For those unfamiliar with the area, the Outer Banks are a series of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. They stretch for 200 miles and are home to unique history and some incredible landscapes. Black Beard, the feared and famous pirate, traveled here; the Wright Brothers first flew here; and the lost colony of Roanoke was, well, lost here. I'm especially fascinated by the thousands of ship wrecks that dot the coast. There are so many that the Outer Banks are nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic, and there's even a museum dedicated to these lost ships. (Unfortunately, it was closed when we got there--but that just means we'll have to go back!)
For two hick kids from Nebraska, the coolest thing was knowing we were on land that's essentially in the middle of the ocean. Smelling salty sea air, seeing dolphins, and coming across a baby seal while walking along the beach were all so special!
We purposely traveled during the off season to avoid the crowds, and even though it was a little cool and a lot windy, we cannot wait to come back!