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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!

Visit the Fishing Village of Wanchese

Located on the south end of Roanoke Island (across Highway 64 from Manteo), the quaint fishing village of Wanchese awaits your arrival! Take an hour out of your busy vacation day to swing into the village, head to the docks and watch fishing boats come in with their catch of the day. You can also watch fresh fish and seafood as it is packed and shipped around the world.

Play a Friendly Game of Miniature Golf

The Outer Banks is home to more than 12 miniature golf courses, which are located as far north as Corolla and as far south as Frisco. Most courses open at 10:00 a.m. and stay open past midnight in the summer months. There are a variety of themes at these miniature golf courses, ranging from dinosaurs and other animals to pirates and buried treasure. In Corolla, The Grass Course can be reached at (252) 453-4198. In the Nags Head/Kitty Hawk area, try The Promenade at (252) 261-4900 or Galaxy Golf at (252) 441-5875. On Hatteras Island, try Avon Golf at (252) 995-5480 or Frisco Mini Golf at (252) 995-6325. Because there are so many miniature golf courses to choose from, you may want to just take a drive until you see one you like!

Climb the Walls at Kitty Hawk Kites/Carolina Outdoors

Though the Outer Banks doesn't have any mountains to climb, there are three climbing walls located in the area for you to try. Two climbs and basic instruction cost $7 per person, which includes all equipment needed for the climb. The climbing walls are located at the Corolla, Nags Head and Hatteras locations of Kitty Hawk Kites/Carolina Outdoors. The Nags Head climbing wall is indoor and open year-round, though only on weekends in the winter. The Corolla and Hatteras climbing walls are outside so are not open year-round. For more information, contact Kitty Hawk Kites/Carolina Outdoors at (800) FLY-THIS.

Tour the Elizabethan Gardens

The Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island offer a picturesque view of more than 1,000 varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers. Created in 1960 in memory of Sir Walter Raleigh's colonists for their efforts in establishing an English settlement, these botanical gardens are open year-round. The paths take visitors through 10.5 acres of some of North Carolina's most colorful flowers. Most paths are wheelchair-accessible. Garden admission is $6 for adults, $4 for kids between ages six through 18, $5 for adults age 62 and older and free for children under 5 when accompanied by an adult. Hours of operation vary throughout the year. For more information, contact The Elizabethan Gardens at (252) 473-3234.

Tour the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, located in Hatteras Village, was created to preserve the maritime history and shipwrecks of the Outer Banks throughout history. Emphasis in the museum is placed on the periods from 1524 to 1945. The museum has a unique design with an entrance modeled after the timbers of the many shipwrecks that have happened along the treacherous Hatteras coast. For more information, contact the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum at (252) 986-2995.

Tour the Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park

The 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.

Sleep with the Windows Open and Hear the Ocean Breeze

When you are at home and have a window open, what kind of noises do you hear? Honking car horns? Emergency vehicle sirens? People talking on the street? While you are at the Outer Banks, try sleeping with the windows open. Chances are on most nights, if you are within a mile of the ocean, you will be able to hear the sound of the ocean. You can hear sounds similar to relaxation CDs that are sold in stores just by opening your window. Try it - you will love it!

Tour the North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island

The George Washington Creef Boathouse was built on the Manteo waterfront in 1940, and in 1998 was turned into the North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island. Inside the museum, the crew of mostly volunteers keeps busy renovating and rebuilding wooden boats. The Elizabeth II was built here, and visitors to the museum can view a presentation on her construction. The museum is a great stop for anyone interested in boats and boatbuilding of the past and present. The museum is open year-round, Tuesday through Saturday. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the summer months, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the rest of the year. For more information, contact the museum at (252) 475-1750.

Tour the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station

Located in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island, the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station is one of the original seven lifesaving stations built on the Outer Banks. The original station opened at the current location in 1874 and became a storage shed in 1911 when a larger facility was built next to it. Crews at this station guarded the Hatteras Island northern coast for more than 70 years. Today, the lifesaving station is a museum of lifesaving equipment, awards and artifacts and volunteers are on staff to give guided tours. The station is open from Easter weekend through the Saturday after Thanksgiving from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Various programs are available during the summer months and admission is free, though donations are accepted. For more information, contact the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station at (252) 987-1552.