Outer Banks Scenic Byway Receives National
Designation
Fall is an ideal time to enjoy NC Highway 12 scenery and coastal
communities.
(OUTER BANKS, NC) October 16, 2009 The Outer Banks Scenic Byway received national status on Friday as one of Americas Byways, placing NC Highway 12 on the map, so to speak, for its fascinating coastal heritage and unique natural landscapes, making the leg of the historic two-lane highway from Nags Head, NC to Down East a perfect autumn drive for exploring the beauty of the barrier islands and connecting with the coastal communities that set the destination apart.
The Outer Banks touch people in different ways. Part of that connection, whether it is to the beach, or
the landscape, or to the memories made while vacationing here is inextricably linked to the drive, explains Lee Nettles, managing director for
the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. When you round the curve of NC 12 and see Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Island for the first time, for
example, that never leaves you. Those moments of surprise and wonder continue the whole length of the Outer Banks Scenic Byway. www.outerbanksscenicbyway.org
The itinerary for this newest national byway features drives along barrier islands featuring national landmarks and coastal villages and two car ferry
rides. The byway travels through two national seashores, Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout, and two national wildlife refuges, Pea Island and Cedar
Island. Along the byway are four historic lighthouses and world famous stopovers for migrating song birds and waterfowl.
Scattered across this wild and scenic coastline are maritime villages with a common cultural heritage. Come on
down and Ill tell you a story, says Allen Burrus, whose family has operated a grocery store in Hatteras village since 1866.
Its not too hot and its not too cold and theres always room on the porch for sitting and greeting.
Delve into Ocracoke stories during the third season of Ocrafolk School, Oct. 25 through 30. Ocracokes history
and seafaring traditions will be explored in one of the schools classes. Other courses look into ships in bottles, island photography and
cooking, exploring songwriting and pottery.
More stories will be told this fall at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center on Harkers Island at the
southern entrance to the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway.
The museum and the Cape Lookout National Seashore celebrate the 150th anniversary of the lighting of the
Cape Lookout Lighthouse throughout the month of October culminating with a relighting ceremony on Nov. 1. The museum, which celebrates the maritime
heritage of North Carolinas true Down East, opens its main gallery with a two-day festival, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
To explore
the natural world that created byway stories, Wings over Water offers a six-day celebration of the wild side of the Outer Banks region. The Nov. 3 to
8 celebration features over 100 adventurous field trips, including kayaking at sunrise and sunset, exploring shifting sands, and venturing to the
close-by Gulf Stream to view seabirds.www.wingsoverwater.org
For events across the Outer Banks visit www.outerbanks.org To learn more about the Outer Banks Scenic Byway with photos and maps, go towww.outerbanksscenicbyway.org or call 1-877-629-4386 1-877-629-4386. Outer Banks Scenic
Byway, P.O. Box 147, Rodanthe, NC 27968.