Here are a few suggestions for the best places to satisfy special interests on the Outer Banks.
BEST BIKING Roanoke Island.
BEST KITEBOARDING AND WINDSURFING Hatteras Island—the East Coast hot spot for wind sports.
BEST FISHING Avon Pier on Hatteras Island is the place to hook a giant red drum.
BEST FISHING CHARTERS Oregon Inlet, Wanchese, and Hatteras Village are home to legendary charter fishing fleets—and Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks.
BEST SURF FISHING The uninhabited Core Banks in the Cape Lookout National Seashore offer a uniquely untamed opportunity to fish the break.
BEST BEACH Ocracoke! Dr. Beach gave the big nod to the lifeguarded beach here, but we love the miles of undisturbed sand with not a man-made structure in sight just as well.
BEST FAMILY BEACH Emerald Isle on Bogue Banks goes the extra mile with lifeguards, children’s entertainment, tons of off-road bike paths, and plenty of family activities.
BEST BOAT TRIP The free North Carolina State Ferry between Hatteras Village and Ocracoke.
BEST EXCURSION Small ferries will take you to the attractions of the often-overlooked Cape Lookout National Seashore, including its diamond-patterned lighthouse, wild horses, and ghost village of Portsmouth.
BEST FOODIE DESTINATION Beaufort, on the Crystal Coast, has the highest concentration of interesting restaurants, all within walking distance of the waterfront. On the upper banks, head for Duck, with many nationally recognized eateries.
BEST PLACE FOR HISTORY AND ART BUFFS Manteo, site of the Lost Colony, has the best history chops on the coast, plus an artist colony inspired by its fishing village charm. On the Crystal Coast, Beaufort is a close runner-up in both categories.
BEST SHOPPING Duck Village connects its many shopping complexes, full of mostly locally owned shops, with boardwalks and paved paths.
BEST BIRDING The Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge has 365 birds on its list, with some species in residence all year.
BEST SURFING Hatteras Island near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the traditional spot for surfers who love both solitude and a challenge. If you’re looking for a crowd to applaud your hotdogging, head for Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, home to most of the region’s surfing competitions.
BEST PLACE TO LEARN TO SURF The surf in Corolla, with shallow entry and a sandbar just off shore, is considered a great spot for beginners to catch a wave.
BEST KAYAKING Swansboro on the Crystal Coast, with both saltwater and blackwater paddle trails.
BEST OCEANFRONT RV CAMPING The Tri-Villages on Hatteras Island are the last great stronghold of oceanfront RV camping, once so common on the Banks. If you don’t mind roughing it (no hookups), plan a vacation moving from one Cape Hatteras National Seashore campground to the next on Ocracoke and Hatteras islands.