View the Sunset Over the SoundAfter a long day of sightseeing, shopping, fishing or surfing, take time to relax and watch the sunset over the Sound. Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands are home to the Pamlico Sound; Manteo and Nags Head are home to the Albemarle Sound, and Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Duck and Corolla is where you will find the Currituck Sound. No matter what Sound you choose, the sunset views will be breathtaking. If you are lucky enough to catch a few late afternoon windsurfers or kiteboarders, you will be able to see their sails in the foreground as the sun drops below the horizon. Sunsets are beautiful on the Outer Banks all year round, but some of the most breathtaking orange and red sunsets are prevalent in the fall season each year. Climb the Currituck Beach LighthouseWhile you are in the northern Outer Banks, stop by the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and climb the 214 steps to the top of the lighthouse. Once at the top, you will be able to get a close-up view of the 50,000 candlepower lamp that is visible for 18 nautical miles. Much like the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the stairs to the top are narrow and winding, but the unlimited views from the top are an excellent reward. Visitors may climb the lighthouse for a fee of $6, and children less than eight years old climb for free. The lighthouse is open daily from Easter through Thanksgiving. Catch a Local Music Performance at the Deepwater TheaterMolasses Creek is a high-energy acoustic folk band that plays bluegrass and ballads and is the most popular local band on Ocracoke Island. Though they perform throughout the nation, Molasses Creek plays in the Deepwater Theater all summer, and during occasions throughout the year. They perform at the theater on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the summer. Other performances also take place in the Deepwater Theater, including the Ocracfolk Opry, which is held on Wednesday evenings. The Deepwater Theater is located on the School Road in Ocracoke Village. Go Beachcombing For ShellsBeachcombing for shells, also called shelling, on the beaches of the Outer Banks is an activity enjoyed by all. The best times to look for shells are after a high tide, after a storm, in the morning and during the winter months. When picking up shells from the sand, make sure you check first to make sure nothing is still alive inside the shell. If the shell you choose is the home to a live sea creature, set him back in the sand and keep searching. After you are done with your beachcombing, don't forget to soak the shells in bleach water or another cleaning agent. Even if the shells you choose are empty now, they had something living in them at one time and need to be cleaned before you pack them in your suitcase. Take a Flightseeing Tour with Coastal HelicoptersCoastal Helicopters offers flightseeing tours, photography and videography flights over the beautiful Outer Banks. You will enjoy panoramic views from the sky with an FAA Certified Commercial Helicopter Pilot when you take your air tour with Coastal Helicopters. The helicopter is a Robinson R-44 Raven II and offers a safe, smooth ride to accompany the unparalleled views. A few attractions that can be seen from the air include Wright Brothers National Monument, Jockey's Ridge State Park, Wild Banker Ponies, Oregon Inlet, Cape Hatteras National Sewashore, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bodie Island Lighthouse, and more! Call Coastal Helicopters today at 252-928-8074 for more information. Spend an Afternoon at Coquina BeachCoquina Beach, known for its secluded, wide beach, is one of the favorite beaches on the Outer Banks. Located only 6 miles south of the Whalebone Junction on the south side of Nags Head, this beach has smaller crowds than other parts of the Outer Banks while offering the basic amenities - a lifeguard (in the summer), restrooms, outdoor showers and a parking area. This beach is home to the coquina clams, which are edible and make excellent chowder. Because it is miles away from any commercial or residential building, Coquina Beach is a great place to sunbathe, swim, fish, surf and search for shells. Watch the Charter Boats Come in with Their "Catch of the Day"Both Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Inlet have fleets of charter boats that take excited fishermen into the gulf stream to catch the fish of their dreams. Can't afford to go on a charter boat? Don't have sea legs and don't want to experience life on the water? Try going to the docks in the afternoon when the charters come in. You will see tired, sunburned (and happy) fishermen, whistling mates and captains and hundreds of pounds of the tuna, wahoo, mackerel, dolphin and other choice catches of the day. See the people who caught them and watch the mates clean them in the fish cleaning stations. Experience a small part of the charter fishing experience without spending a dime! For daily information on times of charter returns, contact the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center at (800) 272-5199, Oden's Dock (Hatteras Inlet) at (252) 986-2555 or Teach's Lair Marina (Hatteras Inlet) at (252) 986-2460. Climb the Cape Hatteras LighthouseThe famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, located in Buxton, is possibly the most famous lighthouse in the nation. The tallest brick lighthouse at 208 feet, it survived a move of more than 1,600 feet away from the eroding shoreline in 1999. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is open for climbing from late March to early October each year. There are daily lighthouse tours, and the ticket booth opens each day at 8:30 a.m. Tickets are only available for the date of purchase, and tours normally sell out by noon each day. The cost to climb the lighthouse is $6 for adults and $3 for children and Senior Citizens. The climb is a tough one with several winding staircases, but the breathtaking views from the top will be something you will never forget. There is also a visitor center and bookstore on the premises, located in the former keepers' quarters. Enjoy a Local Seafood DinnerYou can't spend any time at the Outer Banks without having a local seafood dinner. Throughout the Outer Banks, there are many great restaurants that will serve the catch of the day and cook it how you like it. You can't go wrong with an authentic seafood dinner on the Outer Banks. Many of the restaurants will prepare YOUR catch of the day for you, if you have been out fishing and don't want to cook your own catch. All you have to do is ask! Go on an Adventure To View Local ShipwrecksBecause the Outer Banks, referred to as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," has record of more than 100 shipwrecks throughout history, there are some shipwrecks you can see during your visit. Many of the shipwrecks are on the ocean floor and only visible by scuba divers, but others are either onshore or in other land locations. The 1921 Shipwreck of the Schooner Laura A. Barnes is located on Coquina Beach, where it was placed for public display. The 1933 Shipwreck of the Schooner G.A. Kohler can be viewed at the edge of the surf at low tide at 4WD beach access Ramp #27 (between Avon and Salvo.) There are some other shipwrecks in the area as well. For more information, contact the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at (877) OBX-4FUN. | Kill Devil Hills RestaurantsThai Room Restaurant710 S Virginia Dare Trail Oceanside Plaza Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Krave Grill & Games 710 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Port O' Call Restaurant & Gaslight Saloon 504 S Virginia Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Western Sizzlin' Restaurant 804 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Brewing Station 600 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Slice Pizzeria 710 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Rita's Water Ice 710 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Dare Devil's Pizzeria 1112 S Virginia Dare Trail Milepost 9 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Kill Devil's Frozen Custard & Beach Fries 1002 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 JK's Restaurant & Bar 1106 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Stop-N-Shop Beach Shop, Deli & Wine Shop 100 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Food Dudes 1216 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Kill Devil Hills ShoppingOBX Chefs 2 Go1006 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Mike Hogan's Gallery 12 1006 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The Bird Store 807 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Parrot Bay Trading Co. 808 S Croatan Highway Milepost 9 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 KDH Cooperative Gallery 502 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Manteo Blacksmith Shop 502 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Trading Post Beach Store 305 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Custom Cycles 103 E Clark Street Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 17th Street Surf Shop 1007 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The Scrapbook Store & More 1001 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Sportsman 100 W Clark Street Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 TI's Bait & Tackle 100 W Clark Street Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks AttractionsNorth Carolina Coastal Land Trust701 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 Wright Brothers National Memorial 800 Colington Road Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Avalon Fishing Pier 2111 N Virginia Dare Trail Milepost 6 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Nags Head Fishing Pier 3309 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Jockey's Ridge State Park 300 W Carolista Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 98 NC Highway 12 Nags Head, NC 27959 Dock of the Bay Marina 4200 Bob Perry Road Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 The North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve 983 W Kitty Hawk Road Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 The Lost Colony 1409 National Park Drive Manteo, NC 27954 North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island 374 Airport Road Manteo, NC 27954 Roanoke Island Festival Park 1 Festival Park Manteo, NC 27954 Outer Banks ActivitiesDestination Fun1217 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Fishing Charters 200 Quail Lane Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Daredevils 100 Veterans Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Coastal Helicopters, LLC PO Box 715 Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head Bowling & Billiards 201 W Satterfield Landing Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf 1600 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Scoot-Hers/Sandy Beach Tours 2300 S Croatan Highway Suite #102 Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks Gearworks Laser Tag and Fun Center 2406 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Atlantic Dance Studio & Boutique 1742 N Croatan Highway The Dare Center Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 R/C Theatres of the Outer Banks 1803 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Fine Line Charters 105 S Colony Court Nags Head, NC 27959 Colington Speedway 1064 Colington Road Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 |