach that is never crammed with people, consider going a little further south and go to Topsail.

It hits about all of your prerequisites.

Ocracoke is a good choice-No chain restaurants at all on the island.

You may also like the Hatteras area-avoid Nag%26#39;s Head and Duck-not as quaint as it used to be.

I have to disagree with the Corolla suggestion. It is about the most built up section of the north beaches!

I%26#39;ve been going to the Outer Banks for over 35 years, and, well, LOL, it has changed a LOT. But it is still a nice beach vacation, even though it no longer has that wonderful wild, untamed feel to it. You just have to sort of brace yourself for the disappointment.

That said, there are plenty of houses and condos for rent, and lots of groceries stores to buy good food from, and of course plenty of restaurants.

I%26#39;d suggest you banish your childhood memories and just go and have fun. That%26#39;s what I do anyway! :)

I would definitely check out Ocracoke. It%26#39;s a longer drive, but well worth it. We go every year because it has a beautiful beach (NO construction on the beach - so it%26#39;s spectacular) and a very laid back atmosphere. We are in your same age range, and we find that it is truly a vacation - we don%26#39;t bring our laptops, turn our cell phones off, and really relax. We pack a bag full of books, a deck of cards, and tons of sunscreen. :) There are some nice restaurants for dinner out (we had a fantastic anniversary dinner at the Back Porch 2 years ago, and Howard%26#39;s Pub is a favorite of ours), and there is not a chain anything on the island. Have a wonderful trip - I am jealous! :)