Top Things to do in Outer Banks
Top Hotels in Outer Banks
- 1. Hampton Inn & Suites Outer Banks / Corolla
- 2. Sanderling Resort
- 3. Sea Ranch Resort
- 4. Holiday Inn Express Nags Head Oceanfront, an IHG Hotel
- 5. The Island Motel
- 6. Best Western Ocean Reef Suites
- 7. Days Inn by Wyndham Kill Devil Hills Oceanfront - Wilbur
- 8. Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Nags Head Oceanfront
- 9. Shutters On the Banks
- 10. Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk
Countries
What to do and see in Outer Banks, North Carolina Coast: The Best Hidden Gems Things to do
The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a 100-mile stretch of barrier islands dotted with pristine beaches, quaint towns and historic sites.
If you love swimming, kayaking, or surfing, be sure to visit the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. To really experience local culture, explore each coastal village and sample as much food as you can along the way. (Pro tip: Try the catch of the day.) If you’re looking for a history lesson, check out Roanoke Island or the Wright Brothers National Memorial. And of course, no day is complete without watching the sunset from Jockey’s Ridge.
Restaurants in Outer Banks
1. Back Country Safari Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,638 reviews
Custom open-air Safari Beach Cruisers take you & your family on off-road explorations of the Outer Banks northern beaches.
2. Segway Of The Outer Banks
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 124 reviews
Experience off-road Segway thrills on bumpy sand trails thru the Spanish Mustang preserve OR cruise thru the old Village of Corolla on your own personal Segway!
3. Barrier Island Aviation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 193 reviews
The best way to view the magnificent beauty of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Seating up to two passengers in front of our pilot, our open cockpit aircraft is one of the original WWII trainer biplanes built by WACO. Flying in this vintage aircraft is truly an unforgettable experience! We also offer rides in a Cessna 172 (3 passengers) & a Cessna 206 (5 passengers).
4. Wild Horse Adventure Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9,975 reviews
COVID-19 Update: Please see our website for details on how we are operating amid the new local and state health recommendations. Feel the ocean breeze and taste the salty air! See the wild horses of the Outer Banks and whip through beach, dune, and forest trails with Hummer Adventure Tours. Discover some of the most unique sights the Outer Banks has to offer. Our friendly and knowledgeable tour guides take you onto pristine northern beaches that are accessible only with a 4x4 off-road vehicle. With more terrain, no two tours are ever the same; so if you like history, ecology, adventure, and quick-witted comedy, we have you covered.
5. Equine Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 330 reviews
Horseback riding on the beach. Ride through the Buxton Maritime forest out to the pristine beaches of Hatteras Island. We offer 2 hour guided horse tours daily. Reservations are required and are available online as well as by phone.Open year round. Join us for a ride and see the island from a different perspective. All levels of riders accommodated and appreciated.
Reviewed By 934haleym
Of the many trail rides we’ve experienced, this one ranks as one of the best! Gorgeous views, knowledgeable, friendly, and organized staff, as well as happy and well-taken care of horses. We loved our ride led by Marlee! Marlee was a wonderful guide with great knowledge about horses and the surrounding area and customized the ride to ensure we had a great time. We tremendously appreciate how the horses enjoy their job and are treated very humanely. They found perfect horses for our skill level and provided a safe Covid-19 protocol. 10/10 would recommend!
6. Ride The Wind Surf & Kayak
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 211 reviews
Ride the Wind is a full service surf shop, offering surf instruction, surf camps, surf & kayak rentals, Standup Paddleboarding, and the latest in surf apparel, footwear, and sunglasses.
Reviewed By A9197LXrobertm
We were a family of four that had never tried stand up paddle boards. Our waitress Cathy at Howard's Pub recommended Ride the Wind surf shop down the street in Ocracoke. Robert and Jesse gave us the lowdown on board rentals. $20.00 per hour. Other longer term rates available. We parked at the shop. Their dock is across the street - very convenient. Jesse outfitted us with life jackets, paddles and a board. None of us had formal training on the boards - only from watching videos and other boarders. We were able to climb on the boards and stand up. It took 5 - 10 minutes acclimation for balancing skills to kick in. For me it helped to focus on the horizon. In one hour we paddled around Silver Lake and out to Pamlico Sound towards the light house. Our round trip was an hour. Just enough for us. Ride the Wind on Silver Lake Harbor is an excellent intro to Stand Up Paddle boarding - I would recommend for anyone thinking of trying it out for the first time, or accomplished paddlers.
7. Coastal Helicopters
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 329 reviews
Coastal Helicopters, Inc. offers Outer Banks helicopter tours and charters with chances to see popular OBX attractions, from the air, including the Wright Brothers Monument, lighthouses, fishing piers, shipwrecks, dolphins, schools of fish and more. The Outer Banks draws thousands of vacationers every year, but most people only see it from their beach chairs and car seats. If you want to experience the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the most unforgettable way, then an Outer Banks helicopter tour is exactly what you need! With room on the helicopter for three passengers, every seat is a window seat!
8. Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 392 reviews
Reviewed By allisonk835 - South Riding, United States
My husband and I were greatly impressed by the staff knowledge. Self guided tour was wonderful giving us time to explore the property and consider the lives of the USLSS a century ago.
9. OBX Biplanes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 316 reviews
See the Outer Banks by air...experience the magic, romance and adventure of an open-cockpit biplane ride or a ride in a vintage T6 Texan warbird. The wind in your hair, the sun on your face, and joy in your heart! There’s really nothing quite like the experience of open-cockpit flying over the Outer Banks, the rumble of the large radial engine, spectacular views along the beautiful North Carolina coast, all while enjoying a narrated airplane tour from one of our experienced obx airplane pilots. Book Outer Banks air tours and charters on OBX biplanes and OBX warbirds because they are the best way for the family to experience the Outer Banks and see all the OBX attractions - lighthouses, monuments, ocean, sounds, islands and more.
10. Coastal Explorations
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 184 reviews
Coastal Explorations is an outdoor touring company dedicated to providing adventure, education, and entertainment fueled by the resources in our own backyard - The Outer Banks of North Carolina. Come join us on a kayak trip or stand-up paddleboard lesson, rent your own kayak or stand-up paddleboard, or go on a crabbing charter for some fun and a fresh seafood dinner!
