Today we make our way to the Outer Banks. We check into our hotel for a two night stay before the lights come up for a performance of the award-winning outdoor drama, The Lost Colony!

This morning we’ll take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Elizabethan Gardens. At Roanoke Island Festival Island Park we see first-hand what life was like for the first English Settlers in 1585. Tour the Elizabeth II, a replica of the 16th century sailing vessel that brought the first English colonists to the New World 400 years ago. Later, we visit the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk followed by a photo stop at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. We’ll enjoy dinner together tonight. (D)

This morning we enjoy a scenic coastal drive along this beautiful stretch of Outer Banks. We make our way to the fishing village of Hatteras for a picture of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest in the United States. We catch the Hatteras Ferry to Ocracoke Island. From there, we ferry to Cedar Island, then travel to Morehead City for a two night stay.

This morning we’re off to the beautiful coastal fishing hamlet of Beaufort. Our local guide will point out historical sights and tell us salty stories of local lore. We visit the NC Maritime Museum where we’ll see artifacts from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge as well as exhibits featuring North Carolina’s rich sea-food industry, life saving stations and lighthouses. Next we’ll enjoy viewing diverse wildlife in their natural habitats, from the mountains to the sea, at the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Dinner is included this evening at one of the local restaurants. (D)

On our way home we stop in New Bern for a visit to Tryon Palace, North Carolina’s first colonial and state capitol. Tryon Palace was the place where governors ruled, legislators debated, patriots gathered and George Washington danced. Today, with costumed guides, working craftspeople, engaging character interpreters, American history comes to life on the historic grounds. We stop for an included lunch before arriving home later this afternoon. (L)