Home to Hatteras Island, the Outer Banks of North Carolina offer vacation spots that are true treasures of the East Coast. Hatteras offers gorgeous beaches, world-class fishing, outstanding recreation, a rich history, and a slower pace of life that truly make this location worth a visit.

1. The Beaches: A barrier island off the coast of North Carolina, Hatteras boasts some of the most isolated and pristine beaches on the East Coast. About 85 percent of the island is federally owned and protected from development, making it an ideal place to visit the beach. An excellent place for watersports, shelling, flying a kite, wildlife watching, or simply relaxing while soaking up some sun, the breathtaking beaches and dunes of Hatteras Island are sure to suit anyone. Cape Hatteras National Seashore was even ranked as #4 on Dr. Beach's 2010 Best Beaches in America.

2. A Slower Pace: Hatteras Island is a vacation spot that is sure to get you away from it all. Usually the island is never very crowded, making it the perfect location to escape a hectic lifestyle and truly sit back and relax. Hatteras is a place with a very laid-back way of life. You won't find any of the hustle and bustle on this beautiful island of the Outer Banks.

3. The Fishing: One of the most popular spots on the East Coast for surf fishing, Hatteras Island also offers excellent pier fishing. Chartering a boat to try your luck at the big catch is also well worth a try. From the spring to early fall hundreds of blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are caught and released in Hatteras waters, while yellowfin tuna can be caught throughout the year. A wider variety of fish live in the areas coastal waters including Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, red drum, grouper, sea bass, and dolphin.

4. Recreation: Whether you are in the water or on the island, Hatteras is home to a wealth of recreational activities. With mild temperatures throughout most of the year and a plethora of outfitters for almost any activity, the island is the ideal place to have some recreational fun. Watersports are one of the most popular activities and just a few include surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, canoeing, scuba diving, and sport fishing. Wildlife and bird watching as well as strolling on the beach are also popular recreational activities on Hatteras Island.

5. The History: The Outer Banks of North Carolina are full of rich history and Hatteras in no exception. Originally inhabited by a group of Native Americans known as the Croatans, English settlers arrived on Hatteras Island in the late 16th century. Today artifacts can still be found on the island. Off shore, many ships passed by the island due to currents that helped to speed their journey. This caused many of them to wreck on the Diamond Shoals or shallow sandbars off the coast of Hatteras. The famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was constructed to warn sailors of this impending danger. Today the area is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic with about 1000 known ship wrecks that rest off the coast. Hatteras Island has had plenty of resources to draw visitors for past years and will continue to do so in the years to come.