I am stealing a post from another forum, by a guy over in Mocksville who likes to ride, a lot, and I thought that
@Sp00ks and others who traverse NC on the pavement will appreciate. He was replying to a guy who travels on an old flathead from the northeast who was traveling with his crew to NC.
Here goes-
We love the mountains and visit Maggie Valley every year. But there is no place on earth like OBX.
Like mentioned the famous road here is Hwy 64, Murphy to Manteo. I have done it, but it takes a few days unless you are trying to rush right through. Way too much to try and enjoy in one trip unless you take at least two weeks in my opinion.
Coming down or riding back on the BRP to Maggie Valley is beautiful. Just note that there are a few major detours in NC. Most are south of Hwy 21 between 21 and Hwy 16. They are in the second year of bridge replacement (18 to 16) and replacing washed out roadway (21 to 18).
One of our favorite places is Freebornes and Stations Inn on Hwy 18 at the BRP (laurel Springs). They are both owned by the same person again. The little motel at Freebornes is cool. Good food, lots of bikes, music on the weekends and a great bar. Diane is the bar tender, and she is a sweetheart! You do have to detour now to get there, but not bad and all the roads are fun!
freebornes.com
Our other favorite places to stay on the BRP are Little Switzerland at the Inn, and Pisgah Inn.
We have stayed many times in Maggie at the Four Seasons Inn. The rooms on the back overlooking the creek are nice for sitting outside. However, we scouted a new place last fall and plan to stay at called Heart of the Valley Motel. Really nice folks, close to everything and they have both a motel and cabins if preferred.
Check out Bryson City also. Nice little town and if you haven't been there, it's how you get to the "Road to Nowhere". Worth the ride and also an interesting story. Always nice riding down the Nantahala River and stopping at the White-Water Center.
A real gem that we used to just ride by is Sylva, NC. We stayed there a couple of years back and it is such a beautiful town. Lots of excellent restaurants and a nice hotel called the Best Western Plus River Escape on the Tuckasegee River. Such a cool place and less than a half mile from the sight of the train wreck from the movie Fugitive. There are some cool cabins there also called The Great Escape Riverfront Cabins.
Of course, the most beautiful part of the BRP is from Cherokee to Asheville. Then from Ashville to Little Switzerland / Mt. Mitchell.
Hwy 64 east is awesome through the Waterfall Trail until you get to Highlands. From there it is a very slow ride. I live two miles off Hwy 64 in the Piedmont region east of Statesville. Hwy 64 east of my area is a very nice ride to the OBX with the exception of Raleigh.
The OBX for me is Hwy 12. From Corolla / Duck and the Currituck Light House, down through Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills. Must eat at Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar. The Wright Brothers Museum is a must see.
Continuing South you will enter the Cape Hatteras Seashore which is simply amazing. The first stop should be at Bodie Island Lighthouse. Then you'll come to the Oregon Inlet. It has really changed at this point. I'm glad we got to experience the old Bonner Bridge and the very fragile and narrow land area south of the inlet. It used to flood really bad, and the bridge was considered the most dangerous in NC. It's all gone, and a huge bridge was built that extends into the sound for a few miles keeping traffic high and dry.
Kitty Hawk kites is a cool place to stop on the way and watch the very serious wind suffers. At Hatteras you'll find the famous Hatteras Lighthouse. An amazing sight. You can see its original location as well which is now under water. I was there in 1999 the last day you could go up in it prior to the move. I followed the move which was amazing. They laid railroad tracks, and it moved one inch per hour if memory serves me right.
There is a free ferry ride from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island which is a must visit. If you are that far south, I would stay at Ocracoke instead of Hatteras. Lots of good restaurants also. From there you can take the big ferry Swanquarter or to Cedar Island. It would depend on which way you will be heading and if the vacation is continuing. I would suggest Cedar Island because of Cape Lookout, Beaufort and Morehead City. All very cool places. Or you can reverse this and start at the South end and work your way North.
Happy planning and let me know if I can help you.
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, and a patio to get some sun but it sure was windy. Steak sandwich was tasty. They had a waffle w/ bbq on the menu that looked dang good too. More upscale than hole in the wall but prices were pretty normal for nowadays. 
