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
What to do and see in Outer Banks, North Carolina Coast: The Best Gear Rentals
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. Ride The Wind Surf & Kayak
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 211 reviews
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.
Reviewed By A9197LXrobertm
We were a family of four that had never tried stand up paddle boards. Our waitress Cathy at Howard's Pub recommended Ride the Wind surf shop down the street in Ocracoke. Robert and Jesse gave us the lowdown on board rentals. $20.00 per hour. Other longer term rates available. We parked at the shop. Their dock is across the street - very convenient. Jesse outfitted us with life jackets, paddles and a board. None of us had formal training on the boards - only from watching videos and other boarders. We were able to climb on the boards and stand up. It took 5 - 10 minutes acclimation for balancing skills to kick in. For me it helped to focus on the horizon. In one hour we paddled around Silver Lake and out to Pamlico Sound towards the light house. Our round trip was an hour. Just enough for us. Ride the Wind on Silver Lake Harbor is an excellent intro to Stand Up Paddle boarding - I would recommend for anyone thinking of trying it out for the first time, or accomplished paddlers.
2. Coastal Explorations
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 184 reviews
Coastal Explorations is an outdoor touring company dedicated to providing adventure, education, and entertainment fueled by the resources in our own backyard - The Outer Banks of North Carolina. Come join us on a kayak trip or stand-up paddleboard lesson, rent your own kayak or stand-up paddleboard, or go on a crabbing charter for some fun and a fresh seafood dinner!
3. A.S Austin Co.
4. Restless Native Boat Rentals
5. Banks Surf Supply
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Surfboard sales, rentals, and lessons. Features locally made surfboards, clothing, jewelry, and much more.
6. Waterboy Essentials
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
7. Island Cycles
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
The Outer Banks of North Carolina only full service bike shop! We Sales, Bicycle Repairs, and Rentals of all types of bicycles. We also rent Kayaks, Standup Paddle Boards (SUP), Surf boards, and all related Beach Gear. We Deliver too!
8. Kitty Hawk Cycle Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By JillBabette - Washington DC, United States
I would give 10 stars if I could! These guys are great, they've been consistent with quality bikes, competitive prices, and exceptional staff. My family has been renting bikes from Kitty Hawk Cycle Co for the past 6 or 7 years now. The bikes are and extremely well maintained and the owners are super friendly and helpful with any customer service needs. They have been very accommodating when we've had last minute order changes or when we needed to swap out a bike for a larger one we arrived because we underestimated how much our daughter grew. Over the years, I have rented cruisers, youth bikes, a tag-along, beach chairs, umbrellas, and a body board. All of the items we have rented have been in "like new" condition and were delivered before we even arrived to our rental house. One year I made the mistake of renting some of our bikes through a deal with our vacation rental company, and I will never do that again. The bikes from the realty company were very cheap and not in good working condition, the chairs were super heavy and did not carry easily to the beach, and the umbrella arrived already broken. If you need bikes or beach gear, Kitty Hawk Cycle Co is definitely the place to rent from in OBX. They will go out of their way to make sure you are happy with your rental experience, and they value having repeat customers. I look forward to renting from them again this summer :)
9. Outer Banks Paddleboard
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
We are a stand up paddleboard ("SUP") outfitter offering privately guided stand up paddle board tours, lessons, and rentals serving the Outer Banks from Duck, North Carolina. We provide lessons and tours from Corolla to Hatteras, ans also on Roanoke Island. We also book surf lessons and rentals through our exclusive partners!
10. Outer Banks Kayak Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 833 reviews
Outer Banks Kayak Adventures offers premium guided Outer Banks Kayak Tours. From our maximum adventure Alligator River kayak tour to our beginner Kitty Hawk kayak tour, our OBX kayak tours are fun for the whole family. The Kitty Hawk kayak tour is perfect for beginners or anyone that enjoys nature. We kayak at a relaxing pace along the Maritime Forest and Marshes of Kitty Hawk. We often see turtles and river otters swimming in the water or sunning themselves just onshore. The Alligator River kayak tour is our maximum adventure tour. Our expert guides lead your group on an exciting adventure kayaking Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. The 1-hour children's kayak tour is perfect for young children or anyone that wants a shorter Outer Banks kayak tour. History buffs will love our Roanoke Island kayak tour as we paddle the marshes of Roanoke Island. Our night-time Bioluminescence kayak tour and Sunset kayak tour in Nags Head, NC are our bucket list Outer Banks kayak tours.
