Are you a student who dreams of visiting the United States? The Summer Work and Travel program is a great option for you! One of the most popular destinations is the Outer Banks – located on the coast, in the State of North Carolina.
Summer Work and Travel in the Outer Banks – why is it worth it?
North Carolina’s Outer Banks is a chain of islands stretching for almost 200 kilometers from the border of Virginia to Ocracoke Island, with a history dating back to the 16th century. It was here that the ‘Lost Colony’, the first English settlement in North America, was established. So named after its inhabitants disappeared mysteriously, and to this day no one is sure what happened to them. The islands were also frequently visited by pirates, including the notorious, Captain Blackbeard himself.
The Summer Work and Travel cultural exchange program is a fantastic opportunity to gain wonderful new experiences, as well as life-long memories and friendships.
IF, you are a student looking for a summer job with dreams of visiting the US.
THEN, our Summer Work and Travel program is perfect for you!
What can Summer Work and Travel programs offer you?
● fun and interesting work at international standards
● valuable career experience, development, and opportunities
● travel to unique and amazing places in the US that many others will never get to see
● make new friends for life as well as professional contacts for future career options
● learn and experience American culture and customs firsthand
● improve English like never before with a ‘total immersion experience
● …and so much more!
Don’t wait! Decide today and apply before we run out of places! Below are just 12 reasons why you should take advantage of the program NOW!
1. Coastal and Ocean Experiences
The Outer Banks (OBX) is famous for its exceptionally developed tourism industry, with more than 5 million visitors to the islands each year! The charms of the OBX are appreciated by both American residents and international students who arrive there as part of cultural exchange programs.
North Carolina is on the East Coast of the US, on the North Atlantic Ocean. The coastal islands of the OBX are full of unique, must-see attractions and destinations found nowhere else in the world. The golden beaches, the beautiful Atlantic, the distinctive American and historical architecture, the local flora and fauna…all ad to your unforgettable adventure.
The OBX has so much more than beautiful sandy beaches. There’s a huge variety of different activities and places to spend your free time. You can rent a Jeep or other four-wheel-drive and off-track in the dunes and even along the beaches…if you’re extra lucky you may spot some local wild horses there too!
Other popular activities around the OBX include Monster Trucks, fishing, kayaking, water skiing, surfing, and sailing. Prefer a slightly faster gear? The Outer Banks has many outlets where you can rent a jet ski, boats, and other power craft.
2. Surfing and Water Sports
As with Hawaii and California, the North Carolina islands are a surfer’s paradise. Here you can find the best waves on the entire east coast. You can learn to surf at local beaches, and Cape Hatteras is also one of the most popular kitesurfing spots on the entire US East Coast.
The OBX is home to many popular surfing competitions and events each year.
3. Wright Brothers National Memorial
Kill Devil Hills is a location known all around the world. It was here that brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright conducted the first-ever, successful airplane flight in history. Their many attempts took place over 4 years in the hills of Kill Devil Hills, located just a few miles from the town of Kitty Hawk on the OBX. The popular tourist destination of the Wright Brothers National Memorial was established in that location to honor their efforts and success.
The residents of the village itself are one of the oldest communities in the Outer Banks. Even today it seems as if it has been somewhat trapped in time, somewhere in the past. Here you can find plenty of boutique stores, restaurants, and other diverse attractions.
If you are an aviation enthusiast, be sure to visit the Wright Brothers National Monument!
4. Carova Beach in Corolla – Atlantic Ocean Beaches and Wild Horses
Wild mustangs grazing on Carova Beach in OBX is one of the most unbelievable sights you’ll possibly ever see. Carefree horses galloping through the dunes is an image you’ll usually only get to see in Hollywood movies. Here, however, you can find them every day if you wish. If that’s not enough adrenaline for you, why not get your friends together and hire a Jeep or other 4WD to combine off-road, beach, and sand dune cruising with this incredible wild mustang experience? Don’t worry, the animals are used to it and are waiting for you… somewhere!
5. Graveyard of the Atlantic
Treacherous waters and numerous sunken ships have earned the region the ominous nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” From the 16th to the 21st century, more than 2,000 ships have wrecked on the OBX, with the most famous including the Adventure, El Salvador, and USS Monitor. These and many more sunken wrecks are a real attraction for divers who dare to venture into the deep. However, not all shipwrecks are so deep – you can even see a few of them from the shore! These include:
● Margaret A. Spencer – a mysterious wooden ship that crashed about 14 miles from the shoreline south of Oregon Inlet Campground.
● USS Huron – the remains of this steam gunboat lie 200 meters off the beach at Nags Head, at a depth of about 6 meters.
● Union Oriental – wrecked during the Civil War, this steamer lies about 150 meters from Pea Island National Nature Reserve in Rodanthe, and from the shore, you can see its smokestack and ship’s boiler.
Would you like to learn more and investigate the depths, without entering the water? Visit the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum! You can see detailed images of local wrecks and find loads of historical information and details on each ship.
6. Roanoke Island Festival Park
Want to know how the first English settlers on Roanoke Island felt? Then, be sure to visit the local festival park! At the center of this 25-acre site is the majestic Elizabeth II – a reflection of English merchant ships from the late 16th century. Once you step aboard, you may even forget it’s the 21st century outside! Another key attraction of the park is a realistic settlement modeled after one that existed in 1585. There you will see what daily life was like for British soldiers sailors and sailors in the ‘New World’.
In the summer it also hosts many popular concerts by notable artists from around the world.
7. Lighthouses and More Lighthouses!
The Outer Banks is famous for its lighthouses, which for centuries have guided the way for ships and sailors passing nearby. Some still stand to this very day, so why not take your own tour? The five lighthouses that still survive today are:
● Currituck Beach Lighthouse – located in the heart of Corolla, within Historic Corolla Park. It is 50 meters high, and its light can be seen from 15 nautical miles away.
● Roanoke Swamp Lighthouse – one of the lower structures of its kind on the island, located within Roanoke Park.
● Bodie Island lighthouse – located just south of the town of Nags Head. The lighthouse itself is about 47 meters high, and if you want to get to the top, you must climb as many as 214 steps.
● Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – one of the most recognizable lighthouses in the world with a staggering 63 meters in height.
● Ocracoke Island Lighthouse – the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina and the second in the entire United States.
8. Ocracoke Island – Home of Captain Blackbeard
Ocracoke Island was the home base of one of the most famous Caribbean pirates of the 18th century: Edward Thatch, also known as Captain Blackbeard. It was in this area that the British navy sank his legendary ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Go there and you’ll surely feel like a character from the History Channel’s- Black Sails series!
The island itself is in the very south of the region and can be reached by ferry. The trip takes about 40 minutes and provides amazing views of the ocean and shoreline. While there, you’ll visit numerous wild beaches and a lighthouse, and even see a whale skull in all its enormous glory.
There are numerous food outlets on Ocracoke serving delicious seafood dishes, such as crab and shrimp.
9. Jockey’s Ridge
Want to feel the wind in your hair, possibly even take to the air yourself? Sign up for a kite flight at Jockey’s Ridge State Park! This state park in Dare County is home to the tallest sand dunes AND the largest moving sand dune on the entire Atlantic coast. There are great conditions for kite flying or enjoying the enchanting sunsets.
At the park, you can also take part in activities such as swimming, paddle boarding, windsurfing, and kiteboarding. Or why not try your hand at dune surfing?
10. Pea Island Wildlife Refuge
If you are a true nature lover, then be sure to visit the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge! The facility is located on the northern tip of Hatteras Island and is a wintering place for many migratory birds, including large snowbirds. There are over 400 species of migratory birds and other wildlife and the refuge is also home to many endangered species, such as the magnificent Loggerhead Sea turtles. You’re sure to bring back a whole bunch of great photos!
11. Historic Corolla Park – Lighthouse and Historic Village
Historic Corolla Park, also known as Currituck Heritage Park, is a historic place to visit in the heart of Corolla. Its largest is Whalehead, a beautiful 1920s Art Nouveau-style mansion that has been converted into a museum. The property once belonged to Colling Knight Jr, who, along with his aristocratic guests, made the region famous as a bird-hunting destination.
The park is also home to a red brick lighthouse, which has been in continuous operation since the late 19th century. If you feel up to climbing the 220 stairs to the top, get to it! The entrance fee is only US$10 and the views from the lighthouse itself are breathtaking!
12. Duck Town Park – Natural Beauty and Delicious Food
The 11-acre Duck Town Park located in the tiny town of Duck is a treat for nature lovers. Here you’ll find an abundance of natural beauty and open spaces that birds and other wildlife call home. The willow swamps are also a fascinating and unique part of the local landscape, full of various local species of wildlife.
You can take a stroll along the mile-long boardwalk through the bay, visit the amphitheater, and shop in the local stores. In Duck, NC you can also find some of the best bars, cafes, and restaurants on the OBX!
Take a trip and an experience of a lifetime, to the OBX, with our Summer Work and Travel program today!
With Summer Work and Travel, you can fulfill all your dreams while vacationing and working overseas, in the US. It’s YOUR chance of a lifetime to experience the local culture and cuisine, learn the language, make new friends, and – most importantly – explore the United States as you choose!!!
The Outer Banks, North Carolina is full of attractions and incredible places to visit, and things to do and see. There’s something for everyone and past students who have vacationed there consider it the adventure of their lives.
Contact us through the form and experience a vacation as you’ve never even thought possible!
