The Outer Banks: NC Vacation: North Carolina Travel: Beaches and Beach resorts
Islands: Vacation, Tourism & Travel Information
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The Outerbanks of North Carolina are 175 miles long. Not all beaches have lifeguards so be cautious. The main roads leading into the Outerbanks are US-158 or the Croatan Highway and NC-12 or the Virginia Dare Trail or Beach Road. North Carolina has the 2nd largest ferry system in the US. Reservations are recommended for the Cedar Island Ocracoke ferry and the Swan Quarter Ocracoke ferry. Northern Outerbanks and Beaches consist of Roanoke Island, Bodie Island, Hateras Island and Oracoke Island. The Outer Banks is known as the Billfish capital of the world and the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Cape Lookout - National seashore
Ocracoke Campground is set close to the ocean on Ocracoke Island. Tents and Rvs Duck NC is located north of Cape Hatteras. The town has lots of art galleries. The US Army corps of Engineers field research facility is located on Beach at Duck. The facility monitors currents, tides, waves and winds. tours. for lodging see Duck NC Hotels Corolla No. Carolina has the Northernmost lighthouse of the Outerbanks North Carolina. It is called the Currituck Beach lighthouse. Sometimes this lighthouse is referred to as the Corolla North Carolina lighthouse. The Currituck Beach lighthouse was built in 1873. It is 162 ft high and has 214 steps to the top. The lighthouse is still in use. Tours of the lighthouse are available. The Whalehouse club is close to the Currituck lighthouse. Built in 1925 the home is on the national register of historic homes. Tours are available. The area is known for the Wild ponies of Corolla which are thought to be descendents of horses that were on a Spanish Galleon that sunk off the coast centuries ago. for lodging see Corolla NC Hotels Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk is where The Wright Brothers National Memorial is located in Kill Devil Hills US 158. There is a visitor center with an exhibit of a full scale reproduction of the gliders used by the Wright brothers. On December 17, 1903 in the Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills area on the Outerbanks North Carolina, Orville manned and managed to get a glider into the air. Kill Devil Hills is where the glider flights were launched. for lodging see Kill Devil Hills Hotels | Kitty Hawk NC Hotels Colington Island is south of Kill Devil Hills and is the location of the first permanent settlement on the Outer Banks North Carolina. Nags Head NC has lots of art galleries. activities: swimming, fishing, water sports Nags Head Wood Preserve is a Maritime forest and a national natural landmark. The preserve is located on the western shore of Nags Head. Jockey's ridge State Park located at Nags Head US 158 - tallest sand dune (140 ft high). You can go Kite flying and hand gliding here. there are hiking trails. no camping permitted
Nagshead fishing pier has a restaurant on pier. In October the fishing pier hosts the Nags Head Fishing Club invitational tournament. Roanoke Island NC Roanoke Island's largest town is Manteo. Home of the actor Andy Griffith There are no major beaches located on Roanoke Island. Roanoke Island is the location of the first English settlement in 1585 by Sir Walter Raleigh and named Fort Raliegh. The settlement failed. When ships from England returned, they found no trace of the settlement and it remains a mystery what happened to the settlers. The Lost Colony is an outdoor drama that tells the story of the first English Colony. Living history exhibits, museums and gardens:
Alligator River National Wildlife refuge - Dare county mainland - wetlands. The Outer Banks is the northernmost habitat of the American Alligator. Bodie Island located on NC 12 Bodie Island visitor center Coquina Beach Bodie Island Lighthouse Oregon Inlet fishing center and marina Oregon Inlet campground boat ramps and docks Cape Hatteras NC Buxton NC Hotels | Rodanthe NC Hotels Cape Hatteras Island towns: Rodanthe NC, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras, Salvo, Waves US 12 Cape Hatteras Visitor Center Cape Hatteras tourist attractions: Fishing piers Marina Cape Point Campground is located near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Historic District. Frisco Campground has beautiful ocean views Chicamacomico life saving station - Rodanthe NC - shipwreck exhibits, artifacts and life saving equipment exhibits. Little Kinnakeet life saving station - Avon NC Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at Cape Point near Buxton NC built 1803. Frisco Native American museum and natural history center - NC 12 - artifacts, tools, information on Native American religion, origins and more. Cape Hatteras National seashore - established 1953 - first national seashore. Covers 75 miles - extends from Bodie Island thru Hatteras and Oracoke Island. Frisco Native American Museum and Natural history center - exhibits featuring native American artifacts, nature trails, annual Intertribal Powwow featuring Native American dancers and drummers held in Spring Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge - bird watching, observation decks, migratory birds, nature trails, visitor center with wildlife exhibits. Buxton Woods reserve - largest maritime forest in NC located on Hatteras Island - hiking, picnic areas Pamlico Sound - calm water, steady breezes offers best windsurfing national park service campgrounds
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see NC Coast for more information on the cities and/or towns on the coast. Pictures
Kitty Hawk Memorial
Fort Macon Atlantic Beach Area
Atlantic Ocean
Bodie Island Lighthouse
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Ocracoke Island is accessible by the ferry from Hatteras Island. The Oracoke Village is located around Silver Lake. The Ocacoke Lighthouse was built in 1823 and is 75 ft height
