Take a Free Wildlife Education ProgramThe knowledgeable employees of the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla offer several education programs throughout the summer. Held in the covered public pavilion at Currituck Heritage Park, these free programs will teach you about local wildlife such as birding, animal tracking, sea turtles, fishing and the ecology of the ocean and the sound. Normally, these programs are about an hour long and are offered Monday to Friday. Programs are appropriate for all ages and reservations are suggested. For more information or to sign up for a program, call (252) 453-0221. Go GolfingThe Outer Banks is home to a variety of golf courses to suit golfers ranging from novice to experienced skill levels. Nags Head Golf Links is an 18-hole championship located at Milepost 15 in Nags Head, and can be reached at (800) 851-9404. The Sea Scape Golf Links is also an 18-hole championship course that is built around the Kitty Hawk Maritime Forest with a beautiful view of the ocean. Sea Scape Golf Links can be reached at (252) 261-2158. The Duck Woods Country Club is an 18-hole course located at Milepost 1 in Southern Shores and can be reached at (252) 261-2609. Hatteras Island also has a golf course, Ocean Edge Golf Course, which is a 9-hole course on the oceanfront in Frisco. They can be reached at (252) 995-4100. Whichever course you choose is sure to keep you thinking about "the day you went golfing on the Outer Banks." Catch a Wave Surfing in the Outer Banks Ocean WatersBecause the Outer Banks is set farther into the ocean with deeper waters than most other coastal regions, the surf of the Outer Banks is said to have the best breaks on the East Coast. The various fishing piers, shipwrecks and sandbars also create unusual wave patters for the thousands of surfers who come to the area each year to ride the Outer Banks waves. As with anything in the ocean, always go with a friend and be aware of water, weather and beach conditions. If you don't know how to surf but would like to learn, various surf shops offering lessons are: the Corolla Surf Shop at (252) 453-WAVE, The Pit Surf Shop in Kill Devil Hills at (252) 480-3128, the Hatteras Island Surf Shop in Waves at (252) 987-2296 or the Ride the Wind Surf Shop in Ocracoke at (252) 928-6311. Embark on a Civil War Trail JourneyThe Civil War plays a role in the history of the Outer Banks, and several historical markers will tell you the story. Along the Civil War Trail of the Outer Banks, you will find important monuments and displays reminiscent of the War. The historical marker for the Battle of Chicamacomico Races, which was the battle when the Confederacy attempted to reclaim Hatteras Island from the Union, is located across from the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station in Rodanthe. Another part of Civil War history is the Freedmen's Colony in Manteo, which is located at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and was a colony set up after Union forces captured the island. For more information on other historical markers and sites, contact the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at (877) OBX-4FUN. 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. Watch Birds and Wildlife at Pea Island National Wildlife RefugeLocated on the north end of Hatteras Island, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge was founded in 1938 as a winter preserve for snow geese. Today, the refuge is managed by the National Park Service and consists of 5,915 acres attracting almost 400 observed bird species. Naturalists, birdwatchers and fans of the sea turtle all frequent the Refuge during their trips to the Outer Banks. There is a Visitor Center on-site as well as a trail leading along the sound marshes in the area. There is no charge for this attraction, but don't forget to bring your insect repellent! For more information, contact the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge at (252) 987-2394. Learn about Local Environment at Jeanette's PierJeanette's Pier is a local historic landmark located in Nags Head at Milepost 16.5. Although Hurricane Isabel took 540 feet of the pier in 2003, the pier house reopened in 2004. The pier is owned by the North Carolina Aquarium Society, which has a unique partnership with the North Carolina Aquarium. There are plans in place to enlarge and rebuild the property. In the peak season, there are daily educational activities in the ocean classroom located in the pier house. Programs such as Beach Exploring, Family Fishing, Beach Fun and Safety, Marsh Adventure for Kids, Beach Creatures of the Night and more are offered throughout the week. For more information, contact Jeanette's Pier at (252) 441-6421. View the Roanoke Marshes LighthouseThe newest (and smallest) lighthouse on the Outer Banks is the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse on Roanoke Island. This reconstructed lighthouse was opened in 2004 by the Town of Manteo, the North Carolina Maritime Museum and Roanoke Island Festival Park. The structure looks more like a lightkeeper's house than a lighthouse, and is located at the end of the pier on the Manteo Waterfront. The original 1857 screwpile lighthouse of the Croatan Sound was also a cottage built over the water and served as both a beacon and a residence. For more information, contact (252) 475-1500. Go Horseback Riding on the BeachYou've seen the movies with people riding horses on the beach. Why not try it for yourself during your vacation to the Outer Banks? Equine Adventures in Buxton offers local experienced guides that lead you on scenic wooded trails to the beach. Rides are offered year round, but reservations are required. Call (252) 995-4897 for more information. Tour the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke IslandLocated on Roanoke Island, the North Carolina Aquarium is a 68,000 square-foot facility with a "Waters of the Outer Banks" theme. Visitors see a variety of marine communities including coastal freshwaters, wetlands, estuaries, roadside ditches and the Gulf Stream. A main attraction at the aquarium is the Graveyard of the Atlantic tank, which holds 285,000 gallons of saltwater and is home to sea turtles, sharks and almost 1,000 other sea creatures. The aquarium is open year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily (except for Christmas and New Year's Day.) Prices are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and active military personnel, $5 for children ages six to 17, and kids five and under are free. For more information, contact the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island at (252) 473-3494. | Corolla RestaurantsGiGi's Italian Restaurant520 Old Stoney Road Corolla, NC 27927 Metropolis Martini & Tapas Restaurant 520 Old Stoney Road Corolla, NC 27927 The Pizza Guy 501 Old Stoney Road Corolla, NC 27927 Bunkers Grill & Bar 620 Currituck Clubhouse Drive Corolla, NC 27927 Pizzazz Pizza Company 603 Currituck Clubhouse Drive Corolla, NC 27927 Maui Wowi 603 Currituck Clubhouse Drive Corolla, NC 27927 Zero's Subs 603 Currituck Club Drive Corolla, NC 27927 Pine Island Diner 345 Audubon Drive Corolla, NC 27927 Route 12 Steak & Seafood 786 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 Corolla ShoppingBlue Water Seafood Market508 Hunt Club Drive Ocean Club Centre Corolla, NC 27927 North Carolina ABC Store 500 Hunt Club Drive Corolla, NC 27927 Old Stoney's Beer & Wine Store 501 Old Stoney Road Corolla, NC 27927 Corolla Bait & Tackle 601 Currituck Clubhouse Drive Shops of Currituck Club Corolla, NC 27927 Harris Teeter Supermarkets 601 Currituck Clubhouse Drive Corolla, NC 27927 Corolla Surf Shop 603 Currituck Clubhouse Drive, Suite G Corolla, NC 27927 Corolla Surf Shop 602 Ocean Trail Monterey Plaza Corolla, NC 27927 Sound Feet Shoes 718 Ocean Trail 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 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 ActivitiesThe Currituck Golf Club620 Currituck Clubhouse Drive Corolla, NC 27927 Corolla Raceway 790 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 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 |