The Outer Banks are barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. From the northern tip to the southern tip will take about 3 1/2 hours drive on Hwy. 12 with one of those hours being on a ferry. If you like pirates then the Outer Banks has great history, pirate stores and stories as Blackbeard lived and died on the Outer Banks. History abounds as Roanoke Island was the site of England's first settlement and on the northern tip you can still see the wild mustangs that call the Outer Banks home. This is a great place for wind and kite surfing and I got to watch the classic wave event where the kite surfers were racing on the huge waves coming in from Hurricane Jose to the Outer Banks. The Nags Head area has an outlet mall along with most of today's modern stores and restaurants.
I went to see lighthouses that have been on my list for a while, to explore this beautiful place and to rest up before heading out for my 80 day cruise sailing this Saturday. The house I rented was on the sound side and located on the canal in Frisco, NC. Nice quiet place with good views and a nice pool to enjoy on the sunny days (little chilly on the cloudy days).
Cape Hatteras lighthouse is located about 5 miles north which was my first lighthouse stop on this tour. Hard to believe it has taken me this long to see this land mark but it was well worth the drive. I took the one hour ferry ride over to Orcacoke Island to see the Ocracoke Lighthouse and ponies. This one is located right beside a private residents which would be weird to have tourist within feet of your front door. Bodie Island Lighthouse is no longer on a barrier island as over time the land masses have become one so it's location seems strange as it is on the sound side and a bit of a ways from the water. Currituck Lighthouse is about one hours drive up North on Hwy. 12 from the Bodie Lighthouse, two lane roads going through towns like Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and Duck so be prepared on a weekend for the traffic to be bumper to bumper. Roanoke Marsh Island Lighthouse took a little effort as it is located on the harbor and I was there on a Saturday during a major event so parking was interesting but worth the effort. Loved everything about this one and so could live in it!
Recommend the Outer Banks or OXB as the locals call it. Great place to enjoy the beach and any water activities you want. There are more options for restaurants and shopping toward the north but that comes with the people and traffic.