PHOTOS FROM 23 STATES SUBMITTED FOR 2010 OUTER BANKS TRAVEL GUIDE!

1000 visitors send in vacation pictures and beauty shots of the OBX!

OUTER BANKS, NC – The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is proud to unveil the 2010 Outer Banks Official Travel Guide, beautifully illustrated with imagery submitted by vacationers and photographers from all over America!  More than 1000 patrons from 23 states participated in the first ever photo contest hosted by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.  Thirty-three participant photos were selected to complement other photography used in the production of the area’s most comprehensive travel resource for the barrier islands of the North Carolina coast.  The Guide is designed to be your one-stop resource for visiting one of the most affordable, yet uniquely different beach destinations in the country.

The level of participation in our contest indicates the public’s passion for this incredible area.  “It’s just a treat for us to see it from the perspective of the visitor,” explains Lee Nettles, Managing Director for the Visitors Bureau.  “Ultimately the guide is intended to connect visitors with the area, so it only makes sense that visitors would play an important part in the development process.  With 100 miles of coastline in Dare County alone, and so many points of interest on the Outer Banks, we appreciate our customers sharing the best of what they love about the islands”.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a string of barrier islands that bows way out into the Atlantic Ocean, and stretches for 100 miles in Dare County.  Here you’ll find not only seemingly endless stretches of wild and undeveloped beaches in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area, but a rich history dating back more than four centuries.  You can explore the first English colony in America; the place where the Wright Brothers flew for the first time; the tallest sand dunes on the East Coast; world-class sportfishing, kiteboarding and surfing.  Visit a museum dedicated to shipwrecks and four lighthouses.  The Guide includes all the information you need to plan that island vacation you can reach by car.

If you missed out on our photo contest, don’t worry.  You can share your Outer Banks experience with the world by uploading favorite pictures to our official Flickr® group found here: www.flickr.com/groups/bestoftheouterbanks.  If you have a story to tell, join our official Facebook® fan page at www.facebook.com/theouterbanks. You’ll find helpful tips from visitors and locals about how best to explore Hatteras Island, Roanoke Island, Mainland Dare and the towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo.

The free 2010 Travel Guide automatically comes with our 2010 Outer Banks Getaway Card, which is good for discounts of 15% or better at more than 130 businesses during the offseason.  Give the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau a call toll free at 877-629-4386 or email information@outerbanks.org and specify that you want our free 2010 Travel Guide, and start planning your next adventure today. www.outerbanks.org

About The Outer Banks

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a chain of islands midway on the Atlantic Seaboard.  The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is a public authority and the lead marketing and promotional agency for Dare County's Outer Banks.  The Bureau’s web site is www.outerbanks.org.

Editors Note

If you would like a high-res version of our 2010 Outer Banks Official Travel Guide or supplementary imagery, contact Aaron Tuell, Director of Public Relations at 252-473-2138.