Through My Grandkids’ Eyes: A Week in Corolla

Wild Horses - Corolla's Banker Mustangs

Osprey Nest, Currituck Sound, Corolla Light

Last summer we took the grandkids to the Outer Banks and stayed in Corolla, and I was reminded how different a trip feels when you’re seeing a place through a child’s eyes. I’ve been to the beach many times, but everything feels new again when you’re with grandkids. Every shell is a treasure, every wave is exciting, and every day feels like an adventure waiting to happen.

Most mornings at LilyBeth started the same way. I’d get up early with a cup of coffee while the house was still quiet. Before long I’d hear little feet on the stairs and the inevitable question: “Are we going to the beach today?” The answer was always yes. Before breakfast was even finished the kids had buckets and shovels ready and were racing toward the ocean. Watching them run across the sand with that kind of energy is one of those simple joys you forget about until you see it again.

One day we decided to climb the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, which turned into a full family challenge. The kids counted every step all the way up and treated it like a race to the top. By the time we made it to the balcony everyone was a little out of breath, but the view made it worth it. You can see the ocean on one side and Currituck Sound on the other, and it gives you a sense of just how special that stretch of coastline really is. One of the grandkids looked out and said it was the highest place they had ever been, which made the whole climb feel like a big accomplishment.

Another afternoon we walked the nature trail and went down by the sound to try crabbing. It doesn’t take much—just a piece of string, a net, and some patience. Of course patience doesn’t last long with kids. The quiet waiting quickly turned into shouting when someone spotted a crab moving under the water. Suddenly everyone was leaning over the dock trying to scoop it up. There were plenty of laughs and at least one crab that seemed determined to scare Grandpa.

We also spent time wandering around Historic Corolla Park. It’s a beautiful place to slow down for a while. The kids ran across the grass and explored the paths while we admired the old Whalehead Club nearby. It’s the kind of place where kids can roam a bit and grandparents can just enjoy being outside together.

Of course the moment everyone was waiting for was seeing the famous Corolla Wild Banker Mustangs. We drove along the beach north of town with the kids scanning the dunes like little wildlife experts. Then someone spotted one standing quietly in the grass. The car went completely silent while we watched. It’s a pretty amazing thing to see an animal living freely like that along the coast, and it felt like one of those moments the kids will remember long after the trip is over.

Evenings were my favorite part of the day. After hours at the beach everyone was sandy, tired, and hungry. The kids would swim or ride bikes around Corolla Light Resort while the adults finally had a chance to sit and relax. Dinner always turned into storytelling. The crab someone caught got bigger with every retelling, the lighthouse climb became a heroic race, and the horse sighting was discussed like we had just seen something out of a nature documentary.

Looking back, what I remember most aren’t the big attractions or even the places we visited. It’s the small moments—kids running into the waves, sandy feet at the end of the day, and the endless curiosity that comes with being young. Traveling with grandkids reminds you that the best vacations aren’t really about where you go. They’re about who you get to share it with. And a week in Corolla turned out to be a pretty wonderful place to make those memories.