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
The National Scenic Byways Program recognizes, protects and promotes America’s most outstanding roadways. With its picturesque lighthouses, rolling sand...read more
In the roundabout at the intersection of Sir Walter Raleigh and Bideford streets, a part of the community's African-American heritage is being preserved and...read more
The refuge’s visitor center, located on the northern end of Hatteras Island about 4 miles south of Oregon Inlet, is a good place to start a Pea Island visit...read more
Portsmouth Island, just across the inlet from Ocracoke Island, is an enchanting place to visit. This uninhabited island is rugged and remote, one of the...read more
Experience a new adventure in an old world at Roanoke Island Festival Park. This 25-acre historic site allows guests of all...read more
Originally a boathouse used to build world-record–holding speedboats, this building has seen a variety of boat-building uses in its day. The building’s...read more
Perched over the water along Manteo’s waterfront boardwalk, the picturesque Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is perfectly suited to the town’s maritime setting....read more
Run Hill is like a mini Jockey's Ridge. It's an active, migrating dune system just like Jockey's Ridge, but it's much smaller - 123 acres instead of 420....read more
Springer’s Point covers about 120 acres of maritime forest, tidal red cedar forest, salt marsh, wet grasslands and soundfront beach bordering Pamlico Sound...read more
The Northern Outer Banks Corolla Visitors Center offers restrooms plus all the visitor information and assistance you'll need for a trip to Corolla and its...read more
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s LEED–certified visitor center is on the north end of Roanoke Island near the entrance to Fort Raleigh National...read more
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, weather observations gathered near Cape Hatteras were important for forecasters all along the East Coast. The...read more
