Book Your Nags Head Beach Vacation Rental Today! According to local legend, the town of Nags Head got its name from days long ago when pirates were a dangerous threat up and down the eastern seashore. Locals would patrol the beaches at night with a lantern hung around an old nag's neck. Thus making ships wreck along the treacherous shoals of the Atlantic. The area off our coast became known as "The Graveyard of the Atlantic" due to the number of ship wrecks.Today the town of Nags Head is a sportsman's paradise. Hang gliding and dune climbing at Jockey's Ridge, sport fishing, wind surfing, sailing and golfing are all popular activities in addition to the multitude of premier Nags Head beach rentals, situated on miles of pristine beaches. This area is convenient to shopping, restaurants, go-cart tracks and mini-golf.Nags Head Vacation Rentals