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Relaxing things to do in the Outer Banks:

Amusements

Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station

A well known landmark that displays photographs and historical items from rescue station crews and daring rescue missions along the Islands beach area. Drills are held each summer.

41156 Highway 12
Outer Banks, NC 27960
Avon
252-995-5466

Club Hatteras Kid

A variety of programs just for kids are available at this facility including a Kinnakeet Sound Safari, Blackbeard's Buddies, and Kids Night Out. A day program runs Tuesday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and "Kids' Nite Out" is held on Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Family programs are available on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

41156 Highway 12
Outer Banks, NC 27960
Avon
252-995-5466

Colington Speedway

Open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day to 10:00 p.m., this speedway offers three great racing tracks for you to choose from including their Naskarts, two seaters, and kiddie karts.

1064 Colington Road
Outer Banks, NC 27948
Kill Devil Hills
252-480-9144

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

One of three marine-oriented education facilities administered by the state of North Carolina, this 68,000 square foot marine aquarium building is situated on 14 acres overlooking the Croatan Sound and takes visitors into an underwater simulation where native fish are on display. The aquarium also offers hands on activities, nature craft workshops, live animal programs, touch tanks, films, field trips, and daily scheduled programs.

The Off Highway 64/264
Airport Road, Manteo
252-473-3494

Historic Sites & Monuments

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

The site where Sir Walter Raleigh's explorers and colonists established settlements in 1585, this historic site is also the birthplace of Virginia Dare, the first child born of English parents in America before the colony's mysterious disappearance.

Route 1, Box 675,
Manteo, Outer Banks, NC 27954
Highway 64/264 North End of Roanoke Island
252-473-5772

Ocracoke Island

This 14 mile island has a picturesque fishing village surrounding Silver Lake Harbor on the southern tip and was once the home to Blackbeard the Pirate, who was slain here in 1718. The island is also the site of a British Cemetery with the graves of four Royal Navy sailors who were torpedoed offshore in 1942 and the home of the Ocracoke Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse on the North Carolina Coast built in 1823.

Island South of Hatteras
252-928-6711

Wright Brothers National Memoria

This historic site is where Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first powered airplane flight, on December 17, 1903. A visitor center with a full scale replica of the original plane, the "Wright Flyer," is on site and information on the history of the Wright Brothers, exhibits, and conducted trip to grounds which includes the Wrights' 1902-1903 camp buildings are also available.

Route 1, Box 675
Kill Devil Hills, Outer Banks, NC 27954
US 158 Bypass, Milepost 8
252-441-7430

Museums & Galleries

Frisco Native American Museum & History Center

Learn about the development and achievements of the islands' earliest Native inhabitants at this museum and history center that is located in a historic building and contains a nationally recognized collection of Native American artifacts, exhibits, and natural history displays.

Highway 12, Frisco
Outer Banks, NC 27936
Hatteras Island
252-995-4440

Graveyard Of The Atlantic Museum

Discover the maritime heritage and history of the Outer Banks and its significance for the nation and the world at this very unique museum that explores historic piracy and shipwrecks of the Outer Banks.

59158 Coast Guard Road,
Outer Banks, NC 27943,
Hatteras,
252-986-2995

Roanoke Island Festival Park

Visitors can explore the evolution of Roanoke Island and the Outer Banks from the late 16th century to the early 20th century through living history interpretations, exhibits, and a variety of visual and performing arts programs at this unique park that also features an 8,500 square foot hall of permanent, interactive exhibits, a film depicting the first English landing on Roanoke Island from the Native American point of view, an outdoor performance pavilion, an art gallery, and a museum gift shop.

One Festival Park
Outer Banks, NC 27954
Manteo
252-475-1500

National Parks & Natural Wonders

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Featuring over 150,000 acres of wetland habitats and a wide variety of wildlife species ranging from wood ducks and alligators to black bears and red wolves, this national wildlife refuge also features numerous plant species including the Atlantic white cedar, bald cypress, and many types of wildflowers and shrubs.

Follow Highway 64/264 West from Manteo
252-473-1131

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

This refuge was established as a habitat for the greater snow goose and other migratory water fowl. Nature trails, observation platforms, and blinds are located throughout the grounds for visitors to enjoy.

Highway 12
Pea Island
252-987-2394

Parks, Gardens & Zoos

Elizabethan Gardens

A living memorial to Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh's "lost colonists," these breathtaking gardens feature a sunken floral garden, as well as herb, wildflower, and rose gardens that surround priceless pieces of antique statuary.

1411 Highway 64/264
Outer Banks, NC 27954
Manteo, Next to Fort Raleigh
252-473-3234

Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods

Long recognized as one of North Carolina's most important natural areas, this rare maritime forest is a cathedral of nature and features more than 1,200 acres of forest that have been protected by as an ecological preserve. The preserve is open to the public for hiking, birding, and other nature activities.

701 West Ocean Acres Drive
Outer Banks, NC 27948
Kill Devil Hills
252-441-2525

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

A much used and valued feeding and resting area for numerous wintering waterfowl, there are over 265 species known to visit this refuge area regularity with wildlife including snow geese, egrets, herons, and a large variety of wading, shore, and song birds. The refuge stretches for 12 miles from the Oregon Inlet to Rodanth and it encompasses 6,000 acres of land.

Northernmost Section of Hatteras Island
252-473-1131

Tours & Cruises

Corolla Outback Adventures

Specializing in guided ATV tours to the pristine North Beach and wild horse safaris, this adventure company also offers tideline charters and kayaking excursions.

1150 Ocean Trail
Outer Banks, NC 27927
Corolla
252-453-4484

Kitty Hawk Kites

A full service guide and tour company that offers hang gliding over the soft sand dunes, Tandem gliding to 2,000 feet, guided kayaking eco-tours, kite boarding excursions, jetboat dolphin tours, parasailing, rock wall climbing, and kite surfing. They also sell a large selection of kites, toys, T-shirts, and Wright Brothers gifts

306 West Lake Drive, Unit K
Outer Banks, NC 27948
Kill Devil Hills
252-441-4124