What to expect: Ocean views abound at this beachfront hotel, which sports sea vistas from most public spaces, including the heated indoor pool, the restaurant and bar, and ballrooms and meeting spaces. A wooden promenade stretches from the hotel to the sands. Guests can mingle at the outdoor Deck Bar, relax in the seaside gazebo, or sit in the shade of a beach umbrella.

Amenity highlights: In addition to a prime oceanfront location, Ramada Plaza Nags Head Beach features a heated indoor pool with a spa tub, a seasonal beachside bar, a comedy club, and complimentary wireless Internet access throughout. Peppercorn's, the on-site restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the summer, and breakfast and dinner during the winter. Beach activities include swimming, sunbathing, running, kite-flying, ocean fishing, and building castles in the sand.

Insider tip: The front desk offers complimentary passes to the Outer Banks YMCA, less than two miles south. The YMCA features a large fitness center, an Olympic-sized outdoor pool, an outdoor water park with slides, a full-court gym, and free on-site child care. In addition, the center has an outdoor skate park and a teen room with table games and Internet access.