Watch the Diamond Shoals Band at the Frisco JubileeIn the small theater at Red Drum Pottery in Frisco, the Diamond Shoals Band plays their music on Thursday nights from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. from the end of May through Labor Day each year. The Diamond Shoals Band began in 1990 and their music is a blend of folk and bluegrass. The theater seats about 72 people and ticket prices are $12. For more information, contact the band at (252) 995-5757. Go on an Adventure To View Local ShipwrecksBecause the Outer Banks, referred to as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," has record of more than 100 shipwrecks throughout history, there are some shipwrecks you can see during your visit. Many of the shipwrecks are on the ocean floor and only visible by scuba divers, but others are either onshore or in other land locations. The 1921 Shipwreck of the Schooner Laura A. Barnes is located on Coquina Beach, where it was placed for public display. The 1933 Shipwreck of the Schooner G.A. Kohler can be viewed at the edge of the surf at low tide at 4WD beach access Ramp #27 (between Avon and Salvo.) There are some other shipwrecks in the area as well. For more information, contact the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at (877) OBX-4FUN. Ride a Personal Watercraft in the SoundPersonal watercraft (jet skis) are a favorite pastime on the Outer Banks. Since the Outer Banks are surrounded by water, there are plenty of areas where you can ride your personal watercraft. There are also several places that rent personal watercraft. Depending on the area, personal watercraft is prohibited within 150 to 900 feet of shore. For more information on your specific area, contact the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at (877) OBX-4FUN. You can rent personal watercraft from Kitty Hawk Watersports in Corolla at (252) 453-6900 or Nags Head at (252) 441-2756. Another option is Hatteras Watersports in Salvo at (252) 987-2306. On Ocracoke, personal watercraft can be rented at (252) 928-2600 or (252) 921-0314. Go Pier Fishing Off One of the Village PiersThere are numerous fishing piers that are located throughout the Outer Banks, and many anglers prefer the piers because they are relatively cheap to use and they can get to deeper waters without going out in a boat. Croakers, spot, sea mullet, red drum and cobia are commonly caught off the piers, depending on the time of year. Each pier sells bait and tackle and most of them have gear available for rent. There are fishing piers located in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Rodanthe, Avon and Frisco. Daily rates to fish on the pier range from $6 to $8 and some piers offer 3-day or weekly passes at discounted rates. Visit Roanoke Island Festival Park and the Elizabeth IIVisible from Historic Downtown Manteo's waterfront, the Roanoke Island Festival Park and the Elizabeth II ship is one of the largest attractions on the Outer Banks. The Park opened in 1998 as an educational, historical and cultural arts complex and teaches visitors about the evolution of Roanoke Island and the Outer Banks between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Elizabeth II ship was built in 1983 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first English settlement in America. The park is open year-round and admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students and free for children under five. For more information, contact the Park at (252) 475-1500. Go Windsurfing in the Calm Sound Waters Throughout the Outer BanksThere are several great sound side locations on the Outer Banks where you can go windsurfing. Canadian Hole, located between Avon and Buxton, is the most popular because of the wind and water conditions in the area. Nags Head sound side access at Milepost 16 and Jockey Ridge State Park's sound side access are popular spots to launch as well. If you don't know how to windsurf but would like to try it, you can take lessons at numerous places on the Outer Banks. If you are in the northern Outer Banks, you may want to try Kitty Hawk Watersports of Nags Head at (252) 441-2756. If you are on Hatteras Island, you can take lessons from Windsurfing Hatteras at (866) 995-6644 or Hatteras Island Sail Shop at (252) 987-2292. 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. Visit the Fort Raleigh National Historic SiteFort Raleigh National Historic Site, located on Roanoke Island, was designated as a National Historic Site in 1941. Situated on more than 500 acres, this location offers a sound side beach, the Fort Raleigh Visitor Center and nature trails. The Visitor Center is home to a small museum with interpretive exhibits, and this site is a must-see for American history enthusiasts. Self-guided tours or tours led by knowledgeable National Park Service staff are available. The Site is open year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week (hours are extended during the summer months.) For more information, contact Fort Raleigh National Historic Site at (252) 473-5772. 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!) Paint Your Own Pottery at Studio 12Studio 12 is a small, locally owned pottery shop located on Highway 12 in Avon. They have many pieces of unfinished pottery. You pick the pottery piece that you would like to paint. You choose your colors and design and sit down and paint the pottery. The owners will fire and glaze your piece for you and send you on your way. What would make a better Outer Banks souvenir than a piece of pottery that you chose and painted yourself? You won't regret spending a few hours in Studio 12. | Nags Head RestaurantsPamlico Jack's Pirate Hide-away6708 S Croatan Highway, Nags Head Nags Head, NC 27959 Tortugas' Lie Shellfish Bar & Grill 3014 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Butcher Block Fine Meats & Delicatessen 3022 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Logan's Ice Cream Cottage 2805 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Lucky 12 Tavern 3308 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 The Pier House Restaurant 3309 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Front Porch Cafe & Roastry 2707 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Prime Only 2706 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Beach Road Grill 2519 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 The Snow Bird Ice Cream & Grill 3522 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Dunkin' Donuts 2407 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Red Drum Tap House 2412 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head ShoppingYellowhouse Gallery2902 S Virginia Dare Trail Milepost 11 Nags Head, NC 27959 The French Door 2921 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Wings 2907 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Cloud Nine Beads Finding & Seaglass 3022 S Croatan Highway Pirate's Quay Shops Nags Head, NC 27959 Old Nags Head Barn 3022 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Wings 3022 S Croatan Highway Pirates Quay Shopping Center Nags Head, NC 27959 Butcher Block Fine Meats & Delicatessen 3022 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Meme's Antique Mall 2910 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 European Flavors 2910 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Something Old Something New 2910 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Secret Spot Surf Shop 2815 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Eastern Fusion Gallery 2910 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks AttractionsNags Head Fishing Pier3309 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Jockey's Ridge State Park 300 W Carolista Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 98 NC Highway 12 Nags Head, NC 27959 North Carolina Coastal Land Trust 701 W Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Nags Head Woods Preserve & The Nature Conservancy 701 W Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Wright Brothers National Memorial 800 Colington Road Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Roanoke Island Festival Park 1 Festival Park Manteo, NC 27954 Outer Banks History Center 1 Festival Park Manteo, NC 27954 Avalon Fishing Pier 2111 N Virginia Dare Trail Milepost 6 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse 207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue Manteo, NC 27954 The Lost Colony 1409 National Park Drive Manteo, NC 27954 North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island 104 Fernando Street Manteo, NC 27954 Nags Head ActivitiesGalaxy Golf2914 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks Family YMCA 3000 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks Centre for Dance 2910 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Fine Line Charters 105 S Colony Court Nags Head, NC 27959 Centro Familiar Hispano 113 W Villa Dunes Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Outer Banks Gearworks Laser Tag and Fun Center 2406 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Jockey's Ridge State Park 300 W Carolista Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Scoot-Hers/Sandy Beach Tours 2300 S Croatan Highway Suite #102 Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head Bowling & Billiards 201 W Satterfield Landing Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Coastal Helicopters, LLC PO Box 715 Nags Head, NC 27959 Kitty Hawk Kites 3933 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 Carolina Outdoors 3933 S Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959 |