If you haven’t already fallen in love with The Outer Banks, you will after you read this article..

The Outer Banks was tucked neatly into my bucket list for two years before I finally made my way towards the Outer Banks via another rockin’ roadtrip with my two toddlers.

We explored the area extensively and all three of us have never had such a hard time leaving a destination before. There were tears all around.

150 Things To Do In Outer Banks, NC

1. Go to a beach along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore

2. Visit The Bodie Island Lighthouse

3. Eat doughnuts from Duck Donuts

4. Visit The Cape Hatteras Beach Lighthouse

5. See the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site

6. Go to a beach in the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

7. Visit Roanoke Island (my guide to Roanoke Island)

8. Buy an Apple Ugly from Apple Blossom Bakery & Cafe

9. See the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

10. Fish on the Avon Fishing Pier

11. Visit the Oregon Inlet fishing village

12. Walk out on the Rodanthe Pier

13. Take a stroll through the Historic Corolla Park

14. Grab a delicious Fajita Quesadilla from Corolla Cantina

15. Windsurf at Canadian Hole

16. Rent a jet ski or wave runner

17. Take the ferry to Ocracoke Island (my guide to taking the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry)

18. Visit the Graveyard of The Atlantic Museum

19. Shop around in the Pea Island Art Gallery

20. Search for wild horses in the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge

21. Visit the Pea Island Life Saving Station

22. Lay on the beach at the Salvo Say Use Area

23. See the Currituck Lighthouse

24. Visit the Historic Whalehead Club

25. Fish off of the Avalon Pier

26. Walk the trails at the Sandy Run Park

27. Enjoy the shallow waters at the Haulover Day Use Area

28. Watch the kite surfers at Kite Point

29. Have lunch at the famous Howards Pub (the best place we’ve ate at in the OBX!)

30. Go kayaking in the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve

31. Rent a pontoon for the day

32. Visit Little Colington Island and Big Colington Island

33. Go on a Ghost Crab Quest

34. Walk boardwalks of the Hatteras Village Park

35. See the beautiful Jeanette’s Pier

36. Walk around the town of Manteo

37. Get candy from The Laughing Lollipop

38. See the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

39. Go to the Wright Brothers National Memorial

40. Visit the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

41. Walk up the gigantic sand dunes in Jockey’s Ridge State Park

42. Fish off of the Nags Head Fishing Pier

43. Get brave at the First Flight Adventure Park

44. Take a class from the Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School

45. Rent a paddle boat in Hatteras

46. Visit the Nags Head Woods

47. Try stand up paddle boarding in the ocean

48. Wonder around the Seaside Art Gallery

49. Play space themed putt putt at Galaxy Golf

50. Visit the Nags Head Raceway

51. Rent a jeep for beach driving in Corolla

52. Have a waterside picnic at the Harvey Soundside Park

53. Fish off of the Outer Banks Fishing Pier

54. Wonder around the Seagreen Gallery

55. Walk along the breathtaking Coquina Beach

56. Visit the dramatic sand dunes at the Run Hill State Natural Area

57. Eat scrumptious loaded nachos at the pier & ocean front Fishheads (we can’t get enough of their loaded nachos!)

58. Laze around on Corolla Beach

59. Stop by the Pony Pen to take a closer look at the wild horses

60. Indulge on a waffle cone at The Chill Spot

61. Find famous movie filming locations from Message In A Bottle & Nights in Rodanthe

62. Ride a horse on the beach

63. Take a picture in front of the Oregon Inlet Life Saving Station

64. Visit one of the country’s top rated beaches, Ocracoke Beach

65. Visit the Hatteras Island Ocean Center

66. Walk around the Frisco Native American Museum

67. Watch the sunset over dinner at Good Winds Restaurant

68. Take the Buxton Woods Trail

69. Get yourself a treat from the Gingerbread House Bakery

70. Taste delicious fresh seafood at The Mad Crabber

71. Take a chartered fishing boat

72. Try your hand at parasailing

73. Rent a bike to ride around your favorite Outer Banks town

74. Order a pizza from Angelo’s Pizza Arcade

75. Drive your own 4X4 vehicle onto one of the vehicle friendly beaches

76. Snatch your own piece of beautiful eclectic artwork from Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn

77. Take a sunset cruise

78. Rent a golf cart to drive around your favorite Outer Banks town

79. Grab an Italian Ice from Cups And Cones

80. Go scuba diving off the coast of the Outer Banks

81. Have fun at Frisco Mini-Golf and Go-Karts

82. Embrace your inner child at Hatteras Toy Store & Candy Island

83. Stop at Plaza Azteca for delicious Mexican food

84. Enjoy a healthy smoothie from Island Smoothie

85. Buy some Outer Banks made Mango-Pineapple Habenero Salsa from Hattibuilt

86. Taste any and every flavor of salt water taffy from Forbes Candy & Gift Shop

87. Stop by Josephine’s Sicilian Kitchen for yummy Italian cuisine

88. Enjoy the wildlife in the Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods Preserve

89. Search for black bears, turtles, and alligators in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

90. Walk around the beautiful grounds of the Elizabethan Garden

91. Enjoy marine life at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

92. Spend a night in nature at one of the Outer Banks’ campgrounds

93. Experience what life was like in the 19th century at Island Farm

94. Learn a thing or two at The Monument To A Century of Flight

95. Visit the National Wildlife Refuges Visitors Center

96. Drive the length of the Outer Banks Scenic Byway

97. Learn about the loggers and moonshiners of Roanoke at the Buffalo City Exhibit

98. Follow the historical monuments of the Civil War Trail

99. Go for a beer tasting at the Lost Colony Brewery and Cafe

100. Visit the Dare County Airport Museum

101. Walk the Duck Soundside Boardwalk

102. See the Lost Colony Play

103. Visit Duck Town Park

104. Explore the North Carolina Maritime Museum

105. Go shopping at the Nags Head Outlets

106. Attend the annual Lost Colony Wine & Culinary Festival

107. Go crabbing or shrimping on a Croatan Charter Boat

108. Take a Harbor Star Dolphin Tour

109. Get your picture taken at Miss Kitty’s Old Time Photos & Gifts

110. Have fun and try to escape from OB-Xscape Rooms

111. Try a donut on a stick at Donutz On-A-Stick Ice Cream

112. Get your hair wrapped at Life On A Sandbar

113. Be a dare devil with Skydive OBX

114. Take an Outer Banks boat tour with Vineyard Voyage

115. Go bowling at OBX Bowling Center

116. Stop by Kill Devils Frozen Custard & Beach Fries

117. Take a tour with Ghost Tours Of Outer Banks

118. Take a kayak tour with Coastal Kayak Touring Co

119. Enjoy a rainy day at Corolla Movie And Bistro

120. Take a Hummer Adventure Tour

121. Experience a true coastal Carolinian dining tradition with Outer Banks Boil Company

122. Have fun at the Corolla Raceway

123. Take a Back Country Safari Tour

124. Grab a Key Lime Pie Bar, Bananas Foster Cheesecake, or a delicious Oreo Brownie from the Scratchmade Snackery

125. Sample olive oils and balsamic vinegars at Outer Banks Olive Oil Company

126. Take a tour of the rum making process at OBX Distilling

127. Visit The Comedy Club of the Outer Banks

128. Browse through the wines at Bacchus Wine & Cheese

129. Take a yoga class at Soulshine Yoga or Duck Village Yoga

130. Enjoy frozen yogurt at Surfin Spoon

131. Take part in an OBX Mystery Dinner

132. Relax with some hot tea from Dolce Pastries & Desserts

133. Go indoor rock climbing at Kitty Hawk Kites Nags Head location

134. Take a jewelry making class at Studio 12

135. Have fun on obstacle courses and slides at Bouncing Off The Walls

136. Enjoy malts, shakes, ice cream, fudge and more at The Olde Towne Creamery

137. Take a cooking class a A Culinary Affair

138. Grab a chilli cheese dog from Oh My Dog

139. Go to Beach Braids for henna tattoos

140. Make a rememberable craft souvenir at What The Shell

141. Play lazer tag and black light min-golf at Destination Fun

142. Go shopping in the Timbuck II Shopping Village

143. Browse through the largest selection of wine and beer in the Outer Banks at Chip’s Wine & Beer Market

144. Watch a movie at RC Kill Devil Hills Movies

145. Grab a bagel for breakfast at Lighthouse Bagels

146. Go shelling on Ocracoke Beach

147. Watch wild Spanish mustangs in Carova

148. Grab a slice from Rocco’s Pizza

149. Visit the popular Cape Point Beach

150. Collect shells on Shelly Island

I’m happy to answer any questions you have about visiting the Outer Banks in the comments below! 🙂

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