Outer Banks Calendar and Activities

View Outer Banks Schedule of Events.


Things to Do On the Outer Banks

Welcome to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Outer Banks has an activity for every member of your family! No matter what the weather, your schedule will be packed with fun filled activities. The Outer Banks offers surf fishing, hang gliding, tennis, golf, surf boarding lessons, diving, horseback riding, shelling, bicycling, shopping, windsurfing as well as other water sports and outdoor attractions. More information on Outer Banks activities.

More information on Outer Banks bike paths.

Outer Banks lifeguarded beaches and handicapped accessible beach accesses.

Public sound access and boat ramps

Corolla
  • 4 Wheel drive area-Just past the roads end. Visit the unspoiled beaches and the Corolla Wild Horse Sanctuary.
  • Currituck Beach Light Station-Distinctive brick lighthouse is located just north of Corolla on Highway 12. The Currituck lighthouse is usually open for climbing during daylight hours from March through Thanksgiving. Small fee.
  • Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary-The best way to explore the 5000 acres is by kayak. You may see birds, deer, many varieties of plant life, rabbits and other forms of wildlife.
  • The Whalehead Club-Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Spectacular 1920's hunt club located in the shadow of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Recently restored to its original splendor including art nouveau architectural styling accented with Tiffany lamps and cork-tiled floors. Tours available

 

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Kill Devil Hills

  • Wright Brothers National Memorial-The site of Orville and Wilbur Wright's historic first flight on December 17, 1903. The National Park Service Facilities include a visitor center displaying a replica of the Wright Flyer, the granite Wright monument atop Kill Devil Hill and a reconstruction of the Wright's 1903 camp.
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Nags Head and South Nags Head

  • Bodie Island Light Station-Located in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore about approximately 65 miles from the Currituck lighthouse. Lighthouse grounds are open year round. Explore the bookstore and exhibits in the Keepers Quarters. Take time to spend on the beautiful shores of Coquina Beach which is located directly across Highway 12 from the lighthouse.
  • Jockey's Ridge State Park-The highest sand dune on the East Coast! Jockey's Ridge is the site where hang gliding enthusiasts throughout the country come to practice their sport.
  • Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve-Large expanse of rare maritime forest that boasts a wealth of biological diversity. Owned and operated by the Nature conservancy. Visitors center and education programs offered.
  • Wreck of the USS Huron-About 150 yards north of the Nags Head Pier is a public beach access with a pavilion which explains the history of the Huron and a description of the dive site.
Roanoke Island

  • Elizabeth II State Historic Site- Visit the exact replica of the 16th century ship that carried Sir Walter Raleigh to the New World in 1587. Costumed staff portray colonists and mariners and bring the voyage back to life. While you are there, visit the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. Here is where Sir Walter Raleigh, his explorers and fellow colonists first established in the America in 1585.
  • Fort Raleigh National Historic Site-Replica of a 1585 earthen form on what many experts believe to be the original site of the first English settlement in North America. The site include a modern visitor center, adjacent Elizabethan Gardens and a nature trail. 252-473-5772
  • The Elizabethan Gardens-This16th century formal garden consists of masses of varied plants that bloom all year round and flower-bordered walkways stands as living memorial to colonists depicted in The Lost Colony. The garden is open year round for enjoyment.
  • The Lost Colony-is a outdoor theater play written by Paul Green recounts the activities of a 400 year-old mystery that still haunts Roanoke Island. In 1587, over 100 men, women and children disappeared without a trace a few years after their arrival to the New World. The outdoor drama takes place in the Historic Waterside theater.
  • North Carolina Aquarium-is located on Roanoke Island. Visit Neptune Theater for short informational movies in sharks, fish or other wildlife. Other attractions include coastal freshwater exhibit, wetlands exhibit, marine communities exhibit, hurricane exhibit and the Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit. Not only will you gain an abundant amount of knowledge of marine life, but you also have the opportunity to pet string rays, starfish and view sharks and other salt water marine life at the Graveyard exhibit.
  • Roanoke Island Festival Park-Celebrate the history of Roanoke Island, the birthplace of English America. Education and arts.
  • Alligator River Wildlife Refuge is located on the North Carolina mainland. Established in 1984, this 152,000 acres is home to many species of wildlife including many threatened or endangered species.
Hatteras Island
  • Buxton woods Maritime Forest and Nature Trail-One of the few remaining maritime forests in the country.
  • Cape Hatteras Light Station-Located in the village of Buxton and is approximately 70 miles away from the Bodie Island Light Station. Moved from its original location in 1999 this lighthouse is open for climbing from Good Friday to Columbus Day. Small fee.
  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore-The nations first national seashore. 72 miles of beautiful sandy beach that stretch from nags Head to Ocracoke Island.
  • Chicomacomico Lifesaving Station- One of the seven original lifesaving stations on the Outer Banks. See a shipwreck exhibit or one of the weekly lifesaving re-enactments. From 1874 until 1954, U.S. Coast Guard lifesaving crews stationed in this beautiful wooden building battled the shoals and surf of Hatteras Island to rescue hundreds of shipwrecked sailors. Inside are exhibits on the lifesaving service. N.C. Route 12 Rodanthe.
  • Frisco Native American Museum and Natural History Center -Located in Frisco, NC this museum housed in a 100+ year old building and providesa rich history of Native American way of life.
  • Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum-dedicated to storing the history of the ships that have fallen victim to the rocky shores of the North Carolina coast.
  • Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge-A protected wildlife sanctuary, it's a popular stopover for migrating waterfowl and a terrific place to see a variety of interesting wildlife and plants. There is a self-guiding tour with information on the species that can be found each season. More than 260 species of birds have been spotted in the 5,915-acre refuge that extends along the Outer Banks from Oregon Inlet to Rodanthe.
  • Ocracoke lighthouse-Located on the east side of the village of Ocracoke. Take time to enjoy the nature that surrounds it.
  • Cape Lookout lighthouse-Located on Core Sound Banks of Ocracoke Island. Relax and enjoy the 22 mile Cedar Island Ferry ride through the Pamlico Sound. Make your ferry reservation today! 1-800-BY-FERRY.