The Outer Banks is the perfect spot for your family vacation. Besides the beach, there are endless opportunities to seek out adventures for all ages.
Looking to explore the outdoors? Fly a kite at Jockey’s Ridge State Park or just marvel at the sand dunes. Walk through the swamp at Nags Head Woods and listen to the chorus of singing bullfrogs. Wander through the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island and absorb the natural beauty of the flora and fauna.
Introduce your wild things to some local wildlife. Get a glimpse of the untamed horses of Corolla. Grab a paddle and take a kayak ecotour; just try to count how many different kinds of birds and animals you see. Look for dolphins while cruising the sound or charter a fishing expedition into the sea. Or, keep your fish-gazing indoors at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island.
How about creating your own fun? Glaze a piece of your own pottery art, design a bead necklace or make a stuffed animal. Put together a scrapbook and bring home something to commemorate your vacation. Visit Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head on “Kids’ Day” Wednesdays 10am-2pm, and for Sunset Festivals Monday-Friday 7pm-9pm in season. Or, join a cast of characters from The Lost Colony for Tanger Tuesdays, July 7-August 11 from 1-4pm. Lots of free fun for families and kids!.
Add some high-speed excitement to your vacation – you can race go-karts along a track, soak yourself atop a bumper boat or create the memory of a lifetime flying a hang glider across the sand. Catch an Outer Banks Dare Devils baseball game. Enjoy bumper cars, bungee jumping and even more rides and attractions at the largest amusement park in the state on Hatteras Island.
How about making some historical discoveries while on vacation? Roanoke Island Festival Park on Roanoke Island offers you a peek into the past as you meet and talk with actual “colonists” on the spot of the earliest English settlement. Climb aboard the Elizabeth II, docked in the harbor behind the park for a salty taste of the trip to the New World. Watch the history unfold before your eyes at a performance of the outdoor drama, The Lost Colony.
There’s no end to the shopping opportunities for kids along the bypass. From toys and classic souvenirs to the latest skating and surf gear, to every flavor of fudge you can dream of, the Outer Banks offers an extravaganza of gift shops, adventure stores and gourmet delights.
Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that are the most fun. Explore the piers along the ocean’s edge. Many have mini arcades with skee-ball and classic video games. Have a picnic near a playground – there are several along the Outer Banks. Or challenge your family to a miniature golf tournament – from dinosaurs to pirates, there’s a themed putt-putt course for everyone. And now on the Outer Banks – laser tag!
There’s something different to do with your family every day on the Outer Banks. The hard part may be fitting it all in during one vacation! |
