Go Horseback Riding on the BeachYou've seen the movies with people riding horses on the beach. Why not try it for yourself during your vacation to the Outer Banks? Equine Adventures in Buxton offers local experienced guides that lead you on scenic wooded trails to the beach. Rides are offered year round, but reservations are required. Call (252) 995-4897 for more information. Ride the Free Hatteras-Ocracoke FerryOcracoke Island is the southernmost island of the Outer Banks and can only be reached by ferry (or boat.) The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) runs a free ferry from Hatteras Village to Ocracoke Island. The ferry ride is approximately 40 minutes long and departs from the southern tip of Hatteras Village and arrives at the northern tip of Ocracoke Island. Once the ferry docks, it is about 15 miles to the quaint village of Ocracoke. Ferries run daily between 5:00 a.m. and midnight. In the peak season, departures from each location (Hatteras and Ocracoke) are every 30 minutes; in the off season departures are every hour. In the peak season, ferry lines tend to get long, so you will want to plan ahead. Reservations are not available for the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry. For more information, you may contact the NCDOT at (800) BY-FERRY. Fly a KiteThe Outer Banks are well-known by windsurfers and kiteboarders around the world for its great wind. Why not take advantage of that same wind and spend an afternoon flying a kite? On most days, finding enough wind to get the kite in the air isn't a problem! Also, the Outer Banks is home to one of the top kite stores in the world, Kitty Hawk Kites. They sell a large range of kites ranging from backyard style to competition stunt kites. While you are in their store, talk to the staff about your skill level and they can assist you in purchasing the right kite. Kitty Hawk Kites has shops located throughout the Outer Banks to meet your needs. If needed, lessons are available. Many people choose to fly their kites in Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head because it offers many acres that are unobstructed by power lines and trees. Wherever you decide to fly your kite, have fun! Visit the Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station in CorollaThe Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station was originally built in Kill Devil Hills in 1878 when lifesaving stations were located every 7 miles along the Outer Banks. This station was visited by the Wright Brothers during their many trips to the Outer Banks. Many of the original workers of the Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station assisted the Wright Brothers with their early flight experiments, and some were lucky enough to be there to view the world's first powered airplane fly through the sky. The station was moved to Corolla in 1986, where it was restored and is the current home of the local shop, Outer Banks Style. Take time to stop and visit this unique structure of Outer Banks history! Go Windsurfing in the Calm Sound Waters Throughout the Outer BanksThere are several great sound side locations on the Outer Banks where you can go windsurfing. Canadian Hole, located between Avon and Buxton, is the most popular because of the wind and water conditions in the area. Nags Head sound side access at Milepost 16 and Jockey Ridge State Park's sound side access are popular spots to launch as well. If you don't know how to windsurf but would like to try it, you can take lessons at numerous places on the Outer Banks. If you are in the northern Outer Banks, you may want to try Kitty Hawk Watersports of Nags Head at (252) 441-2756. If you are on Hatteras Island, you can take lessons from Windsurfing Hatteras at (866) 995-6644 or Hatteras Island Sail Shop at (252) 987-2292. Watch the Charter Boats Come in with Their "Catch of the Day"Both Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Inlet have fleets of charter boats that take excited fishermen into the gulf stream to catch the fish of their dreams. Can't afford to go on a charter boat? Don't have sea legs and don't want to experience life on the water? Try going to the docks in the afternoon when the charters come in. You will see tired, sunburned (and happy) fishermen, whistling mates and captains and hundreds of pounds of the tuna, wahoo, mackerel, dolphin and other choice catches of the day. See the people who caught them and watch the mates clean them in the fish cleaning stations. Experience a small part of the charter fishing experience without spending a dime! For daily information on times of charter returns, contact the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center at (800) 272-5199, Oden's Dock (Hatteras Inlet) at (252) 986-2555 or Teach's Lair Marina (Hatteras Inlet) at (252) 986-2460. Catch a Local Music Performance at the Deepwater TheaterMolasses Creek is a high-energy acoustic folk band that plays bluegrass and ballads and is the most popular local band on Ocracoke Island. Though they perform throughout the nation, Molasses Creek plays in the Deepwater Theater all summer, and during occasions throughout the year. They perform at the theater on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the summer. Other performances also take place in the Deepwater Theater, including the Ocracfolk Opry, which is held on Wednesday evenings. The Deepwater Theater is located on the School Road in Ocracoke Village. Take a Walking Tour of Historic Downtown ManteoOne of the oldest Outer Banks communities, Manteo is the county seat of Dare County and is home to several old office buildings that are still in use today. Manteo also has several bed and breakfast inns, restaurants, shops and attractions - all of which attract thousands of visitors to Roanoke Island each season. The downtown area is located on the waterfront, which has 53 modern dockside boat slips and a comfort station with showers and bathrooms. The downtown area has many independently owned shops and restaurants that provide for an interesting afternoon of shopping. Also in the area is the American Bicentennial Park, which has a wooden boardwalk along the waterfront, a gazebo area and picnic tables for resting and a playground for the kids. In Historic Downtown Manteo, there is something for everyone! Take the Ocracoke Village Walking TourThe small fishing village of Ocracoke is the perfect opportunity for you to park your car for a day and wander the narrow streets of the village. Historical landmarks, local shops, restaurants, antique shops and old buildings and homes are among the interesting things you will find on your walking tour. A suggestion is to begin at the Ocracoke Visitor Center, which is located on the west end of the village and adjacent to the ferry docks. Since the island is so small, it is almost impossible to get lost! If you would like, ask a National Park Service employee in the Visitor Center for directions and suggestions before you start your journey. Go Hiking on the Hammock Hills Nature TrailLocated north of Ocracoke Village, the 0.75-mile Hammock Hills Nature Trail will take you on a 30-minute walk through various sections of the Island, including sand dunes, maritime forest and a salt marsh. Signs along the trail teach about various plant life surviving in the Ocracoke weather and elements. You will want to remember your camera and insect repellent before you take this hike, and don't forget that snakes may be hiding in the underbrush. The trailhead is located just across Highway 12 from the Ocracoke Campground. | Kill Devil Hills RestaurantsThai Room Restaurant710 S Virginia Dare Trail Oceanside Plaza Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Krave Grill & Games 710 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Port O' Call Restaurant & Gaslight Saloon 504 S Virginia Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Western Sizzlin' Restaurant 804 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Brewing Station 600 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Slice Pizzeria 710 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Rita's Water Ice 710 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Dare Devil's Pizzeria 1112 S Virginia Dare Trail Milepost 9 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Kill Devil's Frozen Custard & Beach Fries 1002 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 JK's Restaurant & Bar 1106 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Stop-N-Shop Beach Shop, Deli & Wine Shop 100 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Food Dudes 1216 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Kill Devil Hills ShoppingOBX Chefs 2 Go1006 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Mike Hogan's Gallery 12 1006 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The Bird Store 807 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Parrot Bay Trading Co. 808 S Croatan Highway Milepost 9 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 KDH Cooperative Gallery 502 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Manteo Blacksmith Shop 502 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Trading Post Beach Store 305 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Custom Cycles 103 E Clark Street Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 17th Street Surf Shop 1007 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The Scrapbook Store & More 1001 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Sportsman 100 W Clark Street Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 TI's Bait & Tackle 100 W Clark Street Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks AttractionsNorth Carolina Coastal Land Trust701 W Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Nags Head Woods Preserve & The Nature Conservancy 701 W Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Wright Brothers National Memorial 800 Colington Road Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Avalon Fishing Pier 2111 N Virginia Dare Trail Milepost 6 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Nags Head Fishing Pier 3309 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Jockey's Ridge State Park 300 W Carolista Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 98 NC Highway 12 Nags Head, NC 27959 Dock of the Bay Marina 4200 Bob Perry Road Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 The North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve 983 W Kitty Hawk Road Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 The Lost Colony 1409 National Park Drive Manteo, NC 27954 North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island 374 Airport Road Manteo, NC 27954 Roanoke Island Festival Park 1 Festival Park Manteo, NC 27954 Outer Banks ActivitiesDestination Fun1217 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Fishing Charters 200 Quail Lane Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Daredevils 100 Veterans Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Coastal Helicopters, LLC PO Box 715 Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head Bowling & Billiards 201 W Satterfield Landing Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf 1600 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Scoot-Hers/Sandy Beach Tours 2300 S Croatan Highway Suite #102 Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks Gearworks Laser Tag and Fun Center 2406 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Atlantic Dance Studio & Boutique 1742 N Croatan Highway The Dare Center Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 R/C Theatres of the Outer Banks 1803 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Fine Line Charters 105 S Colony Court Nags Head, NC 27959 Colington Speedway 1064 Colington Road Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 |