Had no place to park motor home overnight that would allow me to run generator or plug-in. I have medical equipment that needs power 24/7 and no power also means no A/C. NO accommodations for RVs passing through without reservations made months in advance. The park ranger lied that I was asked to vacate a parking lot at the airport that was marked 24 hour parking. Was given $155 ticket for parking overnight. A beautiful area, to bad the rangers aren't more accommodating. read more

Cape Hatteras - 24 hour parking at airport. - Beaches Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

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Nice national park site. Beach area is clean and easily accessible. Camping is no frills but gets job done. Entry visitor center closed because of fire. Nice junior ranger program. Not a destination but worth a stop in area. read more

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is beautiful! I recently visited this part of the outer banks bc my mom was staying nearby and we were advised to come to the Bodie Island lighthouse for the afternoon. Totally worth the visit and we plan to come back and drive the 70 or so miles to see all the wonders here and take the ferry one day. This is a well-maintained National Park Service coastline alone NC easily enjoyable via car. read more

In our tour of lighthouses in the Outer Banks, my mom and I stopped here while we were exploring Hatteras Island. This is a free National Park. They have a great gift shop. They also had a ranger program going on when we first arrived. We listened for a few minutes and it was enjoyable. There were so many people intrigued and listening to the presentation that we were actually near the entrance to the pavilion. All the seats were taken and it was standing room only, if that is an indication of how exciting the talk was, I don't know what is. One of the main things I learned was that each lighthouse has a different pattern on it so that the boaters can tell where they are on the coast. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a lighthouse that most people recognize, as it has the spiral pattern attached to it. We went exploring and took our pictures around the lighthouse. The museum is great and it was fun reading the information. It was also cool to see how the lighthouse was relocated and what went into the preparation and execution of that. read more

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Bottom Line: 70+ miles of scenic and historic coastline meandering over separate islands and between various quaint villages. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore, managed by the National Park Service (NPS) stretches over 70 miles from Nags Head to Ocracoke. This stretch of North Carolina's Outer Banks includes eight villages and three historic lighthouses. Beaching, bird watching, fishing, shelling and other outdoor activities are popular in this delicate chain of barrier islands. North Carolina Highway 12 is the only thoroughfare between Nags Head and Ocracoke. The 70+ mile trip along the coast may take longer than one suspects because it's a single lane in each direction and to travel between the villages of Hatteras and Ocracoke you must take a ferry. Driving NC 12 at times requires patience since it is a single lane and is used by everyone from the leisurely sightseeing tourist to the hurried commercial driver. For ferry options, there is a free car ferry and a $5/person express passenger ferry. Travelers headed to or from Ocracoke may want to factor in the amount of time it will take to ride the ferry (approximately an hour) and what I'll call ferry queueing time. The drive on Hwy 12 is very scenic and probably best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. In some places both the ocean and the sound can be seen from the road. Here are some of my favorite sights along the seashore from north to south: Coquina Beach Bodie Island Lighthouse Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Museum Pea Island Art Gallery Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Scotch Bonnet Fudge and Gifts Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum Ocracoke Lighthouse I personally am not a camper but I know camping on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is popular. There are various campgrounds along the way but I think a few of them tend to flood after heavy rains and may unexpectedly be closed. When spending any prolonged amount of time on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore I recommend big repellent, sunscreen and water. More of a technical note - towards the northern end of the National Seashore is the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge. It is not technically part of the National Seashore managed by the NPS but it is sandwiched in between NPS managed seashore. The Pea Island Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nevertheless, it is equally scenic to the stretch of islands that officially make up the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Overall I am a big fan of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Despite having vacationed in this vicinity for many decades the sights, sounds and history never get old. read more

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My parents started bringing me to the Outer Banks when I was 5. I'm not going to tell my age, but, suffice it to say, it's been a bit. Way back then, you could pick a spot on the beach and see one person waayyy down to the right of you and a person waayyy down the beach to the left. Now, on most days, it is not nearly so desolate but it's still nowhere near the crowds that you'll find at Myrtle Beach or Destin. While I enjoy watching the sunrise from the beach, sunset is actually my favorite time. Sometimes there is not another person in sight. I sit on my towel, smelling that fresh salty air and watch the clouds change colors as the sun sets behind me over the sound. This is my happy place. read more

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Cape Hatteras National Seahorse, is such a great relaxing place to go visit. You can also take the ferry ride that is less than an hour to Ocacroke, Island. This area is a go to place for simplicity and nature lovers, a place to go relax. There's museums, lighthouses, and so much more to see. I look forward to connecting with this beach again. read more

Have to get out of the car!!!! From what is about the middle of the islands Kill Devil you can go north or south.. South follows the islands, down to Cape Hatteras. Then there are a few more islands but require a boat or ferry.. if you simply drive the road you will be disappointed......To the west are small lakes, wet lands..and open water to the main land. To the East is a constant dune for the entire ride. You can't actually see the ocean of the beaches you have heard about...To do this requires parking in one of the small villages along the way and going to the beach. OR park at one of the, not very many, cutouts. This between the road and the dune, on sand...BE careful you can get stuck! you can stop at other places with enough room to park, but the dunes are mostly covered in shrub....large and thorny... There are paths over the dunes on set aside locations. The beach is incredible....long miles and miles...Distance to the water will based on the tide. When we visited and at the time the tide was mostly out from the looks of high water on the sand, but on it's way in. I wish I could say w0e swam in the ocean, but there was a hurricane off the coast, probably 40 to 700 miles that had the ocean stirred up and red flag warnings for waves and rip tides. We looked for shells which is a great place to do it. The scarcity of visitors willing to walk out there is small so every tide brings up more. The warnings that day were correct. The waves had an angry look to them as every one of them were turning over and many were over 6 feet in height. We were sat the beach and wandered for close to an hour. Tempted to do some nude wandering on the beach, but while ALMOST no one else was the the key word was ALMOST. A visit from the local police was no on our vacation plans. On all recommendations the question is..."was it worth it? For us the answer was yes....we hope to return again without the hurricanes. QUICK note off the subject of the beach. Places to stay are VERY HIGH....in the 3 week of September we spent more than anyplace else we visited including St. Louis, Nashville and Myrtle Beach. read more

Cape Hatteras beaches are nice and soft to walk on. It is also the shipyard for the broken ship. Some of the shipwreck is partially in the water. Some day you see it and other day you don't. As result, they built numbers of lighthouse along the coast. The cape Hatteras has turn point for the entirety island in the 90 degree angle at Buxton. It make this location receiving a lot of wave. Many surfer show up to surf. Water is a bit cold in June. The season start in the mid of June to begin of September. During this time hotel is difficult to book. There are many route to the beach. Some part of the beach is wide and take a few minutes to get to the water. Point of interest includes Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, British Sailors Cemetery, Cape Hatteras Campground, Graveyard of Atlantic Museum, Museum of the Sea. read more

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A truly inspiring end to my journey east this year. Cape Hatteras has a special spot in my heart as a native North Carolinian. The lighthouse of the same name is the tallest on the east coast and just one of three within the national seashore zone. Even without accessing Ocracoke Island you can spend several hours just cruising NC 12 along the outer banks stopping and taking in the sights. Make sure to visit each lighthouse and climb it if you can. Unfortunately if you're visiting at Thanksgiving it will already be too late to climb both Bodie and Hatteras lights so plan accordingly. Likewise it's hard to find most places even open during the off season. However, the main park office at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was open and the rangers there were very nice and helpful. I found and bought a national parks passport book where I will start my new nationwide journey of hitting this country's greatest natural and historical places. I snapped some photos of the lighthouse and reminisced on the feat of engineering that moved it from its original location to avoid sea erosion in 1999 - part of my most formative years. After plenty of driving I found myself camping at the Frisco Campground, one of two managed by the NPS. It was almost dead empty and recently updated making for a beautifully quiet night sleeping under the stars on the soft beach sand. No matter where you go you're only a short walk from the beach itself and peaceful views of dolphins cresting the waves at sunset. read more

Taken in total, the protected area of the Outer Banks is quite substantial. Long stretches of beach too windswept for much development stretch down the island. The dunes are substantial, but periodic parking areas with very nice boardwalks stretch through. It's easy to drive down the highway and stop where you like. There are off-road vehicle areas as well, but I wasn't overwhelmed by them at all. There's plenty of room to spread out. It's quality oceanside beach with diverse types of sand and wildlife, and on the ocean side, the wind detracts the bugs. It looks quite a bit different from the more developed stretches of the Outer Banks, and thankfully it will probably remain that way. read more

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"Long stretch of beautiful beach..." We were here at the sunrise time. Walking at sunrise feels really good. Beach is uneven at some place. Beach houses are right at the beach unlike other beaches at OBX. Shells are really beautiful here. This is a small island and beach just near to hotel we stayed, makes it more beautiful. OBX beaches are so long that you won't find crowded at all. You can swim, kayak-surf, do water sports. Get down and have some relaxing moment. read more

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6/26/20 I have been to this lighthouse, but not on this trip. Still I enjoyed the view from where I was at the top of the steps. Walking up the spiral staircase took some time, but it was well worth the 3 or 4 minute climb to the top. I remember as a kid, this lighthouse was pretty close to the ocean. It would have been a matter of time before the sea took it down if it were still in the same spot. I was surprised when I visited the lighthouse last time, because I remembered the lighthouse being closer to the sea. It was later on that my memory was correct on it being closer to the sea. What I did not know or remember is that other historical landmarks were also moved and restored in the same distance they originally were. I like the new setting of this Lighthouse. It is very fitting and gives a better view of scenery. Here is a breif report on the move of the lighthouse. "In 1999, the Cape Hatteras Light Station, which consists of seven historic structures, was successfully relocated 2,900 feet from the spot on which it had stood since 1870. Because of the threat of shoreline erosion, a natural process, the entire light station was safely moved to a new site where the historic buildings and cisterns were placed in spatial and elevational relationship to each other, exactly as they had been at the original site. While the National Park Service has met its obligation to both historic preservation and coastal protection, the much-heralded move of the historic station, especially the lighthouse, was hotly debated and closely watched." To read more, check out this link: https://www.nps.gov/caha/learn/historyculture/movingthelighthouse.htm read more

Off-Season lighthouse visit --- well, didn't know the lighthouses were closed, it was a short-planned trip! So, next year, when we go off-season, do it before they close at the end of November. However, the grounds were perfect, the rangers were informative, the bathrooms were clean, and the lighthouse keepers house and personal tour were really informative. I was last here in 1999 as it was being moved - so good to see it complete and guiding ships to safety. read more

Been a regular here (Avon sometimes, mainly Frisco or Hatteras Village) for 2-3 weeks almost annually since 1980, because of all the 4-5 star comments here! If you stay south of the Nag's Head, etc. built-up and commercialized area (like stay south of Bonner Bridge), it is suddenlyremote, not (and probably never will be) overbuilt (because of NPS protections), 70+ miles of glorious beaches on one side of the only (2-lane) highway, and marshes and birds and wondrous sunsets on the other. And still, thankfully, relatively less discovered by the millions within 2-days' drive. And, you can still DRIVE most of the beaches (!) (but ONLY with 4-wheel drive & 12-15 lb tire pressure and nowadays a Pk Svc permit), meaning your family can be out of sight of nearest others (where else can you find that)! And take your choice of beaches, protected/restricted or not! Fairly costly rentals of big houses/condos/cottages, feasible because often shared by large or multiple families, often as an annual tradition. Renting busiest, of course, June-July; but the modest crowds ease mid-Aug when kids go back to school and tourism declines. Best late August thru Sept+, when ocean is warmest (still a bit brisk), summer heat eases, and all shopping/restaurants are still open (we were there on 9/11, glued to our TV while dust and desk calendar pages settled in our close-in Brooklyn backyard). Hotels/motels available but low-rise, not numerous and heavily pre-booked in-season. Fishing from beach is fun (license required), best dawn or dusk, but not plentiful in warm seas of peak summer (mainly Spanish Mackerel and a few Blues); Flounder in the Sound; all better (and bigger) off shore in a rental boat out to Gulf Stream or, carefully, off the Cape Point. You can snorkel both ocean and Sound, but not really much to see (as are real reefs further south); though I'm told you can scuba to enjoy the off-shore wrecks). Clamming plentiful on Sound shoals, and landlubbers all seem to find "treading" special, with rakes or just wading and feeling with your heels for lumps in the sand; reach down, pull out clam, and if clam is of size and someone carries a clam-knife, open and slurp down; could NOT be fresher! (Kids LOVE all this; but so do our adult guests!) In the early 80s, electricity was, well, intermittent; all rental housing came with plenty of candles. There was no TV. Telephones were rare (to phone you stood in line slapping 'squitoes at the pay phone booth at Hatteras' Red & White market. Shopping/eat-outs were just adequate; no alcohol in restaurants. Now, electric services are full and secure; everyone has land-line & cell phones (that work in many places) and Internet(!); plenty of shopping and restaurants with full bars serving mostly, of course, traditional seashore seafood--but fresh (!)(tho oysters may be imported). Eat around to find the best. Local folks are usually terrific (we've made friends); in seasonal help may be college kids or even seasonal imports from abroad, making money to travel the US after season ends (we've had good conversations with such). Good wine is available, especially at Robinson's, a must in "Hatt'res" for most things; hard booze only at the State Store in Buxton; many restaurants now have both. Either you like this kind of living or you don't, in which case try the mountains and leave this kind of paradise to the likes of us! --Baze W. read more

One of the best parts about road trips are things like the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Easy driving on a 2 lane, recently repaved road. Plenty of turn offs with lots of parking. Great scenic shots. Good number of stops with lighthouses or rest rooms. The ranger programs are supposed to be fantastic here, but unfortch I didn't partake. I do have some fabulous sunset photos though! Worth a trip for a lazy afternoon to the beach or for sunset catching off the bridges. read more

This is for latest road trip vacations ended or should I say started. The OBX is an excellent place to get away and unwind and get close to nature. You can take your time and lounge on the beach, fish, kayak, surf, any assortment of water sports or other activities that you would like to indulge in. I believe it's enough that they have a boardwalk, there is also an outlet mall somewhere along the way in each little city is completely different from the northern end of the southern end of the OBX. What a delightful place to spend a vacation. What are you vacationing with friends, family, or loved ones it all works out. Perfect for children and adults alike. The water, the piers, the lighthouses, all the natural history, the sound... all so beautiful and serene. Every place you turn there's beauty. On the Eastside you have the ocean and on the west side you have the sound. Both are uniquely different and equally as beautiful. It's a place where you can see the sunrise or the sunset depending on which side you're on. Even in a weeks time it's hard to fit in everything that you want to do. There is so many unique things to do and see from the wild horses - lighthouses - watersports to anything that you're interested in. A totally wonderful vacation spot, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my stay. What's a girl to do? Enjoy every second of every vacation. read more

Cape Hatteras - Dunes - Beaches Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

Cape Hatteras National Seashore has a lot to offer. Weather it be beautiful Lighthouses or miles and miles of untouched pristine beaches the national seashore has it. Their are many great area's to visit while exploring the seashore. Three lighthouses are part of the national seashore Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke light house. Camping is also available in different areas along the coast. Hiking is abundant over marshes and beaches. Overall the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is beautiful weather spending a day or a week exploring this area of the North Carolina Outer Banks. read more

Cape Hatteras - Bodie Island Lighthouse. - Beaches Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

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The scenery was beautiful but we were a little let down, we weren't able to go in the lighthouse due to it being "off-season" read more

Cape Hatteras - Beaches Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

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Best beach I've been to outside the Caribbean. Water is crystal clear and warm. Definitely hit the beach adjacent to the lighthouse. It is great. There is a sandbar offshore and you can walk out a good 50 Feet and still be less than knee deep. Waves are good for boogie boarding but since it is relatively shallow, there is no fear. Plus this part is life guarded. My only negative would be a bathhouse or someplace to change other than a porta potty read more

We spend a ridiculous amount of time at the beach. May rating may be skewed because I love an Ocean Beach. Here is the run down: There was ample parking, we could pull up and park no matter when we got there. Clean bathrooms, Nice Showers (outdoor/not private) Very good evening ranger program, ghost crabs, night sky and bioluminescent plankton. Life Guards Very clean and well maintained Nice waves for boogie boarding, and when the waves aren't to rough you can get out and swim and relax. Quite beautiful. FREE If they had a snack bar, 5* read more

Fun daytime exploring activity while at the Outer Banks. If you're the kind of vacationer who prefers to get up and do things instead of laying on the beach all day, driving the national seashore is a great day-long adventure. Give yourself time to pull off at various spots to take in the sights. This may require you to climb some dunes & get sandy, but the views are worth it! You can see miles of undeveloped beaches backed by tall dunes. On the sound side, there are lots of pull offs with public parking, and there are some stunning views too. Highly recommend :) read more

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Cape Hatteras light tower is beautiful. The keepers house transformed into a museum is very informative. read more

Cape Hatteras - The lighthouse and keepers house/museum both beautiful. The keepers house is very informative. - Beaches Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

Great National Park! Check the times for the ranger shows, they are very interesting. read more

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It's nice. I appreciate the "fee free land". However they definitely charge to climb the lighthouses . This can get very expensive for a family that wants to climb two lighthouses ($10 x 6 people x2 lighthouses = $120!!!) . Tip: you can enter them, just can't climb them without paying $10 or $8 (for some reason Bodie charges more) . If you're in the OBX, take a drive south through the Park. read more

From Nag's Head in the North to Ocracoke Island in the South, there is quite simply nothing like Cape Hatteras Natl Seashore. Not on the West Coast, not on the Gulf of Mexico, not in New England, not in Hawai'i, nowhere! These shifting, slender islands of sea, sand, salt, and sun are unforgettable. Even years later, all I have to do is close my eyes, and suddenly I am back: I. The drive in. The kites at Kitty Hawk and dunes of Jockey's Ridge A long strip of black-topped asphalt An often washed-out highway A beach road Its name is number 12 It barely rises above the sea To cross an Oregon inlet On a bridge over troubled waters Past marshes and migrating birds seeking a Pea Island refuge Bodie's house shines the way: Rodanthe Waves Salvo Avon Buxton Frisco Driftwood and white shells that crunch underneath my sunburnt feet Tire tracks sunk deeply in the sand Birds tottering on spindly legs Racing the waves in search of a morning meal Dolphins diving and surfacing as they transit the coast Pelicans in long grey lines flying in front of a setting sun Past Hatteras point And its black and white light Warning mariners of dangerous Diamond Shoals ahead Past the fishing piers and ferries And our landing of mahi mahi (dolphin fish) in the Gulf Stream Almost losing our breakfast (and lunch) to get there The shimmering green and yellow scales of these beautiful dying fish The searing pain and pleasure of eating that which you have killed. II. Another day. The empty white beaches of Ocracoke and unfamiliar accents of the locals The grilling of skate, the drinking of beer, and the watching of stars that come out at Night Then sleep Later A swim Salt in my eyes, my mouth, my hands, my Wet hair dried by a warm wind that whistles past reddened ears Ears now gone cold as I shiver in the dark of another early morning With only a tripod and camera to keep me company An unlikely trio crouched quietly outside a rented house Waiting together for the rising of the sun They do not feel my deep disappointment days later Of what I fail to capture on film Packing bags and washing the grit from my sandals The sadness in my heart and tears in my eyes when I must go And leave you behind Once more. III. The drive home. The beltway Another beltway And then another (Angry memories) The alienation of my Baltimore apartment when I return To unfinished chapters and Unedited prose And stories to be told about women and men and nations and empires Long gone Buried in history So much harder to write than one's inner voice So hard to tell tales of the lives of others. IV. A new year approaches But in my mind If I shut my eyes to the here and now And listen to the sounds of a forgotten wind It is as if I had never left you My other coast My other life My fading story Erased like footsteps on a distant shore. Who will recall them when we are gone? Who will tell tales of our new millennium? Who will channel the Outer Banks of our memories? Sometimes a passing bumper sticker can reveal a great truth: OBX : U R 4Ever! It is We Who R N o t . (Happy New Year 2010, East Coast!!) read more

This is hard to explain, as words can not express the beauty of this place. It is a place you must experience and see for yourself. It is full of pristine beaches and all sorts of nesting sea birds. There are no condos or hotels to block all of this beautiful scenery, and the air...there is nothing like the air off the ocean. This is a good place to bring your kite and fly it or bring your fishing rods and do some fishing from the surf. I like to walk out to the sandbar and fish from there too, that way I get to enjoy the water while fishing. Or like some people like to do is just walk the beach. There is no one to bother you besides a fiddler crab or two, and who knows what you might find on the beach. I have been down here on the beach during the off season and there was no one as far as I could see. Now it don't get much more peaceful then that. The only problem I have with this place is......I have to leave and go home, but that's ok I can come back and play another day. read more

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We did a quick visit to say we've been here and took a couple pictures. It didn't appear the lighthouse was open to view inside. Very different terrain on the drive to the lighthouse than what I'm used to seeing. It is a pretty drive. read more

A great place to get some site-seeing done. There are a number of things to see around and near the seashore (and not all are under the National Park Service). There are two lighthouses: the Bodie Island lighthouse and the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. It was too hot the day I went to that last one, so the park decided not to let people up it (I don't think anyone is allowed up the Bodie Island lighthouse). There are visitor centers at the Ocracoke Island, Hatteras Island, and at the Bodie Island lighthouse; and there is an information center at the Whalebone Junction. read more

I agree with Rituja's review. The address listed here is incorrect and misleading. It will lead you to Fort Raleigh which is a completely different place. read more

We came here to the ranger program on crabbing. It was hilarious. There was a family that brought a whole chicken from the supermarket. Basically, they took the whole chicken and put it in the trap that our ranger provided. We had bought some chicken necks from the local bait shop. The ranger showed us how to hook it on a long string attached to a stick. We went to this inlet bay for crabbing which was fun and exciting. Well, the smart old crabs hid under heavy rocks so I was just left with bone. The dumb young crabs were easy to catch but the ranger measured with a yard stick which was too small to keep. Ugghrr... Well, we picked up some crabs at the local supermarket to cook at home. There are a couple of lighthouses to visit as well here. I would have liked to go to a ranger program at Ocracoke to learn about the sea turtles. It sounded a bit of trek having to take a ferry so we decided against it at the time. Oh yeah, don't forget to check out Pea Island Wildlife Refuge which has some nice boardwalks. read more

Note this rating is for the misinformation that this post implies. Cape Hatteras National Seashore (in Manteo) is not Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (in Hatteras)!!!! These are two different locations!!! If you want to visit the light house search "Cape Hatteras Lighthouse" which should direct you to: 46368 Lighthouse Rd Nags Head, NC 27920 United States read more

This area is super!! The beaches are wonderful. We stopped on the side of the road a couple times to jump over the dunes and enjoy the quiet beach. It's really great to drive down the road and be able to see a sound on one side and an ocean on the other. Super fantastic drive and totally worth it to pull over and enjoy the scenery! read more

What a beautiful area...even with a tropical storm whirling about it's a great place to visit. We drove the two hours from Corolla and even with having driven 8 hours the day before, we didn't regret the drive down. read more

This is a great day trip. There is a lot to see driving down the seashore and fun places to stop. Definitely climb the lighthouses.