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
If you or your family are looking for a new aerial adventure, this is it. First Flight Adventure Park is a multi-level, self-guided ropes course for all...read more
This national historic site commemorates and preserves the first English attempts at colonization in the New World (1585 to 1587) and helps visitors gain a...read more
The Native American history of Hatteras Island and the Native American culture of our nation are preserved at this must-see museum in Frisco. The building,...read more
At the end of N.C. Highway 12 just past the ferry docks, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum attracts attention with its composite of ship shapes, porthole...read more
Just across from the National Park Service’s Ocracoke Campground, Hammock Hills Nature Trail is a 3/4-mile trail through the island’s maritime forest and...read more
Hatteras Island Ocean Center is an indoor/outdoor nature center that provides a wide variety of interactive educational activities for people of all ages....read more
The Hatteras Island Park Store is located on the grounds of Cape Hatteras Light Station. No visit to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is complete without a stop...read more
This marker is a little hard to find, but it’s worth seeking out. It’s on a grassy patch behind the National Park Service Visitor Center and next to the...read more
Located on Roanoke Island, just five minutes from Manteo, Island Farm is a living history farm centered on the original Etheridge family property, once part...read more
Nags Head is home to the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast. Jockey’s Ridge, currently a series of five dunes, is a natural wonder that’s...read more
Kitty Hawk Woods is a unique environment: a maritime forest, shrub swamp and marsh. Totaling 1,824 acres, the Town of Kitty Hawk owns 461 acres with a...read more
