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! Visit the Fort Raleigh National Historic SiteFort Raleigh National Historic Site, located on Roanoke Island, was designated as a National Historic Site in 1941. Situated on more than 500 acres, this location offers a sound side beach, the Fort Raleigh Visitor Center and nature trails. The Visitor Center is home to a small museum with interpretive exhibits, and this site is a must-see for American history enthusiasts. Self-guided tours or tours led by knowledgeable National Park Service staff are available. The Site is open year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week (hours are extended during the summer months.) For more information, contact Fort Raleigh National Historic Site at (252) 473-5772. Go Pier Fishing Off One of the Village PiersThere are numerous fishing piers that are located throughout the Outer Banks, and many anglers prefer the piers because they are relatively cheap to use and they can get to deeper waters without going out in a boat. Croakers, spot, sea mullet, red drum and cobia are commonly caught off the piers, depending on the time of year. Each pier sells bait and tackle and most of them have gear available for rent. There are fishing piers located in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Rodanthe, Avon and Frisco. Daily rates to fish on the pier range from $6 to $8 and some piers offer 3-day or weekly passes at discounted rates. Have a Beach CampfireOne more great thing about the Outer Banks is that on a clear night when the stars come out, you can see them all. A great way to relax and see all the stars is to have a beach campfire. Take your family down to the beach just before sunset and set up your chairs, refreshments and firewood. If you would like, bring a few roasting sticks and some marshmallows. Once the sun goes down and the stars come out, you will be amazed at the view. If you are within a few miles of one of the four Outer Banks lighthouses, you will be able to see the flashing light as it makes its rotation. Don't forget to build your fire away from the dunes and vegetation, and clean up after yourselves when you are done. Enjoy the stars (and the marshmallows!) Visit the Historic British CemeteryLocated in Ocracoke, the British Cemetery is a memorial cemetery for the crew of the British vessel HMS Bedfordshire. On May 11, 1942, a German submarine torpedoed and sank this 170-foot British ship that had four officers and 33 enlisted soldiers on board. All men on board the ship drowned, and a few days later four of the bodies were found on shore by local U.S. Coast Guard officers. Ocracoke residents gave Britain a 12 by 14 foot section of land next to the Island's cemetery and buried the soldiers there. Today, the cemetery is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard of Ocracoke Island and a ceremony is performed at the Cemetery each year on the anniversary of the deaths of the British sailors. 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. Ride the Free Hatteras-Ocracoke FerryOcracoke 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. 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 Fishing Village of WancheseLocated 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. Look at the Horses at the Ocracoke Pony PensHoused in a 180-acre pasture located just off Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island, the 30 horses that live in the Ocracoke Pony Pens are a popular attraction. Maintained by the National Park Service, the once-wild horses are a large part of the Island's history. At times in history, the herd of wild horses ranged from 200 to 500. Much like the Corolla Wild Horses, it is believed that these horses arrived on Ocracoke by swimming ashore from Spanish shipwrecks off the coast. When you make your trip to Ocracoke Island, don't forget to stop and visit the Ocracoke Pony Pens! | Corolla RestaurantsRoute 12 Steak & Seafood786 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 The Fudgery 790 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 Giant Slice Pizza 785 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 North Banks Restaurant & Raw Bar 785 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 Sooey's BBQ & Rib Shack 785 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Village Corolla, NC 27927 Bad Bean Taqueria 785 Sunset Boulevard Timbuck II Shopping Village Corolla, NC 27927 Grouper's Grille & Wine Bar 790 Ocean Trail, Suite G Tim Buck II Shopping Village Corolla, NC 27927 Subway Sandwiches & Salads 799 Sunset Boulevard, Suite B Tim Buck II Shopping Village Corolla, NC 27927 Steamers Shellfish to Go 798 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 Mike Dianna's Grill Room 796 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 Big Bucks Ice Cream 200 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 The Sweet Spot 793 Sunset Boulevard Suite D Corolla, NC 27927 Corolla ShoppingSound Feet Shoes718 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 Corolla Surf Shop 602 Ocean Trail Monterey Plaza Corolla, NC 27927 Brew Thru Beverage Store 790 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 The Fudgery 790 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 Nags Head Hammocks 790 Ocean Trail Timbuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 DogNutz 790 Ocean Trail TimBuck II Shopping Village Corolla, NC 27927 Kitty Hawk Sports 790 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 The Cotton Gin 790 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 Try My Nuts Nut Company 785 Sunset Boulevard Corolla, NC 27927 Dolphin Watch Gallery 785 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 Ocean Treasures 785 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 Kitty Hawk Kites 785 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 Outer Banks AttractionsOuter Banks Center for Wildlife Education1160 Village Lane Corolla, NC 27927 The Whalehead Club at Currituck Heritage Park 1100 Club Road Corolla, NC 27927 Currituck Beach Lighthouse & Gift Shop 1101 Corolla Village Road Corolla, NC 27927 The Corolla Wild Horse Museum at The Historic Corolla Schoolhouse 1126 Schoolhouse Lane Corolla, NC 27927 Station Bay Marina & Seafood Market 1566 Duck Road Duck, NC 27949 Corolla ActivitiesCorolla Raceway790 Ocean Trail Timbuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 Kitty Hawk Sports 790 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 Kitty Hawk Kites 785 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 Dance Heads 799 Sunset Boulevard Corolla, NC 27927 The Golf Links 798 Sunset Boulevard TimBuck II Shopping Village Corolla, NC 27927 Miss Kitty's Old Time Photo 794 Sunset Boulevard Tim Buck II Shopping Center Corolla, NC 27927 The Currituck Golf Club 620 Currituck Clubhouse Drive Corolla, NC 27927 R/C Theatres of the Outer Banks 815 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 Kitty Hawk Kites 817 Ocean Trail Monterey Plaza Corolla, NC 27927 Carolina Outdoors 817 Ocean Trail Monterey Plaza Corolla, NC 27927 Bob's Wild Horse Tours 1066 Ocean Trail Inn at Corolla Light Corolla, NC 27927 Corolla Jeep Rentals & Tours 1070 Ocean Trail Corolla, NC 27927 |