These remote and barren islands offer abundant outdoor adventure opportunities. From the quiet waters of the sound to the wild surf of the open Atlantic, these islands are a major score for sea kayakers, surfers, and ocean swimmers. Pick up some gnarly winds at Shell Point off Harkers Island, a popular windsurfing destination.

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse, completed in 1859, overlooks the treacherous 10-mile Lookout Shoals, which early sailors called the"Horrible Headlands." The lighthouse's distinct diamond pattern was painted in 1873 as a means for sailors to distinguish it from several identical lighthouses in the area.