Top Things to do in Roanoke Island
The 8 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Roanoke Island, North Carolina Coast
Discover the best top things to do in Roanoke Island, United States including Coastal Helicopters, Barrier Island Aviation, Sail the Outer Banks - Tours, OBX Biplanes, Outer Banks Distilling, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, OBX Ghost Tours, North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.
Restaurants in Roanoke Island
1. Coastal Helicopters
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 329 reviews
Coastal Helicopters, Inc. offers Outer Banks helicopter tours and charters with chances to see popular OBX attractions, from the air, including the Wright Brothers Monument, lighthouses, fishing piers, shipwrecks, dolphins, schools of fish and more. The Outer Banks draws thousands of vacationers every year, but most people only see it from their beach chairs and car seats. If you want to experience the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the most unforgettable way, then an Outer Banks helicopter tour is exactly what you need! With room on the helicopter for three passengers, every seat is a window seat!
2. Barrier Island Aviation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 193 reviews
The best way to view the magnificent beauty of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Seating up to two passengers in front of our pilot, our open cockpit aircraft is one of the original WWII trainer biplanes built by WACO. Flying in this vintage aircraft is truly an unforgettable experience! We also offer rides in a Cessna 172 (3 passengers) & a Cessna 206 (5 passengers).
3. Sail the Outer Banks - Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 110 reviews
Downtown Manteo Waterfront located on Roanoke Island"Private sail cruises aboard the beautiful 41 ft Sea'scape leave from the Manteo Waterfront and tour the NC Outer Banks on the Roanoke and Albemarle Sounds. Each cruise is a special, private sail taking up to 6 guests. These sails are a wonderful way for families, friends, and couples to enjoy some time together on the water! Visit our website for rates.
4. OBX Biplanes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 316 reviews
See the Outer Banks by air...experience the magic, romance and adventure of an open-cockpit biplane ride or a ride in a vintage T6 Texan warbird. The wind in your hair, the sun on your face, and joy in your heart! There’s really nothing quite like the experience of open-cockpit flying over the Outer Banks, the rumble of the large radial engine, spectacular views along the beautiful North Carolina coast, all while enjoying a narrated airplane tour from one of our experienced obx airplane pilots. Book Outer Banks air tours and charters on OBX biplanes and OBX warbirds because they are the best way for the family to experience the Outer Banks and see all the OBX attractions - lighthouses, monuments, ocean, sounds, islands and more.
5. Outer Banks Distilling
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 172 reviews
Reviewed By Sightsee197178 - Winchester, United States
Our group of 12 had a blast. Informative tour that revealed distilling processes, history of rum in the world and locally, and great rum!
6. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 315 reviews
An off-beat wildlife refuge that is interesting for children.
Reviewed By annecolorgreen - Louisville, United States
My husband and I actually visited two different times. The first, was just after lunch on a hot July day. We had quite the delay getting there because I mistakenly thought that the trail was close to the visitor's center--it's not. and then I couldn't figure out how to find it. Don't put the visitor's center in your GPS, put in the Creef Cut Wildlife Trail (which is actually the 1/2 mile nature trail that you can hike at the beginning of the motor trail). My husband and I kept driving in circles trying to find it! When we actually did get there, I was very impressed. There are very well maintained gravel roads that go in/out through this part of the refuge. There were also some dirt roads (not necessary to drive on) but they were well marked that they could be potentially hazardous during wet weather. We saw birds, a bear from a LONG distance, many turtles sunning on logs, and an alligator. Also, lots of pretty late summer flowers. Because we took awhile to get there and there are no restrooms, we eventually did have to leave. I made a plan to go back the next day and was up well before dawn to drive back over from Kitty Hawk (30'ish minutes?). This time, my plan was to drive along the areas with big fields keeping an eye out for bear. If this is your goal, don't turn off onto Sawyer Lake Rd (to the right) but keep going straight until you can turn left onto Long Curve Road. Drive slowly and pull off to the side if you want. You will soon see some big open fields--keep your eyes peeled. Through the help of a local, I was directed to the area by the "dump" where there are NUMEROUS bears that gather at least in the early hours of the day. Sadly, I didn't see or hear the wolves, but the bears were fun to watch.
7. OBX Ghost Tours
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 45 reviews
As you make your way through downtown Manteo, your guide shares the stories and history that make the Outer Banks one of the most haunted beaches in North America. Our tour is unique from others in the area because we are equipped with EMF detectors and try to limit our group size to 20.
8. North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,491 reviews
The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island was originally founded in 1976 as the North Carolina Marine Resources Center, along with our sister facilities at Pine Knoll Shores and Fort Fisher. In 1986, the three facilities were renamed Aquariums, and we were joined by Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head in 2011. The state of North Carolina owns the Aquariums and Pier, which are administered by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR). Located on the Outer Banks, three miles north of Manteo on Roanoke Island, the Aquarium is an educational attraction focused on “inspiring appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments.” The Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Reviewed By M1967XCjulieb
We’ve been going to the beach for days and decided we needed an indoor activity something that we could bring our granddaughter with to. The aquarium was wonderful and all of us loved it, especially our granddaughter (18 months)!! It was bigger than I thought it would be and our granddaughter loved the shark exhibit (baby shark song) and the jellyfish. We totally loved the sea turtle rescue center, and enjoyed seeing the sea turtles on the mend (we loved that part of our admission fee helped them) The hands on tank was so much fun for all ages!!!
