lawcucui,
Sorry I couldn't help you with outer banks recommendations when you asked a few months ago (never having been myself), but I can give you a few recommendations on barbecue. Some may be practically on the way, others may be a slight detour:
Shelby (about 45 minutes from Charlotte on I-85): Alton Bridges Barbecue or Red Bridges Barbecue. Two different styles, both good pork barbecue. In addition, Alton Bridges has a good barbecued chicken as well.
Lexington: various barbecue restaurants reputed to be good (right off I-85).
Durham, N.C.: "Old North Carolina Barbecue"--good pork barbecue and a great buffet--well, at least it was when I used to frequent it in college 10 years ago.
Calabash, N.C.: Numerous good restaurants with buffets that have a good balance of seafood and pork barbecue.
Hope this helped.