The Outer Banks, there is nothing else quite like it anyplace in this world. Stretching for 130 miles from its northern border with Virginia to the the remote island of Ocracoke, it is as much a state of mind as it is a place of breathtaking beauty, environmental wonders and fascinating history.
This thin strip of barrier islands protects the mainland from the power of the Atlantic Ocean, and at times the ocean can be an angry neighbor. Usually, though, the waves are more sedate and the water refreshing. Combined with sunshine and warm sand, it is the perfect setting for a parent to take a son or daughter into the water for the first time. Or siblings to bodysurf side by side. Or lovers to stroll along a beach.
The magic of romance, the joy of family memories, all of it is part of the Outer Banks experience.
For general purposes, the Outer Banks is divided into three areas. The northern Outer Banks is everything from Oregon Inlet north to the Virginia border. Hatteras Island is everything south of Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Village. And Ocracoke Island is a small island, with the village of Ocracoke at its southern end. Ocracoke is accessible by ferry only, with an airport suitable for small planes only.
There are three counties that make up the Outer Banks: Currituck, Dare and Hyde. For most visitors, knowing which county is which and where they are located doesn’t matter.
There are, however, some regulations that are specific to a county—beach use regulations in the Carova area of Currituck County is an example of that. For couples getting married on the Outer Banks, it’s also a good idea to know the county in which the ceremony is being performed.
