Plan a weekend visit to Wrightsville Beach, N.C., three ways: On a budget, spending a bit more, or when the getaway calls for a splurge. BUDGET Getting there: US Airways frequently offers one-way rates from $99 (21-day advance); $106 (two-week notice); $131 (one-week notice) to $156 walk-up.

The Outer Banks might as well be a foreign land, offering tourists the chance to visit historic lighthouses and view wild horses.

Two to check out this weekend: the Beaufort Shrimp Festival, a small town gem on the South Carolina coast; and the 23rd annual North Carolina Seafood Festival, featuring an array of Tar Heel State seafood.