Outer Banks
A Kitty Hawk institution for perfectly fried boats (trays) of shrimp or crab cakes, to be eaten at outdoor picnic tables and washed down with one of many possible milkshake combinations – like M&M, peanut butter, Oreo, mint chocolate chip, pineapple and cherry, to name but a few. Some folks just come for a burger and some soft-serve ice cream.
It closes down off season.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
3.33 MILES
Self-taught engineers Wilbur and Orville Wright launched the world's first successful airplane flight on December 17, 1903 (it lasted 12 seconds). A…
22.94 MILES
The sunflower-yellow, art nouveau–style Whalehead Club, built in the 1920s as a hunting 'cottage' for a Philadelphia industrialist, is the centerpiece of…
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
8.76 MILES
In the late 1580s, three decades before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, a group of 116 British colonists disappeared without a trace from their…
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
14.28 MILES
Although not strictly on an Outer Banks island (it's part of the mainland), this 154,000-acre wildlife reserve of wild lands and waters is managed by Dare…
10.47 MILES
Go on a swashbuckling adventure at this 25-acre park, telling the story of the first English settlement attempt in 1585. Visitors can climb aboard a 16th…
22.98 MILES
This very pleasant manicured park in Corolla preserves 39 acres of gorgeous sound-front and sound-side property that was once the waterfowl- and duck…
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
26.21 MILES
At the northern end of Hatteras Island, and named after the dune peas that grow in the sand, this 5834-acre (land portion only) reserve is a bird-watcher…
8.42 MILES
A pleasant waterfront boardwalk with 27 shops and eateries dotted around it. Peruse local design shops, do a Village Yoga session, or grab a bottle of…
1. Wright Brothers National Memorial
3.33 MILES
Self-taught engineers Wilbur and Orville Wright launched the world's first successful airplane flight on December 17, 1903 (it lasted 12 seconds). A…
7.48 MILES
Kick off your shoes for a leg-stretching climb up Jockey's Ridge, the largest sand dune on the East Coast. With a 360-degree view that sweeps over the…
3. Waterfront Shops & Boardwalk
8.42 MILES
A pleasant waterfront boardwalk with 27 shops and eateries dotted around it. Peruse local design shops, do a Village Yoga session, or grab a bottle of…
8.68 MILES
The 16th-century-style Elizabethan Gardens include a Shakespearean herb garden and rows of beautifully manicured flower beds. Check online to see what's…
5. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
8.76 MILES
In the late 1580s, three decades before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, a group of 116 British colonists disappeared without a trace from their…
6. Roanoke Island Festival Park
10.47 MILES
Go on a swashbuckling adventure at this 25-acre park, telling the story of the first English settlement attempt in 1585. Visitors can climb aboard a 16th…
7. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
14.28 MILES
Although not strictly on an Outer Banks island (it's part of the mainland), this 154,000-acre wildlife reserve of wild lands and waters is managed by Dare…
18.19 MILES
Built in 1872, this photogenic lighthouse opened its doors to visitors in 2013. The 170ft-high structure still has its original Fresnel lens – a rarity…