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
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
The Town of Kitty Hawk's dog park features two fenced dog areas, one for larger dogs and one for smaller dogs. There's also a water fountain for the dogs. A...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
Take your family on a horseback riding journey on the beach or in Buxton Woods. Lighthouse Horse Rides offers something for everyone, from walks on the...read more
A great place to stroll and pass some time is the boardwalk that winds along most of the Manteo waterfront. One end is quiet, with benches that look out...read more
This 2-mile walkway and boarwalk extends from the Dare County Government Complex in Manteo to the Coastal Studies Institute in Skyco, meandering through...read more
Miss Hatteras, a 75-foot head boat, makes daily trips in season to the fishing grounds, with individuals paying a per-person fee to go along. All...read more
The Monument to a Century of Flight was dedicated in November of 2003, just before the First Flight Centennial “in celebration of the soaring of the human...read more
A monument at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras honors Hotel De Afrique, the first safe haven for African Americans during the Civil War. The...read more
Coast Guard certified Captain Devin Clark is an Outer Banks native who has been working on the water as a commercial fisherman and charter boat mate since...read more
A beautiful place for hiking, trail running and birding, Nags Head Woods Preserve is one of the best remaining examples of a mid-Atlantic maritime forest....read more
If you want to enjoy a beach bonfire without all the work of setting it up and breaking it down, call Ocracoke Beach Fires. They handle everything, so all...read more
