Do you love the sigh of the ocean? Do you love being surrounded by water and peace? Do you love feeling like you’ve stepped away from the modern world onto a craggy sliver of an island inhabited by fishermen and wild gulls?
Then the Outer Banks is the right place for your honeymoon. The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long 
stretch of barrier islands along the coastline of North Carolina and southern Virginia. If you go in warmer weather, expect throngs of relaxed tourists and locals soaking up the sun and enjoying the dual pleasures of the ocean and the Albemarle Sound. If you go in the cooler months, expect soul-soothing quiet, thick fogs washing in from the sea and only the most dedicated locals sharing the island with you.
Where to Spend the Night
The Outer Banks specializes in beach cottages and summer homes for rent, nearly all of which are erected on stilts to put them above sea level and out of the reach of the odd rogue wave. There are also a large number of family-owned hotels and a smaller number of big-name hotels. If you want all-out romance and atmosphere, have a look at the Outer Banks house rentals. You can choose a private beach home or condo. This ensures you’ll have the ultimate privacy and you can even find rentals right on the beach or with a relaxing hot tub on site.
What to Do
The maritime history of the Outer Banks gives it a unique set of attractions. It’s home to four lighthouses: the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla, the Bodie Island Lighthouse in Nag’s Head, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the white Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island. The Currituck and Hatteras lighthouses can be climbed; the other two cannot but the grounds are open to visitors.
The shoreline down towards Hatteras is dotted with historic shipwrecks that are preserved by the park service. Nag’s Head is home to the largest sand dune in the eastern U.S., called Jockey’s Ridge, where hang gliding lessons are taught. Ferry rides will take you to Ocracoke Island, Swan Quarter or Cedar Island. The Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo is a tranquil setting where nature and sculptures unite. The Outer Banks is also the site of the first airplane flight by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. The site is now a national memorial in Kitty Hawk.
Perfect for Romance
Whether you spend your honeymoon lounging by the sea, visiting national treasures or sailing across the waters from one tiny island to another, you can be sure the Outer Banks won’t disappoint.
