The Outer Banks in North Carolina are scenic barrier islands that stretch 200 miles from the Virginia border to Ocracoke Island. The islands are dotted with seaside villages and quirky towns topped by a beautiful and vast, gold-brown coastline by the emerald-colored waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Yearly Outer Banks attracts over 5 million visitors, and there are plenty of iconic sights to see here.
10 The Elizabethan Gardens
The Elizabethan Gardens are 10 acres of lush and beautiful botanical garden lavishness spiced with beautiful sculptures. Each season, the plants, trees, and shrubs bloom a variety of beautiful flowers that attract repeat visitors. Notable sculptures found here are a bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth I and Virginia Dare, an ancient Italian marble statue. At the Elizabethan Gardens, weddings, birthdays, and photography sessions are done here at a fee. Throughout the year, landscaping and garden design lessons are offered to gardening enthusiasts and visitors.
9 The Graveyard Of The Atlantic Museum
Located in Hatteras Village, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum memorializes the thousands of historic shipwrecks resting on Atlantic Ocean waters off North Carolina's coast. The museum has shipwreck exhibits associated with the pirates' era, the Civil and Revolutionary Wars, and World War I and II. Some exhibits at this museum date back to 1650, the year of the earliest documented shipwreck. Apart from the exhibits, there are scavenger hunt activities for families and youths.
8 The Monument To A Century Of Flight
Kitty Hawk Town has the Monument to a Century of Flight consisting of 14 stainless steel wing-shaped pylons of heights 10 to 20 feet. The pylons are positioned in a 120 feet orbit, symbolic of the length of the Wright Brothers' maiden historic flight. This monument also has black granite panels that illustrate 100 of the most important events in aviation's first century. This monument is free to visit.
7 The 1850s Island Farm
The Island Farm chronicles the living history of Outer Banks residents who lived at Roanoke Island in the 1850s. At this farm, an island family lived through the Civil War impact, including performing harrowing rescues as members of the US Life Saving Service. The family also assisted the Wright Brothers as they worked on their dream of a powered flight while feeding their chickens, fishing, and growing corn that was later milled at the windmill. There is plenty of history to learn here for an admission fee of $10 per person. The Island Farm today is occupied by the 11th family generation.
6 Outer Banks National Scenic Byway
Dubbed North Carolina's most romantic byway, the 138-mile-long Outer Banks Scenic Byway drive, along different barrier islands, is worth experiencing. The byway passes through beautiful beaches, scenic wildlife preserves, historic towns, famed lighthouses, and coastal villages. Visitors spend around 5.5 hours on this sightseeing byway tour which includes 3.5 hours on a 25 miles ferry ride on barrier islands that straddle the vast Atlantic Ocean.
5 The Wright Brothers National Memorial
The Wright Brothers National Memorial is the historical site where Orville and Wilbur Wright, after four years of experiments, successfully flew their plane on December 17th, 1903. This site where these self-taught engineers pulled off that feat today has aviation exhibits and is a science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) hub. Inside the visitors center, tourists can learn about the brothers' lives and the technology they used for that first flight. In the Flight Room is a replica of that 1903 Wright Flyer that made worldwide history.
4 Roanoke Island Festival Park
Roanoke Island Festival Park is a 27-acre historical site where visitors of all ages can live the 1585 life of the first Roanoke English settlers. The site has guides dressed the part to demonstrate how the first settlers lived, worked, and played on this Outer Banks island. Roanoke Island Festival Park also hosts an American Indian Town that mimics what the English explorers found in the late 16th century, plus an adventure museum where children play dress up in 16th-century costumes. Concerts, weddings, and weddings are also hosted at Roanoke Island Festival Park. The entry fee is $11 for adults and $8 for those ages 3 to 17 years.
3 The Civil War Trail
At Outer Banks, there are 15 miles of Civil War Trail winding through Roanoke and Hatteras Islands called the Dare County Civil War Trail. Exploring this trail is a great way to learn in-depth about the Outer Banks' history through the 15 markers and wayside exhibits mounted there. The Battle of Chicamacomico Races plaque historically chronicles how the Confederacy tried reclaiming Hatteras Island from the Union and the Freedman's Colony, and among others are on this trail.
2 The Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery
Art lovers can visit Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery located in Nags Head and see pieces created by the late versatile artist Glenn Eure. At this gallery, there are collagraph images, sculptural oil canvases, etchings, woodblocks, oil and acrylic paintings, carvings, and dimensional watercolors. Continuing with Eure's mission, this gallery hosts community arts events and literary arts presentations.
1 Cape Hatteras National Seashore
At the scenic 30,000 acres of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, there is plenty to see. This seashore is over 70 miles long. There are historical attractions like the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and U.S. Life-Saving Stations, plus birds and sea wildlife like turtles and crabs. There also are camping and picnic areas and beach activities that keep visitors busy at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Visitors can also kayak or climb up the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse for fun.