Paint Your Own Pottery at Studio 12Studio 12 is a small, locally owned pottery shop located on Highway 12 in Avon. They have many pieces of unfinished pottery. You pick the pottery piece that you would like to paint. You choose your colors and design and sit down and paint the pottery. The owners will fire and glaze your piece for you and send you on your way. What would make a better Outer Banks souvenir than a piece of pottery that you chose and painted yourself? You won't regret spending a few hours in Studio 12. Tour the North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke IslandThe George Washington Creef Boathouse was built on the Manteo waterfront in 1940, and in 1998 was turned into the North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island. Inside the museum, the crew of mostly volunteers keeps busy renovating and rebuilding wooden boats. The Elizabeth II was built here, and visitors to the museum can view a presentation on her construction. The museum is a great stop for anyone interested in boats and boatbuilding of the past and present. The museum is open year-round, Tuesday through Saturday. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the summer months, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the rest of the year. For more information, contact the museum at (252) 475-1750. Visit the Bodie Island Lighthouse and Keepers' QuartersLocated more than a half-mile from the Atlantic Ocean on Bodie Island, the Bodie Island Lighthouse was built in 1872. It was the third lighthouse to be built near Oregon Inlet, as the first one was built south of Oregon Inlet in 1847 and developed structural damage within the first 10 years and had to be rebuilt. The second was also built south of Oregon Inlet in 1859 but was destroyed by Confederate forces during the Civil War. The current Bodie Island Lighthouse is 170 feet tall and was built north of the Oregon Inlet because of the inlet's constant moving to the south. Operated by the U.S. Coast Guard for many years, the lighthouse was turned over to the National Park Service in 2000. There is a Visitor Center with exhibits and a bookstore on the grounds, but the lighthouse is not available for climbing. For more information, call (252) 441-5711. View the Ocracoke LighthouseLocated in the southwest corner of Ocracoke Village, many visitors view the Ocracoke Lighthouse each year. Built in 1823, the lighthouse is the second-oldest lighthouse in the nation and is 77.5 feet tall. Though the lighthouse is not open for tours or climbing, visitors can walk down a wooden boardwalk adjacent to the lighthouse to view and photograph the structure. To get to the Ocracoke Lighthouse, turn left off NC Highway 12 at the Island Inn. The lighthouse is about 800 yards down, on the right side of that street. Visit the Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station in CorollaThe Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station was originally built in Kill Devil Hills in 1878 when lifesaving stations were located every 7 miles along the Outer Banks. This station was visited by the Wright Brothers during their many trips to the Outer Banks. Many of the original workers of the Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station assisted the Wright Brothers with their early flight experiments, and some were lucky enough to be there to view the world's first powered airplane fly through the sky. The station was moved to Corolla in 1986, where it was restored and is the current home of the local shop, Outer Banks Style. Take time to stop and visit this unique structure of Outer Banks history! Climb the Walls at Kitty Hawk Kites/Carolina OutdoorsThough the Outer Banks doesn't have any mountains to climb, there are three climbing walls located in the area for you to try. Two climbs and basic instruction cost $7 per person, which includes all equipment needed for the climb. The climbing walls are located at the Corolla, Nags Head and Hatteras locations of Kitty Hawk Kites/Carolina Outdoors. The Nags Head climbing wall is indoor and open year-round, though only on weekends in the winter. The Corolla and Hatteras climbing walls are outside so are not open year-round. For more information, contact Kitty Hawk Kites/Carolina Outdoors at (800) FLY-THIS. Relax at the BeachIf watersports, fishing and tourist attractions aren't for you, don't worry - there is still something you can do to enjoy the Outer Banks! Get a cooler of your favorite refreshments and some snacks, grab a beach chair and head to the beach! Depending on the time of year, there will more than likely be something or someone for you to watch, whether it is surf fishermen, children playing in the sand and water, surfers or dolphins playing in the water. There is something about sitting on the beach and watching the waves come in that will relax you, and you will never want to leave! Take a Red Wolf Howl Tour at Alligator River National Wildlife RefugeLocated on the Dare County mainland west of Manteo on Highway 64, you will find the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge consists of 150,000 acres of wetlands, fields and swamps. A variety of animal species call the refuge home, including black bears, white-tailed deer, gray fox, bobcats, raccoons, mink, beaver, squirrels, opossum, river otter, alligators and red wolves. Though they are a threatened species, red wolves have made a comeback in this part of North Carolina, thanks to careful management since the 1980s. Night tours to hear the red wolves howl are given every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. in the refuge from late June through mid-August. For more information, contact the refuge at (252) 473-1131, ext. 243. Embark on a Civil War Trail JourneyThe Civil War plays a role in the history of the Outer Banks, and several historical markers will tell you the story. Along the Civil War Trail of the Outer Banks, you will find important monuments and displays reminiscent of the War. The historical marker for the Battle of Chicamacomico Races, which was the battle when the Confederacy attempted to reclaim Hatteras Island from the Union, is located across from the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station in Rodanthe. Another part of Civil War history is the Freedmen's Colony in Manteo, which is located at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and was a colony set up after Union forces captured the island. For more information on other historical markers and sites, contact the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at (877) OBX-4FUN. Go Fishing on a Private CharterThere are a large variety of inshore and offshore charters located throughout the Outer Banks. For any of the charters, you will want to make reservations at least one month in advance. The cost of private charter day trips range from $400 to $1,300, depending on the size of your group and the boat you choose. Some of the marinas are as follows: Pirate's Cove Yacht Club in Manteo at (800) 367-4728, Thicket Thump Marina in Wanchese at (252) 473-4500, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center on Bodie Island at (800) 272-5199, Hatteras Harbor Marina at (800) 676-4939, Teach's Lair Marina at (252) 986-2460 and Ocracoke Fishing Center at (252) 928-6661. | Nags Head RestaurantsThe Snow Bird Ice Cream & Grill3522 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 The Pier House Restaurant 3309 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Lucky 12 Tavern 3308 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Tortugas' Lie Shellfish Bar & Grill 3014 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Pamlico Jack's Pirate Hide-away 6708 S Croatan Highway, Nags Head Nags Head, NC 27959 Sooey's BBQ & Rib Shack 3919 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Butcher Block Fine Meats & Delicatessen 3022 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 The Ridge Coffee Company 3925 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 The Fudgery 3933 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 How Sweet It Is 3941 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Jockey's Ribs 3948 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Logan's Ice Cream Cottage 2805 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head ShoppingT-Shirt Whirl3408 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Spring Tide Studios 3324 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Austin Fish Company 3711 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head Fishing Pier 3309 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Brew Thru Beverage Store 3700 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Kidoodle's 427 W Villa Dunes Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Cloud Nine Beads Finding & Seaglass 3022 S Croatan Highway Pirate's Quay Shops Nags Head, NC 27959 Old Nags Head Barn 3022 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Wings 3022 S Croatan Highway Pirates Quay Shopping Center Nags Head, NC 27959 Butcher Block Fine Meats & Delicatessen 3022 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Life is Good Store 3925 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 The Fudgery 3933 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks AttractionsJockey's Ridge State Park300 W Carolista Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head Fishing Pier 3309 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 98 NC Highway 12 Nags Head, NC 27959 North Carolina Coastal Land Trust 701 W Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Nags Head Woods Preserve & The Nature Conservancy 701 W Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Jennette's Pier 7223 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Roanoke Island Festival Park 1 Festival Park Manteo, NC 27954 Outer Banks History Center 1 Festival Park Manteo, NC 27954 Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse 207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue Manteo, NC 27954 North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island 104 Fernando Street Manteo, NC 27954 Wright Brothers National Memorial 800 Colington Road Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Shallowbag Bay Club Marina 90 North Bay Club Drive Manteo, NC 27954 Nags Head ActivitiesJockey's Ridge State Park300 W Carolista Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Centro Familiar Hispano 113 W Villa Dunes Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Kitty Hawk Kites 3933 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Carolina Outdoors 3933 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Miss Kitty's Old Time Photo 3933 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Kitty Hawk Sports 3933 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Native Vine Cellars & Tasting Room 3933 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks Family YMCA 3000 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Galaxy Golf 2914 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks Centre for Dance 2910 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Fine Line Charters 105 S Colony Court Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks Gearworks Laser Tag and Fun Center 2406 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 |