Things To Do At The Outer Banks
The Outer Banks has so much to do no matter what season it may be. Things to do at the Outer Banks are endless. Summer is the favorite time of year for most with all the summer activities during the warm weather. Sure in the hot summer we all like to spend time on the beach. But there are so many other thing to do while at the Outer Banks. Here is a list on all the other things to do on a North Carolina Outer Banks vacation. There is something on the list for everyone. Couples, families with small children, families with teenagers, grandparents, the young and the old will find something fun to do here.
Visit or Climb a Lighthouse-There are four lighthouses on the Outer Banks. The Currituck Lighthouse in Corolla, the Bodie Island Lighthouse in South Nags Head, The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton on Hatteras Island and the Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke. The Bodie Island and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouses are both open for climbing to the top. The view from the top of both are spectacular. Climbing all those steps is well worth it!
Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial-Located in Kill Devil Hills. It’s marks the site of where the Wright Brothers took to the sky. There is a museum and several buildings as well as the monument to tour.
Climb or learn to hangglide at Jockey’s Ridge. It the largest natural sand dune on the East Coast. It’s a 420 acre state park located in Nags Head. Jockey’s Ridge is visible from miles around. If you make it to the top the view of the surroundings is worth you being out of breath!
See the Lost Colony-An outdoor drama that takes place each summer at the Waterside Theatre in Manteo. It’s the story of the first English settlers that tried to settle in the New World. They vanished without a trace.
See The Roanoke Marshes lighthouse at the waterfront in downtown Manteo. It’s a small lighthouse situated in Shallowbag Bay. The wooden dock that leads to the marshes lighthouse is fun to walk. There is usually a nice breeze and the view of the bay and the docks is pretty, especially at sunset.
Ride the Ferry-It’s just not right to go to the Outer Banks without riding the ferry. The NC Ferry System operates three ferries. There are the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry; the Ocracoke to Swan Quarter ferry; and the Ocracoke to Cedar Island ferry.
Take an 4 wheel drive tour to see the wild horses of Corolla. The horses are believed to be descendants of the Spanish mustangs that were brought by ship in colonial days. They roam wild in the northern region of Currituck County north of Corolla. The area is only accessible by a 4 wheel drive vehicle. here are no paved roads in the area.
Fish from a Fishing Pier-the Outer Banks have many fishing piers. Just some of the piers are Jennette’s Fishing Pier , Outer Banks Fishing Pier, Nags Head Fishing Pier, Rodanthe Pier, Avalon Fishing Pier , and the Avon Fishing Pier. The Frisco Pier located in Frisco on Hatteras Island was a victim to multiple storms. Sections still stand but the pier and pierhouse can not be accessed.
See the Inn At Rodanthe. This is the house used for filming the movie Nights In Rodanthe. The movie was based on the book by the same name written by Nicholas Sparks. It is now in a different location, father and safer from the ocean waves that threatened to bring it down several years ago. The house is also now a vacation rental home.
Visit the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island-See exhibits of sharks, alligators, stingrays, river otter and more.
Do some surf fishing-the local tackle shops will be glad to let you know what you need. Cast off a line and see whats’s biting.
Explore Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island-the site preserves the history of those first English settlers that tried to settle the New World. Tour the waterfront outdoor theater, visit the book store, gift shop and other exhibits.
Walk thru the Elizabethan Gardens-located on Roanoke Island. The elaborate garden is the type of garden the Queen Elisabeth I would have enjoyed. It’s a lovely garden full of blooming flowers and shrubs during the spring and summer.
Visit the US Weather Bureau Station-located in Hatteras Village on Hatteras Island. It is now a welcome center but the building was the first US Weather Bureau Station in the early 1900’s.
Take a ride to Cape Point-located in Buxton on Hatteras Island. Cape Point is a beach that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s as close to Bermuda as you can get from the East Coast. The point refers to the beach that extends out into ocean then curves back around to form a calm beach area of the coastline. At Cape Point the wave action can be quite rough and dangerous. In the fall it is a prime location to surf fish and catch huge Red Drum.
Tour the Elizabeth II– a replica of the ship that brought the first English colonist to the area. The ship is anchored at Roanoke Island Festival Park. It can also be viewed from the downtown Manteo docks.
Visit the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum-located in Hatteras Village next to the ferry terminal at Hatteras Landing. The building is shaped like a ship. Its has a gift shop and book store, educational rooms, and several exhibit rooms. It lso houses the original first order fresnel lens the once was atop the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Tour the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station-located in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island. It is a former station of the United States Life-Saving Service. The station includes two stations and five outbuildings. Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station (pronounced chi-ka-ma-COM-i-co) is dedicated to the men that served and those that gave their life to the service. It was the beginning of what is now known as the US Coast Guard.
Take a trip to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge-Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge provides nesting, resting, and wintering habitat for migratory birds. The refuge also provides opportunities for visitors to learn about and view wildlife and wildlands resources.
Head to the marinas-everyday about 4:00p.m. the charter boat come in from a long day of fishing. Watch them unload their catches onto the docks. Then sign up for a day of fishing on one of the charter boats!
Go for a horseback ride-right on the beach next to the ocean!
Eat lunch at Odens Dock in Hatteras Village. Visit Risky business and buy a pound or two of their Hot and Spicy steamed shrimp. Eat them at the picnic tables right their at the dock. Watch the pros clean the fish at the nearby fish cleaning table.
As you can tell there is a lot of things to do while at the North Carolina Outer Banks. This is just a small list. More will be added later. You would never run out of things to do at the Outer Banks. People have been going back for years and still have fun every time!
