May 31, 2026

191. Outer Banks, North Carolina - Secrets of Sand, Surf, and Serenity

Show Notes
Transcript

Travel Is Back episode 191. Johnny Mac heads to Outer Banks, North Carolina. Secrets of Sand, Surf, and Serenity.

Some episodes use AI for research, writing assistance, and occasional voiceover when Johnny Mac is unavailable. His point of view, and his insistence on finding the best local taco remains entirely human.

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Hey, we made it to the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

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If you're not familiar, the Outer Banks locals call it

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the OBX, are this chain of barrier islands off the

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coast of North Carolina. You've got ocean on one side,

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sound on the other, and it's just this perfect mix

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of laid back beach vibes and a little bit of

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coastal adventure. It's one of those spots where you can

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kick back, feel the ocean breeze, and maybe eat way

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too much seafood, or you can fill your days with

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exploring lighthouses, sand dunes, and even wild horses. If you

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know where to look to get here, you're probably driving.

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Most people do. That's part of the charm. You cross

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one of these long bridges, and as soon as you

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get on the islands, it's like a switch flips. The

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pace slows way down. You won't find any big cities here,

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no high rises or chain luxury resorts. It's all about cottages,

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beach houses, and small towns, each with its own little personality.

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You'll see families biking down quiet streets, surfboards strapped to

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car roofs, and people just strolling with ice cream cones.

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It's got that classic, easy going beach town feel, so

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let's get into it. If you're starting in the northern part,

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you'll probably hit Duck first. Duck is a great introduction

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to the Outer Banks because it's charming without being over

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the top. It's known for its boardwalk, which isn't your

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typical flashy boardwalk with arcades and fried dough stands. This

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one's wooden and wins through the marshes along the sound side.

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You can walk it, take in the views of the water,

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and stop at little shops and cafes along the way.

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There's this place called Duck Donuts, which if you've never

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heard of, is kind of a big deal. They make

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these hot, fresh, made to order donuts and you can

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add your own toppings. I mean, who doesn't want a

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warm donut with maple frosting and bacon crumbles on it.

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You're on vacation, go for it. From Duck, you can

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keep heading south and you start hitting the bigger beach

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towns like Kitty Hawk Kill, Devil Hills, and Nag's Head.

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These are the spots where you'll find the most action.

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When I say action, though, don't picture anything crazy. It's

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still the outer Banks, so the vibe is mellow, but

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this is where you'll find more restaurants, shops, and things

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to do. One of the big draws in this area

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is the Wright Brothers National Memorial and kill Devil Hills.

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This is where Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first

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powered flight back in nineteen oh three. The park has

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this massive granite monument on the hill where they did

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their glider tests, and there's a visitor center where you

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can learn all about how they developed their plane. Even

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if you're not a big history buff, it's worth a stop.

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You get this sense of how much trial and error

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went into those early flights, and it's pretty inspiring. Plus,

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from the top of the hill you get this great

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view of the area. After you've soaked in some history,

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you might want to hit the beach. The beaches in

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this part of the Outer Banks are fantastic and they're

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super accessible. You can drive right up in park at

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one of the public beach axises and in no time

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you're on soft sand looking out at the Atlantic. The

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waves here can be decent for surfing or bodyboarding, but

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they're also great for just floating around or wading in.

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It's the kind of place where you bring a cooler,

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PLoP down in a chair and let the hour slip by.

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For lunch, grab some seafood, seriously, just lean into the

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seafood while you're here. There's this place called Awful Arthur's

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Oyster Bar in Kill Devil Hills. The name sounds a

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little funny, but trust me, it's a classic. They've got

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fresh oysters, shrimp and crab and it's all simple but

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really good. If you're not into oysters, don't worry. They've

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got plenty of other options. Sit outside if you can

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and soak up the salty air. Now, if you keep

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heading south, you'll hit the town of Roanoke Island. It's

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not technically part of the Outer Banks, just off to

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the west, but it's definitely worth a side trip. Rowan

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Oak is best known for the Lost Colony. Back in

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the late fifteen hundreds, there was this English settlement here

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that just disappeared. No one really knows what happened to them.

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There's an outdoor drama about it called The Lost Colony

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that's been running for decades and it's a cool way

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to learn the history in an entertaining way. But even

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if you skip the show, the town of Manteo on

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Roanoak Island is worth a visit. It's got this quaint,

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small town vibe with little shops, a waterfront boardwalk, and

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a replica of a sixteenth century ship called the Elizabeth

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the Second. If you've got kids with you, they'll probably

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love climbing around on it. Back on the main strip

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of the Outer Banks, you'll want to make time for

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Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nag's Heead. This place is

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home to the tallest natural sand dunes on the East Coast,

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and it's absolutely stunning. You can hike up the dunes,

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which is a workout, but the views are worth it.

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From the top, you can see both the ocean and

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the sound, and it feels like you're standing in a desert.

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A lot of people come here to fly kites because

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the wind is almost always perfect for it. If you're

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feeling adventurous, you can even take a hang gliding lesson.

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There's a school right now there that will teach you

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the basics and let you glide down the dunes. It's

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a lot of fun and surprisingly not as scary as

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it sounds. For dinner, check out Blue Moon Beach Grill

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in Nag's Head it's a local favorite, and for good reason.

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The menu has a little bit of everything, but the

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seafood dishes are the stars. Whether it's shrimp and grits,

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crab cakes, or they're shrimp nachos, you really can't go wrong.

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The vibe is casual but lively, and it's the kind

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of place where you leave feeling full and happy. If

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you're up for a bit of a drive, keep heading

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south toward Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This is a stretch

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of protected coastline that runs for about seventy miles and

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it's absolutely gorgeous. It feels wilder and more remote than

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the northern parts of the Outer Banks. The beaches here

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are less crowded and the water is this beautiful shade

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of blue. You'll see a lot of people fishing, kitesurfing,

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and just enjoying the wide open space. One of the

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highlights here is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton. This

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is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States and

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it's iconic. You've probably seen pictures of it. It's got

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that black and white spiral design. If you're up for it,

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you can climb to the top for a small fee.

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It's a lot of steps, but the view from up

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there is incredible. You can see the ocean, the Sound,

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and miles of shoreline in both directions. While you're down

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in Hatteras, it's a great chance to visit one of

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the small fishing villages in the area. Places like Avon

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or Frisco are super laid back and you can find

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little seafood chacks that serve some of the freshest fish

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you'll ever eat. If you're lucky, you might even catch

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a local festival or event. These towns have a slower

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pace and it feels like everyone knows each other and

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they're happy to welcome visitors. One of the coolest experiences

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in the Southern Outer Banks is taking a ferry to

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Ocracoke Island. The ferry ride itself is kind of fun.

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You can drive your car right onto the boat and

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it's free if you're coming from Hatteras. Once you get

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to aqra Coke, it's like stepping back in time. The

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island is small and there's just one main village where

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most of the action is. You can rent a bike

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or a golf cart to get around. Cars are almost

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more trouble than they're worth. Here. Okra Coke is famous

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for its wild ponies, which are believed to be descendants

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of Spanish mustangs that swamed ashore from shipwrecked centuries ago.

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You can see them in a protected air just outside

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the village, and it's pretty amazing to think about how

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they've survived out here all this time. The beaches on

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Ocracoke are also some of the best in the area.

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They're wide, quiet and pristine, and the sunsets over the

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sound or something else. Before you leave the Outer Banks,

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consider stopping by one of the local seafood markets. If

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you're staying in a beach house with a kitchen or

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even just a grill, grab some fresh fish or shellfish

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and cook it yourself. There's nothing like eating seafood that

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was caught that morning, and it's often way more affordable

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than ordering it at a restaurant. Plus it's a fun

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way to end the day throwing some shrimp or flounder

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on the grill while the sunsets. One thing to know

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about the Outer Banks is that weather can be unpredictable.

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It's part of the charm, but it's also something to

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keep in mind. Storms can roll in quickly, especially in

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the summer, so always check the forecast and pack accordingly.

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That said, even a rainy day here can be enjoyable.

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There are some great local bookstores, art galleries, and coffee

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shops to duck into. If you're into photography, don't forget

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your camera, or at least make sure your phone is charged.

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Between the lighthouses, the sunsets, the beaches and the wildlife,

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there's no short of things to capture, and if you're

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lucky enough to catch a sunrise over the Atlantic, it's

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something you'll never forget. Set your alarm early one morning,

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grab a cup of coffee and just sit on the

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beach as the sky turns from black to purple to orange.

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It's one of those small moments you'll think back on

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long after the trip is over. The Outer Banks is

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one of those places that just gets under your skin

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in the best way. It's so easy to fall into

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the rhythm of life here, whether that's watching the waves,

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roll in, exploring the little towns, or chasing down the

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best seafood you've ever had. It's not about flashy attractions

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or over the top luxury. It's about enjoying the simple pleasures.

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A walk on the beach, a good meal, and maybe

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a lighthouse or two. I'm Johnny Mack and travel is back.

191. Outer Banks, North Carolina - Secrets of Sand, Surf, and Serenity

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