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By Root 603 0

was added in 1790, like at Langdon House B&B, the most historic lodging in Beaufort. For the best of the mascot restaurants, end your vacation at Amos Mosquito’s. Eating sweet potato fries and s’mores in a swamp-themed restaurant known as “Skeeters” while watching dolphins swim past will remind you that, yes, you are on vacation.

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“My hypothesis as to why pirates are so fascinating is that they represent an icon of freedom; they threw off the conventions and shackles of government and did whatever they wanted. But they were also incredibly dangerous. Of the artifacts we’ve salvaged from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge here, we’ve discovered they were armed to the teeth, with cannonballs and more than 250,000 rounds of lead shot.”

David Moore, Maritime Archaeologist, North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC

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Alex Leviton

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TRIP INFORMATION

GETTING THERE

Part of the area’s charm is that the Outer Banks isn’t easy to reach from any direction. The closest interstate is I-95, 2½ hours to the west (Raleigh and I-40 are another hour away).

DO

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Visitors can’t climb the lighthouse, but the museum has a good history exhibit. 252-441-5711; Bodie Island Lighthouse Rd, Bodie Island; admission free; museum 9am-5pm;

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Famous enough to be known as “America’s Lighthouse,” with a good museum and open lighthouse. 252-995-4474; www.nps.gov/caha; 46375 Lighthouse Rd, Buxton; adult/child over 42in & senior $7/3.50; 9am-5:30pm Jun-Aug, 9am-4:30pm off-season;

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station

Join conservators Linda and James and local Coast Guard members as they re-enact historical life-saving ventures on the beach during summer; call for details. 252-987-1552; www.chicamacomico.net; NC Hwy 12, Milepost 39.5, Rodanthe; adult/child & senior $6/4; noon-5pm Mon-Fri Apr-Nov;

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

The northernmost all-brick lighthouse, surrounded by beautiful grounds. 252-453-4939; www.currituckbeachlight.com; Heritage Village Park, Corolla Village Rd, Corolla; grounds admission free, lighthouse adult/child $7/free; 9am-5pm Easter to Thanksgiving, to 8pm Thu;

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

A museum with 400 years of shipwreck history. 252-986-2995; www.graveyardoftheatlantic.com; ferry terminal area, Hatteras Village; admission free; 10am-4pm Mon-Fri;

Kitty Hawk Kites

Discover your adventurous side with hang-gliding lessons, kite-boarding or kayak rentals. There are other locations from Corolla to Ocracoke. 877-FLY-THIS; www.kittyhawk.com; Hwy 158, Milepost 12.5, Nags Head; 3hr beginner lesson $89; 8am-10:30pm

North Carolina Maritime Museum

More than 100 years of highlighting maritime history and, now, the archaeological remains of Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge. 252-728-7317; www.ncmaritimemuseum.org; 315 Front St, Beaufort; admission free; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat, 1-5pm Sun;

Outer Banks Ferry Service

Boat tours to Cape Lookout Lighthouse and surrounding islands. 252-728-4129; www.outerbanksferry.com; 326 Front St, Beaufort; adult $8-14, child $4-6; from 10:15am;

Ride the Wind

A surf and clothing shop that also rents kayaks, leads guided kayak tours and gives surfing lessons. 252-928-6311; www.surfocracoke.com; Hwy 12 at Silver Lake St, Ocracoke; kayak per hr $12, guided 2hr sunset or day tour $35; 10am-7pm;

Teach’s Hole

Pirate-themed store with an impressive museum of pirate artifacts and lore. 252-928-1718; www.teachshole.com; Hwy 12 at West End Rd, Ocracoke; museum adult/child & senior $4/3; 10am-6:30pm daily Apr-Nov, 10am-5pm Mon-Sat Dec-Mar;

Wright Brothers Memorial

Sprawling museum with gift shop, flight demonstrations, historical buildings, replicas of the Wright Brothers’ first flying machines and a hilltop memorial. 252-441-7430; www.nps.gov/wrbr; Hwy 158 Bypass Milepost 8, Kill Devil Hills; adult/child $4/free; 9am-6pm Memorial Day-Labor Day, to 5pm off-season;

EAT

Amos Mosquito’s

Sure, it’s a swamp-themed restaurant that sells “Skeeters” T-shirts, but