North Carolina's Outer Banks

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North Carolina’s Outer Banks

Renew your spirit and unwind along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a collection of wind-swept barrier islands stretching 130 miles along the coast. For over 400 years, the Outer Banks have drawn explorers and adventurers, from the mysterious disappearance of colonists on Roanoke Island, depicted in the outdoor drama The Lost Colony to the first manned flight at Kitty Hawk, remembered at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

The English heritage is evident in the romantic village names like Currituck, Corolla, Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Avon and Whalebone. You can visit four of North Carolina’s historic coastal lighthouses and climb to the top of two of them for fantastic views. At Manteo, see where the early colonists lived at the Fort Raleigh National Monument and experience the era aboard the Elizabeth II, a replica of a 16th Century sailing vessel. Explore the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and follow the Cape Hatteras National Seashore southward to Ocracoke Island and the quaint village of Ocracoke, accessible only by air, ferry or private boat. In between are miles and miles of remote unspoiled beaches where you can enjoy bird-watching, hang gliding, hiking, bicycling, windsurfing and fishing in some of the best angling waters in the world. Or, just relax on your own sandy patch of paradise.

To see why visitors return again and again, contact the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau (Duck, Nags Head, Hatteras and more), Currituck County Travel & Tourism (Corolla, Carova and more) or the Hyde County Convention & Visitors Bureau (Ocracoke Island) and plan your Outer Banks vacation.

Overview Outer Banks Crystal Coast Topsail Cape Fear Brunswick