Outer Banks Things To Do

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.

The Pioneer Theatre represents all that was good about the good old days. Fair prices, perfect hot popcorn, wholesome entertainment and friendly folks are the hallmarks of this theater that dates back to 1918. (The original building burned, and this one was built in 1934, and the theater was fun by the same family for 105 years!) It's hard to believe this Manteo icon could get any better, but new owners in 2023 renovated the theater and livened things up, making The Pioneer even more of a community staple than it already was. Movies, from classics to new releases, run nightly at 7 p.m. but there may be other showtimes or special events so check their website or Facebook page. In addition to movies and films, the theater now hosts live music, comedy shows and other events. They still have the legendary popcorn, pellet ice and candy that everyone loves, and now there's a bar and VIP lounge that will be open for some events. There's also a new garden space next to the theater where events will be held. The theater is available to rent for private events. 

Back Beach Wild Horse Tours' highly trained staff has a great reputation for being entertaining and informative. Their tours last two hours and incorporate quite a bit of local history to complement the sightseeing while showering you with interesting lore. In the four-wheel-drive area you’ll see the Corolla wild horses grazing in their natural habitat and the occasional deer and surfing dolphins. Back Beach tours are given in safari-style, open-air vehicles for a one-of-a-kind Outer Banks activity. They can accommodate large groups of up to 15 people. Call for details and reservations.