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Hatteras Island can be a great place for that, you can see the effects of the two currents, the cold Labrador Current to the north and the warm Gulf Stream to the south as you drive down the island. You see it in vegetation and birds. The southern tip of the island gets the full effect of the Gulf Stream, very warm water. Old Hatteras Village has the Spanish Moss draped live oak and palmetto of the southern coast. Summer water temps are in the eighties. The two currents clash just above, you can see it from Hatteras Light at Diamond Shoals, ocean almost boiling, rough seas under the best of conditions. I assume you're going out into the Gulf Stream in a boat, prepare yourself. I think it's fun, others find it alarming. Dramamine if anyone’s prone to motion or seasickness.

Water temps drop as you go up, in summer rarely reaching the mid-seventies north of Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo. Further north toward Currituck, Corolla and Carova, summer water temps in the sixties are not uncommon. Makes for a lot of variety. Certain times of year it's even like the marine layer rolling in and out, that you see on the central and northern coast of CA. Always loved that.

If you're going to be renting a house for more than a few days, you'll want to stop into the Food Lion in Avon. Prices are normal there, not island prices. Gas up before you cross the bridge over the Alligator River if you're driving in via that route, or before the ferry if that route. Island prices are expensive.

It's a beautiful, wild place, outside the few towns and tourist areas. Nature is on full display, wind, water and blowing sand. I love it. If you're into shore birds at all, Pea Island has a reputation of being good for that sort of birding.

Have a great trip.