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Go Scuba Diving To View Underwater Shipwrecks and Sea Life

The Outer Banks is otherwise known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the more than 100 shipwrecks that have remains on the ocean floor between Corolla and Ocracoke. Wreckage from these ships is located at various depths in the ocean, and a great way to see them is by going scuba diving. As you may know, scuba diving can be very dangerous, and you must take special training in order to become a certified diver. For information on learning how to dive while you are in the Outer Banks, contact the Outer Banks Dive Center at (252) 449-8349. If you are already certified and just need a boat to take you to a diving spot, contact Outer Banks Diving and Charters at (252) 986-1056 or Atlantic Wreck Diving at (252) 986-2835.

Ride the Free Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry

Ocracoke 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.

View the Sunset Over the Sound

After 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.

Visit the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve

The Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve is a maritime forest that is managed by The Nature Conservancy, which is an international, nonprofit conservation organization. Located in Kill Devil Hills on the west side of US Highway 158, the Preserve is home to many rare plant and animal species. Spend an afternoon hiking on more than 5 miles of trails and footbridges that take you through forest, swamp, pond and dune habitats. Trails are open to visitors during the week between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Bicycles and pets on leashes are restricted to a portion of the trail. For more information, contact the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve at (252) 441-2525.

Send Outer Banks Postcards To Your Friends and Family

Are you the lucky one among your friends and family who got to take a trip to the Outer Banks this year? Take an hour of your precious vacation time and send postcard notes to your loved ones from the Outer Banks. There are beautiful postcards sold at almost any local gift shop or grocery store and they are very affordable. Let them know you are thinking about them and that you wish they could be visiting the Outer Banks with you. If they can see a postcard of how beautiful it is, maybe you can persuade them to come along with you on your next trip to the Outer Banks!

Take a Scenic Flight Tour

If you think the Outer Banks are beautiful from the ground, wait until you see them from the sky! This stretch of islands and waters will amaze you. Depending on where you fly, you will see things from the air such as the Oregon Inlet, one of the four area lighthouses, the Wright Brothers Memorial, and more! For a tour of the northern Outer Banks, you may contact Kitty Hawk Aero Tours at (877) 274-2461 or Outer Banks Seaplanes at (252) 475-1007. Kitty Hawk Aero Tours depart from the Manteo Airport. Outer Banks Seaplanes take off and land on the Roanoke Sound. For a tour of Hatteras and/or Ocracoke Islands, contact Burris Flying Service at (252) 986-2679. Prices for the above services start between $30 and $75 per person, depending on the size of your group and the length of your flight. You will want to call ahead to make reservations.

Take a Photography Adventure with Your Camera

Instead of purchasing postcards to take home with you as souvenirs of your Outer Banks vacation, take a photography adventure with your own camera. Whether you choose to photograph the various Outer Banks lighthouses, different species of birds, sunrises and sunsets, boats or any of the other many highlights of the Outer Banks, the natural beauty is sure to come through in your photographs. You can take your original photographs home and show them to all of your friends, or frame them and hang them in your house so you will always have a reminder of the Outer Banks!

Visit Roanoke Island Festival Park and the Elizabeth II

Visible 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.

Embark on a Civil War Trail Journey

The Civil War plays a role in the history of the Outer Banks, and several historical markers will tell you the story. Along the Civil War Trail of the Outer Banks, you will find important monuments and displays reminiscent of the War. The historical marker for the Battle of Chicamacomico Races, which was the battle when the Confederacy attempted to reclaim Hatteras Island from the Union, is located across from the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station in Rodanthe. Another part of Civil War history is the Freedmen's Colony in Manteo, which is located at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and was a colony set up after Union forces captured the island. For more information on other historical markers and sites, contact the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at (877) OBX-4FUN.

Take a Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Manteo

One of the oldest Outer Banks communities, Manteo is the county seat of Dare County and is home to several old office buildings that are still in use today. Manteo also has several bed and breakfast inns, restaurants, shops and attractions - all of which attract thousands of visitors to Roanoke Island each season. The downtown area is located on the waterfront, which has 53 modern dockside boat slips and a comfort station with showers and bathrooms. The downtown area has many independently owned shops and restaurants that provide for an interesting afternoon of shopping. Also in the area is the American Bicentennial Park, which has a wooden boardwalk along the waterfront, a gazebo area and picnic tables for resting and a playground for the kids. In Historic Downtown Manteo, there is something for everyone!