Depends upon where you are. Kitty Hawk/Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills is as built up as any beach town in the state. I don't particularly like eight lane highways while vacationing myself, so we're on much gentler and quieter Hatteras Island, third week of August. Compromised with the miniature golf fans in the family, Kinnakeet Shores in Avon this time, they have the prerequisite Putt-Putt. Only place on that island that does, plus the aforementioned Food Lion is there. I wanted Ocracoke Island, but that didn't fly due to being Putt-Putt deprived. I'll freely admit I don't get it. But, whatever. Keeping the peace.
Hope the beach in Avon is as fun as it was in Waves last year. The beach was actually busier at night than during the day, campfires literally dotting the beach as far as the eye could see up and down. Crazy sandcastles and sand mermaids built every day, washed away every night. Loads of people from all over the world. There was some sort of international kiteboarding championship going on that drew them, I found out after the fact.
We’re going to Topsail again, after Labor Day. Only about 10 minutes to a Food Lion ;-).