Outer Banks, North Carolina

The Outer Banks is approximately 200 miles of narrow islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of North Carolina. There are four islands that comprise the Outer Banks: Bodie Island, Roanoke Island, Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke Island. Some interesting facts (found in Wikipedia) include:
-The Wright brothers’ first flight took place on the Outer Banks on December 17, 1903.
-The English Roanoke Colony—where the first person of English descent, Virginia Dare, was born on American soil—vanished from Roanoke Island in 1587. “The Lost Colony,” written and performed to commemorate the original colonists, is the longest running outdoor drama in the United States and its theater acts as a cultural focal point for much of the Outer Banks.
-The treacherous seas off the Outer Banks and the large number of shipwrecks that have occurred there have given these seas the nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is located in Hatteras Village.
-Ocracoke Island was the home base of the pirate known as Blackbeard and also where he was killed.

Beaches: There are miles and miles of beaches to explore in the Outer Banks. Cape Hatteras is ranked #4 best beach in America by Dr. Beach’s Top Ten list. The beaches are kid friendly but the waves can get a bit rough. Of course this makes it a great place to boogie board, kite surf or simply surf. While OB is a major tourist attraction, there is an amazing amount of space on the beach so it doesn’t feel overcrowded! Lining the beach are great little rental houses so pack up the family and bring a few friends to share the cost. It is much more convenient to rent one of these houses than to find a hotel, especially if a major part of your vacation will be spent on the beach. There are also campgrounds, cottages and bed and breakfasts.

Activities: There are a myraid of air, land and water activities to enjoy! Since the Wright Brothers did make their first flight here, you will find some fun places to take flight. There are Air Tours where you can see dolphins and other sea life, shipwrecks, lighthouses, the Wright Brothers Memorial and much more. Another option is to go hang gliding over sand dunes or tandem to 2000 feet. Lessons from qualified instructors are available. Speaking of lessons, you can also take lessons for rock wall climbing, stunt kite, kiteboarding, kayaking, surfing and more. Also, there are several places in which to go parasailing!

If you want to stay on land, the Outer Banks has art Galleries, bike paths (you can even rent bicycles), Birdwatching, golfing, hiking, horseback riding, sight seeing OB Tours, shopping, tennis, skate parks and Theatre (definitely check out the “The Lost Colony”). Also, check out the Elizabethan Gardens (Highlights include the thatched gazebo, Shakespearean herb garden, flower bordered walkways, antique garden statuary and formal sunken gardens). There is also an aquarium to visit called the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Since these are islands, you will find a lot of water activities, including crabbing, cruises, diving, fishing, kayaking and canoeing, kiteboarding, parasailing, pontoon boats, sailing, shelling, stand up paddling, surfing,
wakeboarding and Water skiing, waterfowling, waverunners and Jet Skis and windsurfing. You can take lessons or rent the equipment and venture out on your own.

There are several lighthouses to see when on the Islands, including Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (tallest lighthouse in America, standing 208 feet), Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Ocracoke Lighthouse and The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse.

If you are a history buff, there are some great Sites to explore, including The Civil War Trail, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (home to the Waterside Theatre), The Freedmen’s Colony of Roanoke (Part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site), Outer Banks History Center, Roanoke Island Festival Park (An interactive family attraction that celebrates the first English settlement in America. There is a 1.5 hour tour aboard a pirate ship where kids dress up and look for treasures) and the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

There are a lot of parks to wander through where you will get up close to nature and wildlife, including the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Roanoke Island Festival Park, Roanoke Island Maritime Center, U.S.A.C.E, Field Research Facility “Duck Pier”

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