Unique Things To Do In The Outer Banks

There are many amazing things to do in the Outer Banks. There are wild horses just diddy bopping along the coast of the grey Atlantic, seafood restaurants with fresh catch of the day specials, kite surfing, drivable beaches, historic sites to visit and adventures to be had around every corner. That’s what makes the Outer Banks one of my favorite North Carolina vacation spots. There are options for those who wish to feel completely secluded and those who love resort style vacations dotted along these islands with houses and hotels on the beachfront and on the sound. The Outer Banks (OBX) hold a special place in my heart and is a vacation spot we go to again and again.

Our Favorite Unique Things To Do In The Outer Banks

Wild Horse Tour with Back Country Safari Tours (BCST)

This might be my most favorite activity ever and it’s something you can’t do just anywhere. It’s one thing to hear about the wild horses and see pretty photos, but it’s another to see them playing and have them follow your tour vehicle up the beach. There are several tour companies and if you have a 4×4 you can drive onto the beach to see the horses.

Back Country Safari Tours is our wild horse tour of choice. We saw stallions sparring in the surf, colts grazing in people’s yards, chilling in people’s garages and herds walking along the beach. A wild horse tour at Corolla is an epic and very memorable experience that we would recommend to anyone.

Mama and me on the wild horse tour with BCST. Crazy hair…don’t care.

Who Would Enjoy It?

Families, couples, friend groups, teenagers, and solo adventures all have a great time. This is a great thing to do with multigenerational families. Toddlers squeal with excitement and grandparents ooh and aah, impressed by the majestic nature of these animals.

There are many tours for the wild horses but not all tours are equally knowledgeable. BCST cares about the horses and knows the best routes to see the most horses while you’re out there. They also know the history of the area and work with preservation groups to keep the wild horse population healthy.

Their tour truck rigs have bench seating so you aren’t looking at the back of somebody’s head the whole time you’re riding down the beach. You get to stop and watch the horses and the guide even takes photos of you with the horses in the background when they are able to stop and do so. If you’re going to do a horse tour, in my opinion, Back Country Safari Tours is the best.

Cost Breakdown

$55.00/adult

$50.00/military, first responders or seniors

$35.00/children 2-12

Bioluminescence Kayak Tour

A very cool thing to do in the Outer Banks is a nighttime kayak tour. The water glows and the stars shine to make this adventure absolutely epic. I would try to go during a new moon because the darker it is the brighter the glow.

This isn’t something I would take very young children who are afraid of the dark or have early bedtimes. The one thing you don’t want is to be out in a kayak at night with an upset kiddo. Check out OBX Adventure for more information

Cost Breakdown

$60/ Single Kayak for Adult or Child

$120 Tandem Kayak for 2 Adults or 1 Adult & 1 Child

Dunes Hang Gliding

For another adventurous thing to do in the Outer Banks head out to Jockey’s Ridge State Park. This is where you learn how to hang glide along the dunes. A beginner lesson lasts around 3 hours including an hour of video and “ground school” safety training. Afterwards, you head out to the top of the dunes and start your own hang gliding.

With the beginner lesson you get 5 solo flights. Your instructor helps you get situated into the harness and helps you launch your glider. So you can feel pretty confident but I have to admit most people’s first couple landings are rough…funny to watch…but rough all the same. You can purchase your GoPro footage as well to have as a keepsake of our adventure. There are several additional packages you can check out on Kitty Hawks Adventures

Cost Breakdown

$198/Person Full Day Dunes Package

$129/Person Beginner w/ 5 flights

$99/Person Demo w/ 3 flights

$39/Person Film Package (no flights just the film add-on)

Kite Boarding

This is one of my favorite things to do in the Outer Banks. If you have a single adventurous bone in your body, try kite boarding. It is exhilarating, challenging and fun. You use wind currents to propel a giant kite while you are strapped (standing) on a surfboard. It’s a cross between surfing and sailboarding.

I’ve always been a little concerned that my weight would keep me from being able to do this but recently saw a fella that was “big boned” using a larger kite and doing just fine. I finally got up the nerve to ask about it and he showed me how it works and I fell in love with a sport I didn’t know was possible for me to even try. It’s an incredible workout because you use every muscle in your body to control the direction of the kite and keep your balance on the board.

The water on the sound side of OBX is pretty flat and the breeze is constant which makes for amazing kiteboarding. If you aren’t into trying it yourself it’s still a lot of fun to watch. You can sit on the deck of one of the sound side restaurants in Rodanthe and watch people kiteboard all day. Riding flat water like a surfer rides waves and feeling the rush of the wind and spray of water are something I’m really looking forward to experiencing again!

Cost Breakdown

$350/2-Hour Kiteboarding Lesson

$499.00/ Fly & Ride Intro Lesson w/ 2 other people: Full day of lessons and practice

$1499/ Ultimate Way To Fly: 3-4 days of individualized lessons and practice

The Lost Colony

Before the modern Broadway musical, there was The Lost Colony, a show that has been running since 1937 and still runs every summer. This is one of the most classic things to do in the Outer Banks and it is absolutely worth the time and money to go see this nighttime show. For this one, we usually spend part of the afternoon tooling around the island checking out other historic site and then grab dinner at one of the local seafood joints before heading out to see The Lost Colony.

For us, it’s a special event and we love seeing changes in the production from one year to the next. The Lost Colony is an outdoor musical drama about the the first English settlers attempting to colonize Roanoke Island. It’s dramatic, funny, tragic, and beautiful in my opinion. It has many components of a good broadway production but instead of sitting in a cramped theater, you’re outside under a canopy of stars in some pretty comfortable seats. The action is all in front of you on a huge stage that sits on the waterfront.

Cost Breakdown

$25-40/Adult (13 & up)

$13-20/Child 6-12 (Free for children 5 and under)

$22-37/Senior, Military or AAA member

*On Monday nights, all kids 12 and under get in free

You can get more information and purchase tickets on their website https://www.thelostcolony.org

Inexpensive Things To Do In The Outer Banks

Wright Brothers National Memorial

You can check out the site where the Wright brothers had their first successful flight and landing, the hanger site which has been reconstructed, the national monument, and visitor center which has several interactive exhibits about the Wright Brothers’ lives. This is also where you can see the reproduction of the original flyer and check out how it actually worked. We really enjoyed this part of the park and the kids visiting the exhibit were fascinated by the low tech flyer.

It’s definitely a calm thing to do in the Outer Banks with the whole family for a couple of hours during your vacation as a time filler or low key activity. You can also participate in Wind and Sand which is a ranger led walk to learn more about the Wright Brothers. It’s offered every day the park is open with one morning and two afternoon sessions.

Cost Breakdown

$10.00/adult

Free for children

There are also some special days each year that allow free admission for everyone including Mr. Luther King Jr. Day, the first day of National Park Week, the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day and December 17th, the Anniversary of First Flight. It is also free to all veterans and Gold Star families.

Island Farm

At this historic farm site is a “living history” site people are dressed in period clothing, using old-timey tools and speaking like they just stepped out of a historical movie. They show how people worked and lived on the Outer Banks islands in the 1800s. From spring until mid fall you can even make your own rag doll on Friday mornings and it is included in the price of admission to the farm.

You can tour the house on your own, see cooking demonstrations and visit the farm animals as well. There are also traditional games to play around the property like tug of war, hoop and stick and quoits (think of a cross between ring toss and horseshoes.) We love this hidden gem! It’s a pleasant laid back way to spend a morning in Manteo.

Cost Breakdown

$10/person (ages 4 and up)

Roanoke Island Festival Park and Maritime Museum (RIF)

RIF is in the heart of Manteo and is a hub of activity throughout the year! The Maritime Museum is a working boat restoration shop filled with various watercraft and interactive exhibits displaying info about their construction and uses. The outdoor space includes an awesome trail that shows the life of settlers and Native Americans who lived on Roanoke Island.

In the Settlement area, there are woodworkers, carpenters, a soldier station, blacksmith and of course Elizabethan games to be played. In the American Indian town , you tour a longhouse and crop garden, make cordage, carve on a log canoe, weave and build like Native Americans of the time. Characters from a bygone era engage you in conversation and activities throughout the trail and it’s a lot of fun for kids and adults.

Pirate’s Flag

My favorite part of the trail is of course the replica of the Elizabeth II (one of the ships from the Roanoke Voyage). This is a great photo op and the staff aboard the boat do a great job of staying in character and explaining what life was like aboard an exploration boat in the 1500s. You can walk onto the ship with the crew for a tour and a lesson in sailor jargon and all while you admire the beautiful view of Manteo from the ship.

What else can we do here?

A very unique option for kids (8-16yrs) is the 1/2 day sailing camp that lasts for 5 days if you are going to be in the area for a week during the summer. Parents can spend the mornings relaxing by the water, checking out historic sites or shopping options around Manteo. Kids can spend the mornings doing traditional day camp stuff while also learning to sail.

At RIF, there are fishing tournaments, boat shows, concerts, regattas and festivals throughout the year. To see what’s going on at the museum and around town in Manteo, check out the museum’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/rimaritime and click here for a $1 off coupon for 2022

Cost Breakdown

$11/Adult

$10/Military & Seniors

$8/Youth (3-17)

Free/2 & under

$200/week for sailing camp

Elizabeth Gardens

Walk along the dapple-shaded paths, take a seat and relax on a stone bench, soak in the sounds of nature and the sweet fragrance and vivid colors of the garden blooms. This garden is beautiful no matter what time of year you visit. You can stroll through the sunken garden, walled garden, and rose garden or watch the waves lap against the shore along the edge of Overlook Terrace.

There are birdhouses all around the property providing bird watchers and nature loves with a great chance to spot some local feathered friends. We enjoy relaxing in the gazebo with a snack and hanging out in the butterfly garden. For couples, it’s a very romantic stroll through a quiet fragrant garden.

Families can enjoy the Discovery Cottage where children can climb a playground ship, dig and check out a kitchen garden and participate in programs geared to help young people learn about various animals. These kids programs typically operate during the summer and are available on certain mornings. Check out the Elizabeth Gardens Programs for more info.

Cost Breakdown

$12/Adult

$11/Military and Seniors (with coupon code SERVICE or SENIOR65)

$8/Youth (6-17)

$4/Child (3-5)

Free/ 2 and under

$3/Dog

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Let’s say it together “Body”. It’s spelled like Brodie without the R, but it’s pronounced body…like human body or car body. Don’t say it wrong or locals will give you the eye, the same way they give you the stank eye if you don’t say the “E” on the end of Rodanthe. It seems like the kind of name where the “e” would be silent but alas, it’s not. But I digress, let’s get back to the Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Visiting the lighthouses is a classic thing to do in the Outer Banks. Bodie Island is a sightseeing destination that is hard to pass up if you’re in the area. It’s a beacon that stands tall and shines bright even today. You can even climb all 219 spiraled steps to the top if you’re feeling fit and froggy for a beautiful view of the surrounding marshes and forests.

It is a very rewarding experience and worth every shaky step you take back down to the ground. The property is surrounded by marshlands and saltwater ponds. So there are lots interesting birds and coastal critters that can be spotted on the property as well. This also makes for some great nature photos in a very unexpected place. Something to note about climbing the lighthouse, you have to purchase your tickets in for a specific climb time on the day you plan to climb.

Climbing The Lighthouse

Climbs start every 20 minutes beginning at 9AM and running until 5 or so in the afternoon. Children have to be able to climb steps on their own and have to be 42” tall. Carrying children/infants isn’t permitted at all if you are climbing the lighthouse and there is also a weight limit on this little adventure of 260 lbs/person. So just keep these little tidbits in mind as you plan your visit.

Even if you don’t climb to the top of the lighthouse, it is still a very cool place to visit. The rangers are on hand to answer questions and provide interesting bits of information about the history of the lighthouse and the area in general. They are always friendly and very knowledgeable which is a huge plus when you’re curious about what kind of bulb is in the lighthouse or when it was converted from a manual to automated system and how that works. Not that you’re curious about those things, but I definitely was.

Cost Breakdown

Free/viewing exterior and walking the grounds

$10/Adult Lighthouse Climber

$5/Youth, Senior or Disability Lighthouse Climber

Tickets to climb can be purchased on the Bodie Island Lighthouse Tickets page.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Cape Hatteras is one of our other favorite lighthouses on the east coast but isn’t available for climbing as I’m writing this in the spring of 2022. It should reopen for climbing after the restorations are completed. It’s a few more steps (total of 257 steps to the top) and the same rules apply except there is no weight limit. I can’t wait for the interior to be restored but in the meantime, you can visit the site to see the outside of the iconic lighthouse and visit the Hatteras Island Visitor Center and Museum of the Sea for free.

You can do a virtual tour of the lighthouse and check out the webcam to enjoy the views from the top of the lighthouse here. Be sure to scroll around in each area. You can look up and down virtually as well. I watched the video once before going to the lighthouse and then did so again while walking around the outside of it which gives you a good idea of where you would be inside the building if you were traveling up the spiral staircase.

Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station

Well, this is one I fell in love with to start just because of the name. The first time we passed by this historic site, I literally turned around just so I could make sure I saw the name right. It’s pronounced “Chick-cah-mah-com-a-co” for anyone wondering. It should be a kid’s nursery rhyme song shouldn’t it?

This is a surprisingly fun thing to do in the Outer Banks as well. This stop is hour or two very well spent if you like unique historical sites and museums. This site houses many of the original buildings on the original site so you get a pretty good idea of what life was like for the crews stationed here. This little treasure of a place has a museum that showcases some of the Chicamacomico crews’ biggest rescues. It’s the only life saving station that is open to the public as a museum and has been incredibly well preserved and restored.

These lifesaving crews were the precursor to our current US Coastguard. There’s a lot more interesting info about this station, but I’m not going to geek out and spoil the whole thing. You’ll have to go check out the museum to learn about this life saving station.

The station is open Monday-Friday from 10am-5pm and the last tour starts at 4pm. The tour takes about an hour and during the summer they have weekly beach apparatus drills and sometimes there’s even live music and lectures. Of course, the fact that this is a free museum and historical site tour makes it an even better hidden gem than most!

Ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke

Take a little trip across the Pamlico Sound on one of the most pleasant ferry rides you can take in North Carolina. It’s about 45 minutes to get from one side to the other and the views are absolutely stunning. Just hop on the ferry via car, bike or on foot and enjoy a peaceful ride over to Ocracoke Island for a great little day trip.

Most of the shops and restaurants stay open pretty late and the last ferry departs at midnight. You can enjoy a whole day or just an evening playing on Ocracoke and the ferry lets you see the Outer Banks from a little different perspective. You get to see the natural beauty of the Hatteras Inlet in a way you can’t from shore.

The Best Part About The Ferry

Best of all, it’s free whether you’re in a car or on foot. If you are leaving from the Hatteras terminal, just pull up into the waiting lanes secure your spot in line then hop out of the car to grab a sandwich or soda or browse the gift shop at the Hatteras Terminal. It’s my favorite place to find cute OBX themed shirts and visors as well. It’s a cute little shopping area so if you get there 30-45 minutes before the ferry leaves, you have some time to browse.

The terminal at Ocracoke has restrooms and vending machines, but there are no shops or restaurants. But, you can meander down to the beach on one of the little paths that are off to the side of the waiting lanes. This is a great place to find little seashells and take some beautiful beach photos as well. Did I mention the ferry ride is free? Just making sure.

Jennette’s Pier

Located in Nags Head, this is our avorite pier in the Outer Banks. Check out native fish species in the aquarium then take a romantic stroll on the pier in the evening or early morning. Sit and watch people fish or go fishing yourself anytime of year.

There are also week long summer surfing, fishing day camps and exploration one day camps for kids. Depending on the time of year, you can catch black drum, bluefish, cobia, croaker, dolphin fish (mahi mahi), flounder grey trout, king mackerel, pinfish, pigfish, pompano, puffers, rays, red drum, sheepshead, spadefish, Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, skate, spot and others. Pin-rig fishing, jigging and bottom fishing are all permitted on the pier (but pin rig fishing is only allowed at the end of the pier and requires an additional fee. For more information check out Jennette’s Pier.

Cost Breakdown

Walk The Pier

$2/Adult

$1/Child

Daily Fishing Pass

$14/Adult

$7/Child

Rent A Rod & Reel

$12.00/Day

Alligator River Wild Life Refuge

This was an unexpected nice find for us. I was expecting to see turtles and cranes, but seeing a family of black bears and a pair of wolves was incredibly cool. We found out about Alligator River Refuge when we stopped by the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island and it ended up being one of our ”must do” things to do in the Outer Banks from then on. We were driving around outside of Manteo killing some time and came across the visitor center which has information about all the wildlife refuges in the area.

It’s a great little place to stop if you have any interest in wildlife or finding good places to take nature photos in the refuges. As for Alligator River, you can kayak, canoe, walk or drive around to watch for red wolves, black bears, river otters, alligators and other animals that thrive in the wetlands and marshes of this refuge. This is one of the only places you can see red wolves in the wild and there are around 100 wolves in the area.

How to see the critters

We kayaked along one of the shorter color coded paddle trails. There are around 15 miles of paddle trails you can take. Most years, the refuge offers canoe tours however, they will not be offered in 2022. Another easy way to see the bigger animals is to drive along the Murphy Peterson Wildlife Dr or you can walk two short trails. The animals are accustomed to seeing vehicles and just continue on about their day as you drive through their habitat.

For the folks who want a guided tour during the summer months there is also an open air tram tour on Wednesday mornings. This is a great way to view wildlife and get a lot of insightful information about the local wildlife. The open-air tram requires reservations. You can call 252-216-9464 to register in advance for the tram. Registration closes at 2:00 pm the day before the trip or when full. For more info check out Alligator River & Pea Island NWR

Cost Breakdown

Entrance to the refuge and many ranger led programs are free of charge

Open Air Tram

$10/Adult (13 and up)

Free/12 & under w/ a paying adult

Wrapping Up Things To Do In The Outer Banks

No matter where you decide to stay in the Outer Banks, you’ll find great options for adventure, relaxation, education and fun. You’ll find things to do in the Outer Banks that you can’t do anywhere else. No matter what things you decide to do in the Outer Banks remember to enjoy the culture, comfort and cuisine of this unique southern destination.

If you’re looking for great reasonably priced places to grab some breakfast or a good shrimp po’boy, you can find that information in our Foodie Things To Do In OBX article. When you’re ready to head west to the hills of the good old north state, check out Unique Things To Do in the Mountains.