2. Outer Banks, North Carolina
The Outer Banks consist of 200 miles of narrow barrier islands stretching all the way from the Southeastern corner of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to midway down North Carolina. Unfortunately, the allure of these islands is no secret: they are packed in summer with travelers taking advantage of their wide beaches, temperate weather, and great opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, and parasailing. They also offer something few other places do: a chance to glimpse herds of wild horses at play. Colonies of wild horses, or "banker ponies," are located near the community of Corolla and on Ocracoke Island. The Outer Banks are also famous for Jockey's Ridge, the largest natural live dune on the East Coast. Historic attractions include the site of the first American colony on Roanoke Island, which English colonists settled in 1585. The 116 people living there mysteriously disappeared, and it's now appropriately known as the "Lost Colony." Check out vestiges of that age at the Elizabethan Gardens and the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. It was also in the Outer Banks that the Wright Brothers conducted their first experiments, which eventually led to the first powered flight in their airplane. You can visit that historic spot at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. One of the icons of the Outer Banks is Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, at 208 feet tall the tallest brick lighthouse in the country, originally built in 1970 and moved many times since then due to erosion. In addition to the stunning landscape, there are plenty of great places to eat and drink on the Outer Banks. You can't come here without eating crab at least once. Some people simply buy fresh crab at the nearest grocery story and cook it themselves. If you want to dine out, Bad Barracuda comes highly recommended. The Outer Banks is easily accessible from Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, Virginia, or Raleigh Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina. Getting there is easy: follow I-95 to 1-64.

Outer Banks Travel Guide
North Carolina Travel Photo Gallery