North Carolina's Outer Banks are a string of barrier islands that begin at the Virginia border and go south for 100 miles to Ocracoke and Portsmouth Island. In the past, travel to and between these islands was difficult, and the area was isolated from the rest of the state.

When roads and bridges were built, the islands were opened for development and tourism, both of which have gone slightly overboard. Still, there are areas that haven't been touched, and the Outer Banks contain some of the largest stretches of protected beach in the country.

The Outer Banks are the number one surfing area on the East Coast, easy enough for beginners and interesting enough for experienced surfers when storms at sea are feeding the waves. There are a number of fishing piers up and down the coast, and surf-fishing, deep-sea charters, and fishing in the sound are all fruitful.

Like anywhere on the coast, the best time to be here is when the other people aren't. That would be anytime but June, July and August. That's OK. The best fishing is in the fall, and you can swim as early as April and as late as November and even into December (if you don't have a heart condition). 

Related

This article is a stub looking for a journalist to sponsor it. For more information about sponsoring this page, click the button below.