Ten Top Outer Banks Sunny Day Activities

When you go to the Outer Banks of North Carolina you expect sunny days and beautiful beaches.  And that is usually what you get. If not, then that not so wonderful weather usually passes through quickly.  In another post I’ll suggest some rainy day activities, but this is about Outer Beach activities besides enjoying the beach or pool.

My Outer Banks Top Ten Sunny Day Activities

1. Jockey Ridge State Park, Nags Head, NC.

Jockey Ridge State Park is the place to be for many different activities.

Sunset: the park offers a top of the dunes view for those who want to experience a glorious sunset over the sound.  Every evening many people head into the park and trek up to the top of the dunes to gather in groups, picnic, and enjoy watching the sun setting in the west.  The park contains the tallest living sand dunes on the Atlantic which means the view from the top is pretty spectacular. Climbing your way up to the top of the dunes means you can see a long way up and down the Atlantic coastline and out over the Roanoke Sound to the mainland.  Take your camera, something to snack on, a blanket or chairs, or be prepared to stand for awhile, and find your spot for the view. There really is not a bad viewing spot anywhere on the dune’s top so experiment around before you settle to watch. For safety and to offer help as needed, a park ranger joins the crowd each evening.

Hang gliding: the park is probably the best place to hang glide on the Outer Banks.  It offers clear sightlines and lots of wind for those willing to hang glide.  Be aware the winds up on top of the dunes can blow as much as 10 to 15 miles per hour.  To hang glide here you must first get a permit at the park’s visitor center and have a current USHPA membership or other agency approved rating card.  For those without such a rating, but still wanting to try it out you can take hang gliding lessons from the company with the concession located near to the park’s visitor center.  Also, note that hang gliding stops one hour before the park closes.

Kite flying: while you can fly a kite pretty much anywhere along any Outer Banks beach, flying one from the dunes is rather special.  As mentioned, there is plenty of wind and not much in the way of obstruction up at the top of the dunes. On any sunny day, you see kites flying from the top of the dunes, but the dunes are so big there is plenty of room for all to fly a kite.

Sandboarding: if you like snowboarding, then you might want to try to sandboard on the dunes if you have your own board.  Check with the visitor’s center for the areas you can use and when you can do it.

Nature Views and Trails: there are three short hikes available.  None of them will take long, but they do offer a glimpse into the maritime plant and animal life of the dunes.  The boardwalk is 360 feet long and offers a viewing deck with benches at its end. From there you can continue onward to climb up the dunes. The Soundside Nature Trail is located off West Soundside Road and offers a short half mile round trip loop through maritime shrubs.  Since the dunes’ height protects the thicket from the strong northeast winds, there are many varieties of plants here. The Tracks in the Sand Trail offers a slightly longer route of just over a mile round trip that leads to the Roanoke Sound. You can access this trail from the southwest corner of the main parking lot.

Other Park Activities: check the park’s website for ranger led programs and hikes.  They often offer ranger led nature hikes through the park and kayaking tours along the sound.  These are usually free, but some require pre-registration.

One other important thing to know about Jockey Ridge State Park is you must have shoes to help protect your feet from the hot sand and sandspurs.  The sand bakes in the sun all day which means the sand gets really hot so beware of burning the soles of your feet. Also, as anyone who has spent time in warm sandy areas knows, sandspur plants are everywhere and it’s painful to have the burs harpoon like stick into your feet. For more information about Jockey’s Ridge State Park and current hours check it out at https://www.ncparks.gov/jockeys-ridge-state-park  The park address is 300 W. Carolista Drive, Nags Head, NC 27959. 252.441.7132.

2. Outer Banks Lighthouses.

For those who like to look at or climb up inside lighthouses a visit to the Outer Banks means you’ve got five lighthouses to explore and experience.  These lighthouses are listed below in order starting in the north and then going south. Not all offer a climbing experience, but all are historic North Carolina coastline lighthouses.  For each one, I’ve listed both the lighthouse address and its website. Use the website to get further and up-to-date information.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse is in the northern beach village of Corolla.  This lighthouse does not get any government funding and is funded and maintained through its nonprofit organization.  Climbing up the 220 steps to the top costs $10.00 and tickets are sold on a timed entry basis. The view from the top lets the climber see a large part of the Currituck Sound, the Atlantic Ocean, the Currituck Outer Banks, and the village of Corolla.  This is still an active lighthouse with a light that can be seen for 18 nautical miles after dark. It’s exterior has been left unpainted in its natural red brick color. During the summer the lighthouse is open most days from 9 AM until 5 PM, but stays open until 8 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Currituck Lighthouse website: http://www.currituckbeachlight.com/  Address: Currituck Beach Lighthouse, 1101 Corolla Village Road, Corolla, NC 27927.  252.453.4939

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse.  This lighthouse is on the waterfront in Manteo on Roanoke Island.  Roanoke Island is located between the Outer Banks town of Nags Head and the North Carolina mainland.  The Lighthouse is a reconstruction of a 1877 square cottage style screw-pile lighthouse. That original lighthouse was located at the southern entrance to the Croatan Sound.  This is not a climb to the top kind of lighthouse since it is a low one story square building that is only 37’ tall. This is an example of a river type lighthouse of the sort which were used  to guard entrances to rivers and harbors. The lighthouse sits out about 40 feet into the Roanoke Sound with seating on its surrounding decking and offers a view of the sound and downtown Manteo.  The lighthouse is managed by the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum that is located next to the lighthouse.  Check out the museum for exhibits on local coastal history. For the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, check the attractions link at the Manteo town website for more information at: https://www.townofmanteo.com  Address: Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, 300 Queen Elizabeth Ave, Manteo, NC 27954.

Bodie Island Light Station.  This lighthouse is off of NC Route 12S not too far from where you turn south on 12 out of Nags Head.  This is a working lighthouse where you can climb to the top several months out of the year. It has over 200 steps and climbing up it is the equivalent of climbing up a ten story building.  The lighthouse is painted in a distinctive pattern of alternating horizontal white and black stripes. It is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and run by the National Park Service.  The view from the top offers a view of the Outer Banks barrier islands stretching north and south. While you are visiting, take the time to walk the boardwalk into the marsh. The boardwalk gives you a chance to see the marsh thicket up close along with some local wildlife and birds.  I found it offered some great photo opportunities in several places. Tickets to climb this lighthouse are sold on a timed basis, so visit early to get your climb in before it gets really hot out. Bodie Island Light Station website: https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/bils.htm or  www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/lighthouseclimbs.htm   Bodie Island Lighthouse, 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse, Nags Head, NC 27959   Phone number is for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Visitor Center 252.473.2111.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located off NC Route 12S in Buxton.  To get to the top means climbing 257 steps, the equivalent of climbing up a 12 story building.  It is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and is run by the National Park Service. This lighthouse is an extremely popular visitor attraction so get there early to buy your timed entry ticket.  Ticket sales begin at 9 AM and they go fast. Climbs run every 10 minutes and are limited to 30 visitors per climbing time. Ever wanted to climb a lighthouse after dark? You can do it this year on the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Full Moon Tours offered on June 17th, July 16th, August 15th, and September 14th.  Each of those evenings have two climb times, but you must reserve your ticket ahead of time. More information on these moonlight climbs can be found at https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/lighthouseclimbs.htm  You can see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse from far away pretty easily as it is painted black and white in spiral stripes. That and its height makes it easily catch the eye.  At the base of the lighthouse is a visitor center and small gift shop. Check out the Cape Hatteras Light Station website at: https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/chls.htm or www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/lighthouseclimbs.htm   Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 46368 Lighthouse Road, Buxton, NC 27920

Ocracoke Light Station.  To get to this lighthouse you need to find your way all the way south down the Outer Banks to the small island and village of Ocracoke.  There are three different routes to get to Ocracoke, but all involve taking a ferry. The ferry from 12S to Ocracoke is the only ferry that is free, but be aware it is a long drive down the southern Outer Banks from Nags Head on 12S to get to the ferry stop to take you to Ocracoke.  This is the smallest lighthouse on the Outer Banks at 75 feet tall. Its exterior color is solid white. It is also North Carolina’s oldest lighthouse in operation, but it is not open for climbing. Visitors are welcome to the site of the lighthouse and the village of Ocracoke is always fun place to wander around in..  The lighthouse is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and is operated by the National Park Service. Ocracoke Light Station website: https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/ols.htm  Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, Lighthouse Road, Ocracoke, NC 27960.

3.  Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve.  

For those who want to experience what the Outer Banks must have been like before it was developed, this is the place to go.  The preserve contains over 1000 acres and is free to visit. It is owned and operated by The Nature Conservancy. Hiking trails are open every day from dawn to to dusk (foot only, not for bikes or other vehicle use).  The preserve contains sand dunes, freshwater ponds, marshes, and wetlands. Try the Blueberry Ridge Boardwalk and trail of 3.5 miles or the Sweetgum Swamp Trail, 2.25 miles, or the 1.5 round trip Roanoke Trail on the western edge of the preserve.  There is also a half mile ADA accessible trail that combines a wooden boardwalk and concrete pathway. Address: 701 West Ocean Acres Drive, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948. 252.441.2525. Website: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/nags-head-woods-ecological-preserve/

4. Airplane Ride.  Who has not wanted to someday take a flight in a small plane?  Visiting the Outer Banks gives you your chance to do it. While it can be an expensive outing, an airplane ride offers the opportunity to see the Outer Banks and its coastline from a distinctly different vantage point - way up high.  Go up in a plane or helicopter and imagine yourself as a heir to the Wright Brothers in the place man first made a successful motorized flight. There are at least three companies that offer a flight experience out of Manteo, NC. Check out these companies (I don’t recommend any particular company, but do recommend you do some research to see what you feel is safe and comfortable for you and your family.)  Check at the Dare County Regional Airport, 410 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954, 252.475.5570, for companies and types of flights available; website https://www.darenc.com/departments/airport/airport-business-director  Short flights can cost as little as $15.00 per person each for a three person ride.  Costs go up from there for rides depending on the type of aircraft, number of passengers on a flight, and the length of the flight.

5. Manteo, NC.  Manteo is located on Roanoke Island which lies between Nags Head on the Outer Banks and the North Carolina mainland.  You can get there off of US Highway 64 going west from Nags Head or east from the mainland. The downtown of Manteo is a great place to wander around with many short crooked streets, small shops, a brewpub, interesting restaurants, a attractive waterfront for strolling around and looking at the many boats in the harbor, and some nearby historic sights.  There is also a Saturday Farmers Market loaded with fresh produce for those willing to venture out into the Saturday summer season traffic of the Outer Banks. Roanoke Island was the site of the 1587 English ‘Lost Colony’ which had disappeared by 1590. That event and further settlement of the area provides a context for the many historical attractions around Manteo.  Roanoke Island Festival Park located at 1 Festival Park, Manteo, NC contains or is nearby to several things worth seeing including: Settler’s Village and Native American Camp; the Elizabeth II, a 16th century sailing ship replica, check it out at https://www.outerbanks.com/elizabeth-ii.html ; the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo,  which explores the fort built there in the 1580s, https://www.outerbanks.com/fort-raleigh.html ; and for those who enjoy gardens explore the 10 acre Elizabethan Gardens.1411 National Park Drive, Manteo, https://www.outerbanks.com/elizabethan-gardens.html.  Also in Manteo is the Pavilion Outdoor Theatre which features outdoor concerts and live entertainment.  In addition, the Roanoke Adventure Museum offers visitors 400 years of Roanoke Island history all in one spot.

6.  Wild Horse Tours.  

Corolla/Carova Wild Horses.  The wild horses of the Outer Banks are descended from the Spanish mustangs. They roam wild in two main places, north of Corolla in the northern outer banks, especially in Carova and on Ocracoke Island at the southern end of the Outer Banks.  In Corolla there are several companies that offer wild horse tours which is probably the best way to see them and take some photos. Different companies use different vehicles from open air safari style type big jeeps, to SUVs, to jeeps. They take you out off the road over the beach and up into the areas where the wild horses roam.  Most of the guides I’ve ridden with are quite knowledgeable about the herd and are even familiar with individual horses. They will inform you of their history, including how the horses got there and how they survive. You should know that you are not allowed to get real close to the horses, but you can still get close enough so that even a point and shoot camera or cell phone can get a nice picture.

Ocracoke Wild Horses.  The wild horses on Ocracoke Island live protected within a secluded 180 acre area on the soundside of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  The Ocracoke band is a small one and they are referred to as Ocracoke’s Banker ponies or wild mustangs. There is a wooden fence to keep them away from direct public contact, but you can often see them roaming through their area.  It is believed that these wild horses are descendants of horses from Spanish shipwrecks from long ago around the mid 1500s. The herd today is very small, around 15 to 17 horses, but there are local efforts working with the National Park Service to maintain the health of the herd and increase its numbers.  The Ocracoke Pony Pen has feeding stations. If you drive along 12S on Ocracoke, you will see the National Park Service sign for the Pony Pen. There is a soundside parking area close to the wooden fence borders. Stop there and take a look for the horses. The soundside parking area is across the street from a beach access so if you get hot while waiting to spot a pony, head on over to the beach for a refreshing cool off.  In addition, there is a lifeguarded beach along with a soundside nature trail located about three miles south of the Pony Pen.

7. Crabbing.  Crabbing can be a fun activity on the Outer Banks.  To go crabbing for many crabs, you need to check about having a North Carolina fishing license.  However, to do a little spot crabbing using chicken necks or other bait with a fishing line, you don’t need a license.  Recreational harvest limits apply and you cannot sell what you catch. But that is ok, as in my experience it is more the fun of trying to catch the critters and then eat the few that are large enough to bother with that makes crabbing something to try at least once.  So I am not talking about using collapsible crab traps, but instead of catching individual crabs using a line and some bait. Tie your bait to one end of a fishing line and toss it into the water. Hold on to the other end or tie it to a dock post or fishing pole holder.  Wait and when the line seems to tighten, then a crab is after your bait. Be patient and slowly pull in the line without disturbing the crab who is munching on your bait. A slow and gentle pull allows the crab to hang on until you get it close to the surface. Then put a small fishing net into the water underneath the crab and scoop it out of the water.  Be sure you have a cooler to put your caught crabs in if you intend to keep the crabs to cook and eat later. Note: you can’t catch more than 50 crabs in one day and the ones you keep must be between 5” to 6.75”. Otherwise you can’t keep them and need to put them back into the water. Oh, and be sure to watch out for the claws!

8. Golfing.  Golfing can be relaxing, fun, and a good way to get outside.  I recommend you try for early morning tee times due to the summer heat of the Outer Banks, but those times will be the most expensive.  If you can tolerate the heat and don’t mind starting until the afternoon hours, then the price will drop. You can rent clubs, shoes, whatever you need or you can bring your own equipment.  There are at least four golf courses on the mainland on US 158 East before you get to the bridge over to the Outer Banks. There are several public golf courses on the Outer Banks themselves, but be aware that these courses can be expensive.  Try https://www.golfnow.com/ to see what kind of pricing you can find to make it less expensive, but if you like to golf then it is really fun to go golfing on the Outer Banks.  One course in Nags Head is the Nags Head Golf Links, a links-style course located on the sound front. It is at: 5615 S. Seachase Drive, Nags Head, NC 27959, 252.441.8073.  The views out over the Roanoke Sound from many spots on the course are a plus here. Check out their prices (which vary seasonally and weekday) at http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Nags-Head-Golf-Links/Golf/Rates  Remember, although it is hot and humid in the summer months on the Outer Banks, the wind there can help to cool you off.  Just remember to bring plenty of water or something refreshing to keep you hydrated and wear suntan lotion to prevent sunburn.

Miniature golfing.  For those who don’t want to take vacation time for a full golf course experience or those who don’t golf, there is miniature golf.  There are many miniature golf courses on most of the Outer Banks islands so there are lots of places to choose from. Miniature golf can be really fun in the evening when it is cooler and a good way to socialize with your families and friends.  There is a real grass miniature golf course in Corolla which does not have all the tricks, turns, or tunnels of most miniature golf courses, but is surprisingly fun to play as it somewhat reminiscent of the real thing.

9. Fishing boat or Dolphin Sightseeing Boat Tours.  Going out on the ocean further from the coastline on a fishing boat excursion or a dolphin sightseeing boat tour is a great daytime activity.  If you like to fish or think you want to try it, then sign up for an excursion ahead of time with one of the many companies that offer them. You can check around for a company in your chosen Outer Banks location, find a listing in one of the many Outer Banks brochures, or stop at the visitor center when you arrive on the Outer Banks just after crossing over the bridge from the mainland.  There also many boat tours that take people out out to see dolphins off shore. Both fishing boat and dolphin boat tours can be half day or whole day excursions. Prices for these vary by company, your location, season and/or weekday, and length of the tour. Being out on a boat seeing the coastline from the water gives you a different perspective of the Outer Banks. And being able to catch some photos of dolphins playing in the water is always something I enjoy.

10. Water Sports.  The opportunities are almost everywhere for experiencing different kinds of water sports.  Tear yourself away from walking the beach and swimming to give one of these sports a try. There are multiple rental sports equipment companies up and down the northern and southern Outer Banks.  Kitty Hawk Kites is one of the larger companies offering both equipment and lessons. If you are hesitant to try a sport, then arrange for a beginner’s lesson so you will feel more comfortable giving your chosen activity a try.  Remember that the sound, in addition to the ocean, can be a good playground. Try a jet ski for an adrenaline rush as you move fast through the sound. Remember that rental fees will vary by company and your location, but most generally run about $70 for 30 minutes or $100 for a whole hour of jet skiing.  For those adventurers out there, another sport to try which gives you great views of the Outer Banks is parasailing. Somewhat less thrilling, but still a great way to see the waters of the Outer Banks is kayaking. There are so many location options for kayaking that it can be hard to pick just one. Bring your own kayak or rent one or try a locally guided kayak tour.  The Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers multiple spots for kayaking. The Pea Island Launch is located at the New Inlet parking area just south of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. There is a place to launch at the Salvo Day use area just south of the village of Salvo, and in Ocracoke village there is parking lot launch across the street from the National Park Visitor Center.  Paddleboarding has soared in popularity in recent years so paddle boards are for rent in many Outer Banks locations by either the hour or at a day rate. One company with multiple locations throughout the Outer Banks is Kitty Hawk Kites which offers paddle boards and other kinds of sports equipment. They also have a stand alone kiosk right on the Duck waterfront boardwalk. Check out their website at: https://www.kittyhawk.com/adventures/stand-up-paddleboarding/