We drove there from Michigan the first part of May. We stopped at Asheville first. It was a great trip!! We preferred the northern part of OBX, staying at a nice place in Nag's Head. The beach was much more beautiful than I anticipated. There is a small village very close by called Manteo---which was charming. It's not on the ocean. We also stayed in the southern part of the OBX in Buxton. It had a completely different feel. Very quiet and the beach was different. It had a dune in front of it, with lots of sea grass. We drove to Hatteras----I didn't care for it. We should have gone to Okracoke, but didn't plan for it properly.

I would go back to the OBX again. On the other hand, we visited the Smokey Mountains a few years ago. We hated Gatlinburg and the other cities on the outskirts of it. Very touristy. Even more so than the OBX.

You can spend days, weeks, months, even years in the Smokies without going to Gatlinburg. I promise. I have for several decades. I live in the edge of the Smokies but have only gone to Gatlinburg less than a handful of times as an adult. The Smokies are not Gatlinburg, just like Savannah is not River Street. But a lot of tourists believe differently.

If I lived in PA I'd go to Cape Cod. Heck, I'd be at Cape Cod right now if I could.

Love the Cape. WE drove north to 78, then 287, then 95, hitting the tappan zee bridge. going up was nice. coming home, very slow go.