Feel the romance in the real Rodanthe

— -- North Carolina's Outer Banks take a star turn in Nights in Rodanthe, a movie based on the Nicholas Sparks best seller about two strangers (played by Diane Lane and Richard Gere) who meet and fall in love at a seaside B&B inn as a hurricane threatens.

The silver-screen version, which opens today, was shot in and near the Hatteras Island village of Rodanthe (say row-DAN-thee). But while the Outer Banks tourist office is promoting a three-day itinerary that includes locations featured in the film, you won't be able to book a room at the (fictional) inn. The former vacation home was damaged when a real-life storm blew in during last summer's filming, and it remains off-limits to renters. Information: 877-629-4386 or outerbanks.org.