Outer Banks West / Currituck Sound KOA Holiday Blog
Even more NEW ALL-INCLUSIVE amenities!
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
From the north: VA 168 S and NC 168 S; continue onto US 158 E. Turn left onto Waterlily Rd.
From the south: US 17 N and 158 E. Turn onto Waterlily Rd.
GPS: N36.417178, W75.923594
When planning a camping trip to the Currituck Sound, water sports and wildlife often come to mind, but did you know it’s also great for stargazing? Considered a dark skies location due to limited light pollution and the secluded environment, our Outer Banks West campground in Coinjock, NC is a fantastic spot to view celestial events. Not only will you be able to see an immeasurable number of stars, you’ll have the opportunity to see numerous meteor showers throughout the year. Each one is named after the constellation it appears near, and according to NASA, there are seven stargazing events in particular that you shouldn’t miss out on in 2022.
Lyriad
April 21-22
As one of the first meteor showers of the year, this is a great way to start off your travel adventures. The time to view these are very specific, only appearing on April 21 and 22, but are a sight to behold. Best known for being fast and bright, these meteors also leave dust trails behind them that are viewable for a few seconds. It’s also one of the oldest recorded meteor shower events in history with an average of 20 meteors per hour. Since this event is best viewed during the darkest hours of the night, it’s a great activity for those who consider themselves night owls.
Eta Aquarids
April 19-May 28
Known as earthgrazer meteors because they are visible near the horizon, the eta aquarids are active between April 19 and May 28 with peak viewing in early May. You can see up to 30 of these fast meteors per hour, so make sure to keep a keen eye. Even if you don’t spot the long meteor as it flies by, you can see the trail it leaves behind for a few extra minutes.
Delta Aquariids
Mid-July to Late August
This meteor shower is a little more elusive than the rest, which makes it even more exciting to catch a glimpse of. Showing up in the summer between mid-July and late August, this event is best viewed on a moonless night when the stars are at their brightest. With that in mind, we recommend visiting the campgrounds July 28 and 29 and keeping an eye on the weather forecast as you get closer to the date. If you happen to miss out at this point in the year, you’ll have the chance to see them again during the next event to appear in the Northern Hemisphere.
Perseids
Mid-July to Mid-August
Often considered the best meteor shower event of the year by stargazers, the Perseids peak during mid-August but are viewable beginning in mid-July. Best viewed in the pre-dawn hours, you can see between 50 and 100 meteors per hour. Most will leave brief streaks of color behind them as well as explosions of light known as fireballs. Since these meteors only appear in summertime weather, that makes it the perfect opportunity to vacation with the whole family in one of our waterfront cabins. You can spend your day taking advantage of our all-inclusive amenities on the water, and by night you can watch a mesmerizing sky show that reflects off the Currituck Sound.
Orionids
Early October to Early November
If you can point out the Orion constellation in the sky then you’re in for a treat between early October and early November. On a crisp moonless night, you can see up to 15 meteors per hour near the constellation’s brightest star, Betelguese. Known for their speed and brightness, these meteors also occasionally leave a trail of fireballs in their wake, making for what feels like a mini fireworks show.
Leonids
November 17-18
This celestial event has a little bit of everything. From fireballs to earthgrazers to a spectrum of colors, you’re bound to get a unique experience each night you view it. On an average night in November you can see about 15 meteors per hour that start around midnight and go on into the pre-dawn hours. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled though, because they are considered among the fastest meteors of the entire year.
Geminids
December 4-14
As the most active and reliable meteor shower of the year with up to 120 per hour, the Geminids event is one of wonder. Visible beginning December 4 and peaking by December 13 and 14, it is a great event to finish off your travel plans. It’s also perfect for kids to enjoy since the meteors are visible before typical bedtime hours. We recommend bringing out the tent, sleeping bag and blankets for this one so you can get a full view while cuddling with family. With all those beautiful stars and meteors, it’s a perfect way to end the year with bright hopes for the future.
If you want to be starry-eyed during your trip to our campground along the Currituck Sound this year, book your next stay around one or more of these spectacular events now.
Collette O’Neal has been a freelance content writer and editor since 2015. In addition to writing content for Blue Water, she’s created content for various non-profit organizations, small businesses, and individual clients. As a professional, her goal is to help the underdogs of the world get the attention they need to get their ideas off the ground. Her strength lies in her ability to create a unique piece of content that infuses the personality of her clients with a humanistic approach. To see more of her work, please view her online portfolio.
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