The Outer banks North Carolina are 175 miles long. Not all beaches have lifeguards so be cautious. The main roads leading into the Outer banks are US-158 or the Croatan Highway and NC-12 or the Virginia Dare Trail or Beach Road.

North Carolina has the 2nd largest ferry system in the US.

Reservations are recommended for the Cedar Island Ocracoke ferry and the Swan Quarter Ocracoke ferry. Northern Outerbanks and Beaches consist of Roanoke Island, Bodie Island, Hateras Island and Oracoke Island. The Outer Banks is known as the Billfish capital of the world and the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

Cape Lookout - National seashore

Ocracoke Island  is accessible by the ferry  from Hatteras Island. The Oracoke Village is located around Silver Lake. The Ocacoke Lighthouse was built in 1823 and is 75 ft height

Ocracoke Campground is set close to the ocean on Ocracoke Island. Tents and Rvs

Duck NC is located north of Cape Hatteras. The town has lots of art galleries. The US Army corps of Engineers field research facility is located on Beach at Duck. The facility monitors currents, tides, waves and winds. tours. for lodging see Duck NC Hotels

Corolla North Carolina has the Northernmost lighthouse of the Outer banks. It is called the Currituck Beach lighthouse. Sometimes this lighthouse is referred to as the Corolla North Carolina lighthouse. The Currituck Beach lighthouse was built in 1873. It is 162 ft high and has 214 steps to the top. The lighthouse is still in use. Tours of the lighthouse are available. The Whalehouse club is close to the Currituck lighthouse. Built in 1925 the home is on the national register of historic homes. Tours are available. The area is known for the Wild ponies of Corolla which are thought to be descendents of horses that were on a Spanish Galleon that sunk off the coast centuries ago. for lodging see Corolla NC Hotels

Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk is where The Wright Brothers National Memorial is located in Kill Devil Hills US 158. There is a visitor center with an exhibit of a full scale reproduction of the gliders used by the Wright brothers.  On December 17, 1903 in the Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills area on the Outerbanks North Carolina,  Orville manned and managed to get a glider into the air. Kill Devil Hills is where the glider flights were launched. for lodging see Kill Devil Hills Hotels | Kitty Hawk NC Hotels

Colington Island is south of Kill Devil Hills and is the location of the first permanent settlement on the Outer Banks.

Nags Head NC has lots of art galleries. activities: swimming, fishing, water sports

Nags Head Hotels

Nags Head Wood Preserve is a Maritime forest and a national natural landmark. The preserve is located on the western shore of Nags Head.

Jockey's ridge State Park located at Nags Head US 158 -  tallest sand dune (140 ft high).  You can go Kite flying and hand gliding here. there are hiking trails. no camping permitted

• October events: Stunt Kite competition
• May:: Hang Gliding and air games.

Nagshead fishing pier has a restaurant on pier. In October the fishing pier hosts the Nags Head Fishing Club invitational tournament.

Roanoke Island NC

Manteo NC Hotels

Roanoke Island's largest town is Manteo. Home of the actor Andy Griffith

There are no major beaches located on Roanoke Island.

Roanoke Island is the location of the first English settlement in 1585 by Sir Walter Raleigh and named Fort Raleigh. The settlement failed. When ships from England returned, they found no trace of the settlement and it remains a mystery what happened to the settlers. The Lost Colony is an outdoor drama that tells the story of the first English Colony.

Living history exhibits, museums and gardens:

links open in new window, if a link does not open, either disable your pop up blocker or hold down your ctrl (control) key in the left hand side of your keyboard while clicking on the link.

• Roanoke Island Festival Park - exhibits Civil War Cannon, civil war encampment, a Native American Village, a pirate ship.
• Elizabethan Gardens at Fort Raleigh historic site
• N. Carolina Aquarium - fresh water and saltwater galleries, featuring Marine life and mammals from NC rivers, marshes, sounds and reefs. the Main exhibit is an aquarium of the Graveyard of the Atlantic that contains a replica of the USS Monitor, live sharks and more marine life.
• Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at Manteo
• Roanoke Adventure Museum has the Elizabeth II which is a replica of the 16th century Elizabeth that sailed to the new colony, lots of information on Elizabethan times and Roanoke Island.

Alligator River National Wildlife refuge - Dare county mainland - wetlands. The Outer Banks is the northernmost habitat of the American Alligator.

Bodie Island

located on NC 12

Bodie Island visitor center

Coquina Beach

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Oregon Inlet fishing center and marina

Oregon Inlet campground

boat ramps and docks

Cape Hatteras NC

Buxton NC Hotels | Rodanthe NC Hotels

Cape Hatteras Island towns: Rodanthe NC, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras,  Salvo, Waves

US 12

Cape Hatteras Visitor Center

Cape Hatteras tourist attractions:

Fishing piers

Marina

Cape Point Campground is located near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Historic District.

Frisco Campground has beautiful ocean views

Chicamacomico life saving station - Rodanthe NC - shipwreck exhibits, artifacts and life saving equipment exhibits.

Little Kinnakeet life saving station - Avon NC

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at Cape Point near Buxton NC built 1803.

Frisco Native American museum and natural history center - NC 12 - artifacts, tools, information on Native American religion, origins and more.

Cape Hatteras National seashore - established 1953 - first national seashore. Covers 75 miles - extends from Bodie Island thru Hatteras and Oracoke Island.

Frisco Native American Museum  and Natural history center - exhibits featuring native American artifacts, nature trails, annual Intertribal Powwow featuring Native American dancers and drummers held in Spring

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge - bird watching, observation decks, migratory birds, nature trails, visitor center with wildlife exhibits.

Buxton Woods reserve - largest maritime forest in NC located on Hatteras Island - hiking, picnic areas

Pamlico Sound - calm water, steady breezes offers best windsurfing

national park service campgrounds

NC Beaches - Additional Resources

Our family's vacations in NC outer banks have  always been great. The beautiful scenery is only  surpass by the friendly and helpful people. This  web site will be for the purpose of finding  information for my visitors. It will be only on  the Outer Banks.

NC & SC beach getaways - North and South Carolina beach resorts, oceanfront hotels and tourist attractions

Other Beach Destinations

• US-Florida
  • Studio Rental Miami, Short Term Rental Miami & Rental Property Miami Beach: BestBeachRental.com provides the best deal on short term rental properties: oceanfront studios, junior suites and one bedroom in Miami Beach and South Beach. Their properties are fully furnished and equipped. They generally offer greater square footage and more amenities than the hotels in the area.
• Australia
  • Gold Coast Australia Guide - A perfect roam guide for a holiday in Gold Coast Australia,come Live The dream family time,relaxation and romance are woven into every moment of your holiday experience in Gold coast

Caribbean

• Best Barbados beaches and vacation rentals by owner on the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados.

Brazil

• Rio de Janeiro beaches - Visiting Rio de Janeiro? Here´s all you need to know about the beaches, nightlife, culture,  travel, sports, shopping, and lots more.

Philippines

• Philippine beach resort - all about the the Philippines best kept tourism  secret and Asia's best rated and most beautiful  beach. Also about our new boutique luxury bed and breakfast accommodation

Activities/Recreation

• Scuba diving has become one of the greatest  recreational sports all around the world and can even be a profession. Click here now for your resource for Scuba Divin information
• What is sea glass? Where can I find it? Is the  collection I have unique or valuable? What colors are rare? List of good sea glass beaches. Rare sea glass colors. What to make with your sea glass.