The Outer Banks of North Carolina offer families the feeling of being a million miles away on a budget that's easy to reach -- and getting there is the easiest it's ever been.
The storied chain of dynamic barrier islands is only a five hour drive from Washington, D.C. and three and half hours from Raleigh, N.C. Care to fly? Norfolk International Airport is just 90 miles up the road.
Invigorate yourself this spring along 130 miles of free and open access beaches. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers some of the largest tracts of undeveloped coastline in America, accessible by pulling over the car whenever and wherever you want. Public parking and ramps for driving on the beach or accessing kayaking and windsurfing areas are abundant.
"With the decline of the U.S. Dollar against the Euro and Canadian dollars, there's never been a better time to explore the beauty of America," says Carolyn McCormick, managing director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. "The Outer Banks is appealing for families and couples who want to get a lot for their buck, and most Americans can get here in few hours travel time."
Try Something New
There's enough to see and do to keep your group talking for weeks. Try hang gliding down the face of Jockey's Ridge, a giant sand dune that draws young and old for an afternoon of fun with instructors. How about horseback riding on Hatteras Island, or kayaking the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge?
Historic Adventures
Explore Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, where the two brothers flew the first airplane in 1903. Retrace 12 seconds of flight that changed mankind. Ponder America's longest enduring mystery at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the last known stand of the first English colony in the new world in 1587. Decide for yourself the fate of 116 men, women and children who vanished with little trace.
Sweet Places to Crash
Set up base camp at a funky bed and breakfast with a romantic atmosphere, or jump out on the beach from an oceanfront hotel or motel. Collect yourself at a beach cottage with room for friends and relatives and all the amenities of home.
Tempt Your Senses
Nothing's fresher than our locally caught seafood from the waters outside your window on the Outer Banks. Local fishermen provide blue crabs, oysters and gorgeous fillets of fish for your indulgence. With over 160 restaurants from Duck, N.C. to Hatteras, the culinary opportunities are endless. There's a place for everyone.
Perfect Timing
That family trip to the Outer Banks won't bust your wallet. Seasonal specials at area properties are always available on the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Web site. We'll help you find that cottage, hotel or bed and breakfast for the whole family or a fun place to stay just for two.
