Outer Banks Things To Do

The place to be in Nags Head during the summer season, Jennette’s Pier offers anglers a wide variety of fish to target while sightseers can watch brown pelicans overhead and bottlenose dolphins swimming in the sea. The pier is surrounded by wide, clean public beaches, free parking and a bathhouse, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from near and far. Owned and operated by the N.C. Aquariums, this state-of-the-art facility includes large aquariums in its pier house alongside educational exhibits, restrooms and a remodeled Pier Shop. There, visitors can find Jennette’s Pier t-shirts, hats, visors and plushies. Anglers can also find everything they need for a day of fishing, including different types of rod and reel combos, bait and tackle. Ice-cold drinks, snacks and souvenir items are also available in the gift shop.

The Pier property serves as a frequent venue for community events, and the upstairs Oceanview Hall is available to book for wedding receptions.

Education is a strong suit of Jennette’s Pier. The pier has emerged as a must-see place for schools to visit on the coast. In the past decade, they’ve averaged around 8,000 to 10,000 North Carolina students a year. They host school groups on field trips, offer week-long summer camps and teach Family Fishing – a rundown on the angling essentials – for $20. Check out the Surfside Classroom, or sign up for Family Fishing offered weekdays all summer at 9 a.m. Pier staff also keep busy with two important conservation organizations – the OBX Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the Responsible Pier Initiative, which promises to help protect sea turtles.

The pier has a blanket license for all anglers, so if you don’t have a fishing license, you’re covered. A daily Fishing Pass costs $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and younger. A three-day Adult Pass costs $42, and a three-day Child Pass costs $28. A seven-day Adult Pass is $95, and a seven-day Child Pass is $65 (ages 12 and younger). Walk-on passes cost $2. Rods can be rented by the day for $12. Ask about prices for annual passes, family passes and pin rig passes.  

For more information about their events and pier programs, call or see their social media pages. Jennette’s is open year-round except on Thanksgiving and Christmas days. In season, from May through October, their hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Off-season hours vary, so call ahead.

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.

Manteo, the only incorporated town on Roanoke Island and the Dare County seat, is a small island town complete with a picturesque waterfront, a safe harbor, welcoming docks and a charming downtown historic area. 

Manteo’s waterfront downtown is an attraction in itself, with shops, art galleries, eateries, a lighthouse, a maritime museum, a waterfront boardwalk, a park and children's playground and boats sitting in the harbor of Shallowbag Bay. It’s also the home of Roanoke Island Festival Park, one of the Outer Banks’ most popular attractions. The Manteo historic district is full of restored homes and bed and breakfast inns that make for great sightseeing or overnight stays. It is perfect for exploring on foot or by bicycle. Park the car and walk around; the town is quite pedestrian friendly. 

The main corridor of Manteo is U.S. Highway 64. This road is lined with shops, galleries, restaurants, service businesses and places to stay. A bicycle/multi-use path runs parallel to U.S. Highway 64 for the northern half of this picturesque island. If you have a bicycle handy, we highly recommend using this path to explore Roanoke Island. The path ends at a beautiful soundfront park and beach. Also on the island are the attractions of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, The Lost Colony’s Waterside Theatre, The Elizabethan Gardens, North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center, Island Farm and the fishing village of Wanchese.

With tons of rentals and activities, a surf boutique and great restaurant onsite, Nor’Banks offers one-stop shopping for all the best of the Outer Banks. Nor’Banks' friendly staff, professional service, modern equipment and gorgeous location make it the ideal destination for watersports. Offering Jet Ski rentals and tours, parasailing, tubing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, kayaking, paddleboarding, pontoon boats, sailboat rentals and private sailing instruction, Nor’Banks truly has something for everyone. Their gorgeous soundside facility has plenty of parking, changing rooms, restrooms and showers for your comfort and convenience. The surf shop and boutique is curated with great gear and apparel, including hard-to-find brands handpicked by the crew of outdoor living. Check out the selection of surfboards from local shapers, polarized sunglasses from Raen and Nectar and sustainably minded apparel and gear from brands like Carve, Vissla, Topo and Nomadix. Be sure to check out Surfer Girl, their new luxury 38’ Maine Cat catamaran available for private cruises for up to 15 passengers. Enjoy your favorite beverages with their highly experienced crew at the helm. Book in advance with their online reservation system to enjoy expedited checkout upon arrival, and be sure to stick around for live music and a drink at the waterfront bar.

Bowl, rent shoes, book parties and play billiards at OBX Bowling. Enjoy their arcade with classic games like skee ball, air hockey, Deal or No Deal and much more. There are automatic bumpers on the bowling lanes for the kids age 11 and younger. Try your hand at glowing disco bowling under neon lights on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Group rates are available upon request. Beer and soft drinks are available. The snack bar offers sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, pizza and fried food.