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 Things to do 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. Wright Brothers National Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,204 reviews
Park where visitors can see a replica of the Wright Brothers' plane and receive an entertaining history of flight.
Reviewed By PHLee7ca - Ellicott City, United States
We visited this attraction on a sunny Saturday in October. The cost was $10/adult and lots of free parking. We first walked around the grounds and saw the old "runway", sheds, and climbed up Kill Devil Hill to see the monument and view of the town. Then we joined the narrated tour by one of the Park Rangers, she was very informative and animated! We then spent the rest of our time touring inside the info. center and got our "passports" stamped in the Gift Store! From the top of the hill, we noticed a full scale scene of the first flight and stopped by on our drive out....very nice, all the "characters" immortalized in bronze along with the plane. A very nice "park", museum and history lesson.
3. 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.
4. Currituck Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 333 reviews
Location of the only lighthouse in the state of North Carolina that is still located where it was erected.
Reviewed By hwhi0218 - Buffalo, United States
This beach is gorgeous. Morning and evening seem to be the best time to see the wild horses. You MUST have a 4 wheel drive vehicle to drive on this beach, we saw multiple people attempt it with 2 wheel drive and got stuck. You don’t need a pass to drive on the beach but for $50 you can buy a 10 day pass that allows you to park on the beach and hang out. It was so convenient to be able to throw coolers, beach gear, etc into the back of the truck, drive onto the beach and have everything available right there to use all day.
5. Whalehead in Historic Corolla
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 654 reviews
Take a step back in time when you visit Whalehead in Historic Corolla! Originally built in the 1920s, this magnificent residence has been restored to its original grandeur and is open for tours year round. Located inside Historic Corolla Park, the museum is situated on 39 acres of pristine waterfront property, and is located in the heart of Historic Corolla. Open year-round for a variety of tours - choose from various House Programs, Children's Activities and Park Programs that are perfect for all ages! Check our online calendar for exciting events hosted in the beautiful Historic Corolla Park.
Reviewed By tee168 - Appleton, United States
This is worth the stop. It's an amazing house with a very interesting history that's really well re-done. It's self guided where you listen to an "I pod" recording that tells you about each room. Very informative. Took about an hour. Would highly recommend if you love old restored homes and learning about the local history.
6. Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,160 reviews
Open for the 2021 season, daily, 9a-5pm, weather permitting. Climb the 220 steps to the top for a breathtaking view while learning from docents, brochures, and exhibits about shipwrecks, the lives of lighthouse keepers, the history of the tower (it filled the last remaining dark space on the east coast in 1875) and the original 1st order Fresnel lens. The beacon continues to be an active aid to navigation (3 seconds on, 17 off). The station is preservation effort of the Outer Banks Conservationists along with the State of NC and the USCG through the NHLHP Act of 2000. $10/person (card or cash); Children ages 0-3 may ascend (free) but only in a carrier with adult 18 or over. All other climbers $10.* Children 13+ may climb alone with parent signature.
Reviewed By rbrich - Cherryville, United States
This is a beautiful lighthouse that from the top you can see the ocean and the sound, it shows just how narrow the strip of land that makes up the outer banks is. This is the second time we have visited this lighthouse and it was just as fun this year as it was 12 years ago.
7. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 285 reviews
Reviewed By mb22727 - Madison, United States
Natural beach with showers, and walkway to the beach. Always clean and the beach is flat backed by sand dunes. Lifeguards on duty for designated swimming zone. We loved it for morning beach walls. Monitored turtle nests line the dunes and we enjoyed learning more about the turtles from the park rangers . Really it can’t be beat ????☀️????
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!!!
9. Bodie Island Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,067 reviews
An interesting and still important lighthouse that can be visited but not climbed. (NOTE: The lighthouse is currently under construction, and is expected to re-open in summer 2013, with the ability to be climbed for the first time)
Reviewed By Jake6279
We had an amazing time and it was a great tour of the light house, we had wait for our climb so we walked out on their boardwalk and outlook. I would do it again!
10. Monument to a Century of Flight
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 376 reviews
Reviewed By baxterscreativee2017 - Virginia Beach, United States
My husband and I stopped at the welcome center to use the bathroom and upon leaving we saw a small parking lot with a trail, so we got out and went to see what the trail led to. This monument is really cute and provides a lot of detail/history of flight. I would recommend a quick visit to check this out.
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