Outer Banks Coastal Life

08/22/2025

🍽 Food For Thought Spotlight
The Beach Food Pantry is doing incredible work, with nearly half of its supplies purchased to meet the growing need in our community. Thanks to a record-breaking $250K grant from Golden LEAF—plus matching support from The Cannon Foundation and OBX Community Foundation—they’re expanding cold storage and adding a refrigerated truck to provide more fresh, healthy food.

💛 Want to help? You can:
🛒 Donate money or paper grocery bags (they use 240 daily!)
🥫 Volunteer to pack meals
📣 Share their mission with friends & family

Every effort helps keep Outer Banks families safe, supported, and well-fed.

08/20/2025

🌊✨ OBX This or That ✨🌊

There’s nothing like starting or ending your day in the Outer Banks... but if you had to choose:

☀️ Beach Sunrise – toes in the sand, waves crashing, the first light of day painting the ocean sky.
🌅 Sound Sunset – calm waters, golden reflections, and the perfect end to a coastal day.

Which would you pick? Cast your vote & tell us why — we want to know which OBX view steals your heart. 💙

08/19/2025

🌊🔎 The Mystery of CROATOAN 🔎🌊

When John White returned to Roanoke Island in 1590, the entire Lost Colony had vanished—117 settlers gone without a trace. The only clue? The word CROATOAN carved into a post.

Since then, this haunting word has popped up in history tied to strange disappearances—Edgar Allan Poe, Amelia Earhart, Ambrose Bierce, even the outlaw Black Bart. Each connected in eerie ways to that same word. 👻

So how did this symbol of mystery end up naming the biggest highway in the Outer Banks? In the 1980s, a Kitty Hawk 6th grader, Heather Tolson, won a contest to name Highway 158. Inspired by the Lost Colony, she chose Croatan Highway—cementing the legend into everyday OBX life.

🚗 Next time you’re cruising the bypass, remember—you’re driving a road named after one of America’s oldest unsolved mysteries.

Do you think the Lost Colony ever made it to Croatoan Island (Hatteras)? Drop your theory below 👇

Story By: Jojo M. Tilley

08/18/2025

⚠️ A state of emergency has been issued for the Outer Banks. At Outer Banks Coastal Life, your safety is our top priority. Please take precautions and stay informed.

✅ Follow official updates from Dare County & local emergency services
✅ Secure outdoor furniture, boats, and loose items
✅ Stock up on essentials (water, food, batteries, medications)
✅ Charge phones & devices in case of power outages
✅ Check on neighbors

We’re keeping our community, visitors, and all of OBX in our thoughts. 💙 Stay safe and look out for one another. If you have any other tips for safety please leave them below!

08/01/2025

🧽✨ DIRTY JOBS, BIG IMPACT ✨🧽
Before you check in to that sparkling clean OBX rental… there’s a team of hardworking heroes making vacation magic happen behind the scenes.

From 5:30 a.m. Saturdays to racing the clock with sand, seafood, and sticky fridges — our local cleaners hustle HARD to turn over thousands of homes in just six hours. And they do it with pride, precision, and a whole lot of heart.

💬 “We’re not just housekeepers, we’re memory makers,” says Casey Kellum of Carolina Designs Vacation Rentals And we couldn’t agree more.

07/28/2025

🍹✨ Seltzers, sodas, teas and more—THC & CBD drinks are bubbling up all over the Outer Banks.

From fruit-forward mocktails to hemp-infused refreshers, spots like TRiO and Huanchaco Lounge are shaking up the beverage scene with new, flavorful options made to sip and savor.

Explore the wave of Delta-9 drinks now pouring across the OBX in our latest feature, High Tide.

07/24/2025

🌊 Style Meets Function in the OBX!
FullTilt Blinds & Shutters is your go-to source for custom window treatments across the Outer Banks! 🪟✨

From beach homes to year-round residences, they bring quality craftsmanship, stylish designs, and top-notch service to every project. Looking to upgrade your space? Trust the local experts who know the OBX best!

Sponsored Content

07/21/2025

🔧 Reliable. Professional. Local.
From drywall repair to deck fixes, Ace Handyman Services Outer Banks is your trusted partner for getting the job done right — and on time. 🛠️🏠

Serving the OBX community with skilled craftsmanship and dependable service, no project is too big or small.

📍 Proudly local. Backed by the trusted Ace name.

Let’s check that to-do list off together!

Sponsored Content

07/13/2025

🍨 The Ultimate OBX Ice Cream SUNDAE Crawl Starts NOW!
The Outer Banks is scooping up serious flavor this summer, and we’ve got the inside scoop. 👇
From donut milkshakes and homemade fudge to fresh fruit blends and beachy fro-yo vibes—these ice cream spots are anything but basic.
Which one is your must-stop this season?

🧁 Donutz On a Stick (Duck)
🥝 KEYZ New Zealand Ice Cream (Nags Head)
🍫 Big Buck's Homemade Ice Cream (Multiple locations)
🍧 B***y Treats (Nags Head)
🍦 Kill Devils Frozen Custard & Beach Fries
☕ Noosa Scoops OBX (KDH)
🍭 Surfin' Spoon (Nags Head)

📍Find them all in our Summer 2025 issue—link in bio!

07/10/2025

Outer Banks: This or That? 🐚
Tell us your OBX summer style! ⛱️👇
Which would you choose?

🏖️ Beach Day or 🛶 Soundside Sunset?
🐟 Fish Tacos or 🍤 Shrimp Boil?
🚲 Bike the Beach Road or 🛥️ Cruise to Carova?
🐬 Dolphin Watch Tour or 🎣 Fishing Charter?
🌅 Sunrise Coffee or 🌙 Sunset Cocktails?

Drop your picks in the comments or screenshot and circle your faves to share in Stories!

07/09/2025

Check out our latest issue!

SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE!!!!

I missed the publishing date but I'm so excited to share that Roxy won Outer Banks Coastal Life Cutest Pet 2025!!!!

Thank you to all who voted for my sweet girl. I know that was a hard decision when there were SO many adorable choices.

Make sure to check out the full aritcle on Roxy and to see runner up, Tao! You won't regret it, he's a cutie!

https://outerbankscoastallife.com/2025-outer-banks-coastal-life-cutest-pets-winners/

07/08/2025

Legacy with a License Plate
🚕 Lady Jane Taxi Celebrates 20 Years! 🎉
From a one-woman cab and a Corolla van to a community icon that’s weathered hurricanes, ride-share apps, and a pandemic, Lady Jane Taxi has kept the OBX moving—one ride at a time.
Meet the three powerhouse owners behind two decades of dedication, karaoke cabs, and always “going the extra mile.”
📖 Read the full feature in our current issue!