Outer Banks, North Carolina

Outer Banks Travel Tips

History drips from the Outer Banks: Here, aviators Orville and Wilbur Wright took their famous first flight (at Kitty Hawk), the pirate Blackbeard fought his last battle (at Ocracoke), and the mysterious Lost Colony disappeared (where is anyone's guess). But this chain of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina -- OBX for those in the know -- isn't just for history buffs. Fishing, windsurfing, nature watching and ATV driving attracts the adventurous types while the beach, mini-golf and the aquarium entertains families and young couples. And each island has its own charm: The old lighthouses, rugged dunes and secluded beaches in the south couple with vacation rentals, water sports and kitschy beach shops in the north, all to form a unique seaside destination.

 Why Go: Newlyweds often forget about this sliver of beach on North Carolina's eastern coast. The Outer Banks are like the Cape Cod of the South, but even less developed -- and that's saying something. Affordable bed and breakfasts and a handful of hotels speckle the coastline and offer reasonable rates. And although these shores lack the dreamy resorts and fine dining of other honeymoon spots, they make up for it with privacy and pristine sands.

Best Times to Visit Outer Banks

The best time to visit the Outer Banks is from March to May or September to November, when rates drop and crowds disappear. Similar to other parts of the Southeast, the temperatures stay relatively warm and humid -- with average highs hitting the upper 80s in the summer -- until the winter months, when the weather dips into the 40s.