2025 Nature Spots Guide

Commune with nature and take photos of the pristine Outer Banks!

The pinnacle of fishing on the Outer Banks, however, is and has always been Cape Point. Ask any long-time Hatteras Island fisherman about Cape Point, and they'll gladly tell you about incredible catches, near-misses, and the occasional vehicle getting stuck in the deep, shifting sands.

You’ll find Causeway Waters Sports on the beautiful Roanoke Sound on the Causeway between Nags Head and Manteo, just past Whalebone Junction. This family outdoor activity center offers parasailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, wave runners and dolphin tours.Causeway promises customers top of the line equipment with all rentals and a “safe and hassle-free time.“ It also boasts the “most knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining crew on the Outer Banks.”Located on the calm side of the sound, Causeway offers peaceful and relaxing kayaking on your own or with one of their guided tours through the Bodie Island Wildlife preserve. If you’re not into paddling, you may prefer to set sail on a two-hour dolphin cruise, passing nesting pelicans and osprey on the way. Or you can get a birds-eye view yourself, parasailing to heights up to 1,000 feet.For more excitement, Causeway’s 4-stroke Yamaha Wave Runners will speed up the pace as well as cool you off on a hot summer day. Whatever your skill level, Causeway’s staff is available to make sure your ride is safe and fun.Last, but not least, Causeway offers equipment and lessons in the world’s fastest growing water sport - paddleboarding. The lessons are free, and this sport, along with all others Causeway offers, provides a great day of fun and memories.

If you are looking for adventure, stop by or call Coastal Kayak Touring Company and book your reservation. The company has been offering kayak and paddle boarding tours on the Outer Banks since 1999 and is located at the Waterfront Shops in Duck. New for 2018! On-site rentals at Duck Waterfront Shops (also Kitty Hawk).

Corolla Adventures is a family owned and operated business. The Meredith family has been providing vacationers with entertainment for nearly two decades. My late father opened The Waterworks, a watersports rental store in Nags Head during the 1980’s.

Fun, family-oriented and professional fishing and maritime trips. 

Located in one of the Outer Banks most beautiful wooded areas, the David Paul Pruitt, Jr. Park is a small recreation area just off the Bypass near the entrance of Kitty Hawk Woods. It’s a family-oriented neighborhood playground that has play equipment for both young and older kids inside a fence-enclosed area and picnic tables on the outside near the parking area. Included are slides, jungle gyms and swings, along with a rare find at playgrounds these days - the popular push-jump-on-and-ride-merry-go-round. Nearby is a multiuse path for all family members to enjoy biking, walking or jogging. The shaded path winds in and out of roadside trees for about two miles, ending at Sandy Run Park, which features a beautiful boardwalk loop through the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Preserve.The playground and path were named to honor Pruitt’s 20 years of service to the Town of Kitty Hawk as council member and mayor pro tem and his service to the country during WWII in the 82nd Airborne and later as Master Sergeant with the U.S. Air Force.David Paul Pruitt, Jr. Park is located next to the Dominion Power building on Woods Road and is open to the public.

The Field Research Facility in northern Duck is known for its 1840 foot long pier and its internationally recognized research. It’s mission is “Advancing coastal knowledge through observation and discovery.”Established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1977, FRF is part of the Field Data Collection and Analysis Branch headquartered in Vicksburg, Mississippi and the U.S. Department of Defense.Along with the pier, also essential to FRF’s operation are instruments that regularly record the changing waves, winds, tides, and currents and specialized vehicles like the unique, three-wheeled “CRAB.” Though it appears top-heavy, this 35-foot tripod with a wide base and liquid-filled tires is able to operate “in all but the most severe storms,” says FRF.The observatory’s ongoing projects include studies to improve emergency response to cyclones, a coastal flood hazard analysis for FEMA and nearshore ocean depth (bathymetry) surveys, unmatched worldwide in their accuracy and coverage. Particularly important to the Outer Banks is new FRF technology that will help researchers better predict how hurricanes and nor’easters change our beaches.FRF encourages the use of its facilities and data by other government agencies, universities and private companies throughout the year.A visit to FRF’s homepage will give you more info on its operations, as well as daily stats on weather, water temperature, waves and warnings on any current coastal hazards. The facility is closed to the public.

As everyone can see just walking past this store, many of the mild-weather recreational activities that can be done outdoors are covered here. Racks in front of the store are filled with fat tire beach cruisers, kayaks and surfboards. Inside, surf gear and beach wear ---bathing suits, shorts, shirts and dresses, pants and hoodies ---fill racks and shelves.

Explore the beauty and serenity of Hatteras Island on horseback anytime of year at Equine Adventures. Riders can expect quality service from local owner and operator Sylvia Mattingly, who brings more than 25 years of horse experience to Equine Adventures. Locally owned and operated for 17 years.

Night climbing starts in June of 2019! FFAP is an Aerial Adventure Park overlooking the beautiful Albemarle Sound. Platforms range from 12 feet to 50 feet high. Climbers take the action into their own hands by choosing to go on the easiest of the courses (Tropical Storm) or going all the way up to the most difficult (Category 5). The platforms are installed on utility poles.  From an aerial view the course looks like outer bands branching out from the central tower, which is the Eye of the Hurricane. There are 6 courses with 7 obstacles on each course. The obstacles are designed around a beach theme using ropes, cables, wood, barrels, stir-ups, and even a hammock. The higher up the central spiral staircase you go, the more difficult the obstacles are. At the end of each course there is a short zip back to the central tower. Have no fear, climbers will be in a harness and on belay for the duration of the climb. Typically climbers will complete 3-4 courses (21-28 obstacles) during the 2 hour climb. Guides take care of the climbers and make sure everyone stays safe!  So bring the whole family and experience and adventure like never before!

Looking at the small town of Manteo, with its Crepe Myrtle lined busy main streets, and charming downtown filled with contemporary restaurants and old antique stores, one wouldn't necessarily think that this Outer Banks village was the veritable birthplace of European Settlement in America.

A campground, convenince store and watersport site rolled into one. 

Ghost Crab Quest is an ecotourism company based on the Outer Banks. Amazed by the beauty of these fragile barrier islands, Ghost Crab Quest is committed to sharing and exploring its wonders day and night. While the star of the show is the mighty Atlantic Ghost Crab (Ocypode quadrata), they offer educational activities that will introduce guests to astronomy, bird watching, outrageous ocean creatures and pirate history. Join Ghost Crab Quest in "Finding Fun in Search of Nature."

Embark on an adventure that you and your crew will never forget with a fun Hatteras Island expedition that is commandeered by Godspeed Charters. This Hatteras village-based charter business features a wide range of activities for families of all interests, including romantic tours, crabbing and clamming, and deep-sea fishing trips, ensuring that everyone can add an extra dose of on-the-water fun and excitement to every Outer Banks getaway.

No Outer Banks family vacation is ever complete without a Harbor Star dolphin tour. What could possibly be more exciting than watching the wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphin jump and frolic right in front of you? This trip is guaranteed to be a great time for the entire family. This 2 hour cruise includes an entertaining tour and an opportunity to spot wild dolphins aboard the 50-foot Harbor Star cruise boat and leave the Wanchese Marina multiple times per day. Tickets must be purchased 30 minutes or further in advance of your cruise departure time either online or at the Marina desk. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your cruise and proceed to the staging area near The Landing Grill Steam Bar.

From exploring the diverse wildlife that crowds the local beaches, to taking a lazy tour through the winding marshes and creeks of the Pamlico Sound, there’s a lot to discover at the Hatteras Island Ocean Center. This unique interactive destination offers a wealth of activities for adventurous locals and visitors alike, and is a great destination to uncover all the wild wonders of the southern Outer Banks.

Enjoy recreational watersports and guided tours. 

A beautiful and recreational stop for watersport fun. 

Hayman Park is a charming, circular neighborhood park located at the north end of Kill Devil Hills and on the sound side of Highway 158 (the Bypass).The park has a large open area often used for adult soccer practice and children’s soccer games, by golfers practicing chip shots and owners exercising pets. It’s also great for Frisbee throwing, kite flying and other activities or just lying on a blanket in the sun. In the shaded area are benches, along with picnic tables and a grill for cookouts, and nearby are swings sturdy enough for all ages and a jungle gym and slides for the kids. There are also plenty of live oak trees to climb or relax beneath with a good book.The park is surrounded by a wooden fence with several openings and plenty of room for parking on the grass area between the fence and the street, where traffic is required to move at a slow pace. The pavement encircling the park is also a great place to bike on windy days - never too long in a head wind - and to keep track of distance when running or biking - five times around the park is one mile. Hayman Park is maintained by the Town of Kill Devil Hills and is open to the public, with a portable toilet available during the season.

Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head offers fishing and fun for the entire family! Go fishing, take a family fishing class or simply walk out to the end of this 1,000-foot-long, concrete ocean pier.

Guided hunting and fishing on the Outer Banks.

You haven’t been to the Outer Banks if you haven’t been to a fishing pier, and Nags Head Fishing Pier is as authentic as they come. One of the oldest and longest surviving piers on the barrier islands, this is a great place to take the kids or less agile folks to hook a fish. But people of all ages and skill levels enjoy the great inshore fishing available here, thanks to the closeness of the warm Gulf Stream off the coast. There’s a full-service tackle shop with gear for rent, including rods, reels and other tackle. Bait is also for sale. One-day, three-day eight-day and season passes are available, and kids pay half. And if you catch a fish, you can have the pier's restaurant cook it for you! Even if you never fished a day in your life, it is worth paying the $1.50 to walk on the pier to enjoy the view and the wonderful social scene, and be entertained watching folks fish. The ocean looks awe-inspiring, and it’s fun to feel the sturdy pier sway as the waves crash under it.

Nags Head Town Park is nestled among the trees on the edge of Nags Head Woods and offers plenty of space for all types of activities. For kids there’s a playground with swings and slides, and for family and group get-togethers, grills and a covered shelter with bathrooms and picnic tables are provided.  Besides the shaded areas, there’s plenty of open space for soccer and other games, frisbee throwing and kite flying. As a bonus, a nearby Nags Head Woods Preserve nature trail offers a scenic .8-mile trek through sand dunes and maritime forests, ending at a small, quiet soundside beach.  To make sure the Park Pavillion is available for group picnics or parties, call the Town of Nags Head to reserve the space. Although reservations are free, a $50 clean up deposit must be dropped off or mailed to Town Hall prior to your event date. The deposit will be returned if the Park is left clean and in good order.West Barnes Street off of Highway 158 at milepost 11 (beside Ace Hardware) runs right into Health Center Drive. Entrance to the Park is just south of the parking area.

Corolla's Largest & Most Experienced Rental Company—At OBX Beach Toy Rentals, our fun rental options gives you the power to explore all the wonderful things Corolla and Duck has to offer. We always provide FREE DELIVERY with our weekly Golf Cart and Bicycle rentals. Golf Carts are available in Corolla only. Bicycles are available in both Corolla and Duck. Reserve now to guarantee availability.

OBX Biplanes offers open cockpit air tours of the Outer Banks and boasts one of the area's "most exciting things to do." The company describes the biplane tour as like a trip back in time - much like an “Out of Africa” flying experience of feeling “the wind in your hair, the sun on your face and joy in your heart."

The waterfront campground is now open in Coinjock, North Carolina! This coastal retreat is an outdoor enthusiasts' paradise, located just 30 minutes from the Outer Banks, and has stunning views of the Currituck Sound. Campers will be able to choose from RV Rentals, deluxe cabins, waterfront or inland RV sites, seasonal RV sites and tent camping.

Open since 2002, the Outer Banks Arboretum and Teaching Garden was created to provide the community with horticultural education, to help with property enhancement and also as a memorial acknowledgement. The Garden is located next to the Baum Center in Kill Devil Hills - also near the Kill Devil Hills Library and behind the KDH Post Office. It’s a small, quiet and secluded area with a brick pathway that winds through the aquatic, dune and butterfly sections that make up the garden. Besides providing locals and visitors a place of relaxation and visual beauty, the goal of the garden is to test and display labeled plantings and to investigate and showcase planting practices that are most suitable for the Outer Banks’ coastal climate. Featured at the garden are a number of salt- and pest-resistant native plants that are able to thrive in this area despite its often challenging, coastal microclimates of beach dunes, wetlands and maritime forests.The Arboretum and Teaching Garden was founded through collaborative efforts of Dare County’s NC Cooperative Extension Service, Extension Master Gardeners and the Dare Master Gardener Volunteer Association (MGVA). Among the project's partners are Outer Banks Community Foundation, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and the Town of Kill Devil Hills. The Dunes of Dare Garden Club maintains the Butterfly Garden. Dare MGVA, along with private contributions and memorials and community grants, fund the Garden.

Outer Banks Pier is one of the few fishing piers still standing on the Outer Banks, and it worth a visit even if you don’t fish. The ocean pier in South Nags Head was first built in 1959, and rebuilt after the Ash Wednesday storm in 1962.  When owner Garry Oliver purchased it in 1970, it was about the same length it is now --- 550 feet. Then he decided to extend it 150 feet. But when Hurricane Isabel ripped through the Outer Banks in 2003, it tore the entire 150 feet off.  With the beach widened in 2011, the shoreline is also about where it was when Oliver first owned it.  Open 24 hours a day in the summer, there’s a small fee to walk on the pier without fishing. Fishing passes are available for one day, three days, one week, by the season, and for couples.  Basic tackle and fishing supplies are sold at the pier, along with snacks and T-shirts. There is also a snack bar and outdoor bar that serves beer and wine right behind the pier house. 

Join us for an unforgettable family adventure and see a more natural side of the Outer Banks.

Listen to nature speak through the howling of the red wolves!

Celebrate the origins of America with a fascinating and purely entertaining visit to the Roanoke Island Festival Park. This 25-acre historic site, an easy stroll from the downtown Manteo waterfront, is a popular summer attraction for visitors of all ages. With four distinct attractions that wind through the wooded and grassy regions bordering the Roanoke Sound and Shallowbag Bay, patrons will find acres of history to explore, and plenty of engrossing hands-on exhibits to keep everyone purely entertained.

Springer's Point is a gorgeous nature preserve with a legendary past. Populated for centuries, and open to the public, this small parcel of Ocracoke Island is one of the last undeveloped sections of land on the island, and thanks to extensive efforts by the Coastal Land Trust, will forever remain that way.

A full-service diving and outdoor sports center.

Join us in Duck, North Carolina, as we celebrate the Town’s 10-Year Anniversary with a host of fun-filled, family-friendly events.