Outer Banks Highlights Tour
This trip goes down the Outer Banks then over the ferries to Ocracoke and the South Banks.
Day 1: Start with a day in Corolla on the northern end of the Outer Banks. Visit its elegant Whalehead Club, climb the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, and take an off-road adventure to see the wild horses of Carova.
Day 2: Travel south on US 158 to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, and climb the dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head to see the sunset.
Day 3: Cross the causeway to Manteo, where the Roanoke Island Festival Park brings you up to speed on the region’s early history. On the way back across the causeway, stop for some fresh local seafood at the Lone Cedar Restaurant, owned by Marc Basnight, longtime president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate. Crossing to Hatteras Island, seek out the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe for a look into the area’s maritime history.
Day 4: Climb the famous Cape Hatteras Light for a bird’s-eye view of Diamond Shoals, then head for Hatteras Village to tour the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. Take the free ferry to Ocracoke Island for a swim at one of the country’s best beaches. Stop for a meal or beverage at famous Howard’s Pub, visit the Village Craftsmen to meet the local Ocracokers, and watch the sun set over Silver Lake.
Day 5: Take the ferry to Cedar Island and head for Cape Lookout National Seashore, where you can climb the diamond-patterned lighthouse and visit the Shackleford horses. Visit the historic town of Beaufort, where you’ll find the main campus of the North Carolina Maritime Museum, then explore this foodie-friendly town on foot.
OBX for Kids Tour
Thanks to their summer beach patrols, the best beaches for families with young children are the Central Beaches of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head, and on the Crystal Coast, Emerald Isle. Both areas also have many kid-friendly activities, such as mini-golf, bumper boats, and go-karts. Skate parks can be found in Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Buxton, and Manteo, and on the South Banks in Atlantic Beach. The Beach Road running along the Central Beaches still has several old-fashioned ice cream and burger hangouts, such as the Snowbird and Dune Burger. The state aquariums in Manteo and Pine Knoll Shores offer great rainy-day options, and the Roanoke Island Festival Park is fun rain or shine. The region’s many headboats provide an easy and inexpensive introduction to fishing for all ages, as well as an exciting day on the water.