Go Surf Fishing on the BeachVisitors and locals to the Outer Banks share the popular Outer Banks sport of surf fishing. Red drum is prevalent during about nine months of the year. Effective in 2006, you need to purchase a fishing license to go saltwater fishing in North Carolina. In addition, some species (including red drum) are regulated for size and limit. For more information about licenses and tag and release programs, contact the Division of Marine Fisheries at (252) 473-5734. Other fish species that are common are dogfish, bluefish, pompano, striped bass, Spanish mackerel, croaker, flounder, spot and trout. The most popular surf fishing spot is the Cape Point in Buxton, located at vehicle access ramp 43, though you can surf fish pretty much anywhere on the beaches of the Outer Banks. Ride the Free Hatteras-Ocracoke FerryOcracoke Island is the southernmost island of the Outer Banks and can only be reached by ferry (or boat.) The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) runs a free ferry from Hatteras Village to Ocracoke Island. The ferry ride is approximately 40 minutes long and departs from the southern tip of Hatteras Village and arrives at the northern tip of Ocracoke Island. Once the ferry docks, it is about 15 miles to the quaint village of Ocracoke. Ferries run daily between 5:00 a.m. and midnight. In the peak season, departures from each location (Hatteras and Ocracoke) are every 30 minutes; in the off season departures are every hour. In the peak season, ferry lines tend to get long, so you will want to plan ahead. Reservations are not available for the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry. For more information, you may contact the NCDOT at (800) BY-FERRY. Go Fishing on a Private CharterThere are a large variety of inshore and offshore charters located throughout the Outer Banks. For any of the charters, you will want to make reservations at least one month in advance. The cost of private charter day trips range from $400 to $1,300, depending on the size of your group and the boat you choose. Some of the marinas are as follows: Pirate's Cove Yacht Club in Manteo at (800) 367-4728, Thicket Thump Marina in Wanchese at (252) 473-4500, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center on Bodie Island at (800) 272-5199, Hatteras Harbor Marina at (800) 676-4939, Teach's Lair Marina at (252) 986-2460 and Ocracoke Fishing Center at (252) 928-6661. Tour the Elizabethan GardensThe Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island offer a picturesque view of more than 1,000 varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers. Created in 1960 in memory of Sir Walter Raleigh's colonists for their efforts in establishing an English settlement, these botanical gardens are open year-round. The paths take visitors through 10.5 acres of some of North Carolina's most colorful flowers. Most paths are wheelchair-accessible. Garden admission is $6 for adults, $4 for kids between ages six through 18, $5 for adults age 62 and older and free for children under 5 when accompanied by an adult. Hours of operation vary throughout the year. For more information, contact The Elizabethan Gardens at (252) 473-3234. Have a Beach CampfireOne more great thing about the Outer Banks is that on a clear night when the stars come out, you can see them all. A great way to relax and see all the stars is to have a beach campfire. Take your family down to the beach just before sunset and set up your chairs, refreshments and firewood. If you would like, bring a few roasting sticks and some marshmallows. Once the sun goes down and the stars come out, you will be amazed at the view. If you are within a few miles of one of the four Outer Banks lighthouses, you will be able to see the flashing light as it makes its rotation. Don't forget to build your fire away from the dunes and vegetation, and clean up after yourselves when you are done. Enjoy the stars (and the marshmallows!) Tour the Graveyard of the Atlantic MuseumThe Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, located in Hatteras Village, was created to preserve the maritime history and shipwrecks of the Outer Banks throughout history. Emphasis in the museum is placed on the periods from 1524 to 1945. The museum has a unique design with an entrance modeled after the timbers of the many shipwrecks that have happened along the treacherous Hatteras coast. For more information, contact the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum at (252) 986-2995. Visit the Ocracoke Island Museum and Preservation SocietyOnce the private residence to Coast Guard Captain David Williams, this home was moved to its current location on Ocracoke Island's Silver Lake in 1989 and restored to its original beauty by the Ocracoke Preservation Society. Many furnishings reminiscent of the 19th century have been donated by local families, and photographs of island natives can be seen throughout the house. The museum also has several exhibits and a research library. Admission is free and the museum is open from Easter through the end of December. For more information, contact the Ocracoke Island Museum and Preservation Society at (252) 928-7375. Look at the Horses at the Ocracoke Pony PensHoused in a 180-acre pasture located just off Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island, the 30 horses that live in the Ocracoke Pony Pens are a popular attraction. Maintained by the National Park Service, the once-wild horses are a large part of the Island's history. At times in history, the herd of wild horses ranged from 200 to 500. Much like the Corolla Wild Horses, it is believed that these horses arrived on Ocracoke by swimming ashore from Spanish shipwrecks off the coast. When you make your trip to Ocracoke Island, don't forget to stop and visit the Ocracoke Pony Pens! Try Your Luck at CrabbingCrabs can be caught in local sound waters from late spring into early fall, but the best months for crabbing are May, June and July. Crabbing can be a fun activity for both adults and children and is relatively simple. You need a length of cord with suitable bait tied to one end. Chicken necks or fish heads work well for enticing the crabs onto your line. Throw the bait into the water, wait a few minutes, then pull gently on the line to see if you have a crab nibbling on the other end. Some more experienced crabbers prefer to use circular crab nets and collapsible crab traps. When you are done, boil your catch, and enjoy! If you prefer not to eat your catch, it is also fun to catch and release them back into the water. Have a Meal at Big Al's Soda Fountain and GrillBig 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! | Nags Head RestaurantsTale of the Whale Restaurant7575 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head/Manteo Causeway Nags Head, NC 27959 Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe 7623 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head/Manteo Causeway Nags Head, NC 27959 Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) 7320 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Dune Burger 7308 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Sugar Creek Soundfront Seafood Restaurant 7640 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Sam & Omie's Restaurant 7228 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Fat Boyz Ice Cream & Grill 7208 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Owens' Restaurant 7114 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 The Dunes Restaurant 7013 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Miller's Restaurant 6816 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Dairy Queen 6714 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Subway Sandwiches & Salads 106 E Finch Street Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head ShoppingOuter Banks Fishing Pier8901 Old Oregon Inlet Road Nags Head, NC 27959 Sea Tree Gallery 7332 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Daniels' Whalebone Seafood Market 101 Grey Eagle Street Nags Head, NC 27959 The Sugar Shack Fish Market 7640 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Whalebone Tackle 7667 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Jennette's Pier 7223 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Shipwreck Museum, Inc. 7746 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Cahoon RV - Grocery & Cottages 7213 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Publisher's Warehouse 7100 S Croatan Highway Tanger Outlet Center of Nags Head Nags Head, NC 27959 Claire's Accessories 7100 S Croatan Highway Tanger Outlet Center of Nags Head Nags Head, NC 27959 Gap Outlet 7100 S Croatan Highway Tanger Outlet Center of Nags Head Nags Head, NC 27959 Nautica 7100 S Croatan Highway Tanger Outlet Center of Nags Head Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks AttractionsOuter Banks Fishing Pier8901 Old Oregon Inlet Road Nags Head, NC 27959 Bodie Island Lighthouse 10005 Old Oregon Inlet Road Nags Head, NC 27959 Jennette's Pier 7223 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Pirate's Cove Marina & Charters 2000 Sailfish Drive Manteo/Nags Head Causeway 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 Fort Raleigh National Historic Site 1401 National Park Drive Manteo, NC 27954 The Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island 1401 National Park Drive Manteo, NC 27954 North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island 104 Fernando Street Manteo, NC 27954 Roanoke Island Festival Park 1 Festival Park Manteo, NC 27954 Outer Banks History Center 1 Festival Park Manteo, NC 27954 Outer Banks ActivitiesBodie Island Adventures7649 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head Raceway 7000 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Jurassic Putt 6926 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Blackbeard's Miniature Golf 6714 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Mutiny Bay Adventure Golf 6606 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Speed N Spray 6408 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head Golf Links 5615 S Seachase Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Earthworks Pottery Company & Family Art Center 525 S US Highway 64/264 Manteo, NC 27954 Outer Banks Cruises 207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue Manteo Waterfront Marina, Slips #52-53 Manteo, NC 27954 Carolina Outdoors 307 Queen Elizabeth Avenue Manteo, NC 27954 Downeast Rover Sailing Cruises 207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue Manteo Waterfront Marina, Slip #50 Manteo, NC 27954 Pioneer Theatre 113 Budleigh Street Manteo, NC 27954 |