Bird sanctuary tops features at resort

One drawback for families is that the resort is geared toward adults.
By JOHN DEINER
WASHINGTON POST
Leave it to the Sanderling Resort, the Outer Banks' equivalent of New York's Plaza Hotel, to have its own bird sanctuary. And not just any reserve: The Audubon Society's Pine Island Wildlife Sanctuary is a 3,400-acre ornithological wonderland that grants private access to resort guests.
Doesn't seem fair, but then again, at these prices ...
Actually, the Sanderling is earthier than its lofty reputation suggests. The dress code is casual, there's sand on the lobby floor and the faces are friendly.
Set on a dozen manicured acres bifurcated by busy Route 12, the resort resembles a New England village, its brown-shingled, two-story buildings blending gracefully with the landscape.
Guests stay in three inns set between the highway and the beach, with restaurants and a spa connected by sidewalks and crosswalks. Accommodations include several multi-bedroom villas, while the other 88 rooms have pullout sofas and king-size beds, many of which can be separated into two twins.
Yes, it's nice -- though you may want to think twice about bringing the kids. Most amenities are aimed squarely at adults, and the newest of its two restaurants, the ultra-swank Left Bank, allows only teenagers and up -- which makes sense, since entrees start at $55.
About the room
My first-floor room, done in pleasing beachy pastels, had a kitchenette with microwave, fridge and sink, and a porch overlooking a fountain that nicely drowned out traffic noise. Surprisingly, the bathroom was tiny, though well-stocked with inch-thick towels. The resort got extra points for the little bed-stand flashlight, then lost them when I spotted a lint-encrusted spider web connecting a picture frame and a lampshade. When the complimentary gift bag arrived filled with wine, bottled water and snacks, all was forgiven.
The serviceable outdoor and indoor pools notwithstanding, the beach is really what the Sanderling is all about, and the resort's doesn't disappoint, with its white sand, dunes and welcome breeze. Go ahead and wade right in. Or wander the polished-wood lobbies and admire the ubiquitous wildlife art, then head over to that sanctuary and see the real thing.
XFor more details, call (252) 261-4111 or visit www.thesanderling.com.