18 Unforgettable Experiences on North Carolina's Outer Banks and Southern Shores
Mystery envelops so much of North Carolina's coastal history that it's hard
to tell where fact ends and legend begins. But that's exactly what makes this
trip magical. Who can resist the intrigue of pirates, a vanished colony,
back-alley ghosts, and fly-gobbling plants? (And you thought this trip would be
nothing but a good book and the almighty beach. Think again.)
What follows are 18 unforgettable experiences on the Outer Banks and Southern
Shores, beginning around Kitty Hawk and continuing south to the Cape Fear Coast around Wilmington. Some are new twists
on old favorites, and some are memorable moments waiting to be had in nearly
undiscovered places …
1. Paddle around the Lost Colony's ship, Elizabeth II, at Roanoke Island Festival Park. A great way to escape summer crowds and get your own personal take on what may have happened to the early explorers who mysteriously disappeared here is by renting a kayak from Kitty Hawk Sports and making your silent way under the bow of the re-created 16th-century ship. Along the trip through Manteo's
Shallowbag Bay Sound, spot great blue heron, nesting egrets, and backyard crabbing pots. Non-seafarers can get more facts on Roanoke
Island's most fascinating story onboard the
(tethered) Elizabeth II or at the The Lost Colony, the outdoor historical drama presented in Waterside Theater.
2. Stand where the Wright Brothers first flew. Perched on a Kill Devil
Hills hilltop, the Wright Brothers National Memorial, honoring Orville and
Wilbur, marks the site of the world's first powered airplane flight in 1903. The
visitor center here includes a replica of the original "Wright Flyer."
3. See where Orville and Wilbur telegraphed word of their first
flight. Once a lifesaving station (with the town's only telegraph), the
building is now the Black Pelican Oceanfront Café in Kitty Hawk. If you're
not into museums, this is the perfect stop. You can see a copy of the telegraph
and a few flight photos on the walls while chowing wood-fired gourmet pizza. The
White Seafood Pizza (around $14), with shrimp, scallops, and a white sauce, is
one of the most popular.
4. Watch hang gliders on the mountainous dunes of Jockey's Ridge State Park. Year-round gusty winds
make this Nags Head park an ideal spot for kite-flying too. Catch a spectacular
sunset here on the Atlantic Coast's tallest sand dune.
5. Eat a before-dawn breakfast with local fishermen at Sam
& Omie's in Nags Head. Locals say this quaint septagenarian diner serves up the best breakfast in the Outer Banks. Don't leave without trying the
Crabmeat Benedict, which is well-worth the $12.95.
