OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA FACT SHEET

DESCRIPTION: The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a chain of barrier islands midway on the Atlantic Seaboard, 90 miles south of Norfolk, Va., and 321 miles north of Myrtle Beach, S.C. Surrounded by 900 miles of water, the Outer Banks has the largest estuary system in the world. Its 130 miles of unspoiled coastline beckon millions of visitors annually.

SEASIDE VILLAGES: The Outer Banks' many seaside villages reflect the nearly 300-year-old history and culture of the destination. They are located in three main geographic areas: the Northern Beaches, Roanoke Island to the west and Hatteras Island to the south. The Outer Banks' villages are Corolla and Sanderling on the Northern Beaches; Wanchese on Roanoke Island; and Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras on Hatteras Island. Towns include: Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo. Ocracoke lies at the southernmost tip of the Outer Banks on Ocracoke Island, just a 45-minute ferry ride from Hatteras Island.

POPULATION: The small, friendly Outer Banks community is home to only about 33,518 year-round residents. The largest incorporated town is Kill Devil Hills with a population of 6,425, and the smallest is Duck with a population of 448. The area's population soars much higher during the summer season, when visitors flock to the area.

CLIMATE: Temperatures in the Outer Banks range from the mid to high 80s during the summer months to the mid 30s in the winter. Water temperatures range from the low to mid 70s during the summer to the mid 40s during the winter. Rainfall averages between 5.5 inches in the summer to around 3.5 inches in the winter. Windy year-round, the destination averages a wind velocity of 11 mile per hour to 15 miles per hour.

WATER ADVENTURES: The 100 miles of unspoiled coastline on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and its 409 square miles of water are the ultimate playground for water lovers. Whether they want to be in the water or on it, visitors are sure to find their heart's content either on the oceanside or the soundside of the destination. There are no better beaches on the Atlantic Coast.

Vacationers can partake of a variety of water-related activities on the beach - swimming, shelling, fishing, crabbing and sandcastle building to name a few. If they prefer more active water sports, they can be found jet skiing, ocean and sound kayaking or canoeing, diving, surfing, wind surfing, parasailing, sailing and boating. The destination has earned a reputation as the Windsurfing Capital of the East Coast, and its waters have been dubbed the Graveyard of the Atlantic because of the many shipwrecks, which are perfect for divers' exploration.

AIR ADVENTURES: As the home of the first powered flight, the Outer Banks is a place where history was made in the air over 100 years ago. Today, visitors are making a little history of their own, as they take advantage of the area's ideal conditions for aerial tours, hang-gliding and parasailing. Air tours provided by local pilots allow visitors to experience the natural beauty and sites of the Outer Banks from a unique perspective. For those with a penchant for adventure, hang-gliding and parasailing can be a thrilling way to enjoy the destination.

LAND ADVENTURES: Not everyone vacationing in the Outer Banks takes to the water all the time. On those few days when it rains, or when visitors want a break from the beach, they've got plenty to keep them busy inland. In addition to its broad range of historical and cultural attractions and the wide-open spaces of its many parks and natural sites, the Outer Banks offers visitors myriad other recreational options. They can explore the area on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. They can hit a round of golf, play a game of tennis, watch the kids race go-carts, go gallery hopping or shop 'til they drop - all without traveling beyond the barrier islands of the Outer Banks.

PARKS AND WILDLIFE: Nature lovers and those who revel in the outdoors will find their own personal paradise in the Outer Banks. Long known for their tranquility and scenic beauty, the popular barrier islands provide a quiet haven for vacationers and wildlife alike.

The destination offers six parks and wildlife areas: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, home of the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse; Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, boasting some of the country's best bird-watching and wildlife viewing; Jockey's Ridge State Park, encompassing the highest living sand dune on the Atlantic Coast; Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, home to at least 200 species of birds; Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve, one of the best remaining examples of a mid-Atlantic maritime forest with decidious hardwoods; and Elizabethan Gardens, a living memorial to Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh's lost colonists, who vanished during the first English attempts to colonize the New World.

LIGHTHOUSES: The four lighthouses illuminating the shores of the Outer Banks - Cape Hatteras, Bodie Island, Ocracoke and Currituck Beach lighthouses - are magnificent and unique in their appearance and history.

The most famous of the four is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which is the nation's tallest brick beacon, standing a proud 208 feet high. Nicknamed the "Big Barber Pole," the famous beacon attracts 200,000 visitors annually and can be seen from 20 miles out to sea. Further south in the fishing village of Ocracoke is the Ocracoke Lighthouse, a whitewashed cement structure built in 1868. It is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina as well as the shortest in size, standing at just 75 feet tall. Farther north on the coast, the Bodie Island Lighthouse rises 150 feet above the island's marsh and nature walk. The lighthouse, which was built in 1872, is painted white with two 22-foot horizontal black stripes. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse illuminates the northernmost island on the Outer Banks. To distinguish the lighthouse from others in the region, its exterior was left an unpainted red brick, displaying the multitude of bricks used to form the structure.

HISTORIC SITES AND MUSEUMS: Explorers of both the here-and-now as well as the yesteryear find intrigue in the Outer Banks. After all, it is here that Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first powered airplane flight. And, it's where English settlers in 1587 attempted colonization on Roanoke Island, predating Jamestown, Va., by 22 years and Plymouth, Mass., by 35. Today's adventurers will find six major historical sites and museums to explore.

The Wright Brothers National Memorial marks the birthplace of flight with interpretive exhibits, including a full-scale replica of the Wright flyer. The Fort Raleigh National Historic Site commemorates the first English attempts to colonize the New World from 1585 to 1587. Dedicated to preserving and interpreting all aspects of North Carolina's rich maritime heritage, the North Carolina Maritime Museum offers a variety of educational exhibits and programs. The 68,000-square-foot North Carolina Aquarium houses seven major exhibits and 18 tanks ranging from 300 gallons to 285,000 gallons. The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum preserves, advances and present the area's rich maritime legacy, detailing why the destination's waters have earned their nickname as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Dedicated to preserving Native American artifacts, art and culture, the Frisco Native American Museum and National History Center boasts nationally recognized collections that are housed in a building with 100 years of history as a general store, post office and shell shop.

CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS: The millions of visitors who flock to the Outer Banks each year are coming to enjoy its renowned beaches and scenic beauty, but they're also drawn by the area's unique place in American history and the wealth of popular local attractions that tell its story.

Through its living history interpretation, exhibits and variety of visual and performing arts programs, Roanoke Island Festival Park presents the evolution of Roanoke Island and the Outer Banks from the late 16th century to the early 20th century. Waterside Theatre, which is located in Fort Raliegh Natio nal Historic Park, is home to "The Lost Colony" outdoor drama. The intriguing, unsolved mystery of the colony that vanished without a trace spawned America's first and oldest outdoor drama, which has played to some 3 million visitors since its debut in 1937. For more of the destination's maritime heritage, visitors head to the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station. Built in 1874, the station is one of the first seven on the Outer Banks and one of only 12 that Congress established in 1873 for crews to patrol the beaches looking for ships in distress along the treacherous North Carolina coast now known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Chicamacomico became the most famous of the stations, given its crews' many daring rescues.

MAJOR EVENTS: The Outer Banks hosts myriad special events throughout the year, from cultural and historical to whimsical and one-of-a-kind. Art shows, community festivals, local theater productions, parades, sports competitions, antique fairs, fishing tournaments and more are featured. A complete calendar can be obtained by clicking here.

LODGING: Guests on the Outer Banks enjoy a diverse range of accommodations to suit any lifestyle and budget, from quaint beachside motels and diverse beach home rentals to historical bed and breakfast inns and scenic campgrounds. Whether it be a family vacation or reunion, a romantic retreat for two, a fishing trip with one's buddies or a historic and cultural pilgrimage through the destination's rich past, all will find something to suit their housing needs. And, with 12,000 rental homes and 3,500 hotel rooms, there's always room for more visitors. A complete listing of accommodations can be found by clicking here.

DINING: With nearly 200 restaurants from which to choose, vacationers on the Outer Banks will find everything from a casual, fun atmosphere with moderately priced fare to upscale, luxurious, fine dining. And, depending upon their culinary mood, diners can treat themselves to everything from the excellent seafood one would expect from a renowned beach destination, to Italian, Mexican, Southwestern, French and more. There are even the traditional fast-food outlets for diners on the go. A complete listing of restaurants can be found by clicking here.

SHOPPING: Outer Banks visitors will find a variety of souvenirs and other treasures in the destination's nine shopping malls, including the Tanger Outlet Center in Nags Head (252-441-7395) offering savings on designer brands, and the Outer Banks Mall (252-441-5620), featuring specialty shops and services. In addition, shoppers frequent the plethora of gift and specialty stores throughout the Outer Banks, as well as its one-of-a-kind boutiques for clothing, shoes and accessories. The area's art galleries and antique shops also are popular stops for visitors. The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Web site includes a complete list of local malls and retailers here.

SEASONAL SAVINGS: Outer Banks vacationers can check out www.outerbanks.org for information and specials on seasonal savings, in addition to enjoying year-round savings with the Outer Banks Getaway Card. The card entitles guests to many values and deals throughout the area at local restaurants, accommodations and shops. For more information or to get a Getaway Card, call (877) OBX-4FUN or visit the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau web site at www.outerbanks.org.

ACCESS:

Automobile: A majority of Outer Banks travelers arrive by car and access the destination via U.S. 158 from the north and U.S. 64 from the West and South.

Airplane: Airports closest to the Outer Banks are Norfolk International Airport and Newport News Regional Airport to the north and the Raleigh/Durham airports to the west. Charter service is available to and from the Outer Banks by calling Dillon's Aviation based at the Dare County Regional Airport (252-475-1279, 252-473-0318 or www.dillonsaviation.com). Charter aircraft can land at the First Flight Airstrip next to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills and at the Billy Mitchell Airstrip in Frisco on Hatteras Island.

For driving instructions or for details on air access, visit the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau on the Web at www.outerbanks.org or call (877) OBX-4FUN.

VISITOR INFORMATION: Visitors can request a free Outer Banks travel guide by calling toll free (877) OBX-4FUN or have the Official Outer Banks Travel Guide mailed to them.

WELCOME CENTERS: The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau operates two welcome centers to assist vacationers during their stay. The recently renovated Aycock Brown Welcome Center (252-261- 4644), located just off U.S. 158 at the second mile post.

The Outer Banks Welcome Center on Roanoke Island (252-473-2138), located just off U.S. 64. Each center includes a small gift shop featuring Outer Banks logo merchandise.