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Outer Banks, NC - A Dream Vacation
Winter, spring, summer or fall- over 100 miles of shoreline that makes up the Outer Banks offers national parks, festivals and attractions, and a landscape created by Mother Nature that's sure to impress even the most discerning traveler. The vacation rentals of the Outer Banks are everywhere you turn, so you can enjoy the vacation of your dreams. Beachfront vacation rentals with breathtaking views of the ocean, hotels in the middle of the action, small cottages and house vacation rentals are scattered throughout Outer Banks, North Carolina. Although the Outer Banks is actually made up of several geographical areas, including the mainland, Nags Head, Roanoke Island, and Portsmouth Island, many people simply refer to all of the Outer Banks as "Nags Head".
Nags Head is an interesting vacation destination. On either side of the land is ocean, with high sand dunes flanking the land that can be seen from miles out in the ocean. It is not certain where Nags Head got its name from, but one possible explanation was that during the 18th century, land pirates would walk horses along the shore at night, each with lights on their heads. From the sea, they would look like boats to other seamen. When the boats would come towards the shore, getting stuck in the high sand dunes, the land pirates would steal their cargoes. Sometime in 1830, Nags Head became a resort community, as it is now- with Jockey's Ridge on the northern part of Nags Head the only remaining remnant of moving sand dunes. Jockey's Ridge is a tourist community with thousands of vacation rentals for the Outer Banks vacationers looking for a relaxing destination.
Roanoke Island, as well as most other regions, offer non-stop activity for the adventure-seeking traveler. If camping in tents is your idea of vacation rentals to die for, you can stay at one of the many campgrounds in the area. Whatever your choice for vacation rentals during your Outer Banks vacation, you'll be able to participate in water activities, enjoy eating in high quality restaurants, or learning about the heritage and history of the Outer Banks at one of the many museums and historical centers.
Popular activities for the vacationer include paddling, either in canoes or kayaks, in order to glimpse some of the many sea creatures and wildlife that inhabit the area. You can go hang gliding in Kitty Hawk. Hiking in various areas of the Outer Banks, and within walking distance from some of the vacation rentals. The Outer Banks caters to any vacationer's idea of "good eats"! They've got the typical beachfront resort community offerings of seafood restaurants, pubs and grills, but they've also got a wide variety of bistro's, cafe's, and ethnic eateries. If you prefer to cook your own meals, just be sure to select from vacation rentals with kitchens, and have access to the local supermarkets to get your favorite ingredients.
Regardless of the season, whether you stay in Nags Head or another area, you'll find there are many festivals and events happening all over the community. Museums offer a wide variety of exhibits, there is a strong art community within the Outer Banks with art shows open to the public, while the theatre remains a large attraction for both natives and tourists.
Selecting vacation rentals for your stay in the Outer Banks should not be a difficult task, as you can stay in the Northern Outer Banks or the Southern Outer Banks and be guaranteed an enjoyable vacation.
About the Author
Matthew Kekelis is employed by VacationMLS.com where you can find more information about Outer Banks, NC Vacation Rentals.
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The Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
On a dark night, far from the shores of North Carolina, ships may be guided safely to their respective ports by the beams of lighthouses and stations bordering the Outer Banks. Just as the lighthouses represent a means of security for sailors finding their way through difficult weather at sea, they also symbolize the romanticism of the nautical life. Each year, thousands of visitors come to the Outer Banks to see these impressive monuments, if only to briefly live vicariously through the light keepers of old and enjoy the stories they have to tell.
Before modern technologies like radar and other navigational systems allows sailors to negotiate the waters with ease, lighthouses stood, literally, as the one of the main devices to help ocean travel. Situated along coastlines around the world, light keepers kept large flames alive to alert passing ships to dangerous areas like rocky shores, or to guide cargo into ports. It is estimated now that only fifteen hundred lighthouses remain, though not all are operational. Many on the east coast of the United States, including those in the Outer Banks, have been preserved as national or state landmarks, and visitors are welcomed to climb their arduous circular stairs for a bird's eye view.
For tourists with an interest in pharology, the study of lighthouses (derived from the island of Pharos in Greece, home of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria), the Outer Banks lighthouses will definitely keep you busy, and in shape! Here are just a few of the sights you can expect to enjoy when visiting the shores:
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse - Perhaps the most famous lighthouse in the state, the Cape Hatteras station is also the tallest and one of the oldest in the nation. An easily recognizable black-striped obelisk, over two hundred and fifty stairs takes visitors to the top, which is the equivalent of twelve stories. The lighthouse is open to visitors normally from March through October, where all can learn the colorful history of this national treasure.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse - Standing tall in Corolla, one of the northernmost points in the Outer Banks, Currituck Beach Lighthouse is unique in that it is one of the few unpainted beacons in existence. Once illuminated by oil lamps, this light station has since been upgraded with the latest technology, and its light can be seen for nearly twenty nautical miles. Visitors are welcome to explore between Easter and Thanksgiving.
Ocracoke Lighthouse - While Hatteras boasts the oldest lighthouse on the shore, Ocracoke has the distinction of being home to the oldest operating station. Ocracoke Lighthouse is also the shortest freestanding one in the Outer Banks, standing at seventy-five feet. As it is still operational, the actual lighthouse is closed to visitors, though pharology enthusiasts are welcomed to tour the grounds.
For a taste of nautical history and breathtaking views of the Outer Banks, include a visit to an area lighthouse. Let the light guide you.
About the Author
Kathryn Lively writes for VisitCurrituck.com and FlowCushion, the alternating pressure driver's seat cushion.
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