Thanksgiving Week in Nags Head – Mama Bird Adventures

Hello friends, it’s Mama Bird here!

I wanted to share a little bit about our Thanksgiving week in the Outer Banks. If you ever get the chance to visit in late November, we highly recommend it. The crowds are low, the pace is peaceful, and most places are still open. In fact, many spots closed for the season right after we left—perfect timing!

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend the house we stayed in this time, but the views were absolutely stunning. Even with the hiccups, waking up to those ocean sunrises made everything worth it.

Weather & Beach Time

The week started out with beautiful weather, warm enough that the kids were able to run around on the beach for a few days. They even ventured into the water—braver than I was! Nothing beats watching them play in the sand and splash in the waves.

What We Did for Fun

Between beach time and exploring the area, we kept ourselves pretty entertained.

Some highlights:

• A couple of last-minute Target runs (because what family vacation doesn’t start at Target?)

• Playing on the beach whenever the weather allowed

• Several rounds of DnD

• The kids discovering a new love for puzzles

• And of course… Destination Fun

One chilly morning we headed over to Destination Fun in Kill Devil Hills. Since the temperatures had dropped, it was the perfect indoor spot. They have bumper cars, an arcade, and laser tag. Papa, Big Brother, and Sister Bird had an absolute blast in the laser tag arena, while Little Brother Bird and I stuck to the arcade games.

And I’ll be honest… those coin-pusher games are my weakness. I could stay there all day. Apparently Big Brother caught the same bug, because he was hooked too!

Tip: We’re early birds and arrived right at opening, which meant we had the entire place to ourselves for almost an hour. It was wonderful—no lines, no crowds, and the kids could play as long as they wanted without waiting.

If you want to see what the inside of Destination Fun looks like, here’s my full YouTube walkthrough:👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpuErFn_BJo

Where We Ate

Food is always a big topic for us—especially traveling as a family of five. Here are a few places we tried this trip. I didn’t capture everything on camera, so a full list will come in Summer 2026. But here’s a sneak peek of our favorites so far:

🍽 Miller’s Waterfront — Nags Head

We stumbled across Miller’s Waterfront and ended up loving it so much we went back three times—once for lunch and twice for dinner. The kids fell in love with their hushpuppies, and we even brought Nana and Granddad Bird along for our final meal of the trip.

Our Recommendations:

• Hushpuppies — The reason we kept going back!

• Spinach & Artichoke Crab Dip — Little Brother’s top pick.

• Miller’s Signature Salad — A surprisingly refreshing lunch option with fruit.

• Waterfront Style Scallops — My husband ordered them on our first visit. I “borrowed” a bite and instantly knew I’d be ordering them next time!

  
  

🦪 Awful Arthur’s — Kill Devil Hills

Awful Arthur’s was one of the reasons I wanted to return to the Outer Banks this year. I took my sister here over the summer, and we shared oysters and crab soup that were so delicious I had to bring the family back.

We lucked out too—they closed for the season right after we left.

Even Brother Bird tried the steamed oysters and gave them his stamp of approval!

Our Recommendations:

• Steamed Oysters (or raw if that’s more your style)

• Crab & Lobster Bisque — So comforting on a chilly day.

  
  

🍩 Duck Donuts — Kill Devil Hills

We finally tried Duck Donuts for breakfast—and wow, we get the hype now! They make all their donuts fresh, and they didn’t have that “day-old” taste you sometimes get from chain shops.

There was a Duck Donuts closer to us in Nags Head, but it was closed the day we went. Still worth the drive!

Tip:

Order ahead! We placed our order online last minute and ended up with over an hour wait. Next time we’ll place an order the night before and pick it up early.

Recommendation:

Honestly? Every donut was good. We didn’t have a bad one.

🍳 Sam & Omie’s — Nags Head

Sam & Omie’s was our final stop before heading home, and it ended our trip on such a cozy note. This spot has been open since 1937, and it has that classic, comforting beach-town diner feel that just makes you want to stay awhile.

We tried several other yummy places too, but without notes or photos to jog our memory, we’ll save those recommendations for another adventure! Big Brother Bird already has big plans to share his favorite mocktail list, so stay tuned!

Final Thoughts

The trip left Little Brother Bird absolutely exhausted—always a sign of a good vacation. Nags Head continues to be a charming and family-friendly area, perfect for both relaxation and adventure.

And just a quick note: All photos on this blog are real, but any family images have been stylized using AI. This allows us to share our experiences while protecting our kids’ privacy.

Thanks for flying along with us on this adventure! 💛