While the area is pretty nice, I find the beach/beaches a little overrated.

I loved all the lighthouses in the area....so laid back and a real resting spot!

We just got back from a week in December spent at the Inn at Corolla Light, at the north end of the outerbanks. A fantastic little, eccentric inn. Ask to speak to Jen Olds, a gem of a woman. While private development is high in the O.B., Corolla and Duck remain wonderful places to stay. Anywhere you stay in the O.B. MUST be in the off season. If not, be prepared for headaches and problems galore from massive traffic, tourists, over crowding, over development, crime, lack of cleanliness, and a host of ills. The lone restaurant we recommend is the Roadside bar and grill, in Duck. An unassuming converted house in Duck, the owners of over 10 years (Mark and Ashley Copeland) have built a place the locals adore, and we did too. The food is amazing and surprisingly low-priced, and the ambience is cozy. Books, salvaged church windows (for tables), low ceilings, relaxed and informative staff compliment the work of gifted chefs. The roasted duck with sweet corn risotto, cider dressed baby spinach, pumpkin butter sauce, and huge seared shrimp was big enough to split and was the best duck I have ever had. By far the treat of our meals there was the Oyster stew (remember the oysters and clams are always in season when the tourists are not). If we ever have any as good again, I'll be surprised. The wine and beer lists are superb as well. See the Corolla light house, and drive down through the thick of exploitation in Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk until you get to Bodie Island and the light house. From there south, there are plenty of great beaches and non-developed areas. More over-development is in Hatteras, so we bypassed that. Good luck!

If you want lots of shopping, restaurants and amenities, the Outer Banks might not be for you. But if you are a strong swimmer, want natural beauty and a clean setting, with a moderately challenging surf in spots, this is a great place. There are also some great historic lighthouses. But those lighthouses exist because storms tend to be severe here.

The North Carolina Outer Banks are relatively undeveloped and pristine. Several historic lighthouses are also a draw. This makes this shoreline attractive for campers and families with younger children. On the downside, these beaches can be difficult to reach (sometimes only by ferry), and there is little entertainment (ie pubs and restaurants). The bottom line is that the appeal of the Outer Banks depends on what one wants in a vacation.