With fall officially here, many tourists are heading west to the mountains. Instead of following the crowd, consider heading east to the beaches. While we've already compiled a list of some of the best North Carolina beaches for a fall escape, there are also plenty of sights to see and things to do once you're here. An extremely popular destination come summer, during the cooler months the ferry to Shackleford Banks is less crowded and the more moderate temperatures mean a more enjoyable stay at one of the most majestic places in North Carolina.

You'll find the barrier island of Shackleford Banks in the Crystal Coast region of North Carolina. Accessed by a 15-minute ferry ride, it's known for wild horses, summer nesting loggerhead turtles, scallops and crabs.

While many visit in the summer for a day in paradise that includes crystal clear water and remote beaches; fall is the perfect time to take a visit and get a more intimate experience with the wild horse colony that has called this island home for centuries.

At this point you might be wondering how a group of wild horses wound up on a coastal island. They're descendants of Spanish mustangs left by explorers from the 1500s. Over the years, they were able to learn to adapt and survive on the harsh landscape. The nine-mile island mirrors many environmental aspects other barrier islands are known for, surprisingly providing a perfect refuge for the horses. The 100 or so horses thrive off natural food sources present on the island. They graze on spartina marsh, island grass and sea oats (uniola). One fascinating aspect is while fresh or brackish water can be found in various ponds, the horses have learned to dig holes, waiting for fresh drinking water to seep up. It seems generations of inventive techniques for surviving along this coastal stretch have been passed down.

Today, hundreds of years existing on a small strip of land has formed a 'horse hierarchy' if you will. Photographers who frequently visit Shackleford Banks have found themselves forming bonds with the wild horses and documenting their lifecycle from newborn, to steed, to death. There's also the

National Park Service and the Foundation for Shackleford Horses, Inc. (a NC 501c3 nonprofit) that serve as co-managers for the wild herd. Visitors are asked not to approach, touch or feed the horses and to remain 50 feet back at all times (even if a curious young horse approaches you). While dogs are allowed on Shackleford, they must stay on a leash at all times.

Today, the southernmost point in the Cape Lookout National Seashore is more than untouched coastal terrain but home for wild horses. In the summer, many visitors come with their cameras in tow hoping to capture wild or intimate moments with the horses. Luckily, in the fall, the swarm of crowds diminish and visitors are allowed a more up close experience with these majestic, untamed creatures that were born to be beach bums. Shackleford Banks is accessed via ferry from Beaufort or Harkers Island.

This is truly one of the most majestic aspects of North Carolina! Have you witnessed the wild horses before?

More than likely, you'll have to go through Beaufort to reach Shackleford Banks. Read our guide here on what to do in this amazing small coastal town.