Summer is around the corner and families everywhere are on the prowl for the perfect vacation. If you’re like me, you have a certain type of trip in mind. You want a kid-friendly destination that provides unique opportunities to learn and explore.
So let me tell you my friend, if it’s an adventure you’re after, the Outer Banks awaits!
Our friends like to joke about how my husband and I don’t vacation. There is not much room for chill when you travel with us.
We both love to explore and learn, especially in places we haven’t seen. So I plan our trips around things to see and activities to do. When we are on vacation we are constantly on the go.
We put that adventurous spirit to use in our latest vacation. Our family spent 5 days traveling the coastline of the Outer Banks in North Carolina!
My husband and I had both visited the Outer Banks many times before, but never with our children. It was amazing to be able to experience the OIB through their young eyes.There is so so so much to do, on the Outer Banks we couldn’t possibly fit it all in. But, we were fortunate to visit 15 unique spots and make amazing memories!
So if you’re looking for the perfect summer destination spot, you’ve found it. But before you visit, you’re going to want to check out this list of the 15 best places to visit in the Outer Banks.
Even better, we are proof that they are kid-friendly! We bet you’ll be booking before you know it!
15 of the Best Places to Visit in the Outer Banks
These things are located in many places across the span of the Outer Banks. To help guide you I’ve grouped them by location so you can make plans accordingly. I’ve divided them in five sections: Manteo, Nags Head, Corolla, Hatteras and Ocracoke.
Disclosure: We were fortunate to be hosted by several of these attractions. However, all opinions are my own, and experiences completely as described. Special thanks to: Wild Horse Adventure Tours, Outer Banks Adventures, Island Smoothie, Roanoke Festival Park and the Island Farm.
Manteo
Airboat tour – Outer Banks Adventures
This was by far one of the most unique vacation experiences I’ve ever had. We had an airboat tour with Jamie from Outer Banks Adventures, and it was amazing. We spent an hour zipping around the Roanoke Island marshes and were able to see the Outer Banks like we never had before.
I mean all you really need to know is that you go on an airboat. How cool is that?
Outer Banks Adventures is the only certified Tourist Airboat on the entire Outer Banks. If you’ve never ridden on one it’s an experience like no other boat ride.
Airboats can get to lots of places that boats with typical propeller engines cannot access. Due to their flat bottom and propeller mounted on the back, they can can go in very shallow water. They are super fast, and riding at a high speed, virtually skimming the water is insanely cool!
In addition to being super fun, this tour is amazingly educational. We learned so much cool history, and interesting facts about the wildlife that inhabits the area. Our awesome captain, Jamie Moore, even saved a turtle while on the trip!
The entire area is so peaceful and was seriously beautiful. Our trip was shortly before sunset, so it provided the opportunity for some amazing shots! Be sure you add this to your list of must-sees for your Outer Banks adventures! You won’t regret it!
The Island Farm
The Island Farm is a living history site, depicting daily life on Roanoke Island in the 1840s. Here you are able to visit the Etheridge farmstead, which has been meticulously restored to preserve the details of the period. It even contains some of the original furnishings that date back to the 19th century!
Additionally that are many other outdoor buildings that exhibit exactly how this working farm would’ve run. There’s a cookhouse, blacksmith shop, smokehouse and more! There’s even a 3 seater outhouse with a bucket of dried corn that served as toilet paper in this time.
There are lots of animals on the farm, including sheep, cow, horses, and chickens. There are even play areas for children! Our girls enjoyed swinging from the branches of a beautiful (and massive) living oak, and then playing yard games in front of the house.
This was a destination the whole family was able to enjoy, and I think my girls even absorbed a bit of the history by interacting with it! It’s the perfect morning or afternoon family adventure!
Roanoke Island Festival Park
Roanoke Island Festival Park is a real-life representation of what life was like for the first settlers and the Natives of that period. It has many different exhibits, both indoor and outdoor that depict Colonial life.
Outdoors you can board the vessel the Elizabeth II which is a replica of an original English voyage ship. You can also visit the settlement site, that depicts the first English military settlement on Roanoke Island. Here you’ll find costumed settlers assuming the role of Colonial soldiers or blacksmiths.
We were actually fortunate to catch a blacksmith demonstration and watch him forge iron nails. We even got to keep one as a souvenir!
Additionally you’ll find exhibits in their American Indian town, that depict life for the Algonquian natives during Colonial times. Along the way are lots of interactive exhibits, perfect for kids.
Perhaps the most kid-friendly part of the park though is the Adventure Museum. Inside the museum are tons of hands-on exhibits perfect for kids! My girls enjoyed dressing up, duck hunting, and sailing aboard many different ships.
Additionally there are beautiful boardwalks all around the perimeter. We spent a good hour just walking around outside and taking in the beauty and sights of the Roanoke Sound. The whole visit was about 2 and ½ hours, and well worth every minute. Easily one of the best places to visit in the Outer Banks
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
The aquarium on Roanoke Island is one of 3 aquariums along the coastline of North Carolina. Having vacationed with family frequently at Oak Island, we’ve been to the Fort Fisher aquarium many times. We were extremely excited to visit this aquarium to see how it stacked up.
It certainly did not disappoint! There were tons of exhibits including a coastal freshwater gallery and a giant Open Ocean exhibit that housed lots of big fish and sharks. Apparently, this aquarium is home to the largest collection of sharks in the whole state!
Our favorite part was the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Center. The center had several sick turtles in its care and it was it was amazing to see them up close and learn how the staff was aiding them in their recovery.
Just outside the doors of the center was an awesome hands on exhibit where children could diagnose and care for their own replica turtle. Both of my girls loved that!
They had Easter eggs taped to the outside of the units housing turtles!
We were also big fans of the close encounters bay. We got to touch a sting ray and a sea star, and experience tons of other sea life up close and personal.
Outside the aquarium was a really cool fossil pit where our kids enjoyed digging for fossils. There were also lots of trails, and lookouts where visitors could enjoy the view of the Croatan Sound. Overall, we found this aquarium seemed a bit smaller than Fort Fisher, but still more than worth the visit!
From Manteo, you’ll head head north on the Outer Banks for the next spot on our list! It’s home to my very favorite and perhaps one of the absolute best places to visit on the Outer Banks!
Corolla : Best Places to visit in the Outer Banks
Wild Horse Adventure Tours
I’ve always been enchanted with the idea of wild horses. Since I was a child, I’ve been horse crazy and it’s followed me into adulthood. Many of our vacations before kids were centered around the promise of wild horses or ponies.
Apparently, the horse crazy gene is a strong one. My oldest is every bit as horse obsessed as me!
So when I discovered Wild Horse Adventure Tours, I was practically giddy with excitement! I mean, riding on the beach in search of wild mustangs, sounded like my dream job. And my husband was sold when he learned we’d be riding in a Hummer!
The whole trip is about 2 hours, and it typically runs rain or shine. It actually rained during our tour but that didn’t dampen the experience! We saw about 15 of the beautiful Corolla mustangs. Seeing them in their natural habitat was truly amazing!
Our guide, Mike J, was so knowledgeable and we learned so many interesting facts about the history of these amazing animals and the Outer Banks. Not to mention, riding in a Hummer was pretty epic! This is one experience you do not want to miss!
Currituck Lighthouse
This was the last of lighthouses we visited and by far my favorite of the Outer Banks. It has the most magical grounds and is tucked away in the trees. It almost feels like something you’d expect to find in the mountains.
Unlike the other lighthouses, visitors are allowed to climb this one from mid-March until December. My oldest daughter and her Dad, made the trek up 220 steps and got rewarded with a panoramic view of the Currituck Sound. Along the way, they viewed exhibits discussing the history of the coastal lighthouses, their keepers, and the many wrecks that occurred along the banks.
In addition to being able to climb the lighthouse, there are beautiful grounds to explore, complete with the original Lighthouse Keeper’s house. While the outdoor has been restored, the indoor is closed to visitors as the restoration effort there is a bit more lengthy.
A third dwelling on the premises, which once served as an additional keeper’s house, is now a museum offering sweet souvenirs and mementos of your visit.
*Island Smoothie
While Island Smoothie is not exactly an attraction, it should be! Conveniently located right across from the Wild Horse Adventure Tours, Island Smoothie is the perfect spot to grab some frosty freshness to cool off from the heat.
They have an extensive menu of smoothies and acia bowls (they even have a lunch menu!). What I love even more is that their smoothies are full of all natural ingredients many of which are locally sourced.
My oldest devoured her Orange Dreamsicle, and I felt good knowing she was getting a healthy alternative to her usual ice cream! And…even better, they were able to accommodate her peanut allergy, and made it extremely clear how important it was to them to keep her safe!
The seating area of the shop is crazy colorful and cheery! The staff were super friendly and helpful and gave us some great recommendations for delicious smoothies to try! This is one stop we won’t miss on our next OBX trip!
Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education
The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is a free admission, natural history museum located in Corolla. The center is 22,000 feet of exhibits dedicated to educating the public about the history and diversity of North Carolina’s wildlife.
Inside are exhibits that show the animals native to the Outer Banks as well as exhibits exploring the history of the people of the Outer Banks. There were some interactive exhibits as well that the children enjoyed, though probably best suited for older kids.
Outside the Center is beautiful Corolla Park, where a family could easily enjoy the day just enjoying the beautiful grounds.
We were fortunate enough to visit during the center’s annual Outdoors Day, and got to explore the grounds while visiting with different vendors and organizations and learning all about the Outer Banks history and wildlife.
While the museum was more of a short visit for us, it was well worth the stop. When you visit, I’d recommend packing a lunch and enjoying the view of the sound in the afternoon.
Heading back down the Outer Banks coastline, you’ll find our next desination on our list of the best places to visit in the Outer Banks! This section contains so much amazing history!
Nags Head : Best Places to visit in the Outer Banks
Bodie Island Lighthouse
You can’t visit
the Outer Banks without seeing the famous lighthouses. The Outer Banks are actually nicknamed The Graveyard of the Atlantic, due to many ships lost to the dangerous shoals and channels that surround the its coastline. The historic lighthouses were beacons of light that lead ships to safe passage.
The first of the lighthouses that we visited was the Bodie Island (pronounced Body) Lighthouse. This is actually the third of the Bodie Island lighthouses, as the first two were destroyed. At 156 ft tall, it’s an impressive structure, and the crisp horizontal stripes make it visible from miles away.
While it was still closed at the time of our visit, visitors are allowed to climb the lighthouse from late April and through the summer months. There is also a boardwalk out to the sound that is a quick and scenic walk from the lighthouse grounds.
Jockey’s Ridge state park
When you think of Jockey’s Ridge, you immediately picture the massive sand dunes, right? I mean it’s known for having the tallest sand dunes in the Eastern United States.
That’s pretty impressive and all, but we have a toddler, who neither of us really wanted to carry to the top of a giant sand dune. Luckily, we learned about a little known way to enjoy Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
One tip we’ve learned in our years of travelling? Befriend the locals for the insider tips on places to visit. Some of the coolest places we’ve been to have been recommended by locals we just struck up a conversation with.
This tip came from our amazing airboat captain, Jamie Moore. He mentioned a sound side beach access in Jockey’s Ridge Park. You cannot access it from the park, rather you have to turn right out of the park and then make a right on your next road down, W. Soundsdale Rd. The access is located down the road a bit, also on the right, where the dunes meet the water.
This hidden gem was amazing! There were hardly any people there, and the water was safer for our small children than the harsh ocean surf.
Even more amazing was it was shallow for probably a thousand feed or more out into the sound. My husband walked out with our two girls and the water never got above his knees! My oldest was over the moon that she walked so far out into “the ocean.”
We spent the better part of an afternoon here, playing in the water and sand, and also watching the kite boarders. It was a little bit windy, but still made for the perfect spot for us to relax a bit!
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Located in Kill Devil Hills, this memorial site is a short drive from Nags Head. It’s owned and operated by the National Park Service and there is a cost to get in. However, you gain access to the entire grounds including several exhibits and the museum.
This location also has an important role in our nation’s history. It is the site of the first successful flight. This entire memorial pays homage to the Wright Brothers, who in 1903 made 4 brief, but successful flights.
On the grounds there are plenty of things to see and do. There’s a beautiful monument atop a huge sand dune, a cast iron replica of the first flight – plane and bystanders- a museum full of history, and so much more!
The next stop is the southernmost part of the Outerbanks, accessible only by ferry. It’s a big of a ride, but still home to some of the best places to visit in the Outer Banks!
Ocracoke: Best Places to visit in the Outer Banks
Ocracoke Island Lighthouse
The Ocracoke lighthouse is the smallest, hence the cutest of the lighthouses. At just 65 ft tall, it’s not the most imposing of lighthouses, but it is one of the oldest. In fact, it is North Carolina’s very first lighthouse!
There is a short boardwalk over the sand to the lighthouse and you can walk right up to its side. Unlike other lighthouses, you can not climb this lighthouse, nor is there a gift shop to visit. It’s still a really sweet spot worth a visit!
It’s also important to note, there’s not a lot of parking at this lighthouse. 5-6 spots tops! We had to drive around a bit before a spot opened up. Ocracoke Island actually encourages the use of bicycles due to it’s small condensed village. On our next visit, we plan to rent some bikes and park the cars for the day and enjoy the island at a leisurely pace.
Ocracoke Pony Pens
These aren’t exactly the wild mustangs of you might be expecting. They are the descendants of the wild ponies of the Outer Banks, but they have not ran wild since the end of the 1950s.
While they do have plenty of room to roam, their freedom is limited to the pastures of the Pony Pens, and unlike the mustangs of Corolla, they seem fairly domesticated. While we were there, an employee brought out some hay, and they seemed very comfortable with him, walking alongside as he placed it throughout the pasture.
Still if you have a little horse lover, this is the perfect short stop! There is a nice platform you can step up on for a better view of the ponies, and enjoyed just standing there watching them.
Pony Pens Beach Access
Right across the street from the pony pens is a sweet little beach access. One of the cool things about Ocracoke, is the slightly less travelled beaches. Because access to the island is limited, it’s a bit more secluded than the other parts of the Outer Banks.
The beaches here seem a little bit more natural and secluded. They seem far away from the rest of the world, even though the rest of the OBX is just an hour away. We also found some great shells. I would imagine early in the morning you can find some really amazing ones!
This beach access actually has a nice long ramp and deck, making traveling over the sand dunes really easy.
Teach’s Hole
This is a cute little road side attraction you might easily miss! It’s in a tall, red, unassuming building that could easily pass for a beach house if not for the word’s Teach’s Hole across the front. Well that and the big photo cutout of Blackbeard that perches on the deck.
See back in the 1600s, Ocracoke was one of the main shipping ports in the area. The infamous Diamond Shoals, would allow ships to be hidden from sight and pop out and attack. Due to this, Ocracoke Island was a hotbed for pirates, including the famed Blackbeard. Blackbeard’s real name was Edward Teach, hence the name of the building, Teach’s Hole.
Inside the building a cute little souvenir shop with lots of pirate goodies! My girls scored some pirate’s booty and cute pirate hats with patches! Additionally, the building houses a small Blackbeard exhibit.
This exhibit is a fascinating look into pirate life, and includes not only decades of amazing art work, but also artifacts and replicas that show what life was like back then. My girls were taken with the knot tying display too, and actually allowed us a little time to peruse the exhibit and read some of the interesting history.
The next part of the trip is North of Ocracoke. We didn’t get to spend enough time in this area on this trip, but plan to explore it more on our next trip down!
Hatteras
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
The Hatteras Lighthouse is a Giant, standing at 193 ft tall! It is the tallest lighthouse in the entire United States. Much like the Bodie Island lighthouse, vistors can climb it in the late spring – early summer season.
However, it doesn’t look like it would be an easy feat! I got dizzy just standing at the bottom looking up. Its towering stature is necessary though. It protects one of the most dangerous parts of the OBX and has to be seen from far away.
This lighthouse guides ships away from the deadly Diamond Shoals. The shoals are a cluster of sandbars off the coast of Hatteras that have caused an estimated 600 shipwrecks throughout the years. Hidden beneath the waves, these shoals shift and change formation constantly.
This beast of a lighthouse was actually moved in 1999! The orginal site of the lighthouse was located close to a deteriorating shoreline, and through the years, erosion ate away at the banks. In order to preserve the lighthouse, the National Park Service moved it a little over a half a mile inward.
The grounds of the lighthouse have several walking areas and there is an interesting museum and gift shop located towards the back of the property. We spent the better part of an hour here, exploring the grounds and museum.
And more adventures await!
Like I said, there is tons to do in the Outer Banks! There are still so many things we want to try, but this list is definitely worth repeating also! We plan to return in a few years when the girls are bigger and can experience even more. What else are we planning on doing you ask?
Apparently, you can see black bears on Alligator River, which sounds amazing! There are all kind of water sports to try, we are particularly interested in renting a jet ski. Additionally, we hear about a pretty awesome ropes course down there, but our girls were too little to participate now. We’d love to catch a play at the Lost Colony and visit the Elizabethan Gardens. There’s even a fifth lighthouse we didn’t even know about in Manteo. Also, there’s a reptile museum, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, and so many more historical sites we didn’t even get the chance to experience.
Eventually, this list will probably be more like the 50 best places to visit on the Outer Banks! Haha!!
I’m practically planning our next trip, even though it’s a few years out! Be sure to drop me a line in the comments if you can think of other places, we’d love to add them to our Outer Banks Bucket list!
If you’re traveling with kids and in need of more kid-friendly places to visit, be sure to check out my Travel page!
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