Outer Banks

This is one of the Best Places To Visit In The Carolinas that you should experience once time in your whole life. The Outer Banks are a group of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina that separate the Atlantic Ocean from the mainland. They are a popular vacation destination due to its open-sea beaches, state parks, and shipwreck diving spots. Sir Walter Raleigh financed the establishment of England's first settlement in the New World on Roanoke Island.

The Outer Banks is steeped in history: here, aviators Orville and Wilbur Wright made their legendary first flight (near Kill Devil Hills), pirate Blackbeard fought his final fight (at Ocracoke), and the enigmatic Lost Colony vanished. This collection of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, known colloquially as OBX, isn't just for history aficionados. Fishing, windsurfing, and wildlife viewing are all popular among the daring. The Outer Banks' about 3,000 shipwrecks, which can be explored by snorkeling or scuba diving, gave it the moniker "the Atlantic's graveyard." Families flock to the beaches, mini-golf courses, and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Each area has its own personality: old lighthouses, rocky dunes, and secluded beaches in the south combine with vacation rentals, water sports, and tacky beach stores in the north to create a one-of-a-kind coastal resort. OBX is great for individuals who want to avoid overdeveloped tourist areas and go straight to the pristine beaches. There is no nightlife, but there is plenty of natural beauty. Beaches are more crowded in the summer, but with so many places spaced out around the barrier islands, you're unlikely to encounter unmanageable crowds at any time of year.

Location: North Carolina, United States

Best time to visit: between March and May or September and November

Price: $1,276 for a solo traveler, $2,292 for a couple, and $4,296 for a family of 4 for one week

Ranking:

• #1 Best Family Beach Vacations in the U.S.
• #2 Best Places to Visit in August
• #4 Best Places to Visit in the Carolinas

Website: https://www.outerbanks.com/