Tranquil Outer Banks Offer Unique Fall Getaway

North Carolina's Outer Banks are a delightfully quiet haven for a romantic getaway or a carefree family vacation. Tranquil, scenic beauty defines the popular barrier islands strung like jewels along the state's Atlantic coast. Gorgeous beaches, diverse parks, history, culture, culinary delights and environmental beauty combine to create a distinctive vacation destination.

Surrounded by 900 miles of ocean, the barrier islands protect North Carolina's coastal mainland from the Atlantic's fury, creating the largest estuary system in the world. The unique environment is a birder's paradise. Miles of pristine beaches, sand dunes and salt marshes are home to more than 400 species of waterfowl, shore and song birds and nesting areas. From fall through spring, birders and nature lovers flock to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge for the migration and nesting seasons.

Hiking is just one of the activities you can enjoy on the Outer Banks. Cycling, equestrian adventures, hang gliding, kayaking and some of the country's finest golf courses delight visitors. Temperate weather, shallow sound waters and rolling waves make the Outer Banks a a water lover's playground. Known as the windsurfing capital of the east coast for its steady, consistent breezes, you can also try your hand at surfing, boating, sailing, jet skiing, diving and fishing. Equipment rental and lessons are readily available.

Restaurants feature fresh-caught seafood, plucked from the cold waters of the Atlantic that morning. Spend the day gallery hopping or poking in the islands' eclectic variety of unique shops. Tour the islands' charming lighthouses.

If you're a history buff, you'll find plenty of historic sites and museums where you can while away lazy afternoons. The Outer Banks are the landing site of Sir Walter Raleigh's Lost Colony, the new world pioneers whose mysterious disappearance from Roanoke Island has never been explained. The Frisco Native American Museum and Natural History Center provides a fascinating historic view of the barrier islands. Lose yourself in the Civil War and World War II relics and artifacts at the North Carolina Maritime Museum. Visit the Kitty Hawk site of the Wright Brothers' historic airplane flight.

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