Things to do in Outer Banks, North Carolina Coast: The Best Outdoor Activities

A national seashore preserve that has the most extensive stretch of undeveloped seashore along the Atlantic coast.

Custom open-air Safari Beach Cruisers take you & your family on off-road explorations of the Outer Banks northern beaches.

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).

COVID-19 Update: Please see our website for details on how we are operating amid the new local and state health recommendations. Feel the ocean breeze and taste the salty air! See the wild horses of the Outer Banks and whip through beach, dune, and forest trails with Hummer Adventure Tours. Discover some of the most unique sights the Outer Banks has to offer. Our friendly and knowledgeable tour guides take you onto pristine northern beaches that are accessible only with a 4x4 off-road vehicle. With more terrain, no two tours are ever the same; so if you like history, ecology, adventure, and quick-witted comedy, we have you covered.

Ride the Wind is a full service surf shop, offering surf instruction, surf camps, surf & kayak rentals, Standup Paddleboarding, and the latest in surf apparel, footwear, and sunglasses.

Corolla Light Tennis offers year-round tennis programming at the Corolla Light Resort. Our teaching pros excel at working with beginners to the very advanced players. Private lessons and clinics are open to the public.

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!

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.

Nor'Banks Sailing & Watersports is the premier sailing and water sports location on the Outer Banks. Established in 1979, Nor'Banks has always been a leader in the industry and provides quality equipment, excellent customer service, and a safe environment for everyone. Nor'Banks offers the most complete water sports center on the OBX, with Waverunners, Parasailing, Wake Boarding, Waterskiing, Tubing, Kayaks, SUP, Tours, Pontoon Boat Rentals and Sailing (Rentals, Lessons, Youth Camps and Sales). The waterfront location is amazing with bathrooms, showers, 200-foot pier, and a grassy lawn. Nor'Banks is now the OBX Hobie Cat dealer and features all of their amazing boats for rental and for sale. We have a full restaurant and bar right above us! Come enjoy a day on the water and a night on the town.