Have a Meal at Big Al's Soda Fountain and GrillBig Al's Soda Fountain and Grill, located in Manteo, will be a dining experience that will take you back to the 1950s. Decorated like a '50s soda fountain and grill with checkered patterns and a shiny dancing floor, you will love the experience at Big Al's! Also, Big Al's is filled with Coca-Cola memorabilia and has a unique diner-style menu. Gravy fries or chili fries? Try them both! Watch the Charter Boats Come in with Their "Catch of the Day"Both Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Inlet have fleets of charter boats that take excited fishermen into the gulf stream to catch the fish of their dreams. Can't afford to go on a charter boat? Don't have sea legs and don't want to experience life on the water? Try going to the docks in the afternoon when the charters come in. You will see tired, sunburned (and happy) fishermen, whistling mates and captains and hundreds of pounds of the tuna, wahoo, mackerel, dolphin and other choice catches of the day. See the people who caught them and watch the mates clean them in the fish cleaning stations. Experience a small part of the charter fishing experience without spending a dime! For daily information on times of charter returns, contact the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center at (800) 272-5199, Oden's Dock (Hatteras Inlet) at (252) 986-2555 or Teach's Lair Marina (Hatteras Inlet) at (252) 986-2460. Watch Birds and Wildlife at Pea Island National Wildlife RefugeLocated on the north end of Hatteras Island, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge was founded in 1938 as a winter preserve for snow geese. Today, the refuge is managed by the National Park Service and consists of 5,915 acres attracting almost 400 observed bird species. Naturalists, birdwatchers and fans of the sea turtle all frequent the Refuge during their trips to the Outer Banks. There is a Visitor Center on-site as well as a trail leading along the sound marshes in the area. There is no charge for this attraction, but don't forget to bring your insect repellent! For more information, contact the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge at (252) 987-2394. 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. Visit the Nags Head Woods Ecological PreserveThe 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. Spend an Afternoon at Coquina BeachCoquina Beach, known for its secluded, wide beach, is one of the favorite beaches on the Outer Banks. Located only 6 miles south of the Whalebone Junction on the south side of Nags Head, this beach has smaller crowds than other parts of the Outer Banks while offering the basic amenities - a lifeguard (in the summer), restrooms, outdoor showers and a parking area. This beach is home to the coquina clams, which are edible and make excellent chowder. Because it is miles away from any commercial or residential building, Coquina Beach is a great place to sunbathe, swim, fish, surf and search for shells. 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! Tour the Wanchese Seafood Industrial ParkThe Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park is a 69-acre industrial park that was built in 1980 to entice large-scale seafood processing companies to bring their business to Wanchese. Oregon Inlet, the East Coast's most dangerous inlet, shoaled terribly through the 1980s and few of the fishing boats could make it through the inlet, so the large-scale seafood processors never arrived. The industrial park remained mostly vacant until 1994, when smaller area businesses began moving into the park. Today, the area is almost full with various marine-related industries. The industrial park is an educational stop for visitors interested in the world of boatbuilding and sea harvesting. Visitors are welcome to come in and check out the boat docks. For more information, contact the industrial park at (252) 473-5867. Take a Free Wildlife Education ProgramThe knowledgeable employees of the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla offer several education programs throughout the summer. Held in the covered public pavilion at Currituck Heritage Park, these free programs will teach you about local wildlife such as birding, animal tracking, sea turtles, fishing and the ecology of the ocean and the sound. Normally, these programs are about an hour long and are offered Monday to Friday. Programs are appropriate for all ages and reservations are suggested. For more information or to sign up for a program, call (252) 453-0221. Visit the Deserted Portsmouth IslandPortsmouth Island is a small, deserted island just south of Ocracoke Island. Though it was once inhabited, now Portsmouth Island has no residents and is accessible only by boat. There is a 2-mile trail that leads from the village to the beach. Wilderness camping is allowed, but don't forget your insect repellent! For more information on the Island, contact Cape Lookout National Seashore at (252) 728-2250. If you would rather have a guided tour, Portsmouth Island ATV Excursions allows you to ride the shores of this island and visit its attractions. Two trips are offered each day and cost $75 per person. For more information, contact (252) 928-4484. | Kill Devil Hills RestaurantsJolly Roger Restaurant & Bar of Kill Devil Hills1836 N Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC Carolina Seafood 2042 N Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Subway Sandwiches & Salads 1726 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 China King 1728 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The Pearl Oceanfront Fine Dining 1731 N Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Cold Stone Creamery 1716 N Croatan Highway The Dare Centre Kill Devil Hills, NC 27949 The Good Life Gourmet 1712 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 New York Bagels 1708 N Croatan Highway The Dare Centre Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Little Caesar's Pizza 1704 N Croatan Highway Dare Centre Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Subway Sandwiches & Salads 1704 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Front Porch Cafe & Roastry 2200 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar & Restaurant 2106 N Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Kill Devil Hills ShoppingK-Mart Store1901 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Belk Department Store 1797 N Croatan Highway The Dare Center Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Atlantic Dance Studio & Boutique 1742 N Croatan Highway The Dare Center Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Hairoics 1736 N Croatan Highway The Dare Centre Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Dollar Tree 1730 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Food Lion 1720 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Pilpel Beach Shop 1724 N Croatan Highway The Dare Center Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Staples 1720 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The Good Life Gourmet 1712 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Sports Locker 1706 N Croatan Highway The Dare Centre 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 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 Dock of the Bay Marina 4200 Bob Perry Road Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 Nags Head Woods Preserve & The Nature Conservancy 701 W Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 North Carolina Coastal Land Trust 701 W Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 The North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve 983 W Kitty Hawk Road Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 Nags Head Fishing Pier 3309 S Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959 The Kitty Hawk Pier 5353 N Virginia Dare Trail Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 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 Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) PO Box 1168 Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 The Lost Colony 1409 National Park Drive Manteo, NC 27954 Outer Banks ActivitiesR/C Theatres of the Outer Banks1803 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Atlantic Dance Studio & Boutique 1742 N Croatan Highway The Dare Center 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 Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf 1600 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Paradise Golf & Arcade 3300 N Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Wine University 2200 N Croatan Highway Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 Earthworks Pottery Company & Family Art Center 3810 N Croatan Highway Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 Colington Speedway 1064 Colington Road Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Outer Banks Daredevils 100 Veterans Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 OBX Pony Parties 400 Woodard Road Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 |