We love taking weekend breaks to the Outer Banks from our home in Raleigh, and we are so grateful we have this awesome coastal destination escape to when we want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
The Outer Banks is all about being on the ocean. Known for its blissful beaches, wind-swept state parks, wild mustangs, and unspoiled barrier islands, there are so many things to do in Outer Banks that make it the perfect holiday destination, no matter where you’re traveling from.
Whether it’s shipwreck diving, hang gliding, horse riding, or learning about the nation’s first pioneers, Sir Walter Raleigh, you can be sure OBX has plenty to offer…
- Things To Do in the Outer Banks
- 1. Play on the Outer Banks Beaches
- 2. Visit Jockey’s Ridge State Park
- 3. Learn How to Hang Glide (safely) at Jockey’s Ridge
- 4. Walk Along Jennette’s Pier
- 5. Explore all the Outer Banks Piers
- 6. See the OBX Lighthouses
- 7. Relax at Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- 8. Go Stand Up Paddle Boarding
- 9. Drink and Eat at Fish Heads Bar and Grill
- 10. Visit The Wright Brothers National Memorial
- 11. Watch a Sunrise by the Ocean
- 12. Sunset with Dinner & Drinks
- 13. Go Surfing
- 14. Breakfast at Art's Place
- 15. Visit Ocracoke Island
- 16. Wander Around Manteo
- 17. Take A Historic Walking Tour with the Former Police Chief
- 18. Have A Beer At Outer Banks Brewing Station
- 19. Walk Along the Duck Boardwalk
- 20. Eat Donutz on a Stick
- 21. Go Horse Riding on the Beach in Hatteras
- 22. Go Kite Flying at Jockey's Ridge
- 23. Have Breakfast at Fresh Fit Cafe
- 24. Dine at Mulligan's Grille in Historic Cottage Row
- 25. Go 4X4 Beach Driving
- 26. Go Bird Watching in the Alligator River
- 27. Visit Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
- 28. Step Back In Time at Roanoke Island Festival Park
- 29. Wander the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
- 30. See the Wild Horses of Corolla
- Outer Banks Accommodation
- Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Outer Banks
Things To Do in the Outer Banks
We came to realize that there is no shortage of fun things to do in Outer Banks, and each time we visit, we love to go back and do these activities and visit these places.
If it’s your first time in Outer Banks, here are our top suggestions for things to do on your own OBX trip. Whether you’re looking for relaxing beach days or adventure, casual dining or a little romance, stunning sunrises or sunsets – don’t skip these things!
1. Play on the Outer Banks Beaches
Most people visit the Outer Banks in the summer months for some beach time, and as Aussies, we can definitely get on board with that! With 100-miles of wide-open shoreline, take your pick from one of the many beautiful Outer Banks beaches.
The sand is clean and unspoiled, the water is a perfect temperature through summer, they’re family-friendly with a gentle tide, and they’re not too crowded – win, win.
As we were staying right on Kill Devil Hills Beach, we spent most of our time on this beach (see sunrise tips down below).
But our favorite for our kids to go body-boarding would probably be Corolla Beach as it has gentle waves and it seems like you can walk out forever (see stand up paddle boarding section down below).
Also Nags Head Beach near the pier was great for waves too! In fact, this is where you’ll find the ESA Surfing Competition which takes place here over several dates in 2024! It’s one of the few beaches that is lifeguarded and has restroom facilities, too.
Kitty Hawk is also ideal for water sports, and Duck Beach is known as one of the most pet-friendly beaches in the US.
Of course, Lifeguard Beach on Ocracoke Island was recognized as America’s Best Beach by Dr Beach in 2022, so you should make sure to check this one out as well.
It took top position mostly due to the three most important criteria: clean sand, clean water, and beach safety. But keep in mind beach and wave conditions change daily, depending on where you are on the islands.
Lifeguards are on duty on all beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day – be mindful of the tides and currents!
If you want calmer waters, consider one of the numerous sound front water accesses on the western side of the islands.
2. Visit Jockey’s Ridge State Park
An Outer Banks vacation is mostly about nature and coastal experiences, but not all are water based!
We love visiting unique state parks, and Jockey’s Ridge State Park is home to the tallest sand dune system in the eastern United States, making it one of the most unusual attractions in OBX.
The dunes here are constantly changing shape due to wind, and we love to come back here and see if they have changed! Some reach up to 100 feet high and offer spectacular views of the Carolina coastline on one side and Roanoke Sound on the other.
Start at the visitor center and museum to learn about the ecology, then head out to explore the massive dune system by following the 360-foot boardwalk.
It’s also a popular spot to try hang gliding, sand-boarding and kite flying (bring your own), as well as boasts several nature trails.
There are ranger-led programs throughout the year, which are mostly free, but some require pre-registration.
During the warmer months, it is highly suggested to bring your own shoes, sun protection and plenty of water – sand dunes get HOT. There are no entrance fees to enjoy the park, but keep in mind this is a day-use only park with no campgrounds!
Hot Locals Tip: Go past the sand dunes to West Soundside Rd, it goes to a nice beach on the sound where you can walk in the water forever.
3. Learn How to Hang Glide (safely) at Jockey’s Ridge
One of the most fun things to do in Outer Banks that’s unique to this area is to try hang gliding. This is one of the coolest family-activities we have done in a long time!
Not only does Jockey’s Ridge State Park give you towering sand dunes to launch from, but you’re also in the area where the Wright Brothers first flew a plane, making it a historic place to learn how to fly too!
If you’ve never done it before, don’t worry, it’s very safe and easy. If our 8 year old Savannah can do it, you can too!
Kitty Hawk Kites have been operating hang gliding lessons since 1974 with beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons from qualified instructors – who are awesome by the way!
We had so much fun learning how to launch, fly, and land on the soft sands of Jockey’s Ridge with our instructor holding a rope all the way giving you a sense of safety!
Standard beginner lessons last 3 hours, including 1 hour of ground school.
This was one of our favorite Outer Banks activities to do with our kids. Read our full review of Kitty Hawk hang gliding and then check availability for tickets here.
4. Walk Along Jennette’s Pier
Located in Nags Head, Jennette’s Pier stretches 1,000 feet into the Atlantic ocean. It’s a popular place to go for sunset or to do a spot of pier fishing, or for just taking a stroll out for great views back over the coastline.
What’s particularly cool about this pier is that it is powered by wind (evidenced by the windmills on it) and it has an educational center and small aquarium attached.
I visited for some beautiful sunrise photos, and we also went swimming here in the afternoon.
All day walk-on fees for adults are just $2, and $1 for children. Fishing fees cost $14 for adults and $7 for children aged 12 and under.
5. Explore all the Outer Banks Piers
In the Outer Banks piers are one of the most striking features of this coastal area – there are seven in total.
Five of the piers are located in the central Outer Banks area; three in Nags Head, one in Kitty Hawk, and one in Kill Devil Hills.
The other two OBX piers are on Hatteras Island; one in Rodanthe and the other in Avon – the 600-foot long Avon Fishing Pier was the first pier on Hatteras Island.
Our favorite is the The Outer Banks Fishing Pier in Nags Head – we don’t fish, but we love Fish Heads Bar & Grille at the end of the pier (see more about that down below).
Besides fishing off the piers, beach fishing is also popular in the OBX. So if you love piers too, add this to your list of things to do in Outer Banks.
6. See the OBX Lighthouses
When I think of the OBX, one of the first things that comes to mind is the lighthouses.
They have guarded the coastline here for over 200 years and have played an important role in maritime history – this area is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic for ships for its treacherous waters, which are now popular dive sites if you’re into ocean diving.
There are five lighthouses in total and each one unique:
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
- Bodie Island Lighthouse
- Roanoake Marshes Lighthouse
- Currituck Beach Lighthouse on Currituck Sound
- and Ocracoke Lighthouse.
If you only have time to view one, the easily recognizable Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, with its spiraling black and white stripes, would be the one I’d recommend. It protects one of the most hazardous sections of the Atlantic Coast and was officially completed way back in 1870.
You can climb to the top of the historic Hatteras Lighthouse to get stunning views from the tallest brick lighthouse in North America.
7. Relax at Cape Hatteras National Seashore
This 70-mile stretch on the Outer Banks, from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island, is the country’s first national seashore.
This area is home to unique beach communities, historic lighthouses, and endless activities such as beach fishing, kiteboarding, surfing, swimming, windsurfing, crabbing, shell-collecting, kayaking and paddle boarding, camping, and beach driving.
You can explore by vehicle, bicycle, foot, or by boat.
We didn’t spend much time down here, concentrating most of our time on the northern islands, but stopped in at above mentioned Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and a few beaches along the drive.
The north entrance to Cape Hatteras is located in Nags Head at the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and NC Highway 12, and there are many roadside public pull-offs along Highway 12 with beach access.
Hatteras Village is home to some nice locally owned and operated restaurants. For more tips on things to do in Hatteras, go here.
8. Go Stand Up Paddle Boarding
If you’ve been following This Is Raleigh for a while, you’ll know that stand-up paddle boarding is one of our favorite family-activities.
We have our own inflatable Body Glove paddle boards and couldn’t wait to use them in the OBX. You can also rent SUPs from Kitty Hawk Kites, who rent by the hour or by day.
We were recommended Corolla Beach as a great spot to launch our SUP due to it’s gentle waves and shallow water, and it proved to be a great spot, although my balance needs work as I kept falling off (ocean paddling is different to lake or river supping!)
Another popular place for paddle boarding/kayaking is the Historic Corolla Park at the Whalehead Club – there’s a public launch spot for small boats/kayaks/SUPs and there are shallow canals to paddle in.
In Nags Head, we were recommended West Soundside Road as another good soundside location – it’s close to Jockey’s Ridge. If you don’t own your own SUP boards or have never done it before, consider a tour.
9. Drink and Eat at Fish Heads Bar and Grill
Listen up Santa Monica Pier. THIS is how you do a pier! We think that pier in LA is super tacky, crowded, and just a flat-out tourist trap – the total opposite of Outer Banks Fishing Pier!
We’ve also been to many other piers on our travels across the USA and our favorite pier is right here in North Carolina – the Outer Banks Fishing Pier. It’s mostly to do with Fish Heads Bar and Grill at the end of this pier.
When we first arrived at the beach here, there was a long line waiting to get onto the pier and we thought, “what’s going on here?”
Turns out, it was happy hour shrimp at Fish Heads which means 20 CENT SHRIMP between 4pm – 6pm every day. We put our names down immediately!
Not only that, but Fish Heads offers a great beer selection (40 beers in total), killer ocean views, chilled local vibe and music, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Don’t miss it. This is a super cool local spot, and one of our best memories from our Outer Banks vacation!
10. Visit The Wright Brothers National Memorial
You’re in the place that had the first successful Wright Brothers flight, and if you value airplane travel like us, why not go and honor the birthplace of flying at the Wright Brothers National Memorial
In case you don’t know, the Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur Wright) piloted four successful flights with their powered, heavier-than-air flying machine in Kitty Hawk, and you can visit the historic site to see a monument.
A 60 ft. granite monument sits high on the sand dune where the brothers did most of their gliding experiments (now covered in grass).
The memorial overlooks the field where they piloted the four successful first flights in their heavier-than-air flying machine (not to mention the stunning panoramic view of the barrier island!)
Start your visit at the excellent museum on-site which brilliantly tells the inspirational story from dreaming the impossible to making it possible through the phases of skill and character traits needed to do it, rather than a numerical timeline.
And once outside, you can walk (or run like our kids did) along the actual marked flight paths pretending to fly, you’ll believe that you can do anything too.
Check out the official memorial website for all the up-to-date information and current costs and opening times!
11. Watch a Sunrise by the Ocean
Sunrise in the Outer Banks is definitely worth getting up for! We know, when you’re on vacation rolling out of bed early can be tough.
However, we’re always grateful when we make the effort, especially when rewarded with a stunning sunrise like this at Kill Devil Hills Beach.
Sunrise is actually one of our favorite times of day. It’s peaceful, our kids are usually still asleep, and it just gives us so much more time in the day to do things.
HOT TIP: when staying in the OBX do your best to stay on the ocean so you can just roll out of bed and walk onto the beach, or even sit on your deck and watch the magic happen! I recently did this staying at the gorgeous Sanderling Resort in Duck. (see rates and availability)
12. Sunset with Dinner & Drinks
Looking for one of those famous OBX sunsets? You can’t go wrong here. Miller’s is actually a highly recommended place to eat with a lot of positive reviews, but we felt our food fell a little flat. It was fine, just didn’t wow us, but the views made it all worth it!
The sunset stole the show! At the very least come here for sunset drinks, sit outside on the grass area and watch the magic happen over the sound – it seems to be an Outer Banks tradition.
Caroline also recently stayed in Duck in the Outer Banks on a solo mom wellness break. She loved the Paper Canoe Restaurant – for their delicious, fine dining style food, but also for the magnificent sunset over the sound.
13. Go Surfing
Looking to carve up some waves? The Outer Banks are known for having the largest waves on the East Coast of the US and is well known by surfers around the world.
Because the OBX coastline is uniquely situated on the Atlantic Ocean, protected by barrier islands, it receives swells from multiple directions – with wintertime providing excellent conditions along the east facing beaches, whilst summertime swells sweep into the south side beaches.
Kitty Hawk Beach and Kill Devil Hills Beach are known for good surfing (and skimboarding), and typically have the biggest waves of the Northern Beaches.
We saw a few surfers enjoying the waves near Nags Head Pier, and a frequent visitor told us that Cape Hatteras has the best surfing when it’s on. Want to learn how to surf? Consider a surfing lesson in OBX.
14. Breakfast at Art’s Place
There are no shortage of great Outer Banks restaurants for lunch and dinner, but we found the breakfast options not so great, except for Art’s Place Bar & Grille.
This local’s favorite breakfast spot came highly recommended by several people in our Instagram community, especially for their pancakes which our kids loved, but the country ham breakfast and French toast also hit the spot nicely!
Located in Kitty Hawk, this long-running burger joint has ocean views from it’s rooftop and features live music and classic American bites. It’s a place where they call the tourists just out of town locals!
We visited during winter and sat downstairs in their cozy indoors, but would love to go back in the warmer months for a burger and beer and some live music! Oh, and they’ve also been voted best burger on the beach!
15. Visit Ocracoke Island
Our new favorite place to visit in the Outer Banks is Ocracoke Island. For a small island that’s only 16-miles long, you will find there are plenty of cool things to do and places to see, but with that slow living pace you are craving!
It takes a bit more effort to get to this island in the Southern part of OBX via a car ferry, but it’s totally worth it for the outdoor adventure, natural beauty and local food and drink experiences.
And probably our favorite part about Ocracoke, is parking our car and leaving it in the parking lot, then exploring the island by golf cart, bicycle, or on two feet – this is island life at its finest!
Don’t miss Lifeguard Beach, SmacNally’s on the waterfront for seafood, 1718 Brewing for great craft beers (and food), Springers Point, paddle boarding on Silver Lake, Zillie’s Island Pantry, and of course, oysters at Ocracoke Oyster Company.
We also had an incredible breakfast burrito at Eduardo’s!
Read our complete guide with tips on how to get to this island and discover fun things to do on Ocracoke Island.
16. Wander Around Manteo
Manteo was our first stop when we arrived in the Outer Banks after driving in from Raleigh, and it’s definitely worth a look around.
We found it to be much quieter than other places in OBX with a few interesting points of interest.
There’s a nice waterfront area to walk along – the town wraps around Shallowbag Bay on the eastern side of Roanoke Island.
Way back in 1587, 117 English men, women and children came ashore on Roanoke Island to establish the first English settlement.
But, In 1590, when English ships returned, they found the island deserted, hence the name the Lost Colony.
The Lost Colony Drama performs on the site and the small main street has a few shops and the Lost Colony Tavern (we had lunch here – the burgers are good).
Other highly suggested attractions here is the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum and the Elizabethan Gardens
You can find more things to do in Manteo and Roanoke Island in our complete guide.
17. Take A Historic Walking Tour with the Former Police Chief
If you don’t want to explore Manteo by yourself, then take a historical walking tour of the historic downtown with retired police chief turned tour guide, Francis D’Ambra.
Francis is super passionate about history and his town, and on the 90-minute tour we learned all about the fascinating history of not only Manteo, but the greater Outer Banks area.
Did you know that this region is home to all these firsts: first English Colony, first English born child in the New World, first hang gliding school in the USA, First in Flight, and First National Seashore?
Downtown Manteo (pronounced Man-ee-o) is made up of just a few streets surrounding the historic courthouse, which Andy Griffith, in his fictional town of Mayberry will tell you, that’s the way a community should be.
Mayberry, and its characters, were mostly inspired by the life and people of Manteo, where native North Carolinian, Andy Griffith, moved in 1947 to take a job as a soldier in “The Lost Colony”.
Manteo quickly became the home of his heart and his final resting place in a grave on his waterfront property – Francis was a personal friend of Andy’s, and can share many stories for devout fans of the show and actor.
Tours are limited to 25 people and are catered to mostly adults, but our 10-year-old Savannah was so taken with the stories on the tour, she asked me mid-way through the tour if she could write a blog post on it. Book your tour in advance.
18. Have A Beer At Outer Banks Brewing Station
We are always up for a good brewery, especially a family-friendly one, and the Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills is a must-visit.
This brewery is the first wind-powered brewery in America – how cool is that – and there’s a great beer garden area out the back with plenty of room for the kids to run around.
The draft beer selection selection is top notch (I suggest the LemonGrass Wheat Ale or Hugh Hefeweizen), plus there’s wine and specialty cocktails.
The food is well above average, and they have live music – what’s not to love. In “normal times” there’s a jam-packed events calendar. Check their website for current events.
19. Walk Along the Duck Boardwalk
This was one of the top recommended things to do in Duck, but I think we did this at the wrong time, just after lunch on a HOT day. I’m guessing this would be best to do either early morning or early evening at sunset.
Regardless, it’s a pretty walk and easy for kids and stretches 0.6 miles with plenty of places to stop and eat near the water (eat at NC Coast Grill & Bar by the way), their poutine and fish tacos are incredible.
The boardwalk begins at the southern end of the Village near Christopher Drive and continues to end at the Waterfront Shops. Best accessed from Town Park and other locations throughout the Town’s Village Commercial District.
20. Eat Donutz on a Stick
Ok guys. When most donut lovers visit the Outer Banks, they go to the original Duck Donuts in the town of Duck. Admittedly, we promised our kids a visit too (even though we can walk to a Duck Donuts near our house in Cary).
When I typed in the address in Google maps, it said the store closed at 1pm (it closes at 1pm each day) which I thought was crazy!
Luckily, one of our very good local followers on Instagram who had been providing excellent tips during our stay, suggested we go to Donutz on a Stick.
He said it’s family-owned, not super busy, and better! And it turned out to be a great suggestion! Trust our kids, they will tell you!
They serve up made to order donuts AND incredible donut sundaes which our kids had (two donuts topped with ice cream and whipped cream). Plus sandwiches, gluten-free and vegan offerings, coffee, espresso, gifts and souvenirs.
We even got severed by David, the owner, and he is a super nice guy. Tell him we sent you, and be sure to put this on your list of things to do in the Outer Banks with kids!
21. Go Horse Riding on the Beach in Hatteras
A unique and super cool adventure in the Outer Banks is to go horseback riding on the beaches of Hatteras Island, the place to go in OBX to escape the crowds.
This entire island is protected as the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, USA’s first coastal preservation area. The focus on this island is old-style, simple living in tune with nature.
An early morning guided horseback ride in Frisco is the perfect way to start your Hatteras Island adventures. To ride, kids must be at least 10 years old and 4’8″ tall.
We joined Equine Adventures for a three-hour ride through the maritime forest of the Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve onto the beach.
Our uninterrupted views of the ocean as we rode out of the forest and over the sand dunes was stunning.
22. Go Kite Flying at Jockey’s Ridge
Ben from Kitty Hawk Kites took our family out on the sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge for a kite flying lesson. This was not just any kite though, it was a 2-line stunt kite.
Stunt kites, also known as sport kites, are known for their ability to perform impressive manoeuvres in the air.
Most stunt kites have dual-line controls, which make it easier to control the kite and perform tricks. The triangular delta kite is the most popular stunt kite and the one we learned how to fly.
He taught us how to launch, steer and fly the kite as well as a few advanced moves to make the kite dive and loop. And this location with the wind and views is the perfect spot.
You can purchase kites from the Kitty Hawk store at the dunes and they also offer kite flying lessons.
23. Have Breakfast at Fresh Fit Cafe
Come for the healthy food, stay for the awesome water views! Here’s another breakfast spot we enjoyed.
Typically we’re pretty health conscious with our diet, but do let ourselves go a bit on vacation, but for the most part we like to start off our day with a healthy breakfast and we’re glad we found this place during our research.
Freshfit Cafe is located on the Nags Head-Manteo Causeway and is a health-oriented cafe and juice bar.
They serve breakfast and lunch daily with an awesome waterfront setting, and we thoroughly enjoyed our hearty omelettes – one of the best we’ve had actually!
Also on the menu is organic coffee, espresso, a full juice bar, detox drinks and smoothies, and they accommodate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets.
24. Dine at Mulligan’s Grille in Historic Cottage Row
This place is cool, and as soon as we walked in we had the feeling, “yeah, this could be our local”.
Mulligan’s offers several dining and drinking areas, but we ate in the casual and chilled Tiki Bar upstairs (we love Tiki bars).
With distant views of the beach, fresh coastal breezes, and a fun vibe, it was hard to leave and could have sat there for hours.
The burgers are great, they have good local seafood, there’s a nice selection of beers, a downstairs bar, and indoor and outdoor seating with views of Jockey’s Ridge (Note: Mulligan’s is operating under current Covid restrictions).
25. Go 4X4 Beach Driving
If you want to go beach driving, then you’re in the right place! Driving along the beaches in a 4X4 jeep is one of the most popular and extreme things to do in OBX, and is definitely a fun and different perspective for exploring the ocean beaches.
Beach driving is allowed year round on Hatteras Island, and October 1-April 30 in Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills.
You can rent a 4X4 vehicle if you don’t have your own, from the aptly named Outer Banks Jeep Rentals.
For current Cape Hatteras Off Road Vehicle (ORV) use, click here. For Nags Head here, and Kill Devil Hills here.
26. Go Bird Watching in the Alligator River
We are definitely not strangers to wildlife viewing, but bird watching is not something that ever came to mind when thinking about things to do in the Outer Banks. However, on a winter trip to OBX, that’s exactly what we did.
Due to its geography and position in the eastern migratory flyway, the Outer Banks is a widely renowned place for birdwatching and people flock to it from all over the eastern seaboard.
If you’re looking for a slower paced activity that takes in unique natural habitats, keep it in mind as we were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed it.
We joined Jonathan Cooley from Native Birding Tours for a four-hour birdwatching tour of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
This protected area consists mostly of wetland, marshes, agricultural fields and a phenomenal amount of wildlife, especially birds.
We were thrilled to experience the Tundra swans and a few rare encounters such as a bald-headed eagle’s attempt to catch a duck, two rough-legged hawks flying together, and a sandhill crane lost on his way from Texas.
Fun fact: the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge has the highest concentration of black bears on the eastern seaboard AND the last remaining red wolves in the wild. We’ll be back to see the bears next time!
Whether you are new to birding or experienced, Jonathan has a tour for you.
27. Visit Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is home to a diverse range of migratory birds.
Located 10 miles south of Nags Head, this island is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and has many scenic trails that offer the perfect viewpoint for birdwatching and wildlife photography.
The pristine and natural beauty of the area makes it a perfect destination for anyone looking to escape the city and reconnect with nature.
Named after the wild pea vine that grows on the island, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places to visit for nature lovers.
28. Step Back In Time at Roanoke Island Festival Park
Roanoke Island Festival Park offers the chance to step back in time and experience life as it was in the late 16th century.
You can explore the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on the island, which is an open air museum about the first settlers on Roanoke Island, who were British colonialist who sailed to the New World in 1585.
You can learn about the lives of the sailors who made the journey and also about the indigenous people who lived here before them.
There are also interactive exhibits set up like an American Indian town that showcases the history and culture of the Native Americans who lived in the area before European settlers arrived.
There is also an aquarium which is part of North Carolina Aquariums, where you can see sea turtles, sharks and more!
29. Wander the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is a unique free museum that tells the story of the many shipwrecks that have occurred off the coast of North Carolina over the past 500 years, including the famous sinking of the USS Monitor during the Civil War.
You can see artifacts recovered from these wrecks, including weapons, clothing, and navigational instruments. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that you won’t find anywhere else.
Note that the museum is being refurbished until the Fall 2023, but we will let you know once it reopens.
30. See the Wild Horses of Corolla
One of the things that makes the Outer Banks so famous is its population of wild mustangs, which can often be seen grazing and galloping around Corolla Beach.
The Spanish Mustangs, who are completely wild, are unique to this area and can’t be found anywhere else in the world. It’s said that there were originally 1500 horses bought over on Spanish ships, but after several ships sunk, the horses swam to shore and made a new home on Corolla.
They have been roaming wild and free ever since.
It’s important to know that although they are used to humans being around, they are wild and territorial, so don’t get close to them. Also, it’s said their health condition is a little unstable, so visitors are asked to stay more than 50 feet from them to avoid spreading germs and possible illnesses to them.
If you don’t have your own vehicle, consider joining a wild horse tour like this one.
Outer Banks Accommodation
In the Outer Banks, vacation rentals are very popular. Caroline loved her recent stay at the Sanderling Resort in Duck – isolated, luxurious, beachfront with spacious suites, an adult’s only pool and hot tub (they have family friendly ones too) and a spa. See rates and availability.
Use the map below to find your perfect vacation rental, hotel or place to stay in the Outer Banks.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Outer Banks
By now, you should have discovered why we think Outer Banks is one of the best places to visit in North Carolina when you need to escape the busy stresses of city life.
Outer Banks is your chance to get away to a breathtaking chain of islands that offer more than just unspoiled beaches, water sports, and historical sites.
If you didn’t previously know what to do in Outer Banks, I hope this guide helps you with your planning.
We’ll definitely be back again many more times, so why not join our email community (form below with free NC Bucket List) and follow us on Instagram to see what we get up to on future visits, as well as follow all our other North Carolina adventures!
