View the Sunset Over the SoundAfter a long day of sightseeing, shopping, fishing or surfing, take time to relax and watch the sunset over the Sound. Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands are home to the Pamlico Sound; Manteo and Nags Head are home to the Albemarle Sound, and Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Duck and Corolla is where you will find the Currituck Sound. No matter what Sound you choose, the sunset views will be breathtaking. If you are lucky enough to catch a few late afternoon windsurfers or kiteboarders, you will be able to see their sails in the foreground as the sun drops below the horizon. Sunsets are beautiful on the Outer Banks all year round, but some of the most breathtaking orange and red sunsets are prevalent in the fall season each year. Tour the Whalehead ClubThe Whalehead Club, located in Corolla, was built as a private residence in the 1920s, when the Outer Banks was visited primarily by waterfowl hunters. From 1934 through 1969, the home sat empty while the original owners' family was uninterested in spending time in the home's remote location. In 1969 the home was purchased by a new owner, who also left the home sit empty for 25 more years. During this time period, The Whalehead Club suffered significant vandalism. It is now owned by Currituck County and has been restored to its original look from 1925. Visitors are welcome and 45-minute guided tours of the house are available. Admission is $7 for adults and children under eight are free. The Whalehead Club is also a popular setting for many outdoor weddings, since it is situated on the Currituck Sound and offers beautiful water and sunset views. Feed the Birds on the BeachThere are many species of sea birds that call the shores of the Outer Banks home. They normally eat fish, sea kelp and other interesting things that may wash onshore. One afternoon, buy a couple loaves of bread and head to the beach. There may be only a few birds in sight when you arrive, but throw some bread out to them and watch as the birds multiply in front of your eyes. If you are afraid of birds, you may not want to try this, because they LOVE food and aren't afraid to get too close to you! Go Waterfowl HuntingIn the 1920s, many parts of the Outer Banks were used primarily for waterfowl hunting. Today, people visit the Outer Banks for several different reasons - family reunions, windsurfing, surfing, kiteboarding, research, reporting or simply to just get away from the city for a few days. Though waterfowl hunting is not a primary pastime in the area, some hunters do still visit the Outer Banks to hunt waterfowl. If you prefer to have a hunting guide, you may call Ken Dempsey Guide Services, which is a full-time professional outfitter who has been in the business for 16 years. For complete information on season dates, bag limits and shooting hours, call (800) 675-0263. Get Married (Or Renew Your Vows) on the BeachEach year, hundreds of people have weddings on the beaches of the Outer Banks. With all of the large vacation rental homes that are available for families and friends to rent, mixed with the unforgettable backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and Outer Banks sand dunes and sea oats, it will be a ceremony you will never forget. There are many local photographers, florists, wedding planners, entertainers, caterers and more that can assist you with your planning. You will need to obtain a marriage license in the county of your ceremony. If you are getting married on the beach, you will also need to obtain a permit from the National Park Service. For information about any of the services or permits you will need for your beach wedding, you may contact the Outer Banks Wedding Association at (252) 473-4800. Tour the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility at "Duck Pier"Situated on 173 acres just north of Duck Village, the Waterways Experiment Station of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been helping scientists study ocean processes since 1977. The site's equipment to monitor sand movement, wave forces, water currents, temperatures and sedimentation have helped the facility gain a reputation as one of the best coastal field research facilities in the world. From mid-June to mid-August, tours are available at the research facility at 10:00 a.m. between Monday and Friday. For more information, contact the Field Research Facility at (252) 261-6850, ext. 401. Go Hiking on the Hammock Hills Nature TrailLocated north of Ocracoke Village, the 0.75-mile Hammock Hills Nature Trail will take you on a 30-minute walk through various sections of the Island, including sand dunes, maritime forest and a salt marsh. Signs along the trail teach about various plant life surviving in the Ocracoke weather and elements. You will want to remember your camera and insect repellent before you take this hike, and don't forget that snakes may be hiding in the underbrush. The trailhead is located just across Highway 12 from the Ocracoke Campground. Catch a Wave Surfing in the Outer Banks Ocean WatersBecause the Outer Banks is set farther into the ocean with deeper waters than most other coastal regions, the surf of the Outer Banks is said to have the best breaks on the East Coast. The various fishing piers, shipwrecks and sandbars also create unusual wave patters for the thousands of surfers who come to the area each year to ride the Outer Banks waves. As with anything in the ocean, always go with a friend and be aware of water, weather and beach conditions. If you don't know how to surf but would like to learn, various surf shops offering lessons are: the Corolla Surf Shop at (252) 453-WAVE, The Pit Surf Shop in Kill Devil Hills at (252) 480-3128, the Hatteras Island Surf Shop in Waves at (252) 987-2296 or the Ride the Wind Surf Shop in Ocracoke at (252) 928-6311. Learn How To KiteboardKiteboarding is a relatively new sport that is enjoyed by windsurfers, surfers and wake boarders. The Outer Banks is widely recognized as one of the best places in the world to kiteboard because of the winds and shallow sound waters. Though kiteboarding may look relatively easy when you are watching others perform the sport, it is actually quite dangerous and you cannot rent equipment until you have obtained a basic level of certification. For more information on kiteboarding lessons, you may contact REAL Kiteboarding at (866) REAL-KITE. They offer several different kite camps throughout the year for various skill levels. Kitty Hawk Kites also has a kiteboarding school in Nags Head and can be contacted at (252) 449-2210. 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. | Kill Devil Hills RestaurantsStop-N-Shop Beach Shop, Deli & Wine Shop100 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Dairy Queen 109 E Ocean Bay Boulevard Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Goombays Grill & Raw Bar 1608 N Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Mako Mike's 1630 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Port O' Call Restaurant & Gaslight Saloon 504 S Virginia Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Krave Grill & Games 710 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Thai Room Restaurant 710 S Virginia Dare Trail Oceanside Plaza Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Brewing Station 600 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Slice Pizzeria 710 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Rita's Water Ice 710 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The Pearl Oceanfront Fine Dining 1731 N Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Little Caesar's Pizza 1704 N Croatan Highway Dare Centre Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Kill Devil Hills ShoppingNorth Carolina Books1500 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Stop-N-Shop Beach Shop, Deli & Wine Shop 100 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 KDH Cycle & Skate 203 S Virginia Dare Trail Milepost 8.5 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Trading Post Beach Store 305 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Sundaze 400 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 KDH Cooperative Gallery 502 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Manteo Blacksmith Shop 502 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Great Cakes! of the Outer Banks 1401 Harpoon Court Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Fashion Bug 1700 N Croatan Highway The Dare Center Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The Sheperd's Pets & Grooming 1700 N Croatan Highway The Dare Centre Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Sports Locker 1706 N Croatan Highway The Dare Centre Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The Good Life Gourmet 1712 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks AttractionsAvalon Fishing Pier2111 N Virginia Dare Trail Milepost 6 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Wright Brothers National Memorial 800 Colington Road Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 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 Nags Head Fishing Pier 3309 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 Jockey's Ridge State Park 300 W Carolista Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 Dock of the Bay Marina 4200 Bob Perry Road Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 The North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve 983 W Kitty Hawk Road Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 98 NC Highway 12 Nags Head, NC 27959 The Kitty Hawk Pier 5353 N Virginia Dare Trail Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 The Lost Colony 1409 National Park Drive Manteo, NC 27954 North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island 374 Airport Road Manteo, NC 27954 Outer Banks ActivitiesProfessor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf1600 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Atlantic Dance Studio & Boutique 1742 N Croatan Highway The Dare Center Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 R/C Theatres of the Outer Banks 1803 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Daredevils 100 Veterans Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Destination Fun 1217 S Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Junior Lifeguard Program 2052 New Bern Street Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Garden of Beadin' 2200 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Glazin Go-Nuts Paint Your Own Pottery 2200 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Fishing Charters 200 Quail Lane Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Colington Speedway 1064 Colington Road Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Coastal Helicopters, LLC PO Box 715 Nags Head, NC 27959 Nags Head Bowling & Billiards 201 W Satterfield Landing Drive Nags Head, NC 27959 |