North Carolina: The Outer Banks

The easiest way to reach the remote Outer Banks is to go through Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, site of the Wright brothers' aeronautical triumph. Most barrier islands are much further inland, since they naturally move towards the land that they're detached from. Located twenty to forty miles from shore, the Outer Banks stubbornly refuse to conform to expected standards, a tendency not restricted to their geological formation. Indeed, in their tranquility, these islands differ markedly from their popular neighbors, Virginia Beach, Nags Head, and Myrtle Beach.

For one thing, the paved road stops at Corolla, giving way to miles of beach inhabited by deer, foxes, and a few humans brave enough to weather the powerful hurricanes that often rip through the Carolinas. Wild horses thrive here, too, the offspring of a group shipwrecked hundreds of years ago. They aren't the only reminders of North Carolina's legacy as a haven for seafarers; Ocracoke Island a few miles south of Cape Hatteras once served as the stomping grounds of eighteenth-century pirate Blackbeard, who favored it as a wooded shelter from the law.

Windsurfing draws its share of practitioners to Canadian Hole on Pamlico Sound, where the wind and waves kick up the perfect conditions for the sport. In case you don't windsurf, you'll nonetheless enjoy drifting along the waters of Cape Hatteras in a kayak (or rowing fiercely if a storm catches you) and watching the sky change color as the sun sets. While you're at it, spend a night camping on Hatteras to fully appreciate the soothing setting. You can always take the ferry to Ocracoke Island the next day to feast on oysters and crab cakes.