By: J. Wesley Atkins, Personal Chef, reviews the Outer Banks NC
It's one of the best kept secrets of all times. The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a ninety mile long stretch of beautiful barrier islands. The islands are surrounded on the east side by white sandy beaches and on the west by the clear blue Atlantic Ocean. From atop one of the many viewing points or hotels one can see both the sound and the ocean that surround this pristine location. The islands are dotted with many small remote villages providing surroundings for a quiet, relaxing and peaceful vacation. One can also find many more commercial areas which call to the shoppers at heart.
The Outer Banks NC is steeped in a vibrant history of the colonization of America with their settlers' tales, pirates and never yet solved mysteries of the area. You can take an evening and see the play, The Lost Colony” which has boasted such actors as Andy Griffith, a resident of the area, and many more like the late Pearl Bailey. This is a mystery that has never been solved to this day. What happened to the original settlers who landed hears years ago, disappeared and have never been heard from since?
How about Blackbeard the Pirate? This was the home to the notorious swash buckler and some of his descendents still live here. The Teach family name still remains one of prominence in the area, Blackbeard was Edward Teach. Visit Teach's Lair on Ocracoke Island and see for yourself. At one point in history the area abounded with pirates and pirate tales. You will see many references to Roag's Gallery, Jolly Roger this and Jolly Roger that. Visit Ocracoke Island and see the old British cemetery where soldiers from the Revolutionary War rest today. Let's not forget the Wright Brothers, who flew the first airplane from the sands of Kitty Hawk. The history of the Outer Banks is rustic and full of adventure with many exhibits and events for the visitor to see.
The islands are world renowned for the best kiteboarding, windsurfing and sport fishing. Dolphin tours, sail boating, and nature walks are all a part of the experience. Spend a day visiting the Wright Brothers National Memorial where in 1903 Wilber and Orville Wright made the first manned airplane flight. Each year on December 17 thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage to walk the trails and beaches where this notable event took place.
The four wheel drive area of Carova is an experience all its own. You can spend a day with the wild mustangs that roam the beaches in the area and see first had the heard that descended from the Spanish ships.
Visit the many locations and see the ship wrecks that caused the area to be named, “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.” Scuba dive on the first German U boat sunk off the American shores during World War II. Take a day trip to visit the old lighthouses that dot the coast line and visit the Serendipity House, recently moved to save it from the ocean, where Nights in Rodanthe with Richard Geer and Diane Lane was filmed.
Fine restaurants, exciting events for young and old alike, rewarding day trips and many, many more opportunities abound on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for your pleasure and enjoyment. All of this and more are what make the Outer Banks NC a great place to spend time during the season.
