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 History Museums
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. Buffalo City Exhibit
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
What happened? An entire city just vanished...all of the buildings...all of the people just disappeared. Well yes and no. It was more of a wild west town except it was in eastern N.C. Life there was difficult to say the least. The people made a living in the logging industry and making moonshine. Step back in time and discover what was once Dare County's largest town, Buffalo City.
2. Ocracoke Preservation Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 163 reviews
A tiny museum that features the history of Blackbeard, the 18th-century pirate.
Reviewed By sandcmom - Boone, United States
We stumbled across this gem after eating lunch at sMacNally's. It's full of Ocracoke history but the best part is that it won't take up a whole lot of your time. It's just a small place and I think we were there maybe 30min. We soaked it all in and we on to enjoy the rest of the island. It's free which is always nice, but they do have little donation jars sat around if you do want to donate.
3. Wright Brothers National Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,204 reviews
Park where visitors can see a replica of the Wright Brothers' plane and receive an entertaining history of flight.
Reviewed By PHLee7ca - Ellicott City, United States
We visited this attraction on a sunny Saturday in October. The cost was $10/adult and lots of free parking. We first walked around the grounds and saw the old "runway", sheds, and climbed up Kill Devil Hill to see the monument and view of the town. Then we joined the narrated tour by one of the Park Rangers, she was very informative and animated! We then spent the rest of our time touring inside the info. center and got our "passports" stamped in the Gift Store! From the top of the hill, we noticed a full scale scene of the first flight and stopped by on our drive out....very nice, all the "characters" immortalized in bronze along with the plane. A very nice "park", museum and history lesson.
4. Roanoke Island Festival Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 496 reviews
Experience a new adventure in an old-world at Roanoke Island Festival Park. This 25-acre historic site allows guests of all ages to experience first hand what life was like for the first English settlers in 1585. Historic costumed interpreters are featured through Indian Town, the Settlement Site and the Elizabeth II ship to show and tell how the first settlers lived, worked and played on Roanoke Island. For a hands-on history lesson, visit the Adventure Museum that features interactive exhibits that all ages will enjoy. The park also serves as a venue for concerts, events and weddings in the indoor theatre or outdoor waterfront pavilion. Whether you’re enjoying the museum or an outdoor concert, Festival Park offers a stunning location with piers, nature trails and picturesque views at every turn. Experience an unforgettable adventure on the Outer Banks at Roanoke Island Festival Park – where history comes alive.
Reviewed By Mike58318 - Front Royal, United States
Me and wife visited here during our vacation in South Nads Head .We especially enjoyed the tour of the ship Elizabeth and the folks on board were very informative . We toured the grounds as well and the fellow in the blacksmith shop was very informative,he was English, and his accent enhanced our experience making for a great visit
5. Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,160 reviews
Open for the 2021 season, daily, 9a-5pm, weather permitting. Climb the 220 steps to the top for a breathtaking view while learning from docents, brochures, and exhibits about shipwrecks, the lives of lighthouse keepers, the history of the tower (it filled the last remaining dark space on the east coast in 1875) and the original 1st order Fresnel lens. The beacon continues to be an active aid to navigation (3 seconds on, 17 off). The station is preservation effort of the Outer Banks Conservationists along with the State of NC and the USCG through the NHLHP Act of 2000. $10/person (card or cash); Children ages 0-3 may ascend (free) but only in a carrier with adult 18 or over. All other climbers $10.* Children 13+ may climb alone with parent signature.
Reviewed By rbrich - Cherryville, United States
This is a beautiful lighthouse that from the top you can see the ocean and the sound, it shows just how narrow the strip of land that makes up the outer banks is. This is the second time we have visited this lighthouse and it was just as fun this year as it was 12 years ago.
6. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 478 reviews
Historic museum that tells the story of the 16th-century Roanoke Island colonists.
Reviewed By NancyW871 - Cincinnati, United States
Being a descendant of settlers of Jamestown, I guess I never really bothered to learn about Roanoke Island/Fort Raleigh, except what I've seen on Discovery and American Horror Story. Not wanting to make the 2 hour trip to Ocracoke with the grandkids, I thought this might offer up some history, imagination, mystery, and a romp in the sound. My granddaughter is in to Jr. Ranger Badges, so we came here twice. The first day we watched the little movie, hiked the interpretive trail to the sound, which resulted in 3 wet kids, and picked up the booklet. The second day was the diorama, artifacts, local Algonquin cultural history, learning about the underground railroad (still amazed this was a stop!), and of course, scoring the coveted badge. It could easily be done in one day, but we arrived late the first day and spent way too much time in the sound, so the visitor center was closed when we finished playing. It was fascinating to learn how the whole idea was really about getting a one-up on the Spanish and finding and abundance of (speculated) gold. It was all about the money - at least for Sir Raleigh. But to the lost/forgotten/abandoned settlers, it was about a bountiful new world. Once again, if there isn't a fortune to be made, the hell with them!
7. Outer Banks History Center
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 7 reviews
Visitors will find a wealth of information pertaining to the rich heritage of the Outer Banks at this regional library, which includes more than 25,000 books, 4,500 official documents of the U.S. Coast Guard, 30,000 photographs and 700 maps.
