Things To Do In The Outer Banks

The North Carolina Tourist Guide is the most comprehensive travel and tourism information guide for things to do in the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks offers a diverse array of activities…fish in world-class waters, glide through marshes in a kayak, fly a kite from atop Jockey’s Ridge, ride the waves on a body board. While on The Outer Banks, visitors will find all of this and much more.

Air Tours/Sightseeing Flights

See The Outer Banks from a seagull’s point of view. Soar like the Wright Brothers – only higher and farther! On an air tour you can see dolphins and other sea kife, shipwrecks, lighthouses, the Wright Brothers Memorial and much more. We recommend Barrier Island Aviation (252)-473-4247; Kitty Hawk Aero Tours (252)-441-8687; or Sea Air (252)-453-3656

Outer Banks Art Galleries

Local painters, sculptors, print makers, jewlers, craftsmen, decoy carvers, and photographers exhibit their talents at one of 40 galleries located between Duck and Hatteras Island. Original classics, such as Rembrandt, Whistler, or Chagall, can also be found here. Explore Gallery Row in Nags Head or the quaint shops in the villages along Hatteras Island, Duck, and Manteo.

Bird Watching The Outer Banks

The Outer Banks is a haven for nearly 400 species of birds. Bird watching is enjoyable throughout the year, but it is especially good during the fall and winter. An exceptional birding area is the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, located on the north end of Hatteras Island. It’s a wintering ground for thousands of snow geese, Canada geese, tundra swans, and 25 species of duck. Observation platforms are located throughout the refuge. Visitors center open year-round, 9:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m. (252)-987-2394 or (252)-473-1131

Outer Banks Crabbing

All you need is a length of cord with a suitable bait, chicken necks or fish heads do nicely, tied to one end. Throw the bait into the water, wait a few minutes, then pull on the line gently to see if you get a nibble. Crabs can be caught in local sound waters from late spring into early fall, but the best time is May through July.

Cruising The Outer Banks

Whether it’s a daytime harbor tour looking for pods of dolphin and local species of birds, or a moonlit sail under the stars, there are a number of sight-seeing cruises offered on a variety of vessels, from sailboats to headboats. Special charters can be booked for private parties, family reunions or weddings.

Outer Banks Diving

The remains of more than 1,500 ships line the Outer Banks seafloor, hence the name, “The Graveyard of the Atlantic”. Several dive shops offer offshore charters for wreck diving, lessons and equipment rental.

Hang Gliding The Outer Banks

Jockey’s Ridge State Park is the spot for learning to fly. Lessons from qualified instructors are available.

Outer Banks Hiking

Take the path less traveled and explore beaches and maritime forests on foot. Discover hidden treasures in places like Buxton Woods or Nags Head Woods Preserve. There are also hiking trails at Jockey’s Ridge State Park and at the Pea Island National Wildlife Preserve. Hiking on restricted dunes is prohibited.

Kayaking and Canoeing The Outer Banks

Easy to learn, kayaking and canoeing offer visitors a relatively affordable way to tour the area’s many unchartered waterways and salt marshes.

Outer Banks Shelling

The Outer Banks have perfect beaches for shelling and beach combing. The best times to look for shells are after a high tide, after a storm, in the morning, and during the winter months.

Water Activities The Outer Banks

The Outer Banks is made up of 409 square miles of water. This makes the area perfect for a variety of water activities including jet skiing, ocean and sound kayaking, diving, surfing, parasailing, wind surfing, kite surfing, sailing, boating, and swimming.

Outer Banks Wind Surfing and Kite Boarding

The Outer Banks has been dubbed the “Wind Surfing and Kite Boarding Capital of the East Coast” because of the steady and consistent winds, temperate weather, shallow sound waters and rolling ocean waves – all of which provide great opportunities throughout most of the year. Outfitters in the area offer lessons, clinics, equipment rental and purchase.

If you are searching for things to do in The Outer Banks, there are many attractions. The North Carolina Tourist Guide can help you when planning your trip.