Bay Meadow 25

Four Bedroom Soundfront Home in Nags Head

Tour the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

Located on Roanoke Island, the North Carolina Aquarium is a 68,000 square-foot facility with a "Waters of the Outer Banks" theme. Visitors see a variety of marine communities including coastal freshwaters, wetlands, estuaries, roadside ditches and the Gulf Stream. A main attraction at the aquarium is the Graveyard of the Atlantic tank, which holds 285,000 gallons of saltwater and is home to sea turtles, sharks and almost 1,000 other sea creatures. The aquarium is open year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily (except for Christmas and New Year's Day.) Prices are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and active military personnel, $5 for children ages six to 17, and kids five and under are free. For more information, contact the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island at (252) 473-3494.

Have a Meal at Big Al's Soda Fountain and Grill

Big Al's Soda Fountain and Grill, located in Manteo, will be a dining experience that will take you back to the 1950s. Decorated like a '50s soda fountain and grill with checkered patterns and a shiny dancing floor, you will love the experience at Big Al's! Also, Big Al's is filled with Coca-Cola memorabilia and has a unique diner-style menu. Gravy fries or chili fries? Try them both!

Paint Your Own Pottery at Studio 12

Studio 12 is a small, locally owned pottery shop located on Highway 12 in Avon. They have many pieces of unfinished pottery. You pick the pottery piece that you would like to paint. You choose your colors and design and sit down and paint the pottery. The owners will fire and glaze your piece for you and send you on your way. What would make a better Outer Banks souvenir than a piece of pottery that you chose and painted yourself? You won't regret spending a few hours in Studio 12.

Go Scuba Diving To View Underwater Shipwrecks and Sea Life

The Outer Banks is otherwise known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the more than 100 shipwrecks that have remains on the ocean floor between Corolla and Ocracoke. Wreckage from these ships is located at various depths in the ocean, and a great way to see them is by going scuba diving. As you may know, scuba diving can be very dangerous, and you must take special training in order to become a certified diver. For information on learning how to dive while you are in the Outer Banks, contact the Outer Banks Dive Center at (252) 449-8349. If you are already certified and just need a boat to take you to a diving spot, contact Outer Banks Diving and Charters at (252) 986-1056 or Atlantic Wreck Diving at (252) 986-2835.

Go Pier Fishing Off One of the Village Piers

There are numerous fishing piers that are located throughout the Outer Banks, and many anglers prefer the piers because they are relatively cheap to use and they can get to deeper waters without going out in a boat. Croakers, spot, sea mullet, red drum and cobia are commonly caught off the piers, depending on the time of year. Each pier sells bait and tackle and most of them have gear available for rent. There are fishing piers located in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Rodanthe, Avon and Frisco. Daily rates to fish on the pier range from $6 to $8 and some piers offer 3-day or weekly passes at discounted rates.

Go Swimming in the Ocean

A favorite pastime on the Outer Banks is going swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. Many people like to feel the wet sand between their toes, dive into the waves or even ride boogie boards on the waves as they go onshore. If you aren't a strong swimmer and aren't familiar with tides, don't go out too far because the ocean can be very dangerous. If you have children, make them wear life jackets and keep your eyes on them. Some of the Outer Banks beaches are protected by lifeguards, but many of them are not. Also watch for sea creatures like stingrays, jellyfish and sharks. Use caution and stay safe!

Tour the Frisco Native American Museum and Natural History Center

The Native American Museum & Natural History Center in Frisco is full of unusual collections of Native American artifacts dating back to the 1930s. The Museum has one of the largest collections of artifacts from the Chiricahua Apache tribe, as well as several artifacts from other tribes from around the country. There is a gift shop at the museum that sells various art, crafts, jewelry, toys and books. Outside the museum, there are outdoor nature trails leading into three acres of woods. The museum is open year-round on Tuesday through Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $2 per person or $5 per family, and group rates are available. For more information, contact the Museum at (252) 995-4440.

Take Your Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle on the Beach

Though there is some controversy over whether it should be allowed or not, you can drive on the beach in many parts of the Outer Banks in designated off-road beach access areas. You will need to have a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle to prevent getting stuck, and you may not go over 25 mph while driving on the beach. Some places don't allow beach driving and some require permits to drive on the beach, so check with the local area officials to make sure you are following the rules. For more information, contact the National Park Service at (252) 473-2111.

Go Boating in the Atlantic Ocean or One of the Local Sounds

There are several docks and marinas located throughout the Outer Banks to accommodate a range of boat sizes, from small skiffs to large pleasure boats. Space is limited during the summer months, especially on the weekends, so be sure to call ahead for slip reservations. Thousands of visitors bring their boats to the Outer Banks each year, but if you don't have your own boat, some area businesses do offer powerboat rentals. For information on marinas and dock space, a few options are the Dock of the Bay in Kitty Hawk at (252) 255-5578, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center at (252) 441-6301, Frisco Cove Marina at (252) 995-4242 or Teach's Lair Marina in Hatteras at (252) 986-2460. For boat rentals, contact The Promenade Watersports in Kitty Hawk at (252) 261-4400 or The Waterworks in Nags Head at (252) 441-8875.

Climb the Currituck Beach Lighthouse

While you are in the northern Outer Banks, stop by the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and climb the 214 steps to the top of the lighthouse. Once at the top, you will be able to get a close-up view of the 50,000 candlepower lamp that is visible for 18 nautical miles. Much like the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the stairs to the top are narrow and winding, but the unlimited views from the top are an excellent reward. Visitors may climb the lighthouse for a fee of $6, and children less than eight years old climb for free. The lighthouse is open daily from Easter through Thanksgiving.

 

Nags Head Restaurants

Subway Sandwiches & Salads
106 E Finch Street
Nags Head, NC 27959

The Players' Grill
5615 S Seachase Drive
Nags Head, NC 27959

Dairy Queen
6714 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Miller's Restaurant
6816 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

The Dunes Restaurant
7013 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Outback Steakhouse
5220 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Sonic - America's Drive-In
5205 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

New York Bagels
5000 S Croatan Highway
Outer Banks Mall
Nags Head, NC 27959

Yellow Submarine Restaurant
5000 S Croatan Highway
Outer Banks Mall
Nags Head, NC 27959

Grits Grill
5000 S Croatan Highway
Outer Banks Mall
Nags Head, NC 27959

Peking Restaurant
5000 S Croatan Highway
Outer Banks Mall
Nags Head, NC 27959

Taiko Japanese Restaurant
5000 S Croatan Highway
Outer Banks Mall
Nags Head, NC 27959

Nags Head Shopping

Forbes Candy & Gift Shop
6321 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

The Chalet Gift Shop
6406 S Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959

Reef Beachwear
106 E Finch Street
Nags Head, NC 27959

Outer Banks Birdwatchers
6705 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Farmer's Daughter
6803 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Souvenir City
6902 S Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959

Sunsations
6901 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Reef Beachwear
5215 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Food Lion
5200 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

The Cotton Gin
5151 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Dollar Tree
5120 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Publisher's Warehouse
7100 S Croatan Highway
Tanger Outlet Center of Nags Head
Nags Head, NC 27959

Outer Banks Attractions

Jennette's Pier
7223 S Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center
98 NC Highway 12
Nags Head, NC 27959

Pirate's Cove Marina & Charters
2000 Sailfish Drive
Manteo/Nags Head Causeway
Manteo, NC 27954

Outer Banks Fishing Pier
8901 Old Oregon Inlet Road
Nags Head, NC 27959

Jockey's Ridge State Park
300 W Carolista Drive
Nags Head, NC 27959

Roanoke Island Festival Park
1 Festival Park
Manteo, NC 27954

Outer Banks History Center
1 Festival Park
Manteo, NC 27954

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse
207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue
Manteo, NC 27954

North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island
104 Fernando Street
Manteo, NC 27954

Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive
Manteo, NC 27954

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
708 S US Highway 64/264
Manteo, NC 27954

The Elizabethan Gardens
1411 National Park Drive
Manteo, NC 27954

Nags Head Activities

Speed N Spray
6408 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Nags Head Golf Links
5615 S Seachase Drive
Nags Head, NC 27959

Mutiny Bay Adventure Golf
6606 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Blackbeard's Miniature Golf
6714 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Jurassic Putt
6926 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Nags Head Raceway
7000 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Bodie Island Adventures
7649 S Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959

Kitty Hawk Kites
3933 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Carolina Outdoors
3933 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Miss Kitty's Old Time Photo
3933 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Kitty Hawk Sports
3933 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Native Vine Cellars & Tasting Room
3933 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959