2025 Manteo Picnicking Guide

Manteo Waterfront Marina is a small, tranquil marina located on Shallowbag Bay near Roanoke Sound in a town known for its coastal charm and laid-back atmosphere. Though small, the harbor is deep and well-protected and will accommodate boats up to 150 feet in length.Providing  only 53 slips - 20 transient and 33 for annual and seasonal boaters - the Town of Manteo promises those who dock here a lot of special attention. That includes free overnight tie-up (with no services) based on space available. You may also anchor in good holding between the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse and the Waterfront Gazebo and take your dinghy to the dock. Available at all slips are cable TB, 30 and 50 amp power and free wireless Internet access, and the marina offers pump-out service. Nearby are access to fuel and an air conditioned comfort station with bathrooms, clean showers, and coin-operated laundry facilities.Within walking distance of the marina are a playground and park and a number of historic attractions, including the Elizabeth II, and plenty of unique shops, local galleries and restaurants for casual dining. Visitors will find special events going on throughout the year along the ManteoWaterfront and in the town, and the harbor is a great place to enjoy July 4th fireworks.As another service, the marina makes arrangements for haul out, repairs, rental cars, and shuttle service to the area’s closest airports - in Manteo and Norfolk, Virginia. Rates at the marina are based on the size of boat and length of stay.

At the end of Queen Elizabeth Avenue, and within easy walking distance of Manteo’s unique shops and restaurants, you’ll find the Waterfront Park. It features a playground and picnic area and lots of benches along the waterfront boardwalk, which connects the park to other waterfront attractions. From the park, a short stroll on the boardwalk in different directions will take you to the waterfront gazebo, the Roanoke Marshes Light House, the Town boat ramp and marina or the George Washington Creef Boathouse - or farther for a nature walk though the marsh areas of Shallowbag Bay. Also from the park you get a great view of the Elizabeth II docked at Roanoke Island Festival Park.  The park is the perfect place to set out a blanket or chairs on July Fourth to enjoy lots of music, food and a front row seat as the fireworks shoot and explode over Shallowbag Bay.It also joins a number of other events year-round including fun and festivities on the First Friday of every month,Dare Day in June, August’s New World Arts Festival, a Bluegrass Festival and Wooden Boat Show in the fall, and the Lighting of the Christmas Tree and Santa’s arrival at the Town Dock by boat. Aside from all the attractions and activities, there's no prettier place to enjoy a lazy afternoon, especially during the off-season.

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Donutz on a Stick

Stay, Play and Eat- Donuts, Ice Cream & Coffee Treats! Located on the Duck Boardwalk, behind Dockside Seafood, this breakfast & Dessert-Shop features treats you've never tasted before! Try the hot, made to order, donutz on a stick with more than 35 toppings! They'll melt in your mouth! Or try the Gluten-Free Donuts; limited quantities, daily. Plus, try any or all of the 9 flavors of homemade tastefully twisted soft serve. Frozen yogurt, sorbets, sherbet, hand dipped and homemade ice cream flavors.   Unique coffees, sodas and espresso that will satisfy the whole family. Mix-and-match nostalgic candies and much more. Bring the carnival to your mouth and eat it like nobody’s watchin’! Donutz-On-A-Stick- where visual stimulation meets taste bud overload!   Carnival Treats at the Beach—With Flavorful Creations and Allergy-Friendly Options, Donutz on a Stick Serves Up Sweet Treats for Everyone   David and Stephanie were not always in the business of carnival confections. In fact, Stephanie was a fitness instructor and David worked in the computer field. But he loved donuts and she loved ice cream, and when they saw an opportunity to bring their favorite treats to beachgoers, they jumped on it.   In 2014, the couple opened their first Donutz on a Stick—a family-run, family-friendly dessert shop on the boardwalk. They quickly realized that in order to serve everyone, they would need to get creative. “We had a family who would come in, and one of the little boys would have to wait by the door because of his gluten allergy,” David says. “That didn’t sit well with us. We wanted everyone to come under the same roof no matter what kind of allergies they had. And we continue to work towards that goal.”   The Williams’ daughter Desireé spent six weeks experimenting until she created a gluten-free donut that was totally safe and delicious. Gluten-free donuts are now a huge part of the business, with more than 1,000 being served each day, just out of the Duck location. But you will want to call or stop by to reserve them in advance.   The Williams’ other three children, David, Justin and Christian, have all invented menu items as well, such as Christian’s donut milkshake, which features hot and fresh cooked donuts blended into a milkshake with another donut on top making it picture perfect.   While all the Williams have created menu items, the most popular pick—the donut sundae—was actually a happy accident.   “We were being featured in a local magazine and we could only have one photo for the article,” David says. Since both ice cream and donuts were equally popular, “we built the donut sundae for the photo and we discovered after the photoshoot that it tasted amazing. It was completely serendipitous.”   The Williams family is constantly creating and improving upon their recipes. At the heart of it all is a desire to see everyone come in and enjoy an experience together. They want to bring the carnival to your mouth.   “No matter how busy we are—even if there’s a line down the boardwalk—every customer gets that engagement and service from us,” they say.   The family has since opened a second location in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area.