Top Things to do in Outer Banks
Top Hotels in Outer Banks
- 1. Hampton Inn & Suites Outer Banks / Corolla
- 2. Sanderling Resort
- 3. Sea Ranch Resort
- 4. Holiday Inn Express Nags Head Oceanfront, an IHG Hotel
- 5. The Island Motel
- 6. Best Western Ocean Reef Suites
- 7. Days Inn by Wyndham Kill Devil Hills Oceanfront - Wilbur
- 8. Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Nags Head Oceanfront
- 9. Shutters On the Banks
- 10. Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk
Top 10 Nature & Parks in Outer Banks, North Carolina Coast
The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a 100-mile stretch of barrier islands dotted with pristine beaches, quaint towns and historic sites.
If you love swimming, kayaking, or surfing, be sure to visit the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. To really experience local culture, explore each coastal village and sample as much food as you can along the way. (Pro tip: Try the catch of the day.) If you’re looking for a history lesson, check out Roanoke Island or the Wright Brothers National Memorial. And of course, no day is complete without watching the sunset from Jockey’s Ridge.
Restaurants in Outer Banks
1. Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 563 reviews
A national seashore preserve that has the most extensive stretch of undeveloped seashore along the Atlantic coast.
Reviewed By mikelK1251FN - Clinton, United States
We had a great time here, clean, plenty of space, I recommend you get an off road vehicle permit and drive on the beach.
2. Frisco Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 162 reviews
Reviewed By dzc00k - Arlington, United States
We stayed in Frisco and loved this beach. Great waves, easy parking and access to the beach itself, bathroom and shower as well. Plenty of space to roam on the beach.
3. Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By williamlO4961CG
Great experience. A perfect way to finish an Ocracoke day. We were fortunate enough to have clear skies to see the Milky Way and a number of shooting stars.
4. Dowdy Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By tdsisum - Exton, United States
Stopped in with our two young children (4, 2). The playground is fantastic & all abilities too! Our children has so much fun running up and down the hills, climbing on the various structures, etc. we will go back every year!
5. Elizabethan Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 738 reviews
Fanciful and elaborate gardens were kept to entertain Queen Elizabeth I during her reign. Our garden was created for your enjoyment, and as a living memorial to the time when Sir Walter Raleigh’s lost colonists lived in this very place over 400 years ago. The Elizabethan Gardens is a project of the Garden Club of North Carolina. Located 15 minutes from Nags Head, North Carolina. Special features include: Butterfly Center, Children's Discovery Cottage/ Outdoor Play Area, Italian renaissance statuary, water views, gift shop and plant sales, mobile phone audio tour. Plant collections include: native plants, azaleas, crape mrytles, hydrangeas, conifers and seasonal blooms. Our dapple-shaded paths and lush green Scape offer a tranquil retreat from the beach. We are pet friendly. Our walkways are handicap accessible.
Reviewed By HistoryLover2017 - Maryland, United States
Winter Lights are a wonderful experience this year! The Elizabethan Gardens have created a lovely, unique experience that follows guidelines for Covid Cautions. Reservations are made online and in advance this year, and there is spacing between groups as well as a mask requirement to walk through the Gardens for the Winter Lights. This actually makes for a more private experience than in earlier years. The music is lovely and playing throughout the Gardens, the lights are very magical and there are many lovely touches, including the theatrical Elizabethan figures staged as if a ball is in progress and (new this year) individual decorated trees in plastic wind protecting 'bubbles' staged at several points in the Gardens. The entire experience makes for a lovely evening, and you'll probably want to return before the season's over.
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. Canadian Hole
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 87 reviews
Beach located along North Carolina's Outer Banks that is recommended for windsurfing.
Reviewed By heatherw750
Great place to watch the kite surfers and sunset. Loved the easy walk to the beach and shallow waters, but the rough sand and muddy bottom was not for us. We prefer the ocean side.
8. Jockey's Ridge State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,240 reviews
Two of the highest sand dunes on the East Coast are located here, providing excellent take-off points for hang gliders.
Reviewed By donnajsatterlee - Princess Anne, United States
An absolutely magical place where there are really tall sand dunes There are trail markings for an easy round trip of 1 1/2 miles to the Roanoke Sound so that it is easy to find the route with shifting sands. The windswept sands make amazing patterns. There is a place that is wheelchair compatible, but only as far as a vista. The rest would be hard to negotiate without wide, sand friendly wheels. There are also some asphalt trails through some native to the area live oaks.
9. Hammock Hills Nature Trails
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
A nature trail that takes hikers through some interesting terrain.
Reviewed By ipbchlvr - Whitehall, United States
very nice walk through the marsh & maritime forest. very peaceful and quiet. we did not see any wading birds in the marshes, however we were thrilled to see an eagle take flight! it was magnificent. take the time to check out this trail.
10. Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 260 reviews
Located in the Outer Banks, this preserve is one of only a few maritime forests left in its natural state.
Reviewed By akvolkan
If you're looking for a change of scenery or some trail running (can get runs in between 1-7miles), you have to visit this unique corner of the Outer Banks
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