You guys have really helped! I just spent 2 hours at the pond reading the Frommers NC book (hey, I even rode my Voodoo hardtail there, all 1.98 miles round trip) and I have decided on the Outer Banks. There's 2 reasons; one, I am getting the feeling that it will be really crowded with leaf peepers in the mountains and that September would be a better time for that trip. Secondly, it's just too much driving and concentrating on the Outer Banks, particularly the northern part will allow us to also spend some time around Va. Beach and the wildlife refuge there and hopefully see Scott, too. It might also give us time to make a stop in Maryland or Delaware. Everything I read said fall is the best time to visit the Outer Banks, so that helped, too.

I will post again when everything is finalized. And yes, I imagine the roads in NC are better than in MA. Frost heaves, anyone?