We understand that sun and surf are top priorities on your Outer Banks vacation, but take it from us, you won’t want to miss a daytrip to Roanoke Island! Roanoke Island is located just minutes from Nags Head, and the trip provides incredible views of the Roanoke Sound.
The most recognized area of Roanoke Island is Manteo, NC. The Town of Manteo offers a delightful waterfront area with galleries, antiques, restaurants, boutiques, souvenir stores, ice cream shops, and more. Stroll along the waterfront boardwalk, relax over lunch at an outdoor cafe, smell the bright blooms hanging from window boxes, and wave to passing boaters.
Manteo is also home to Roanoke Island Festival Park, which is located across from the Manteo waterfront area. Festival Park offers exhibits that make history fun and entertaining. The most prominent attraction in Roanoke Island Festival Park is the Elizabeth II, a representative 16th-century sailing ship. Interpreters dressed in period costume share seafaring tales and tell of the trials of life in the New World.
Other Roanoke Island attractions include the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island, and the magnificent Elizabethan Gardens. The outdoor drama, The Lost Colony, is a "must see" for any Roanoke Island visitor. First staged in 1937, it tells the story of the country's oldest unsolved mystery through music, dance, and drama.
Roanoke Island is well known for Outer Banks fishing; its close proximity to Oregon Inlet makes it an easy docking area for inshore and offshore charter boats. Outer Banks charter fishing isn't just for experienced anglers; most captains welcome novices and families!
Getting around Roanoke Island is a breeze! A walking/bike trail runs throughout the island, and Downtown Manteo is quite pedestrian-friendly. You can visit many scenic and historic attractions by foot or bike. Everything on Roanoke Island is a short drive by car; parking is readily available near Roanoke Island Festival Park, and signs point the way to area attractions.
We offer Outer Banks vacation homes that are just minutes away from all Roanoke Island attractions. Search our wide selection of Outer Banks rentals now to find the perfect property for your family!
Origin of Town Name
The exact meaning of the name isn't known, but most agree that Roanoke is an Algonquian word used to signify "northern people" or "place where shell beads are found.'
