Outer Banks Shopping

Celebrating more than 35 years as an Outer Banks shopping mecca, Birthday Suits is a favorite for swimwear – in fact, it’s been voted Best on the Beach for swimsuits for more than 10 years in local polls. Women's swimsuits are the specialty here – the latest styles for all ages, mix-and-match separates, bra-sized swimwear and mastectomy suits – but they also sell suits for kids and men. For kids there’s everything from swim diapers and toddler suits to board shorts and competition swimwear in sizes infant to preteen. Men will find surf trunks, board shorts and briefs from sizes 28 to 4X large. Don’t forget the sun-protective rash guards for kids and adults. Birthday Suits is a clothing store, too, with designer and California surf brands, sportswear, shoes and beach-inspired accessories like sunglasses, flip flops, hats, jewelry and purses. Love the OBX logo? You’ll find original OBX brand accessories and clothing here. The flagship store is on the Bypass in Kill Devil Hills.

Celebrating more than 35 years as an Outer Banks shopping mecca, Birthday Suits is a favorite for swimwear – in fact, it’s been voted Best on the Beach for swimsuits for more than 10 years in local polls. Women's swimsuits are the specialty here – the latest styles for all ages, mix-and-match separates, bra-sized swimwear and mastectomy suits – but they also sell suits for kids and men. For kids there’s everything from swim diapers and toddler suits to board shorts and competition swimwear in sizes infant to preteen. Men will find surf trunks, board shorts and briefs from sizes 28 to 4X large. Don’t forget the sun-protective rash guards for kids and adults. Birthday Suits is a clothing store, too, with designer and California surf brands, sportswear, shoes and beach-inspired accessories like sunglasses, flip flops, hats, jewelry and purses. Love the OBX logo? You’ll find original OBX brand accessories and clothing here. The flagship store is on the Bypass in Kill Devil Hills.

In a charming restored 1950s Hatteras cottage, Blue Pelican Gallery offers an eclectic mix of artwork, most of it local. Owner/artist Jennifer Johnson is a native Hatteras Islander, and her photography reflects her love of the area. She also has several lines of locally handcrafted jewelry like her own ocean-inspired resin pendant necklaces and glass-beaded jewelry. Blue Pelican is also home to an ever-changing assortment of gifts and artwork from other local, regional, North Carolina and American artists and artisans, including laser-cut and engraved seasonal and wall decor. Hatteras Island's only local yarn shop is two colorful rooms chock full of yarn, notions, needles and hooks, and you can even find spinning, weaving and felting supplies here. Blue Pelican also offers a fun selection of upcycled art pieces. They offer online shopping on their website. Look for this gallery in the heart of Hatteras.

The Cotton Gin has been a coastal shopping tradition for more than 50 years. The original Cotton Gin has stood in the same location in Jarvisburg since 1929, starting as a working cotton gin and growing into a gift store with four locations. The store's primary location in Jarvisburg currently is being rebuilt following a fire, but there's a Pop-Up location nearby in the meantime. The Cotton Gin's other locations in Corolla, Duck and Nags Head offer visitors the same unique shopping experience that the establishment is known for. You’ll find resort fashion for men and women from fine designers like Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide, Habitat and Simply Southern. Other top accessory designers include Pandora, Vera Bradley and Spartina 449. They also offer home fashions, candles, books, garden accessories and products for the gourmet kitchen. The Cotton Gin stores also sell the wines of their sister business, Sanctuary Vineyards. In-store tastings of their many locally grown wine varieties are available.

The Cotton Gin has been a coastal shopping tradition for more than 50 years. The original Cotton Gin has stood in the same location in Jarvisburg since 1929, starting as a working cotton gin and growing into a gift store with four locations. The store's primary location in Jarvisburg currently is being rebuilt following a fire, but there's a Pop-Up location nearby in the meantime. The Cotton Gin's other locations in Corolla, Duck and Nags Head offer visitors the same unique shopping experience that the establishment is known for. You’ll find resort fashion for men and women from fine designers like Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide, Habitat and Simply Southern. Other top accessory designers include Pandora, Vera Bradley and Spartina 449. They also offer home fashions, candles, books, garden accessories and products for the gourmet kitchen. The Cotton Gin stores also sell the wines of their sister business, Sanctuary Vineyards. In-store tastings of their many locally grown wine varieties are available.

Fig Tree Bakery & Deli serves breakfast and lunch menu items that offer choices for every craving. Breakfast combinations are available on biscuits, bagels and English muffins. Deli sandwiches and wraps are made to order, as are salads with fresh ingredients. Enjoy breakfast or lunch under the umbrellas on the outdoor seating area or grab and go on the way to the beach or ferry. You'll find it hard to resist. Sweettooth offers a variety of ice cream, candies, pastries, desserts and coffees. They're known for their traditional Ocracoke Fig Cake as well as a large selection of homemade fudge to choose from.

Hatteras Island Boardsports has more than 5,000 square feet packed with swimwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and kids. Some brand names you’ll find here include Billabong, Quiksilver, Volcom, Roxy, O’Neill, Rip Curl and Katin, along with surfboards by Sharp Eye, Channel Island and Catch Surf. If you need new sunglasses, Hatteras Island Boardsports has hundreds of styles from Costa, Oakley, Electric, Ray-Ban and more. They also feature a great selection of Cape Hatteras t-shirts and gifts. Their shop rents surfboards, paddleboards, bodyboards, skimboards, kayaks and wetsuits, and delivery is available. They offer group or private surfing lessons too. Find them across the street from the Koru Beach Klub and the Avon Pier right on N.C. Highway 12.

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive selection of kites, flags and spinners, toys, apparel, gifts and games on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites specializes in kites, from the single-lines for kids to high-tech stunt varieties. The stores also sell fun outdoor goodies such as flags, toys, boomerangs and games. You’ll find a wide selection of Outer Banks gear, beach sportswear and footwear from Crocs, Chaco, Hey Dude, Southern Fried and Life is Good apparel, t-shirts, sweatshirts, outdoor clothing, sunglasses and more. Kitty Hawk Kites also offers a number of adventure activities including hang gliding, kayak and SUP tours, lessons and rentals, parasailing, Jet Skis, dolphin tours, wild horse tours, historic tours and much more. The brand-new Whalebone Watersports Center on the Nags Head Causeway offers kayak fishing, Jet Skis, pontoon boat rentals and more. At Kitty Hawk Kites' Waves Village Watersports in Rodanthe, you can learn kiteboarding; buy and rent kiteboarding gear; rent a kayak, surfboard or standup paddleboard or climb the adventure tower/ropes course. Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School at Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head offers private lessons, beginner lessons, advanced lessons and training packages for hang gliding, as well as retail merchandise and sand boards available for rent.

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive selection of kites, flags and spinners, toys, apparel, gifts and games on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites specializes in kites, from the single-lines for kids to high-tech stunt varieties. The stores also sell fun outdoor goodies such as flags, toys, boomerangs and games. You’ll find a wide selection of Outer Banks gear, beach sportswear and footwear from Crocs, Chaco, Hey Dude, Southern Fried and Life is Good apparel, t-shirts, sweatshirts, outdoor clothing, sunglasses and more. Kitty Hawk Kites also offers a number of adventure activities including hang gliding, kayak and SUP tours, lessons and rentals, parasailing, Jet Skis, dolphin tours, wild horse tours, historic tours and much more. The brand-new Whalebone Watersports Center on the Nags Head Causeway offers kayak fishing, Jet Skis, pontoon boat rentals and more. At Kitty Hawk Kites' Waves Village Watersports in Rodanthe, you can learn kiteboarding; buy and rent kiteboarding gear; rent a kayak, surfboard or standup paddleboard or climb the adventure tower/ropes course. Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School at Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head offers private lessons, beginner lessons, advanced lessons and training packages for hang gliding, as well as retail merchandise and sand boards available for rent.

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive selection of kites, flags and spinners, toys, apparel, gifts and games on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites specializes in kites, from the single-lines for kids to high-tech stunt varieties. The stores also sell fun outdoor goodies such as flags, toys, boomerangs and games. You’ll find a wide selection of Outer Banks gear, beach sportswear and footwear from Crocs, Chaco, Hey Dude, Southern Fried and Life is Good apparel, t-shirts, sweatshirts, outdoor clothing, sunglasses and more. Kitty Hawk Kites also offers a number of adventure activities including hang gliding, kayak and SUP tours, lessons and rentals, parasailing, Jet Skis, dolphin tours, wild horse tours, historic tours and much more. The brand-new Whalebone Watersports Center on the Nags Head Causeway offers kayak fishing, Jet Skis, pontoon boat rentals and more. At Kitty Hawk Kites' Waves Village Watersports in Rodanthe, you can learn kiteboarding; buy and rent kiteboarding gear; rent a kayak, surfboard or standup paddleboard or climb the adventure tower/ropes course. Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School at Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head offers private lessons, beginner lessons, advanced lessons and training packages for hang gliding, as well as retail merchandise and sand boards available for rent.

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive selection of kites, flags and spinners, toys, apparel, gifts and games on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites specializes in kites, from the single-lines for kids to high-tech stunt varieties. The stores also sell fun outdoor goodies such as flags, toys, boomerangs and games. You’ll find a wide selection of Outer Banks gear, beach sportswear and footwear from Crocs, Chaco, Hey Dude, Southern Fried and Life is Good apparel, t-shirts, sweatshirts, outdoor clothing, sunglasses and more. Kitty Hawk Kites also offers a number of adventure activities including hang gliding, kayak and SUP tours, lessons and rentals, parasailing, Jet Skis, dolphin tours, wild horse tours, historic tours and much more. The brand-new Whalebone Watersports Center on the Nags Head Causeway offers kayak fishing, Jet Skis, pontoon boat rentals and more. At Kitty Hawk Kites' Waves Village Watersports in Rodanthe, you can learn kiteboarding; buy and rent kiteboarding gear; rent a kayak, surfboard or standup paddleboard or climb the adventure tower/ropes course. Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School at Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head offers private lessons, beginner lessons, advanced lessons and training packages for hang gliding, as well as retail merchandise and sand boards available for rent.

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive selection of kites, flags and spinners, toys, apparel, gifts and games on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites specializes in kites, from the single-lines for kids to high-tech stunt varieties. The stores also sell fun outdoor goodies such as flags, toys, boomerangs and games. You’ll find a wide selection of Outer Banks gear, beach sportswear and footwear from Crocs, Chaco, Hey Dude, Southern Fried and Life is Good apparel, t-shirts, sweatshirts, outdoor clothing, sunglasses and more. Kitty Hawk Kites also offers a number of adventure activities including hang gliding, kayak and SUP tours, lessons and rentals, parasailing, Jet Skis, dolphin tours, wild horse tours, historic tours and much more. The brand-new Whalebone Watersports Center on the Nags Head Causeway offers kayak fishing, Jet Skis, pontoon boat rentals and more. At Kitty Hawk Kites' Waves Village Watersports in Rodanthe, you can learn kiteboarding; buy and rent kiteboarding gear; rent a kayak, surfboard or standup paddleboard or climb the adventure tower/ropes course. Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School at Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head offers private lessons, beginner lessons, advanced lessons and training packages for hang gliding, as well as retail merchandise and sand boards available for rent.

Ready for some action? Kitty Hawk Surf Co. has everything you need to enjoy all the Outer Banks has to offer, from the wind and waves to flat water adventures. At Kitty Hawk Surf Co., you can find a huge selection of new and used kayaks, kayaking gear and equipment, standup paddleboards, surfboards, Zap skim boards, wetsuits and more. You can also find top selections of surfwear, sportswear and footwear brands including Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Billabong, Hurley, Volcom, Roxy, Vissla, Reef, Patagonia and many others. As the only Outer Banks Hobie Kayak retailer, Kitty Hawk Surf Co. can also help you out with your kayak fishing needs, whether you need to buy or rent a kayak or pick up simple accessories for your excursion. They even offer kayak fishing charters, in which knowledgeable guides help you catch red drum, speckled trout, flounder and more. 

Ready for some action? Kitty Hawk Surf Co. has everything you need to enjoy all the Outer Banks has to offer, from the wind and waves to flat water adventures. At Kitty Hawk Surf Co., you can find a huge selection of new and used kayaks, kayaking gear and equipment, standup paddleboards, surfboards, Zap skim boards, wetsuits and more. You can also find top selections of surfwear, sportswear and footwear brands including Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Billabong, Hurley, Volcom, Roxy, Vissla, Reef, Patagonia and many others. As the only Outer Banks Hobie Kayak retailer, Kitty Hawk Surf Co. can also help you out with your kayak fishing needs, whether you need to buy or rent a kayak or pick up simple accessories for your excursion. They even offer kayak fishing charters, in which knowledgeable guides help you catch red drum, speckled trout, flounder and more. 

Ready for some action? Kitty Hawk Surf Co. has everything you need to enjoy all the Outer Banks has to offer, from the wind and waves to flat water adventures. At Kitty Hawk Surf Co., you can find a huge selection of new and used kayaks, kayaking gear and equipment, standup paddleboards, surfboards, Zap skim boards, wetsuits and more. You can also find top selections of surfwear, sportswear and footwear brands including Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Billabong, Hurley, Volcom, Roxy, Vissla, Reef, Patagonia and many others. As the only Outer Banks Hobie Kayak retailer, Kitty Hawk Surf Co. can also help you out with your kayak fishing needs, whether you need to buy or rent a kayak or pick up simple accessories for your excursion. They even offer kayak fishing charters, in which knowledgeable guides help you catch red drum, speckled trout, flounder and more. 

Escape the ordinary and surround yourself with luxury at this longtime favorite specialty shop in downtown Manteo. For the chic woman who likes to look simply elegant whether she's in the city or a relaxed location like the Outer Banks, Nest offers high-quality luxury lifestyle clothing brands like CP Shades, Frank & Eileen, Juliet Dunn and Wilt, along with pants by Equestrian, which Nest owner Nancy Seitz promises will be the best pants you've ever worn. Nest also offers everything you need to put together that stunning, effortless look, including distinctive artisan jewelry, cashmere by White + Warren, chic straw hats by Flora Bella and Lola and handbags imported from France. The shop smells so heavenly that you'll certainly want to treat yourself to one or more of the lush fragrances, soaps and personal care products imported from Portugal, Italy and France. Part of the shop is dedicated to home goods and table-top accessories, including block-print table linens from India. You'll swoon over this curated mix of goods so make some time for lingering.

For a peek into Ocracoke’s past, visit Ocracoke Preservation Society’s Museum. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to preserving the island’s history and cultural heritage and to protecting its environment. Housed in the turn-of-the-century home of Coast Guard Capt. David Williams, the museum lets visitors glimpse island life in the early to mid-1900s. Many of the architectural elements are intact, and a bedroom, living room and kitchen are decorated with period furnishings donated by island families. The museum has photographs, artifacts and exhibits that pertain to island life and culture. A favorite is a video on the Ocracoke brogue. The museum also houses special rotating exhibits and a gift shop. Upstairs is a small research library that can be used by appointment. In the yard of the museum you can find outdoor exhibits including an old-style cistern and the traditional fishing boat, Blanche, circa 1934. During the summer, OPS hosts free porch talks with a variety of islanders sharing their knowledge, stories and history. The museum also offers a mid-week Kids Kraft program for kids. This interactive program is fun and informative and the children leave with a handmade island souvenir. Stop at the OPS gift shop for a schedule of these events. It’s free to visit the museum, though donations are encouraged. It’s open from the end of March through the first week of December.

Outer Banks Boarding Co. is a boardrider's paradise with friendly and knowledgeable staff and a great selection of equipment for surfing, bodyboarding, skateboarding and skimboarding. They rent surfboards of all kinds that are suitable for all skill levels – from the novice soft-top longboard to the board for the seasoned pro looking for the newest in surfboard technology. OBBC also has an in-house expert shaper with more than 40 years of experience for advice on the best board for your individual needs and skill level. They pride themselves on providing great customer service. Follow them on Facebook and outerbanksthisweek.com to get their first-on-the-beach surf report every day in season. OBBC has a huge selection of name-brand surf and streetwear as well as accessories for men, women and children, and don't forget to pick up a local t-shirt or hat with the OBBC logo. Drop in and get stoked!

Start your visit to Manteo at Silver Bonsai Gallery, right along the main highway. Each visit is an opportunity to enter an inspiring world of fine art, fine craft, one-of-a-kind jewelry and stunning bonsai specimens. Owners Ben and Kathryn Stewart began this adventure 24 years ago as a place to feature beautifully handcrafted jewelry, local art and distinctive gifts. It’s also home to their goldsmithing studio, and you will find them and their talented team regularly crafting jewelry from sterling, gold and platinum. Their world-renowned Modern Heirloom® collection, reminiscent of turn-of-the-century jewelry, features hand-engraved detailing and stunning craftsmanship as well as elegant engagement and wedding rings. Named among the nation’s top 25 fine art and craft galleries, Silver Bonsai is a celebration of American-made fine art and craft, including locally and regionally crafted paintings, ceramics, woodwork and glass as well as bonsai trees and supply. The owners and staff look forward to helping you find the perfect treasure.

Spry Creek is one of the highlights of the Historic Corolla Village and is owned by deeply rooted Outer Banker Karen Scarborough Whitfield and her husband, John. In 2004 the couple transformed Karen's father's garage workshop into a charming shop complete with the building's original bay doors and concrete flooring. Customers are drawn to Spry Creek's jewelry selections, including Outer Banks sea glass jewelry, Joan Corbell's authentic shipwreck jewelry, Ron Vick rings and the popular On U collection from Richmond. New in the shop is a selection of quality ladies' apparel. Spry Creek also features local art, Outer Banks Candle Co. candles, a nice selection of North Carolina-made pottery, colorful hand-painted ceramics by Donna Toohey and ceramic house numbers. The shop also offers French table linens, Avalin sweaters made in Brooklyn, NY, stylish sun protection hats by Shihreen, USA-made Solmate socks, French market baskets, wind chimes, handmade soaps – and the list goes on. Be sure to look for Karen’s father’s workbench, which came out of Penny’s Hill Lifesaving Station. Spry Creek is named after a deep-water creek just north of the shop where local fishermen and hunters used to keep their boats and a local crabber still does. 

TW’s Bait and Tackle, located in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, has been locally owned and operated for 40 years. They are the anglers’ landmark destinations for the latest and greatest selection of inshore, offshore, surf and freshwater tackle. Each location is a full-service tackle shop offering quality tackle from top manufacturers such as Penn, Shimano, Daiwa, Z-Man, Berkley Gulp, MirrOlure and Yeti, to name a few. When it comes to bait, TW’s has it covered from lively eels, bloodworms and minnows to fresh mullet and shrimp to a huge selection of frozen fish-catching delicacies. If you love offshore fishing, TW’s also carries Baitmasters ballyhoo, Islander Lures, Fathom and Bluewater Candy. They have fun and functional clothing for the whole family too, including brands such as Huk, Pelagic, Salty Crew, Costa, Avid, Drake, Marshwear, Aftco and Banded. They have a huge selection of Xtratuf boots. There’s a great collection of gifts as well, including Tervis, Swig, Mudpie and Yeti drinkware. TW’s custom t-shirts, sweats, hats and decals have been seen all over the country. TW’s is one-stop shopping for those who love to fish or just look like they do. The shops have a friendly atmosphere and a helpful, experienced staff. Stop by, purchase your license, weigh a fish and share your fishing story.   

Walking to Village Craftsmen is almost as much fun as visiting the store. It's at the end of live-oak covered, historic Howard Street, about a block from the harbor. This gallery, run by island natives since 1970, features exquisite traditional and contemporary American-made crafts. You'll find pottery, blown glass, stained glass, wooden kitchen items, musical instruments, lamps, bells, jewelry in a variety of price ranges, hand-carved birds and much more. While you are there, you can also get information about their Ocracoke Ghost and History Tours.