Outer Banks Question

[Joe R.]

Going next Thursday for a long weekend. We're renting a friends parents house in Grandy, NC. We're taking Gus and Lilly with us and would like to know some good places in the area we can go with the dogs. I've looked at the different towns and their beach rules for dogs, and it looks like the Duck/Corolla area has the most friendly rules. Any insight on which public access beaches or other activities to do would be great. Also any recommendations on restaurants with outdoor seating that they can come with us to. I looked at dogfriendly.com and they have a number of restaurants listed, but would like hear from folks who've been or are from there.

[Amanda and Quinn]

Hi Joe! I can't speak to Grandy exactly, but we spent time on Hatteras Island with our dog last year and found the Outer Banks to be incredibly dog-friendly. I think Duck is one of the only areas that allows dogs off leash, but they are allowed on leash everywhere else. (A lot of the people we saw had dogs off leash in Hattaras too, but we didn't risk it except when we were swimming.) They're also allowed on almost all of the hiking trails in the area. In general I found that every place with outdoor seating allowed dogs, and enthusiastically so. Gus and Lilly will love it there! We're renting a place in Kill Devil Hills at the end of the summer and I'm counting the days.

[Joy Williams]

Joe, be sure and go to "Outer Barks" in Duck while you're there, especially if they have a "Yappy Hour". It's pretty cool, they have all kinds of treats and activities for the dogs. A friend of mine is the "bar tender" for it. Once when I was there they had Paw Painting (like finger painting for dogs!) What a hoot! Here's their web site,
http://www.outerbarks.com/
Also, if you go to the Wright Brothers Memorial and wander around the grounds, just watch for sand spurs. Those things are so hard to get out of fur, and paws!
Here's another web site that will give you the different towns' laws concerning pets and some links to local attractions that are pet friendly http://www.petfriendlyobx.com/PetInformation/RulesandRegulations/

Have fun!!

[sandy b]

We'e going to OBX next year & taking Max so I really appreciate all the great info.

[Ellen aka BeauBeau's Mom]

I took my doodle to Corolla with me a few years ago. While we had a great time, and the beach is dog-friendly, it is the ONLY time in his life he has been bitten. We saw a family cavorting on the beach with their two dogs, and slowly approached them. I yelled out "are your dogs friendly?" and Beau approached as usual, with his tail wagging, to meet some new doggie friends. Totally unprovoked, and without warning, one of the dogs charged up to him and took a chunk out of his rear. His cries and howling still haunt me sometimes. Poor little guy was hurt, but I think his feelings were hurt more than anything. I treated him with some antibiotic spray and he was fine, but he still, three years later, has a discoloration on the fur on his rear at that spot. Re restaurants, as our house was not ready for us when we arrived, we ended up at a restaurant that was decidedly NOT dog friendly.

[Amanda and Quinn]

For anyone who's planning a trip in the future, definitely get the free guide book from their tourism site before you go. It includes a card with discounts for restaurants and local real estate places. I wish I'd had it before I booked our rental.

http://www.outerbanks.org/VI/