North Carolina has some incredible beaches. There are tons of discussions about which ones are the best. In our minds, the best beaches in North Carolina are found along the Outer Banks. We have been coming to the Outer Banks for 20 years and we absolutely love it.

What we love about the Outer Banks is there is plenty to do for whatever kind of trip you want to have. There are some places in the Outer Banks where you can be all by yourself. If you want to just relax in a quiet place the Outer Banks has that in towns like Duck, Corolla, Rodanthe, and Ocracoke.

If you want a more fast paced beach experience with putt-putt, shopping, restaurants and other activities you can do that in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head. There is something for everyone here.

Not only that, this place has plenty of other activities for you to enjoy. From wildlife, to National and State Parks, theater, history, and outdoor adventures – this place has you covered. This is definitely a great place for a week long vacation or a quick weekend retreat. Here are ten of our favorite things to do and places to visit in the Outer Banks!

Jockeys Ridge State Park

Jockeys Ridge State Park should be on the top of everyone’s list for an Outer Banks trip. This is one of our favorite State Parks in North Carolina and is definitely one of the most unique. This park is located right on the Croatan Highway in Nags Head.

This park is known for its massive sand dunes. There are just acres upon of acres of incredible dunes that you can climb all over. These are the largest sand dunes on the east coast. From the top of the dunes you have a great view wherever you look. On one side is the sound, and on the other side is the Atlantic Ocean. It is stunning. Our favorite time to come here is sunset. This is by far the best place to watch the sun go down on the Outer Banks (along with the sound in Duck). Hundreds of people pack the dunes every night for the show and give the sun a standing ovation once it hides behind the water.

Another really big activity is hang gliding. You can take hang gliding lessons here and glide short distances. This is a very basic class, so don’t expect to go real high or far, but everyone we have talked to has enjoyed their time doing this. When you go, bring a sled and have fun riding down the dunes.

Wright Brothers National Memorial

North Carolina is the First in Flight state because in Kitty Hawk in 1903 Wilbur and Orville Wright took flight for the first time. The Wright Brothers National Memorial pays homage to this historic achievement. This area is one of the many in the Outer Banks run by the National Park Service and it is spectacular, one of the best historical sites we have been to run by the Parks Service.

They recently rebuilt the museum and they did an awesome job. It is open and airy and does a magnificent job telling the story of the Wright family. Inside is a replica of the flyer the brothers used on their first flight – the original is in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. There are some really great interactive exhibits and of course a fun Junior Ranger activity.

The grounds outside are just as spectacular. You can see the spot where the first four flights took place. A really fun thing to do is to see if you can run the distance faster than the original flights. We had fun doing that together as a family, and we could! Pretty crazy how slow those first flights were.

The actual monument is on top of a hill on the grounds. It is an easy uphill hike and the views at the top are well worth it. It makes for a great place to sit and relax and look out towards the ocean.

There is a $15 per vehicle entrance fee. This is one of those that a National Park Passport comes in handy.

Lighthouse Tour

North Carolina is famous for the numerous lighthouses along its coast. They even have a couple of river lighthouses. The majority of the coastal lighthouses are in the Outer Banks. A great idea for a short weekend getaway would be to do an Outer Banks lighthouse tour. There are five total lighthouses along the northernmost in Corolla and the southernmost at Cape Lookout. Here are the big five along the Outer Banks.

Currituck

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is located in Corolla at the northern end of Highway 12. This lighthouse is located near historic whale head. This lighthouse stands 162 feet tall and is known for its distinctive red brick exterior. You can climb the 220 steps to the top for great views of the ocean and sound. At the base of the lighthouse is an awesome property where you can learn all about what it was like tending the lighthouse, especially at the museum in what used to be the Keeper’s Quarters. It cost $10 to climb to the top for adults.

Bodie Island

Bodie Island is the closest lighthouse to the Kitty Hawk area. This lighthouse is run by the National Park Service as it is located along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The lighthouse is about a 10 minute drive south from the 64/12 interchange. This lighthouse might be the least famous of them all but it is just as beautiful. You can climb to the top of this one, there is a small charge depending on the season. In total, there are 200 steps to get to the top. The grounds with the tower and the keepers quarters are beautiful. There is a nice boardwalk trail you can take to the sound where you can watch the birds and just relax.

Cape Hatteras

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in the United States and might be the most famous lighthouse in the world. This magnificent lighthouse towers 208 feet above the ground and has 257 steps to get to the top. This lighthouse is truly beautiful and something to see in person. It guards the Graveyard of the Atlantic, a treacherous area in the ocean where hundreds of shipwrecks have occurred.

This area is also run by the National Park Service and they do an amazing job with the upkeep. On the grounds you can get a passport stamp for your book as well as visit a small little gift shop. There is a museum in the old keepers home that is really well done. Oftentimes, Rangers are on site to answer questions or give presentations.

This lighthouse is located in the small town of Buxton. This is a great place to visit as well, some really fun shops. We recommend the Orange Blossom Bakery for some sweet treats and good coffee. Get there early, they are only open until 11 (Wednesday – Sunday only).

Ocracoke

Like all of the lighthouses on this list, Ocracoke is an original. This is the smallest of the lighthouses but is fun to visit and adorable to look at. Ocracoke is the second oldest operating lighthouse in the nation. It is located on Ocracoke Island. The only way to get to the island is by ferry. If you are coming from Hatteras it takes about an hour. It is free to ride, but you will need to check the operating schedule depending on what season you go. You can get there from the south as well, but those are 2 or 3 hour trips that you need reservations for.

You can’t climb this lighthouse, but you can still enjoy the charm that surrounds it. This whole town is beautiful, plenty to do and a great place to explore. Black Beard the pirate used to roam these waters, so there are plenty of pirate themed stores and things to do. This is also a great place to enjoy history, the people of Ocracoke have their own dialect, so try and find some locals and enjoy the conversation. This is a perfect place for a romantic weekend away, plenty of bed and breakfast places and a quiet relaxing feel all around.

Cape Lookout

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is located on Cape Lookout in the Southern Outer Banks. Some don’t consider this part of the OBX, but it is definitely part of it. This is our favorite lighthouse in the Outer Banks. It is simply beautiful at 163 feet. One of the reasons why we like this one so much is because it is on an island all by itself pretty much. There are no roads, just a ferry that drops you off and lets you enjoy the place by yourself.

Cape Lookout is actually a National Seashore, run by the National Park Service. In order to get to this lighthouse, you will need to get the ferry from either Beaufort or Harkers Island. The Harkers Island ferry is about a 30 minute ride and allows you to get off at Shackleford Banks as well. We recommend this one because it is a beautiful and fun drive to Harkers Island from Beaufort. There is a cost, but it is not significant.

We recommend taking a weekend and visiting Cape Lookout. We have a really great guide to help you out.

Alligator River Wildlife Refuge

Alligator River is one of our must dos each and every time we head to the Outer Banks. The reason? Bears! Yes, bears. Alligator River is home to one of the largest concentrations of black bears in the Eastern United States. Seriously, right off the coast, bears. Not only are there bears, Alligator River is home to red wolves. These animals are extremely endangered and Alligator River is one of the few places in the world where they live. We have never seen them, but maybe one day. In addition to these two species, you can see plenty of birds, river otters, alligators, deer, and raccoons. It is awesome.

Alligator River Wildlife Refuge is located in and around Manns Harbor in between Manteo and Columbia off of Highway 64. This is a bout a 20 minute drive from Nags Head, not technically on the OBX, but part of any trip. There is a visitors center for the numerous wildlife refugees in the area in Manteo. This is a beautiful place to visit and you can get a ton of great information.

The thing to do there is to drive through the wildlife refuge and search for animals. Go slow as you are going through there. There is one small sign and a dirt road. There is a small kiosk where you can grab a map and drive around. You might pass it a couple of times before you find it.

The best time to go is first thing in the morning or an hour before sunset. We like to grab some food and drive there to eat as we slowly drive through the refuge. It is super fun to go on the hunt. Sometimes we go and don’t find any, but we still have fun. We go real slow and just wait to see the bears running around. Some of them get real close, but bring some binoculars for the ones far away. This is a great activity for any OBX trip.

Manteo

Manteo is technically on the Inner Banks, just across the Roanoke Sound on Roanoke Island. This is an awesome town with a ton to do. For starters, there is a great aquarium where you can check out sharks, otters, and a ton of other creatures. The Lost Colony show is at Fort Raleigh (more on that below) which tells the story of the first English settlement in North America. The Roanoke Island Festival Park is a great experience where your whole family can see what it was like in 1585 in the colony. Plenty of actors in period costumes and a lot of hands on activities.

Downtown Manteo is a really fun place to walk around. There are a ton of shops and restaurants and it makes for a great place to just relax on an afternoon. The waterfront is beautiful, a perfect spot to have a drink and watch the boats go by. Don’t miss the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse either. Our go to spot to eat a quick lunch is the Hungry Pelican Deli. Great sandwiches and great food. A wonderful family run restaurant.

Duck Donuts

Duck Donuts is an Outer Banks tradition. These are some of the best donuts you will ever eat. There are a handful of Duck Donuts along the Outer Banks, and all are great, but you have to go to the original one located in the beautiful town of Duck. You walk up to the shopping center and order in the building on the left. Once you get your order, head across the outdoor area and pick up your donuts on the right. You can go in and watch them make them if you want to, or you can just wait outside and have them call you when they are ready.

There is a great little boardwalk that you can enjoy with your coffee and donuts. A great place to start your morning or watch the sunset over the sound. They close early, so watch the website so you aren’t disappointed. Definitely get over there for some maple bacon or chocolate peanut donuts. So many options and all so delicious!

Wild Horses

There are two herds of wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs found in the world. Both are in the Outer Banks. One in the north, the other in the south. At the very north end of Highway 12 is the town of Corolla. The highway ends and it goes straight onto the beach. This is where one of the herds is found.

If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle you can just continue on down the beach. If you don’t, there are numerous off-road excursions you can book. They can get expensive, but they are super fun. One time when we didn’t want to spend the money and didn’t have our four-wheel drive vehicle with us, we just started walking and ended up right in the middle of the horses. As tempting as it is, don’t take your car that isn’t four-wheel drive. We have seen a ton of people try and get stuck.

It is a spectacular sight to see indeed. They are in the ocean and you can get in the water 50-yards down the shore. Swimming with horses. Don’t get too close to them, they are wild animals after all.

The other spot for these horses is Shackleford Banks near Cape Lookout. This is a spectacular spot where you can hangout in the water on the sandbars with the horses. We have a lot written about this in our Cape Lookout post, so check that out.

Pea Island Wildlife Refuge

In a place where there are so many incredible beaches, Pea Island is our favorite. Pea Island is located in Cape Hatteras National Seashore around 12 miles south of Nags Head. There is a visitors center that is on the sound side that always seems to be closed when we get there. They have a bathroom and a place to change in the parking lot. There is an awesome boardwalk trail that takes you out to the sound and gives you a great place to watch for birds.

The beach though is why you come here. Just cross Highway 12, walk over the massive sand dunes and enjoy your own private beach. Most of the time there is hardly anyone here, and many times we have stretches of the beach to ourselves for what seems to be miles. This is a great place to pick up some epic seashells if you get there early. We live two hours from the closest beach and three and a half from this one. There are many times when we want to go to the beach for the day we just come here.

The water in the Outer Banks is a little colder than other North Carolina beaches. The Outer Banks stick out farther into the Atlantic and they are farther north, so it makes sense. A lot of people are surprised that the water is as cold as it is even into June. Just be prepared for that.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Fort Raleigh is the site of England’s first New World settlement that lasted from 1584 to 1590. This is the group of colonists who became lost and eventually became known as the Lost Colony. This area is run by the National Park Service along with the Lost Colony Outdoor Drama Company.

The site is at the northern tip of Roanoke Island right where Highway 64 begins. It is a beautiful property with some great trails, a really nice museum, and of course the outdoor theater. There is not much original left of the colony, so the Park Service has plenty of placards around saying what was probably in different spots.

The best thing to do here is to see the Lost Colony Outdoor Drama. This show is put on throughout the summer from Memorial Day until late August. It tells the story of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World. Shows are right along the sound with the water in the background making for a beautiful backdrop. These shows start every night at 8:30. Tickets for adults start at $20, so not terrible. They do get higher the better the seat. Definitely worth checking out.

Oregon Inlet Lifesaving Station

There are numerous lifesaving stations throughout the Outer Banks. Our favorite one is the Oregon Inlet Lifesaving Station. Oregon Inlet is a couple miles south of Pea Island on Highway 12 just on the other side of Bonner Bridge in Rodanthe. Some people call this the Pea Island Station, but we have always gone with Oregon Inlet.

We love this one because it is so photogenic. The architecture and shingled siding just screams Outer Banks. There are some great trails through the dunes here and you can climb up some pretty big dunes. You can get in the water along the inlet and at the ocean. Be careful though, the water can get pretty rough here. We wouldn’t go past our knees here. This is just a great place to walk on the beach.

There are so many fun adventures waiting to be had in the Outer Banks. We hope this short guide helped you and you get as much from this special place as we do. It will get you coming back again and again. What else should we add? What are some of your go to locations in the Outer Banks.

Check out some of our other North Carolina travel guides like visiting Edenton, Grandfather Mountain, Hendersonville or Carolina Beach!

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