I have really enjoyed featuring the Outer Banks this month! I have also enjoyed visiting OBX for almost a decade now. Every time I pay a visit, I explore new places and make beautiful memories! In this last post on the Outer Banks, I will be featuring more wonderful things to do and explore.
First up…
Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head
This beautiful place has the tallest natural sand dune in the eastern United States. Once you climb to the top, you’ll get a breathtaking view of Roanoke Sound! Park visitors can explore a museum, gift shop, and even learn how to fly! Yes, you read correctly, there is a hang gliding school located right in the park by Kitty Hawk Kites! If you like your feet on the ground, haha, you should still explore where they give lessons; it’s a site to see for sure! An annual kite flying festival is also held at Jockey Ridge, where they just recently held their 33rd year of celebrating the achievements of Francis Rogallo with a weekend of kite flying and other free activities for the whole family!
Travel Tip: bring bottled water when exploring the dunes, and wear SHOES! The sand is extremely hot in the summer.
While you’re in this area, you might like to eat at The Blue Moon Beach Grill for a delicious meal! We had lunch there during our last visit and absolutely loved the FOOD!!! Might I suggest the pulled pork sandwich, it was just AmAzing! I’m sorry to all my vegan traveling friends, I eat meat! I hope we can still be friends, haha!
The Wright Brothers Museum in Kill Devil Hills
Explore the very spot that brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first successful airplane flights on December 17, 1903 and changed our ability to travel forever. It was pretty cool to learn how these guys endured many obstacles to achieve the magical scientific ability to fly! A great place to take the kids for sure! Children 15 and under explore the museum and grounds for free; a $4 fee is charged for ages 16 and older. Visit Wright Brothers site for more details.
The Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island
If you love walking through lush beautifully landscaped gardens, you should definitely pay a visit to The Elizabethan Gardens. The pictures don’t do this place justice, you should definitely explore these gardens for yourself! These elaborate gardens were made to entertain Queen Elizabeth I during her reign. The cost is $9 for ages 18 and older, 6$ for ages 6-17, and $2 for ages 5 and under.
The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse on Roanoke Island
This charming lighthouse isn’t your typical tall brick lighthouse, it has more of an appearance of a house. It is open to the public and features its history directly inside. The surrounding area is very picturesque and definitely worth a visit! Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is open 9-5 Monday-Friday and is free to explore!
The Lost Colony on Roanoke Island
Bring the whole family to see the land where the very first settlers came to America. On July 1587, thirty years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, 117 men, woman, and children made their way to Roanoke Island becoming the first settlement of its kind. Learn about John White and his daughter, Eleanor Dare, who gave birth to Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America. You can jump aboard a replica of one of the first ships that made the journey to America and even watch a live performance reenacting the story behind The Lost Colony during the summer months. Visit The Lost Colony site for ticket details and times.
Well there you have it, friends! TADA’s list of things to do in the Outer Banks! I hope you enjoyed these posts as much as I enjoyed reliving them. Don’t forget to check out these other posts on the fabulous OBX: Hatteras Island, Ocracoke Island, and Corolla! Let me know if you would add anything to the list? Thanks for reading and happy traveling!
That garden is so beautiful! I had no idea such a lush and pretty place could exist near the beach! Those sand dunes are so cool!! They’re a lot bigger than I remember. I’m sure it’s a lot of fun to hang glide off the dunes with a view of the ocean. Maybe you’ll get to do that on one of your future trips there! I’ve enjoyed all of these posts on the Outer Banks! It’s such an amazing place to visit and I hope to return there again one day! 🙂
Yes, this garden is breathtaking and being near the water just makes it all that more beautiful! There is a gazebo in the garden that has amazing views of the water, so romantic! We went at the end of the day and practically had the place to ourselves:-) Thanks for reading along, Joscelyn!
wow, what a stunning place!!! That’s really good to know for when I’ll visit the US 🙂
I loved the “wear shoes” tip. Last year I was visiting The Rainbow Beach in Australia -in summer- with huge dunes and I had a bad experience because I wasn’t wearing shoes :S
Thanks for sharing!
Helena, thanks for reading! Yes, walking on hot sand barefoot is no fun at all:-( You should definitely pay a visit to OBX when you visit America! You will love it!
That first picture is absolutely breathtaking. I would frame that on my wall if I could!
Thanks, Dayne, and thanks for reading:-)
What a wonderful places are there! At first I thought you were talking about Michigan, because there are sand dunes as well.:)
Once I visited sand dunes in France, it was awesome. I hope I can visit Outer Banks one day too.
Oh, I’ve been to Michigan but haven’t visited their sand dunes yet. Yes, I hope you will get to visit OBX someday too! Thanks for reading, Iryna!
I live in NC and haven’t been we always go to the more southern beaches! This is giving me an excuse to look into planning a trip to the OBX!
Kate, you should definitely visit OBX!You will love all that it has to offer! Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for reading and happy traveling:-)
Gorgeous post. I have never been to the Outer Banks, but now have all the incentives to visit. Love the sand dunes adventure!
Thank you, Dede! I hope you get to visit soon, during the warmer months;-) Happy Travels!!