(Photo by John McCabe) Books, umbrellas, beach chairs and sand pails are required accessories for these visitors to the Outer Banks. And, don’t forget the sunscreen.

If you’re looking for more than just the typical beach experience, the Outer Banks in North Carolina is the place to visit.


One can do just about anything at the Outer Banks. There’s miniature golf; memorials to the Wright Brothers and their first flight; ocean fishing; nature trails that lead to secluded coves; nearby Roanoke Island; and high dunes great for flying kites. The stay is both relaxing and educational, and that’s what keeps many people coming back from year to year.


But it is the sands and the Atlantic Ocean that stand at the center of the Outer Banks and its appeal.


The shoreline is clean and pristine, with miles of wide-open space, and there are lifeguard stations every few hundred yards. The average temperature ranges from 77-86 degrees in the summer, and the breezes off the ocean are refreshing.


Most days, the surf is calm and relaxing, allowing young and old alike to enjoy the wonders of the ocean. However, when the wind picks up, the waves can get rather vicious, and it is on these days that lifeguards tend to close the beach.


The Outer Banks’ high dunes — where the Wright Brothers took their first flight — are another highlight of the area. Some of the dunes climb more than 100 feet high, and the more adventurous can learn to hang glide at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.