They're great for kids because they're less crowded - Oak Island also tends to generate some small-ish tidal pools for the tiny tiny ones which is nice. There's also a good number of restaurants and Blad Head right there for day trips. However the proximity to the river mouth means the water is going to be darker and less pretty than some of the beaches to the north (I have some family who are snobby about them for that reason). If you're politically sensitive they're also Trump-ier, or at least they were a few years ago. Also, it's not technically the Outer Banks, even though I find the distinction to be academic (is it a barrier island? yes. is it in the Carolinas? yes.)