Boutique Hotel on Outer Banks Overlooking Roanoke Sound

Ninety-foot-tall sand dunes tower over a maritime thicket of tangled live oaks, cedars, and sweet-gum trees on the edge of the Albemarle Sound, just north of the town of Nags Head, North Carolina. These dunes can be seen across miles of ocean, which once made them a beacon for mariners. Today, the dunes are a mainstay attraction at Jockey's Ridge State Park for more than a million people yearly, as shifting winds constantly morph the surface and shape of the dunes. Five miles south on the Nags Head Causeway, Oasis Suites commands panoramic views of the surrounding windswept coastlines—a romantic hideaway set amid unspoiled wilderness.

The region's wild beauty comes into focus in the hotel's roomy suites, all of which feature picture windows that overlook the Roanoke Sound. Each floor plan is unique, with furniture chosen to complement its features, such as polished wood tables and dimpled leather couches.

The optional romance package is full of goodies, such as candles and bath salts, to help couples set the mood. The suites feature a jet spa tub, each room's king or queen bed comes strewn with silk rose petals, and guests can toast with a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider. In-suite couples massages are available for $140 per couple but must be reserved prior to arrival.

A boardwalk extends out into the sound from the hotel; couples can stroll the walkway and snuggle up under the canopy of the charming gazebo or try to go fishing for seafood and tuxedoed waiters to create their own romantic dinner. Just minutes down the causeway, Bodie Island's pristine beaches stretch for miles in either direction, inviting long, leisurely walks.

North Carolina's Outer Banks: Coastal Wilds Rich with History

The iconic sand dunes at Jockey's Ridge State Park—located about five minutes south of the Oasis Suites—helped it earn National Natural Landmark status in 1974. It's one of the many swatches of protected land and historical landmarks located along North Carolina's Outer Banks.

The notorious Edward Teach—better known as Blackbeard—is said to have roamed the waters off Hatteras Island in the 18th century, and may have contributed to some of the hundreds of shipwrecks for which the Outer Banks used to be infamous. Visitors can examine the region's history through its shipwrecks at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum on Cape Hatteras.

The drive from Oasis Suites to the museum is an attraction in itself; the highway runs for more than 60 miles along a gorgeous strip of protected national seashore between the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Along the same road, more than 365 species of birds inhabit the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.