Travel & Vacation Guide, North Carolina

by LING TONG

The barrier islands of North Carolina are called the Outer Banks. They consist of the following communities:

- Duck Cove

- Southern Shores

- Kill Devil Hills

- Nag Head

- Oregon Inlet

- Rodanthe

- Waves

- Salvo

- Buxton

- Hatteras Village

- Frisco

- Ocracoke

You are never far away from any of these communities because the drive along the length of the area is only a little over 70 miles. It is easy to travel to this area from any direction and it is only a short distance from either the airport in Norfolk, Virginia or Raleigh, North Carolina.

This coastal region offers a myriad of sports and outdoor adventures for everyone. Enjoy scuba diving, windsurfing, kite surfing, swimming, walks along the sandy beaches, biking and some of the best fishing experiences in the world. If you are interested in visiting historical sites, you have many options to choose from. Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills to learn all about the brothers?historic flight. Learn about the first Europeans to start a settlement in what is now the United States at the 25-acre park on Roanoke Island. Visit lighthouses or follow the Civil War Trail.

Explore the many museums that tell the story of the islands and the first peoples who lived there. Learn about the many shipwrecks that have occurred off the shores at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. Visit the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge where you will not only see alligators, but hundreds of different kinds of wildlife in their natural habitats. See the majestic trees and flowers of the Elizabethan Gardens and visit the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which stretched for 70 miles. You can learn about the many life-saving devices used in sea rescues and visit lighthouses and lifesaving stations. Some of the attractions on the Barrier Islands are free of charge, while others do have an admission cost.

Families with children can enjoy spending a day at one of many theme parks and raceways where the children can have a super time. Go-cart racing is very popular and miniature golf is an activity for the whole family. Take a wild horse safari to see the wild horses that still roam some of the islands or you might like to take a dolphin tour.

Accommodations abound in rental properties that are super luxurious. Some of these accommodations are homes that the owners rent and can accommodate large numbers of guests. You can swim in your own private pool and take a boardwalk to the beach. A short drive from where you are staying will take you to numerous attractions and stores where you can indulge in shopping. If camping is your preference, there are many campgrounds in the region and of course there are many hotels and motels where you will be quite comfortable.

Dine on a luxurious meal in one of the many restaurants or grab something to take with you to the beach. If you choose a rental property you can cook for yourself in the well-equipped kitchen or have a barbecue on the deck. You can also have a bonfire on the beach, but you do have to make sure that you obtain a permit to do so. There are so many things to do on vacation in this part of North Carolina that it will likely take you several visits to see and do them all.

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By Kathryn Lively

Where else but the Outer Banks can provide kids of all ages the opportunity to learn and have fun at the same time? Each year, thousand of visitor descend upon this thin strip of shoreline bordering the north-easternmost end of North Carolina, mainly to enjoy the beach and other related activities. However, the Currituck Outer Banks offer more than miles of sand and sunny day, but the opportunity for all to meet the creatures who live there all year round. A great place to learn more about the wild side of the Outer Banks is at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education.

The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is one-third of the state’s wildlife resources commission, located conveniently in Currituck County near two other popular attractions – The Whalehead Club and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Open year round with varying hours in the off-season, the Center welcomes families, visitors, and school groups to learn more about the environment that sustains the array of marine life and other creatures who call the Currituck Sound home.

The wildlife center is quite large (over twenty-two thousand square feet) and houses a visitor’s center, exhibition hall, auditorium and an extensive gallery of waterfowl decoys. Visitors to the wildlife center may find exhibits that showcase wildlife of the barrier islands, from the many different species of fish to the ducks and geese that migrate south for the winter. Area histories of related industries like boating, fishing, and hunting are also featured from the early days to the present.

Depending on the time of year, the wildlife center may also host excursions and outreach programs designed to educate others about the importance of keeping the environment clean and healthy for Currituck’s special residents. No visit to the Outer Banks would be complete without a visit to this popular attraction in Corolla, North Carolina.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance travel writer who has contributed to FlowCushion, the alternating air pressure seat cushion for travel, to the Currituck County Department of Tourism Travel in the Outer Banks, and for The Camellia Rose Inn, a Florida bed and breakfast situated in the historic Gainesville area.

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