"ladyfisher's new Avon Page" Avon by ladyfisher

This beautiful stretch of land, from Corolla through Nags Head to Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, is one of the most popular vacation areas on the East Coast.

Part of the Outer Banks' charm is the remoteness of the area. Since it is only accessible by ferry or by driving over one of the bridges that connects it to the mainland, once you're here, you have the feeling of being far removed from the rest of the world. It is really not that far. And in recent years, with an ever-growing tourism industry, goods and services have come to the island. It's fascinating to hear locals tell of long drives to stores on the mainland to buy groceries or to receive medical care back in the old days. The "old days," however, were less than two decades ago!

Here, the first English colonists set up camp. Blackbeard and his band of buccaneers anchored sloops along the shallow sounds. Wilbur and Orville Wright also flew the world's first airplane, buoyed by stiff winter winds and brazen determination.

Nowadays, despite its rise as a favorite resort destination, the Outer Banks continues to be a kickback kind of place. You don't have to dress up here. Shorts and sandals are the accepted garb in even the finest locales. Shrimp, crab, and dozens of species of fresh-caught fish (often hauled in that very day by Outer Banks fishermen) are available at nearly every one of the slew of restaurants that serves tourists and locals alike.