Outer Banks Outdoor Things To Do

The Outer Banks landscape is a mesmerizing geographic wonder. Climb Jockey’s Ridge to see the Atlantic Ocean to the East, the sound to the West and the variations between thin strips of sand and flat marshland in between. Fortunately for you, Outer Banks outdoor things to do aren’t limited to sunning on the beach and swimming in the ocean. Take advantage of the beautiful landscape by participating in activities that put the warm sun over your head and sea salty air in your lungs. With Outer Banks outdoor activities, you can look for native animals and plants in wooded nature preserves, take vehicle tours to find some wild ponies playing in Corolla, stand over the water on a pier, take a fishing trip with a captain who knows all of the top fishing spots, visit docks to watch boat captains and mates unload the day’s catches, promenade through lovely gardens and take nature-oriented classes at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, the Ocean Center in Avon or the Wildlife Education Center in Corolla. With such a wide selection of activities, you’ll stay busy and entertained. Check out the below listings of Outer Banks outdoor things to do that you can enjoy during your visit to the beach.


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

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
Milltail Road, off U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
(252) 473-1131

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

Back Beach Wild Horse Tours

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
817 B Ocean Trail, N.C. Highway 12, Corolla
(252) 453-6141

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

Back Country Wild Horse Safari Tour

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
Meet at Corolla Light Town Center, 1159 Austin Street, Corolla
(252) 453-0877

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

Bob's Wild Horse Tours

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
817-B Ocean Trail, Corolla
(252) 453-8602

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

Captain Johnny’s Dolphin Tours

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
400 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo Waterfront, Manteo
(252) 473-1475

It’s very exciting to watch bottlenosed dolphins frolicking and rolling through the water. Dolphins live in the sounds and from June through October...read more

It’s very exciting to watch bottlenosed dolphins frolicking and rolling through the water. Dolphins live...read more

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
23645 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-1552

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

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
1130E Corolla Village Road, Corolla
(252) 453-8002

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

Corolla Wild Horse Tours

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
1159 F Austin Street, Corolla
(252) 207-0511

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

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
1101 Corolla Village Road, Corolla
(252) 453-4939

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

Elizabethan Gardens

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
1411 National Park Drive (off U.S. Highway 64) next to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo
(252) 473-3234

Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English colonists, The Elizabethan Gardens is a rare treasure...read more

Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English...read more

First Fridays in Manteo

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
Downtown Manteo, Manteo
(252) 473-5558

First Friday is a family-oriented festival held in downtown Manteo on the first Friday of every month from April through December. From 6 to 8 p.m. ...read more

First Friday is a family-oriented festival held in downtown Manteo on the first Friday of...read more

H2OBX Waterpark

Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
8526 Caratoke Highway, Powells Point
(252) 491-3000

Nothing satisfies your craving for fun like a day at H2OBX Waterpark, located just 3 miles north of Wright Memorial Bridge. Start with that perfect Carolina...read more

Nothing satisfies your craving for fun like a day at H2OBX Waterpark, located just 3...read more