Northern Beach Landscape

Moving north from Kitty Hawk, the landscape of the Outer Banks begins to look remarkably different. The barren expanses of much of the southern parts of the island give way to lush maritime forests. Highway 12 adopts a winding course through trees and hills that can make you forget you're on a thin barrier island.

Southern Shores is a planned community nestled among the trees. The combination town/civic association seems to maintain control of the community to the benefit of the residents. For visitors, the design of community allows for a more private retreat than would be typical in areas to the south.