Top OBX Places to Relax

You are staying in your KEES Vacation Rental. Our FlexStay® program allowed you to arrive when you wanted and allows you to leave when you want. The standard amenities are present. The pool and hot tub have provided a sense of calm. The view from your oceanfront deck is amazing. Waves crashing along the shore have melted away your anxieties. The irritating hustle and bustle of home has started to ease. Tranquility is setting in. This beach trip is amazing!

BUT - did you know that the Outer Banks offers even more ways to relax?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, "The ability to relax and de-stress is important for maintaining mental health and can be very helpful for lessening symptoms of many mental and physical health conditions. For example, relaxation can improve focus and mood, improve sleep quality, lower blood pressure and improve digestion." A trip to the beaches of the Outer Banks is a great way to relax and de-stress. When visiting, be sure to treat yourself to the activities below.

Cruise Ships and even Caribbean Resorts have massage therapists. Why would the Outer Banks be any different? A spa or massage is the ultimate option for pure relaxation. It offers numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Some of our favorite spa/massage therapy locations include Outer Banks Salt Cave, Windswept Spa, Heroics Salon and Spa all in Kill Devil Hills, BluSea Beauty & Massage in Kitty Hawk, and Aqua Spa in Duck.

Feeling dehydrated during vacation from too much sun or too many adult beverages? Call OBX Renew IV To You located in Kill Devil Hills. They will even come to your KEES Vacation Rental house through their concierge services. Give them a call today!

Why not take a yoga class while you are on vacation? Yoga is a practice that combines physical postures, breath control, and meditation to improve overall well-being. This is the perfect complement to your beach vacation. There are several yoga studios on the Outer Banks. In addition, some offer classes right on the beach. Imagine watching the sunrise over the ocean while you engage in some gentle healthy activity. Talk about relaxing! Listed by town, be sure to check out:

• Corolla: Corolla Yoga
• Duck: Village Yoga
• Kitty Hawk: Outer Banks Yoga
• Kill Devil Hills: Ascension Studio OBX and Kind Yoga
• Nags Head: OBX Hot Yoga
• Manteo: OBX Community Yoga
• Hatteras: Tri-Village Yoga and Hatteras Yoga
• Currituck Mainland: Yoga Class at Westside Athletic Club

Often, Outer Banks Health` offers yoga classes at the North Carolina Aquarium and/or on the beach by Jenette`s Pier. Visit their website and/or social media pages for more information.

There are plenty of opportunities on the Outer Banks to start your day with some stress-relieving yoga. What could be more relaxing before a day at the beach?

Not getting your routine gym goals accomplished while on vacation might be stressing you out. No need to worry. There are several gyms open to visitors on the Outer Banks that offer daily and even weekly passes. Our list of favorites includes OBX Fitness Collective in Kitty Hawk; Outer Banks Sports Club in Kill Devil Hills; Outer Banks YMCA in Nags Head; the Sports Center at Corolla Light in Corolla; Westside Athletic Club in Mainland Currituck; Raise the Bar Gym & Fitness in Avon; and The Fort Strength and Fitness in Frisco on Hatteras Island. Some of the communities have fitness rooms at their clubhouses.

In addition to exercise equipment and machines, many of these gyms offer tennis courts, basketball courts, and pickleball courts.

Fiction to Non-Fiction, there are bookstores on the Outer Banks which not only provide great selections, but they also allow for a relaxing atmosphere to sit right there and enjoy your new book and maybe a delicious cup of coffee.

Buxton Village Books - Buxton

Buxton Village Books is a white old schoolhouse looking building which is an independently owned, full service coastal bookstore located on Hatteras Island in Buxton. Their inventory is always changing so if you are looking for something in particular, you may want to call ahead.

Island Book Store – Kitty Hawk, Duck, and Corolla

With three locations – Kitty Hawk, Duck, and Corolla – the Island Book Store is definitely worth visiting. The children`s books section is loved by all. The adults are sure to find a book or two worth reading while on vacation and if you are lucky, you may be there at the same time as a local author sign event.

Duck`s Cottage Coffee & Books – Duck

Located at the Duck Waterfront Shops, Duck`s Cottage Coffee & Books is a quaint little cottage which offers freshly brewed coffee and espresso. You can enjoy a delicious muffin or danish to go along with that. For newspaper lovers, they offer a full array of the East Coast`s most popular newspapers. On the book side, you can find a large inventory of bestsellers, paperback and hardback, staff picks, non-fiction, cookbooks, Outer Banks releases, and children and young adult books. Make sure to tell your family where you are heading because they may not see you for hours!

Downtown Books (Manteo)

Downtown Books is owned by the same folks who own Duck`s Cottage Coffee & Books. Located in downtown Manteo, this bookstore has been affected by flooding on several occasions, but they are still standing! This adorable bookstore offers fiction and non-fiction, children`s, young adults, graphic novels, cookbooks, and Outer Banks titled and featured books. Looking for beach reading? They have used fiction books as well. Not only are there books, but you can find the perfect greeting cards for every occasion or buy a small gift for a family member who couldn`t make the trip.

What is more relaxing than a good book and a cup of coffee? Use this list along with our coffee shop blog to form the perfect union!

Drinking wine has many health benefits. Not only is it rich in antioxidants, but it also keeps your heart healthy, your memory sharp, and reduces the risk of depression. Adding wine to an Outer Banks vacation is another excellent combination. The restaurants in the area offer an impressive selection of fine wines, but for a truly personalized touch, visit one of the local wine shops to find the perfect bottle to enjoy by the pool at your vacation rental.

Chip`s Wine and Beer located in Kill Devil Hills offers over 2,000 choices of wine. You can also grab some beer, a cigar, food items, chocolates and local products here. Trio Restaurant and Market (Kill Devil Hills) also offers over 2,000 wine options. Pick up some gourmet cheese to go with it. On the Currituck Mainland, a trip to the Sanctuary Vineyards is a must. There are many selections of fine wine made from their own estate-grown grapes. Find gifts, decorations, and drink accessories as well. Local wine is also sold in the grocery stores along the Outer Banks as well as in the Brew Thrus around town.

While we showcased just a couple, there are other places along the Outer Banks where you are sure to find your go-to bottle of wine. The taste of wine and the sound of the ocean...what is more perfect?

When overhearing a heated argument, you might hear someone say :"Take A Walk!". Well, heated arguments are not allowed while on vacation, but taking a walk is a great way to unwind. Yes, you can always take a beach walk; however, there are several options on the Outer Banks for a nature walk:

Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve Sandy Run Park – a 16-acre park in the town of Kitty Hawk. Covered pavilions, picnic areas, and grills add to a walkway through bird watching and wildlife.

Nags Head Woods Preserve - Nags Head Woods Preserve is one of the largest maritime forests on the East Coast. There are 8 hiking trails you can explore on your own to see dunes, ponds, marshes, and all sorts of plant and animal life. The trails range from 0.2 to 3 miles long. There`s also a half-mile loop that`s wheelchair accessible.

Jockey`s Ridge State Park - Jockey`s Ridge State Park is home to the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast and provides an ideal location for flying kites and watching sunsets. Hang gliding is popular here. Visitors can also walk through wetland habitats and swim, kayak, kiteboard, and/or windsurf on the Roanoke Sound.

Currituck Banks Reserve – Find 965 acres of ocean beach, sand dunes, grasslands, shrub thicket, maritime forest, brackish and freshwater marshes. Currituck Banks Reserve is bordered by the Currituck Sound in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east.

Donal C. O`Brien Sanctuary and Audubon Center at Pine Island – Here are 2,600 acres of marsh, maritime forest and sandy beaches, as well as the historical beauty of the Outer Banks. The public enjoys the property through kayak tours, programs and a 2.5-mile nature trail.

Wright Brothers Walkway – A 2.9-mile loop trail in Kill Devil Hills. This is a popular area for birding, running, and walking. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. The trail encircles Big Kill Devil Hill and provides access to the Wright Brothers monument at the top of the hill, the commemorative sculpture, picnic areas, and the First Flight Airstrip.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Thomas Hariot Nature Trail – This is one of two nature trails at the Fort Raleigh site in Manteo. This one is the shorter of the two. The Hariot Trail is a 0.3-mile loop through the maritime forest of Roanoke Island. The trail has several exhibits highlighting the history of Fort Raleigh. Look out for signs of wildlife along the trail, as squirrels and birds abound in the maritime forest.

Freedom Trail at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site - The Freedom Trail is the longer of the two Fort Raleigh trails. A one-way trail lasting 1.25 miles and crossing through the dense forested areas of Roanoke Island. Along the trail are 9 silhouettes and 8 waysides highlighting a story from the Freedmen`s Colony on Roanoke Island.

Roanoke Island Multi-Use Trail – This trail is also located at the Fort Raleigh site and goes 7 miles along Highway 64 into downtown Manteo. This paved trail allows you to walk, run, or bike from the park into town. The multi-use path can be used as a loop with the Freedom Trail mentioned above for an almost 2.5-mile loop.

Buxton Woods Reserve – This 1,007-acre Buxton Woods component of the N.C. Coastal Reserve is located on Hatteras Island. It is open all year round. On this trail, you will find a maritime evergreen forest, a maritime shrub swap, interdune ponds and wetlands, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, along with rare and unusual species.

Any of these nature trails will provide some great relaxation. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water and bug spray!

KEES invites you to leave stress behind and enjoy tranquility. From peaceful nature walks and soothing spa treatments to yoga and quiet moments with a good book, every experience here is designed to help you relax. With your KEES Vacation Rental as the ideal retreat, you`ll have the perfect balance of comfort and adventure to make your getaway unforgettable. Breathe deeply, unwind fully, and let the Outer Banks work its magic.