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
Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
817-B Ocean Trail, Corolla
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 being both entertaining and informative. Bob’s tours last two hours and incorporate quite a bit of local history and interesting lore to complement the sightseeing. In the four-wheel-drive area, you’ll see the horses grazing in their natural habitat, often along with the sight of dolphins in the ocean. All tours are given in safari-style, open-air vehicles for a one-of-a-kind experience, and they can accommodate large groups of as many as 15 people. Call for details and reservations.
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
Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
Ocracoke Civic & Business Association Contributor
Interested in kitesurfing? This is your place on Ocracoke Island. The Sea Monkey Lodge & Kite School owner Keith Croghan is the ambassador of kiting on the island and gladly shares his love of the island and sport. With more than 15 years of experience teaching kite-surfing lessons, Keith operates the island's only kite school for all levels from beginners to advanced riders looking to enhance their skills and experience some of Ocracoke’s truly world-class kiting conditions and scenery. Beginner lessons are held in the safe, shallow, calm waters of the Pamlico Sound. For more advanced riders, Keith facilitates downwinders and excursions as well as tricks and wave-riding clinics. Want to graduate from the sound to the surf? This is the place! The guided downwinders are truly hidden gems through some of the island’s more hard-to-reach and untouched places. Keith also offers multi-day kite camps for all levels as well as sailing lessons on 15’ daysailers.
Keith operates a boutique kite lodge and budding permaculture ranch. The guest house, a perfect base for all your adventures, serves as the center for like-minded windsports and watersports enthusiasts. The lodge offers accommodations for larger groups but also welcomes solo travelers, with options of booking the whole property for your group, private rooms or even the occasional van/tent/coach camper. Tucked away on a quiet creek with plenty of shade and a well-provisioned kitchen, it’s got everything you need and is centrally located within walking distance to shops, bars and restaurants.
Interested in kitesurfing? This is your place on Ocracoke Island. The Sea Monkey Lodge & Kite School owner Keith Croghan is the ambassador of kiting on...read more
Interested in kitesurfing? This is your place on Ocracoke Island. The Sea Monkey Lodge &...read more
Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
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
Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
For a chance to see the offshore boats unloading the day’s deep-sea catches, head down to one of the Hatteras Village marinas between 3:30 and 5 p.m. When...read more
Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
Designated in 1991 as North Carolina’s first Historic Shipwreck Preserve, the USS Huron lies 250 yards from the beach. During the summer, buoys may...read more
Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
Whalehead is an historic house museum on the northern Outer Banks. The grand residence, dressed in bold yellow and striking copper, stands on a vast green...read more
Outer Banks Nature & Outdoor Oriented
Wright Brothers National Memorial commemorates two ingenious brothers from Dayton, Ohio, who, in 1900, chose the sparsely populated area known as the Outer...read more
