Packing For Your Trip

*For more information about planning your OBX vacation, please check out my OBX Travel Guide (previously on Google Knols).  Now, without further ado, please enjoy my Outer Banks Peach Packing Suggestion List.

The Essentials

• Purse/Wallet, Credit/Debit Cards – Basically your money.  Cash is good to have here, although all forms are usually accepted.  Stay away from checks if possible.
• Rental Reservation Information
• First Aid Kit – make sure this includes all the necessary items along with neosporin & hydrocortizone.  One word – MOSQUITOES!
• Prescription Medicines
• Over The Counter Drugs
• Driver’s License
• NC Coastal Fishing License (The NPS will NOT hesitate to fine you… these can also be purchased on the island along with your ORV permit)
• Extra Car Keys.  There is a chance you will lock yours in your car.  I’ve seen it happen often and usually you do not know who to call, since you are unfamiliar with the location.
• Directions/Maps/GPS
• Aloe/Sun Burn Soother
• Bug Spray
• Sunscreen – I don’t care if you think you don’t burn.  You will burn.  You will get an AUTHENTIC Outer Banks Roast and it will show, and it will peel.  From your nose to your feet.  I PROMISE you this.  TRUST ME.  Otherwise you will suffer the hard way.

Bathroom Necessities

• Lotion – for the peel.
• Toilet Paper – self explanitory?  Although this can be purchased at the beach, it is good to have some before hand so you can use the bathroom when you first arrive.  It may be a long trip.
• Hand Soap
• Towels & Washcloths
• Perfume/Cologne (keep in mind if you wear too much of this, bugs will eat you)
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouth Wash
• Deodorant
• Shower Gel / Soap
• Glasses/Contacts/Contact Solution
• Make Up
• Hand Sanitizer
• Tide Pen – A good suggestion to carry around with you.  Seafood can sometimes get quite messy.
• Lint Roller
• Razors
• Shaving Gel
• Tissues
• Small mirror
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Fingernail Polish/Remover – For the ladies who like to change color often.  Salt water will eat your polish within a day.  I promise.
• Nail Clippers
• Tweezers – good to have.  Splinters happen.
• Shower Srunchies
• Hair Dryer
• Hair Straightener
• Female Hygiene Products
• Hair Bands/Clips/Head Band – Salt water hair is not so fun, you will want to keep it out of your way when laying on the beach.
• Hand Towel/Paper Towels
• Laundry Detergent
• Dryer Sheets

Clothing & Accesories

• Proper Undergarments!
• Swim Suits (obviously).  You may want to bring several as they will get salty and you may not want to wash daily.
• Jeans (you may want these in the evening, it actually gets cooler than you think)
• PJs
• Hoody/Jacket – again, it gets cool in the early mornings or evenings.  One of those things I am again PROMISING you… trust me on this or you will have to buy one and prices there are not cheap.
• Long Sleeve Shirts (consider dressy clothes you may wear out to eat)
• Short Sleeve Shirts (again, consider where you might need these)
• Tanks/Spaghetti Straps/Wifebeaters – whatever you want to call them, bring shirts that are sleeveless.  Daytimes are ruthless.
• Socks
• Shoes/Water Shoes (For going in the ocean!)
• Flipflops/Sandals – much easier to slide on and off, get wet, and wear in the sand over tennis shoes.
• Shorts.
• Swim Suit Covers
• Jewelry.  Who doesn’t love your jewelry?
• Belts.  No one wants to see whats under your pants.
• Beach Bags.  These are handy because you will want something to carry your items in when you go on the sand.
• Beach Towel.  I suggest bringing at least two because a towel can get wet & sandy quickly and you will have to wash them everyday to get a dry, clean towel unless you bring a couple.
• Sunglasses.  TRUST ME ON THIS ONE.  It’s bright!  Your eyes will hurt.

Odds & Ends

• Linens!  Some houses come with linens provided so make sure you know exactly what your rental property features.  I prefer to bring my own pillow.
• Alarm Clock (if there is not one on your cell phone), one may not be included in your house
• Night lights (for the kids/stumblers)
• Batteries
• Flash Light/Lantern – for those late night beach walks!
• Beach Chairs/Beach Towels.  You don’t want to sit in the hot sand the whole time.
• Beach Toys – Who doesn’t love building a sandcastle?  Also, throwing around a frisbee or a football can be great entertainment.
• Umbrella – the sun will get very hot
• Mini Cooler – Snacks anyone? 
• Shovel.  If you plan on driving on the beach, this is a very good idea.  You will get stuck if you are not experienced.  Someone else may also need to borrow it.
• Fishing Gear – For the fisherman!
• Tire Pressure Gauge -  Again, for anyone planning to drive on the beach.
• Marshmallow Sticks
• Boogie Board/Surfboard/Kayak/Boats, whatever sport gear you prefer!
• Hangers – for clothes or can be cut apart to make a nice marshmallow stick.  (Bring the metal hangers, not those plastic ones!!!)
• Dirty Clothes Hamper/Bag
• Pet Items – for those of you bringing your animals!

Electronics/Entertainment

• Board Games – Some suggestions for good family games are Trivial Pursuit, Taboo, Cards (maybe you could bring some poker chips!), Apples To Apples, Boxers Or Briefs, Scrabble, and Cranium.  Games like Monopoly and Clue also if you have true Board Game fans. 
• Notebooks/Paper
• Magazines
• Books – It’s relaxing to read on the beach!
• Pens/Pencils
• iPod/CD Player/etc.
• Charger & headphones for the above player
• Cell phone & charger
• Digital Camera (or 35mm), charger, and MEMORY CARDS!
• Laptop & Charger (some houses have high speed access!)
• Video Game Console (this past year, we brought the Nintendo Wii and it was a blast to play games during a rainy day!  Some houses also have a console included so you may want to bring additional games/controllers)

Food (I know some must be purchased there but try to take what you can to get you through the first night… Saturday & Sunday afternoons/evenings at the grocery stores are PACKED with tourists and weight times are super long).

• Snacks – Sweets and salts.  Consider making cookies or brownies and store them in a cooler for the trip.  Also, chips, crackers, poptarts, etc.
• Water – this can mainly be bought when you arrive but make sure you have some.  I recommend buying drinking water.  Water isn’t expensive, buy it by the gallon.
• Meat – every year we bake hams and bring it in the cooler.  This makes excellent breakfast, lunches, and dinners.
• Hot Dogs, Hamburgers.  Cheese.  All can be packed in coolers.
• Bread – may be harder to store due to squishing possibilities.
• Napkins, Paper Towels, plastic bags, etc.  Bring these.  It’s cheaper.
• Tea, Coffee, Filters.
• Condiments.
• Salt & Pepper.
• Breakfast Items.
• Smores Makings!
• Drinks – Cheap sodas are the way to go.  Fridgemates are easy to store in any vehicle.
• Pet Food – If you are bringing your pets!

I hope this list helps you get started!  Most of these items are very crucial (especially the ones I commented on)!  I’ve learned from experience and you don’t want to have to buy anything you already own simply because you forgot to pack it! 

*Disclaimer: I am not a licensed travel agent, just a long time tourist of the most amazing place in the world who is willing to answer any and all questions to hopefully help make your OBX experience an incredible one.