| I just returned from a relaxing two-day vacation on the | | | | these beaches, you must obtain a license from the |
| Outer Banks of North Carolina. In case you haven't | | | | Dare County Register of Deeds Office located 962 |
| heard of it, the Outer Banks is a string of sandy barrier | | | | Marshall C. Collins Dr. in Manteo (Roanoke Island). The |
| islands more than 100 miles long that run alongside the | | | | license will cost you $50. If you want to be married at |
| coast of North Carolina. It's a birdwatcher's paradise | | | | Cape Hatteras, you have to obtain a permit from the |
| and the ocean and beaches are clean and easily | | | | National Park Service and that will cost you $100. |
| accessible. The sand dunes and lighthouses are | | | | Besides being married on the beach, you may choose |
| preserved by unspoiled landscapes and are idea for a | | | | to have a traditional church wedding. Some other |
| beach wedding. | | | | popular choices are the Elizabethan Gardens, Jockeys |
| To make the most of everything the Outer Banks has | | | | Ridge State Park, or at one of the three lighthouses: |
| to offer, I highly recommend having your wedding or | | | | the Ocracoke Lighthouse (for very small weddings |
| honeymoon in the off-season. The tourist season runs | | | | only), the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Bodie |
| from mid-March to around mid-October. During the high | | | | Island Lighthouse. |
| tourist season, Memorial Day to Labor Day, traffic can | | | | On your honeymoon you will have plenty of outdoor |
| be bumper to bumper and hotel rates are high. As the | | | | activities to choose from. The "Bypass" (US 158) is the |
| population has increased, more restaurants and hotels | | | | location of Jockey's Ridge, the tallest natural sand dune |
| are open year round and you can expect to pay | | | | system in the Eastern United States. You can take |
| about a third of what you'd pay for your hotel during | | | | hang gliding lessons or you can just hike all around the |
| the high season. | | | | dunes and take in the view. There are Jet Ski rentals, |
| The Outer Banks is a collection of towns and islands. | | | | parasailing, surfing lessons, and also dolphin jet boat |
| The more well known are Duck, Kitty Hawk (where | | | | tours. Imagine getting yourself an oceanfront room, |
| the Wright Brothers made their famous flight), Kill Devil | | | | sitting on the veranda together with a glass of wine, |
| Hills, Nags Head, Roanoke Island, Hatteras, and | | | | and watching the sun go down. A perfect Outer |
| Ocracoke Island. In order to get married on one of | | | | Banks honeymoon! |