Overview: North Carolina's Outer Banks are a haven for people that love the outdoors. But there's a lot more to the OB than perfect beaches, warm water and lots of sunshine. The Outer Banks are an excellent place to get away from the crowds and explore tidewater marshes teaming with wildlife, learn to fly a hang-glider over the dunes where the history of powered-flight began or to discover a wildlife refuge that has preserved the natural beauty of the Carolina coast and the animals that call it home.