Nags Head boasts a plethora of natural wonders. From an ecologically
unique maritime forest to breathtaking coastal dunes, the dynamics of
the area corroborate the sentiment Thomas Nixon expressed in his 1964
classic. Indeed, as early as the 1830s, merchants and planters from the
Albemarle region of North Carolina and Southside Virginia brought their
families to Nags Head via boat to exchange the oppressive inland summer
heat for cool ocean breezes. In this striking photographic collection,
Downing illustrates why this scenic spot on the Outer Banks has been
beloved for generations by sun-seekers, sightseers and surfers alike.