Nature is perhaps the most enticing feature of the Outer Banks. With the vital role it plays with attractions at the Outer Banks and life today, it should come as no surprise that this natural environment is intertwined with the area’s history. Each Outer Banks town has its signature claims. Corolla Attractions are resplendent with history – the stately Currituck Beach Lighthouse, a historic mansion built in the 1920s, a restored life-saving station and a village center made up of original buildings that have been repurposed as shops, a school, a spa/salon and more. Continue discovering the rich history within Outer Banks attractions farther south with Nags Head Attractions, like the spot of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight. Keep going, and history-lovers find that dreams come true with Roanoke Island Attractions: Check out outdoor performances of The Lost Colony, which enchants patrons with the story of the first attempt of colonization in the New World and the beautiful grounds at Elizabethan Gardens pay tribute to the colonists. Outer Banks attractions at Roanoke Island Festival Park put you in touch with history with an interactive museum, the representative ship Elizabeth II, period actors from the early colony, a Native American village and an outdoor pavilion that hosts musical events.
Go Wild Exploring Outer Banks Attractions
Ponies (a famous Ocracoke Island Attraction), bears, wolves and alligators bring a wild side to the Outer Banks. The Hatteras Attraction of birding in the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge draws visitors from across the country. Then, add to this the fact that you're on islands surrounded by sounds full of dolphin and fish and miles of undeveloped seashore bordering Mother Ocean, and you have a vast bounty of Outer Banks attractions to enliven your experience here.
In addition to being a history haven, Corolla bolsters quite the reputation with its nature-based attractions: a wildlife center, town garden, nature trails and the beloved wild horses.
You’re likely to need more than one visit to take in all that the extraordinary Outer Banks attractions have to offer. Enjoy!
Outer Banks Attractions by Area
Corolla | Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head
Roanoke Island & Manteo | Hatteras Island | Ocracoke Island
Aycock Brown Welcome Center in Kitty Hawk is an excellent stop for planning your Outer Banks vacation. If you’re arriving from the north by way of U.S....read more
When you are driving to the village from the lifeguard beach, look for a large black granite marker on the right side of N.C. Highway 12 just before you...read more
Ocracoke’s beach has attracted increasing national attention as it worked its way up on Dr. Beach’s acclaimed annual list of 10 Best Beaches in the USA; he...read more
Hatteras Village is the offshore fishing capital of the Outer Banks. Big-game marlin fishing began here in the 1930s. To see a blue marlin (one that's been...read more
Pronounced “body,” this horizontally striped lighthouse is on the soundside at the southern end of Bodie Island in Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It re-...read more
On May 11, 1942, about 40 miles south of Ocracoke, a German submarine torpedoed and sank the British vessel HMS Bedfordshire. The 170-foot ship was...read more
This boardwalk cuts through a small portion of swamp forest and brackish marsh. The variety of flora and fauna you’ll see here is astounding. Sweet gum, red...read more
If one thing represents all of Hatteras Island, it has to be the famous black-and-white, spiral-striped Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The lighthouse has...read more
