Hotel at a Glance: Oasis Suites Hotel

Oasis Suites Hotel commands panoramic views of the windswept coastline of the Roanoke Sound, creating a romantic hideaway set amid unspoiled wilderness. The region’s wild beauty comes into focus in the hotel’s roomy suites, all of which feature picture windows that overlook the water. Each floor plan is unique, with furniture such as polished wood tables, silk curtains, and leather couches.

• Admire the view from your suite’s private balcony.
• Cook your catch of the day on one of the waterfront barbecue grills.
• Relax with a dip in your private spa tub.

The Northern Beaches of North Carolina’s Outer Banks: Idyllic Towns, Sand Dunes, and Wright Brothers History

Dubbed the “East Coast’s recreational playground” by Frommer’s, the Outer Banks is a string of narrow barrier islands that hugs the northern coast of North Carolina. Vacationers have flocked to the islands’ postcard-worthy beaches and idyllic villages since the 18th century. The most northerly island in the Outer Banks, Bodie Island, is home to five such towns, known collectively as the Northern Beaches: Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head.

Head to Kill Devil Hills to see the Wright Brothers National Memorial Park, where a large granite boulder commemorates the spot where the world’s first powered flight took off, in 1903. The memorial also includes replicas of the brothers’ early gliders. Just outside the town of Nags Head lie some of the East Coast’s tallest natural sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Strong winds off the ocean constantly reshape the dunes and make the area a popular spot for hang-gliding and flying kites. Make the drive south to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, nicknamed the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” for the many ships that have crashed into its dangerous sandbars during storms. Here, you can catch a glimpse of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, whose iconic exterior is a swirl of black and white stripes