Outer Banks

Nags Head, N.C., is on the northern peninsula of the Outer Banks. Its unspoiled beaches are free, with plenty of parking available. The inimitable pink-blue sunsets and charming mom-and-pop establishments help it to sustain an unaffected, wholesome vibe. Getting there Nags Head is about 325 miles from Baltimore. You can fly Southwest Airlines nonstop into Norfolk, then rent a car for the remaining 88 miles. Most folks contend it's easier, and cheaper, to make the trip by car, about a six-hour drive.

Baltimore Charm player Kelly Campbell travels frequently in her dual role as a defensive back and marketing manager of the city's all-female Lingerie Football League team. Campbell was nominated this year for the league's award for most improved player, as well as for its Mortaza Award, honoring a player's efforts on and off the field. Campbell says she prefers vacations at beaches, where she can enjoy the activities she doesn't have time for during the football season. With Valentine's Day on the horizon, Campbell, 24, reveals to us her favorite and most romantic getaway — which would also be her ideal spot to receive a proposal.

With more than 300 miles of coastline, the Outer Banks has stretches of sand that are consistently rated among the top beaches in the world — a perfect setting whether you crave an active vacation or a simple barefoot walk along empty beaches. The long stretch of beaches is a six- or seven-hour drive from Baltimore, and the sense of place can change markedly from one milepost to the next. For a family with school-age children, the beaches from Duck to Nag's Head pulse with activity.

Nags Head, N.C., is on the northern peninsula of the Outer Banks. Its unspoiled beaches are free, with plenty of parking available. The inimitable pink-blue sunsets and charming mom-and-pop establishments help it to sustain an unaffected, wholesome vibe. Getting there Nags Head is about 325 miles from Baltimore. You can fly Southwest Airlines nonstop into Norfolk, then rent a car for the remaining 88 miles. Most folks contend it's easier, and cheaper, to make the trip by car, about a six-hour drive.

From crabbing, fishing and kiteboarding to major historical sites like the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where the duo achieved their dream of flight, North Carolina's Outer Banks has more to offer than long white beaches and warm summer breezes. There's romance in Rodanthe, kites in Kitty Hawk and concerts in Corolla. Best of all, there are free, family-friendly events throughout the 100 miles of barrier islands, from festivals to fireworks displays. This summer, a trip to the Outer Banks can cost less than you think.

At the turn of the century, Capt. William J. Tate was the postmaster at Kitty Hawk, then an isolated outpost on the sandy barrens of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Descended from a Scottish shipwreck survivor on a coast known as "the graveyard of the Atlantic," Capt. Tate worked variously for the U.S. Lifesaving Service, was a notary public and served as a Currituck County commissioner. But he was chiefly, in the words of one historian, "a one-man chamber of commerce" whose greatest success was in public relations.

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. -- First came the quiet.At Jockey's Ridge early yesterday, the only movement was the flapping of flags atop boarded-up businesses.Even the brown pelicans and squawking seagulls had abandoned the Avalon Fishing Pier. And then came the fury.Emily arrived, swooping and swirling along the southernmost Outer Banks with heavy rains and winds up to 115 mph.Early last evening the hurricane's center was about 30 miles northeast of Cape Hatteras. It was moving north about 13 mph and was expected to veer northeast.

In the Outer Banks, the beaches are the star attraction. Just off the North Carolina coast, the chain of barrier islands stretches more than 90 miles. And for inhabitants and visitors in the 15 towns along the Outer Banks, the beaches rank among the nation's best. With quiet bays to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Outer Banks offers panoramic water views everywhere you look. Rental homes make up the bulk of the accommodations in the Outer Banks - from quaint cottages to multimillion-dollar estates with pools, spas and game rooms.

A narrow chain of barrier islands, North Carolina's Outer Banks offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and serene bays and waterways on the other, as well as wildlife refuges and maritime woodlands. The area also includes Kitty Hawk, the birthplace of flight, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The Outer Banks has 15 towns along the length of the islands. Dining, recreation and shopping opportunities are growing, thanks to a recent building boom. Where to stay Most Outer Banks visitors stay in one of the abundant vacation homes, many of which are worth more than $1 million and feature five, six or seven bedrooms, in-ground pools, hot tubs and modern kitchens.

Baltimore Charm player Kelly Campbell travels frequently in her dual role as a defensive back and marketing manager of the city's all-female Lingerie Football League team. Campbell was nominated this year for the league's award for most improved player, as well as for its Mortaza Award, honoring a player's efforts on and off the field. Campbell says she prefers vacations at beaches, where she can enjoy the activities she doesn't have time for during the football season. With Valentine's Day on the horizon, Campbell, 24, reveals to us her favorite and most romantic getaway — which would also be her ideal spot to receive a proposal.

When it made landfall in North Carolina, Hurricane Irene cut stretches of the Outer Banks off from the mainland. Now a Maryland company is working to restore access to the barrier islands. Mabey Bridge & Shore Inc. in Elkridge is shipping sections of a bridge that will form a temporary span over the largest breach along North Carolina Highway 12, the road that connects the majority of the Outer Banks to the mainland. The storm in late August caused several breaches along the highway, cutting off Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.

Hurricane Irene, already a 120-mph powerhouse with tropical storm winds 230 miles from its center, was turning toward North Carolina's Outer Banks late Wednesday en route to a very wet and potentially dangerous weekend encounter with Maryland's Eastern Shore. Irene will likely produce periods of torrential rain when it arrives, with totals of 4 to 6 inches or more anywhere from Ocean City to Baltimore and the rest of Central and Southern Maryland, forecasters said. A track more to the west could bring high winds and up to a foot of rain to Delmarva and 5 or 6 inches on the Western Shore, some forecasters warned.

I packed this summer's hot beach novel, "Maine," by J. Courtney Sullivan, along with my shorts, sandals and suntan lotion and headed for the Delaware shore. "Maine" is the story of Alice Kelleher, an imperious Irish-American matriarch, and her far-flung, dysfunctional family and the beach house in Maine where the family has been gathering every summer for 60 years. But this summer, Alice plans to tell them that she is donating the house and land to the Catholic Church, and their fractious summer ritual is ending.

May The Currituck Wine and Jazz Fest. Sanctuary Vineyards, Jarvisburg, N.C. 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. May 31. Wines will be poured from all the Currituck Wineries, including the release of the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2007 Syrah. The event features live jazz on the lawn, food from local restaurants, artwork by local artists and vineyard tours. $15-$20. June Rogallo Kite Festival. Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head. 252-441-4124. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 12-13.

With more than 300 miles of coastline, the Outer Banks has stretches of sand that are consistently rated among the top beaches in the world — a perfect setting whether you crave an active vacation or a simple barefoot walk along empty beaches. The long stretch of beaches is a six- or seven-hour drive from Baltimore, and the sense of place can change markedly from one milepost to the next. For a family with school-age children, the beaches from Duck to Nag's Head pulse with activity.

1. Spend time in Historic Manteo . Lots of dining, shopping and lodging available in Festival Park, a historically restored downtown area. (manteo.govoffice.com) 2. Go for a bike ride. Try the Roanoke Island Bike Path, an 8.8-mile walking, jogging and rollerblading path that runs the entire length of U.S. 64/264. 3. Picnic at the m arina. The public docks at the Manteo waterfront have benches and gazebos. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the boaters as they launch.

NAGS HEAD, N.C. - The Fenz family rode out Hurricane Isabel's fury in the manager's quarters of their 45-room oceanfront motel. Jim and Wanda Fenz figured their 7-month-old daughter would cry when the howling 100 mph winds began, but Tiffany wasn't bothered by the racket at all. Her parents think maybe it's because the baby had something in common with the storm: Tiffany's middle name is Isabella. "It's her first hurricane," Wanda Fenz said. "We've already entered it into her baby book."

You could say the Outer Banks has been in the tourism business since 1587 -- the year early settlers attempted an unsuccessful colonization on Roanoke Island. Ever since, the mystique of these sandy barrier islands has grown, luring generations of families and friends to its charming waterfront communities. More than 100 miles of soft sand embody the peace and quiet visitors crave and expect in the Outer Banks. A thriving surf community adds thrills as surfers catch gnarly curls at Rodanthe Pier.

If there were ever a time that we all needed a great escape - this would be it. But, you may be thinking, this is also the time when we can least afford to get away. Spending a few days at the beach doesn't have to break the bank. Waterfront hotels, restaurants and attractions are slathering on the deals and discounts as thickly as they can, especially on the Internet. We found fun, free and nearly free activities and events at popular beach destinations along the Mid-Atlantic coastline, from North Carolina to New Jersey.

From crabbing, fishing and kiteboarding to major historical sites like the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where the duo achieved their dream of flight, North Carolina's Outer Banks has more to offer than long white beaches and warm summer breezes. There's romance in Rodanthe, kites in Kitty Hawk and concerts in Corolla. Best of all, there are free, family-friendly events throughout the 100 miles of barrier islands, from festivals to fireworks displays. This summer, a trip to the Outer Banks can cost less than you think.