The monument commemorating Orville and Wilbur Wright’s historic airplane flight towers under the afternoon sun in the Outer Banks town of Kill Devil Hills, NC. Click the icon in the lower righthand corner of the player to expand the video.
North Carolina’s Outer Banks are loaded with maritime history, scenic coastal views, and outdoor activities. This is my list of what to do in the islands.
Extending over 100 miles along the coast of North Carolina, the Outer Banks have been a place of mystery and adventure for centuries. The barrier islands’ rich history includes the Lost Colony of Roanoke, the last hideout of the notorious buccaneer Blackbeard, and the site of the world’s first successful powered airplane flight. Today, OBX (as the islands are popularly abbreviated) are a signature destination for surfing, fishing, and coastal road trips. From sunsets on the sounds to camping seaside at Cape Lookout, this is my list of the top things to do in the Outer Banks.
1. Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial
From the perspective of travel, there’s perhaps no day that was more monumental than December 17, 1903. After years of research and development, Orville and Wilbur Wright, the legendary brothers from Dayton, Ohio, launched the first successful powered flight in what was then a part of the village of Kitty Hawk. The ripple effect of their achievement has been nothing short of seismic: Every jet trail crisscrossing the sky leads back historically to the brothers’ seminal moment in OBX.
Shown in my video above, the towering Wright Brothers National Memorial stands in the modern-day town of Kill Devil Hills. The site, which is managed by the National Park Service, is open every day but Christmas from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. It costs $10 USD per adult ticket (16 and older) and is free for children. There’s also a museum and gift shop on the grounds.
2. Investigate the Lost Colony of Roanoke
It’s a confounding mystery that’s taught in virtually every high school American history class: In 1587, Queen Elizabeth I dispatched 117 men, women, and children to Roanoke Island, forming the first English settlement in North America. The fledgling colony soon ran into trouble, and their leader John White sailed back to England for supplies.
The Anglo-Spanish War was raging, and it delayed White’s return for three long years. Once he finally made it back to the colony in 1590, the settlers had disappeared almost without a trace. The only clue left behind was a cryptic carving on a post that read “CROATOAN”.
Flash-forward over three centuries to today, Roanoke Island Festival Park brings the short-lived Lost Colony back to life. The park, which is managed by the State of North Carolina, features an interactive settlement site that’s staffed with actors, a reproduction of an Algonquian town, and the Elizabeth II replica ship that closely resembles the ones that carried the colonists to America.
Entrance to the park is $11 USD per adult ticket, $8 per youth (ages 3-17), and free for children who are 2 and under. It’s open Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
3. Camp at Cape Lookout
The Outer Banks are incredibly popular with recreational vehicle (RV) owners, and most campgrounds on the islands are exclusively for them. There’s a handful of spots that offer tent camping; the best is at Cape Lookout. Only accessible via ferry from Atlantic, Davis, or Harkers Island, Cape Lookout and its federally protected shore allows you to pitch your tent in the sand next to the Atlantic Ocean. For more information on how I reached Cape Lookout via the Harkers Island passenger ferry for $24 USD and camped on the oceanfront, click to read my travel guide “Top Places to Camp in the Outer Banks.”
4. Ride on the ferries
The OBX ferry routes shown on my above map are an essential part of the islands’ transportation system; travelers making their way to Cape Lookout, Ocracoke, and Portsmouth Island are reliant upon them. The Cedar Island-Ocracoke ($15 USD for my one-way reserved ticket) and Ocracoke-Hatteras (free) vehicle ferries have the unique distinction of serving as part of North Carolina Highway 12. If you are taking a road trip through OBX, a ride on the ferries is a must-do.
5. Walk in the footsteps of Blackbeard
One important reason to take a ferry ride to Ocracoke is to see Teach’s Hole. The channel, which is off the Springers Point hiking trail, is named after Edward Teach; you likely know him better as the fearsome pirate Blackbeard. The area was the final hideout of the outlaw commodore and his confederates. He died in 1718 just off the coast of Ocracoke in a bloody hail of musket fire and sword slashes.
There’s no parking at the trailhead to Springers Point, which is free to hike. I parked at the Ocracoke Lighthouse and made the short walk to the footpath. You can also leave your vehicle at the Ocracoke Assembly of God if you leave a donation.
6. Make time for water sports
The Outer Banks have long been a renowned destination for waterfowl hunting, but there’s plenty of sporting opportunities both on the ocean and the sounds. You can cast a fishing line off a pier or charter boat (license required), bring or rent a board and surf some of the best waves on the East Coast, or paddle board where the winds allow. If you’re physically able, try to carve out some to time for one of these activities; water sports are an integral part of OBX culture.
7. Watch the sunset from the sounds
When one thinks of coastal sunsets in the mainland U.S., it evokes images of golden hour perfection in Southern California. And though they aren’t equivalent to the ones seen from the Santa Monica Pier, the late-day vistas across Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound are worth your time. The best one I witnessed was at Corolla Historic Park at the northern end of OBX.
The sun rises over the ocean at Jeannette’s Pier in Nags Head, NC. The fishing pier, which measures 1,000 feet in length, is the longest in the Outer Banks. Click the icon in the lower righthand corner of the player to expand the video.
8. Take in the Sunrise over the Atlantic
While the West Coast is known for its sunsets, the East Coast puts on a comparable light show on clear early mornings. My video above shows the New Year’s Day sunrise at Jeannette’s Pier in Nags Head, and I can’t think of a better way to welcome new beginnings.