September's Soft Landing on North Carolina's Outer Banks
As summer gives way to fall, the Outer Banks' windswept barrier islands assume a more mellow pace. The peak season crowds have dissipated, and the temperatures have cooled slightly, making it an ideal time to visit without the high season prices. One of the advantages of traveling in September is the chance to witness the monarch butterflies migrating through the area, their orange and black wings fluttering against the grey skies.
I stayed in Pura Vida, a house perched on the ocean's edge, its views unobstructed by any buildings beyond. The sound of the waves was constant, a soothing background noise that eased into the silence of night. After arriving, I headed straight to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, watching as fishermen unloaded their nets from early morning catches at the nearby fishing pier.
Order the seafood platter at the Ocracoke Fish House
