Family activities are not synonymous with “boring,” as evidenced by the offering of Outer Banks family attractions. In fact the majority of Outer Banks attractions are perfect for families. Sure, most people visit the Outer Banks for the beach, but these activities allow you to experience the area in a whole new way. Go on tours to find the wild horses or see a view of the coastline from the water. Visit museums, monuments and lighthouses to get a taste of the Outer Banks history. Parade through gardens and nature preserves as you and your family find plants and animals that are native to the Outer Banks. Feed animals on farms during the day and check out kid-friendly movies (indoor and out!) in the evening. With a week to do everything, the activities will seem limitless. Check out our listing below of all the Outer Banks family activities that you and everyone in your party can enjoy, and get ready for the fun that awaits you.
Outer Banks Things To Do by Area
Corolla | Duck & Southern Shores | Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head
Roanoke Island & Manteo | Hatteras Island | Ocracoke Island
Outer Banks Things To Do by Category
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
Milltail Road, off U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a more than 164,000-acre refuge on the mainland portion of Dare and Hyde counties. It was established in 1984 to preserve and protect a unique wetland habitat type, the pocosin, and its associated wildlife species. Pocosin is a Native American word meaning ‘swamp-on-a-hill’ and is characterized by poorly drained soils high in organic material. The refuge's diversity of habitat types includes high and low pocosin, bogs, fresh and brackish water marshes, hardwood swamps and Atlantic white cedar swamps. Plant species include pitcher plants and sundews, low bush cranberries, bays, Atlantic white cedar, pond pine, gums, red maple and a wide variety of herbaceous and shrub species common to the East Coast.
The refuge has a large population of black bears and is one of the few locations where red wolves exist in the wild. It is a favorite of migratory ducks, geese and swans, and its wildlife diversity also includes wading birds, shorebirds, American woodcock, raptors, American alligators, white-tailed deer, raccoons, rabbits, quail, river otters and neotropical migrant songbirds. This wild Outer Banks attraction will put you in touch with parts of nature that city-bound people don't often have a chance to experience.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge has great Outer Banks things to do – paddling trails, a wildlife drive and two wildlife trails for you to explore. Hunting and fishing opportunities also exist on the refuge. In non-COVID times the staff offers a variety of interpretive programs at different times of the year, including tram and van tours, canoe tours, red wolf howlings and a program about black bears. Open-air tram tours are offered weekly June through August (a fee and reservations are required). Canoe tours are offered three days a week June through August (fee and reservations required). Red wolf howlings are offered weekly June through August and monthly October, November, December and April and May (a fee is required). Call (252) 216-9464 to see if programs are being held and to find out details and make reservations, or go to the website.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a more than 164,000-acre refuge on the mainland portion of Dare and Hyde counties. It was established in 1984 to...read more
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a more than 164,000-acre refuge on the mainland portion...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
3105 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 5.5, Kill Devil Hills
AR Workshop is a national boutique DIY workshop franchise, and now there's a location in Kill Devil Hills. They offer instructor-led workshop classes, DIY to-go kits and events where you can make hands-on projects with a group for a party, fundraiser, baby shower or corporate event. Workshops are for all skill levels, including kids, and range from $40 to $70 for adult projects to $40 to $45 for kid projects. They provide all the tools, materials, supplies and instruction, and you can bring snacks and drinks if you'd like. Things you can make include wood projects with graphic lettering, wood boxes, custom clocks, frames, pet beds, pillows, door mats, chunky knit throws, wall hangings, holiday crafts, yard games, wedding designs and so much more. If you don't have time for DIY, they can make gifts or home decor for you. The retail boutique stocks home decor items and gifts.
AR Workshop is a national boutique DIY workshop franchise, and now there's a location in Kill Devil Hills. They offer instructor-led workshop classes, DIY...read more
AR Workshop is a national boutique DIY workshop franchise, and now there's a location in...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
817 B Ocean Trail, N.C. Highway 12, Corolla
Back Beach Wild Horse Tours' highly trained staff has a great reputation for being entertaining and informative. Their tours last two hours and incorporate quite a bit of local history to complement the sightseeing while showering you with interesting lore. In the four-wheel-drive area you’ll see the Corolla wild horses grazing in their natural habitat and the occasional deer and surfing dolphins. Back Beach tours are given in safari-style, open-air vehicles for a one-of-a-kind Outer Banks activity. They can accommodate large groups of up to 15 people. Call for details and reservations.
Back Beach Wild Horse Tours' highly trained staff has a great reputation for being entertaining and informative. Their tours last two hours and...read more
Back Beach Wild Horse Tours' highly trained staff has a great reputation for being entertaining and...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
Meet at Corolla Light Town Center, 1159 Austin Street, Corolla
Scott Trabue’s Wild Horse Safari is an off-road eco-adventure that will deliver you and your family directly to the wild Spanish mustangs that have thrived on the northern Outer Banks for nearly 500 years. Your naturalist guide will carry you in custom open-air Safari Cruisers through 30 miles of beaches, dune and back-country sand lanes to discover the Outer Banks’ unique wildlife. Shore life including pelicans, dolphins and osprey are almost always present. You will hear stories about the Ghost Fleet and Outer Banks maritime history and learn about the mysterious petrified forest. Back Country Outfitters has exclusive access to the Spanish Mustang Preserve, where sightings of these regal wild horses are guaranteed, while your tour guide explains their Spanish Colonial heritage and the local preservation efforts. Reservations are required.
Scott Trabue’s Wild Horse Safari is an off-road eco-adventure that will deliver you and your family directly to the wild Spanish mustangs that have thrived...read more
Scott Trabue’s Wild Horse Safari is an off-road eco-adventure that will deliver you and your...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
817-B Ocean Trail, Corolla
Bob White is a legend in the horse-tour business. He and his highly trained staff have been offering tours since 1996, and they have a reputation for being both entertaining and informative. Bob’s tours last two hours and incorporate quite a bit of local history and interesting lore to complement the sightseeing. In the four-wheel-drive area, you’ll see the horses grazing in their natural habitat, often along with the sight of dolphins in the ocean. All tours are given in safari-style, open-air vehicles for a one-of-a-kind experience, and they can accommodate large groups of as many as 15 people. Call for details and reservations.
Bob White is a legend in the horse-tour business. He and his highly trained staff have been offering tours since 1996, and they have a reputation for...read more
Bob White is a legend in the horse-tour business. He and his highly trained staff have...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
8568 B Caratoke Highway, Harbinger
E-bikes are not only a fun way to explore the Outer Banks, but also a convenient and inexpensive way to get around without getting caught up in summer traffic or paying high gas prices. E-bikes make it easy to get to the beach, restaurants and attractions quickly, without wearing yourself out in the process. Carolina Shores E-Bikes OBX offers daily rentals, two-day rentals and weekly rentals of either premium E-bikes or traditional beach cruisers, and best of all, they offer free delivery and pickup. The E-bikes can travel at speeds of up to 20 to 25 mph and have a range of 25 to 50 miles, depending on how much you pedal along with the electric motor. Carolina Shores also sells E-bikes and traditional bikes and offers parts, accessories, service and repair. They deliver from Corolla through Nags Head and Roanoke Island.
E-bikes are not only a fun way to explore the Outer Banks, but also a convenient and inexpensive way to get around without getting caught up in summer...read more
E-bikes are not only a fun way to explore the Outer Banks, but also a...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
23645 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station is the nation’s largest and most complete existing example of the life-saving stations that were built along the Atlantic coast in the late 19th century to attend to shipwrecks and to rescue survivors. The 1874 Station was the first operational U.S. Life-Saving Service station built in North Carolina, serving until 1954. Chicamacomico has been partially restored, thanks to numerous volunteers who formed a nonprofit organization to save it, and it is now a fine museum and historic site; all structures are original buildings.
On a visit here you’ll see the 1874 Station, the 1911 Station, two cookhouses, water tanks and a cistern, a stable, a tractor shed, the smaller boathouse and a village home built in 1907. In the museum, you’ll learn about the U.S. Life-Saving Service Station and some of the rescues that occurred here. Artifacts, uniforms, rescue equipment, displays, video presentations and self-guided tours help complete your knowledge of place and history. These stations have many stories to tell. Life-Saving crews at Chicamacomico performed many daring rescues, including one of the greatest rescues of WWI, that of the British tanker Mirlo in 1918. When the Mirlo was sunk by the German submarine U-117, Chicamacomico’s crew rescued 42 of 51 British sailors. The gift shop is full of unique nautical items and works by local craftspeople plus books and old-fashioned toys.
The historic breeches buoy demonstration is held every Thursday at 2 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The 100th anniversary of the Mirlo rescue was commemorated on August 16, 2018, with a centennial event.
Check their website for special program information, admission fees and hours of operation and to see what is happening on any given day. Chicamacomico is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit raising all of its own funds; it has no federal, state or other budget.
The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station is the nation’s largest and most complete existing example of the life-saving stations that were built along the...read more
The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station is the nation’s largest and most complete existing example of the...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
1446 Duck Road, North Duck Watersports, Duck
Soar high with Corolla & Duck Parasail's licensed, 100-Ton Master Captain owner-operators. They are based in northern Duck, conveniently serving customers from both Duck and Corolla. Enjoy the boat ride and the view from the comfort and style of their top-of-the-line Ocean Pro (vessel designed specifically for parasailing) with their veteran captain and crew. Professional, friendly and parasail-obsessed, Corolla & Duck Parasail leaves you with an unforgettable, high-flying experience.
Soar high with Corolla & Duck Parasail's licensed, 100-Ton Master Captain owner-operators. They are based in northern Duck, conveniently serving...read more
Soar high with Corolla & Duck Parasail's licensed, 100-Ton Master Captain owner-operators. They are based...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
1130E Corolla Village Road, Corolla
Corolla Wild Horse Fund's museum, gift shop and offices are located in Historic Corolla Village. Visit them to discover the fascinating history and legacy of the Banker strain of Colonial Spanish Mustangs. Mustangs were brought to the Outer Banks nearly 500 years ago and their descendants are still with us today, although this hardy, majestic breed is now highly endangered. The whole family can learn about the horses and their cultural significance by visiting the Fund's new exhibit and speaking with their knowledgeable staff. Donations are accepted and benefit the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, managers of the wild herd. All proceeds from the Corolla Wild Horse Fund gift shop also benefit the Fund and the wild horses. The Fund has a Porch Pick-Up program so you can shop online and pick up your merchandise on the porch.
Open all year, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund also offers special programming, especially in the summer. Activities include a weekly event called Mustang Mornings in which their rehabilitation facility at the Betsy Dowdy Equine Center in Grandy will be open for visitors to see the rescued mustangs under the Fund's care and the work that they do with them. It's an opportunity to get an inside look at things and perhaps meet a horse you've heard much about. There are also Meet a Mustang events at various locations and times throughout the summer where visitors can see and pet a tamed and gentled mustang as well as Paint a Mustang events using wooden horses in various sizes. For current information on hours of operation and the scheduling of any of these events, see the Fund's website and Facebook page. All events are subject to cancellation.
Corolla Wild Horse Fund's museum, gift shop and offices are located in Historic Corolla Village. Visit them to discover the fascinating history and legacy...read more
Corolla Wild Horse Fund's museum, gift shop and offices are located in Historic Corolla Village....read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
1159 F Austin Street, Corolla
Corolla Wild Horse Tours has been guiding tours to Corolla’s horse country – the four-wheel-drive-only beaches north of Corolla – since 1996. With these experienced and knowledgeable guides, you can sit back and enjoy a comfortable, family-oriented tour. This company uses 15-passenger, open-air safari-style trucks that are safe for any age, including kids in car seats. Along the trip, your guide will tell you about the history of Corolla and the horses as well as point out all the wonders of nature. The guides have a reputation of being quite entertaining. The two-hour tours, which cover about 25 miles of off-road area, run all day long until sunset.
Corolla Wild Horse Tours has been guiding tours to Corolla’s horse country – the four-wheel-drive-only beaches north of Corolla – since 1996. With...read more
Corolla Wild Horse Tours has been guiding tours to Corolla’s horse country – the four-wheel-drive-only beaches...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
1101 Corolla Village Road, Corolla
The red-brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse towers above the Historic Corolla Village. Visitors to this Outer Banks attraction can climb the winding staircase, 220 steps in all, to the top of the lighthouse for a panoramic view of Currituck Sound, the Atlantic Ocean and the Currituck Outer Banks. Inside the lighthouse, at the base and on the first two landings, there are museum-quality lighthouse exhibits. On the way up or down, stop to learn about the history of coastal lighthouses, the Fresnel lens, shipwrecks and the lighthouse keepers.
The 162-foot lighthouse was first lit on December 1, 1875. Onsite keepers, who lived in homes at the base of the lighthouse, operated the lighthouse until it was automated in 1937. With automation, the lighthouse no longer required a regular keeper. The lighthouse and its outbuildings fell into disrepair for decades until a nonprofit group called Outer Banks Conservationists, Inc. (OBC) stepped in to save the site in 1980. OBC renovated the keepers’ buildings to re-create their past glories and restored the lighthouse to make it safe to climb. In July 2003 The U.S. Department of the Interior awarded OBC ownership of the lighthouse.
It costs only $10 to climb the lighthouse. Payment conveys an understanding and acceptance of the lighthouse's posted waiver of liability (the tower construction predates modern building codes and safety regulations). Children must be 4 years old to climb, and children ages 4 to 12 years old must have adult supervision. Parents or guardians must sign a waiver for children ages 13 to 17 to climb alone. Children younger than 4 may enter free but only if in a carrier. Visitors stand in line to pay admission outside the lighthouse. The lighthouse is open daily from mid-March through December 1. Climbing hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. During extreme weather, the lighthouse is closed to climbing. Parking is free. Leashed dogs welcome on the grounds.
The nearby Double Keepers’ House is used as a private residence, but it makes for great photographs. You can go inside the small Keeper’s House, moved to the site in 1920 from Long Point Light Station in the Currituck Sound, which is now a Museum Shop and stocks everything lighthouse-related you could ever imagine. T-shirts, hats, books, postcards, blankets, taffy, ornaments, jewelry, magnets, figurines and more fill this former keeper’s residence.
The red-brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse towers above the Historic Corolla Village. Visitors to this Outer Banks attraction can climb the winding staircase...read more
The red-brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse towers above the Historic Corolla Village. Visitors to this Outer...read more
Outer Banks Child & Family Oriented
Be sure to visit the Duck Town Park and Boardwalk. This fabulous 11-acre soundside green space is tucked inside the Village of Duck. The soundside boardwalk extends nearly a mile along the Currituck Sound and connects the town’s commercial village area. Park amenities include an amphitheater, the Town Green, a playground, a public kayak/canoe launch, a crabbing area, a picnic shelter, walking trails through the maritime forest and accesses to the Duck Boardwalk. The park is pet-friendly and even provides a doggie water fountain near the playground area. Free, family-friendly activities are held here year-round. The Duck Jazz Festival takes place each October, and other seasonal events are held throughout the year. For a complete, up-to-the-minute list of events happening in Duck Town Park, go to OuterBanksThisWeek.com, visit townofduck.com or or check them out on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Be sure to visit the Duck Town Park and Boardwalk. This fabulous 11-acre soundside green space is tucked inside the Village of Duck. The soundside boardwalk...read more
Be sure to visit the Duck Town Park and Boardwalk. This fabulous 11-acre soundside green...read more