A Postcard from Outer Banks, North Carolina
We can walk for miles and hardly see anything but natural beauty. Yesterday we biked all the way to the next island. Day in and day out, the ocean keeps us company. Greatest vacation spot we've found. 

  

About Outer Banks, North Carolina

The Outer Banks of North Carolina consist of several barrier islands linked together on the Atlantic Seaboard. Resort cities such as Duck, Corolla, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk are all encompassed by the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Outer Banks feature the largest estuary system in the world, as well as many wildlife refuges, forest lands, the tallest sand dunes on the East Coast, and of course breathtaking beaches. The vacation home of your dreams may be on the Outer Banks, where resort living is experienced in all facets of life.

With 125 miles of beaches, as well as golf, fishing, shopping, surfing, entertainment, and dining, there's not must lacking in this historical area of North Carolina. With such beauty distributed amount three counties, most people are ready for a lifetime of vacation living when they buy their second home on the Outer Banks. All the beaches are public and equally beautiful.

There's an enormous amount to do and see, from touring old historic lighthouses to days in museums. The Outer Banks is home to the largest sand dunes on the East Coast, and carries the history that comes with the Wright Brothers' first flight.Ultimately, what draws people to stay is the unmistakable feeling of being away from it all, with the ocean by one's side at all the time. Many people buy second homes here looking forward to making it their future retirement spot.

Local History

Few places in the USA go back in history as far as the Outer Banks, with places like Roanoke Island visited by colonialists as early as 1585, making the Outer Banks the site of the first English settlement. Colorful Nags Head was favored by pirates way back when. Each island has its own story to tell as well.

An Average Lifestyle in Outer Banks, North Carolina

Visitors find the Outer Banks to have a relaxed and artistic side, as it features dozens of art galleries and theaters. The Outer Banks also has some of the best beaches and parks on the East Coast, allowing the outdoor enthusiast to enjoy the Outer Banks as well. There's definitely more visitors than permanent residents, making it feel like a vacation spot all year round.

Housing

With such a strong mix of year-round residents and vacation home owners, generally properties have sorted themselves into distinct neighborhoods. The vacation neighborhoods are closer to the ocean, whereas the Westside neighborhoods are more heavily wooded and settled long term.

Median Home Costs: (Census data) Dare County: $108,000; In Dare County, 52% of the homes are rentals. Currituck County: Median Home $78,000, with only 32% as rental units. However, today's market for vacation homes shows some waterfront property as low as $339,000 and lots of property in the $1.5 to 2.5 million. Many homes are built with 5 to 8 bedrooms for family vacationing.

Things to Do in Outer Banks

Bicycle the length of the Outer Banks, 120 miles, including the free ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke.

Knotts Island Wildlife Festival

Sailing

Outer Banks center for Wildlife Education

Currituck Banks National Estuarine Research Reserve

Fishing

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Hike sand dunes at Jockeys Ridge State Park

Hang gliding

Golf

Bird Watching

Kayaking

Fishing

Windsurfing

Tour lighthouses, including famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Wright Brothers Memorial, Kill Devil Hills

Cultural Activities in Outer Banks

Performing Arts Festivals

Roanoke Island Festival Park

Outdoor Drama: The Lost Colony

North Carolina Maritime Museum

Outer Banks History Center

Summer Children's Theater Performances

Concerts on the Waterfront

Art Galleries

Fort Raleigh Historical Site, Roanoke Island

Elizabethan Gardens at Fort Raleigh

Frisco Native American Museum and Natural History Center

North Carolina Aquarium

Pea Island Wildlife Refuge

Location
The coast of North Carolina; northeastern portion of the state

Elevation: 11.3 feet

Size: Dade County is 800 square miles; of which 391 are land; Currituck County is 255 square miles.

Distance to other major cities

Norfolk, Virginia: 100 miles to Dare County, 54 miles to Currituck County

Getting To Outer Banks, North Carolina

Drive, or Fly into Norfolk, Virginia (100 miles).

Weather
Generally mild, with a mild wind regularly, and nice warm water in the summer

Annual Average Temperature: Jan: 38-52; July: 76-79

Annual Average Rainfall: about 48-58 inches

Economics and Demographics

Population: 40,800 permanent residents in Dare and Currituck Counties and Ocracoke Island in Hyde County, plus 7 million visitors.

Specific towns are:

Kitty Hawk: 2,991

Duck: 448

Kill Devil Hills: 5,897

Nags Head: 2,718

Ocracoke Island: 700

Growth Rate: Dare: 2.2 %; Currituck: 1.7%

Population Projections

Median Age, 2000:  Dare County: 40.4, Currituck County: 34.3

Median Family Income: (Dare County) $39,000, (Currituck County) $20,068

Principle Industries: Retail, Services