Cool old school wooden pier with food, a bar, and an arcade inside. Great views up and down the beach. This visit only thing biting seemed to be skates, but everyone fishing seemed to be enjoying themselves.

What a fantastic experience!! This is a great place for all ages. Due to the historical significance, I definitely recommend visiting at least once in your life. It was fun learning even more about the Wright Brothers and their first flights than I knew before. It was a deeply moving experience with the commemorative memorials. The visitor center/museum was a beautiful 'Mission 66' 1960s themed building. I love the classic look and engineered design!

This is a beautiful state park!! You can get 'lost' from the rest of the world and have a lot of fun. It is very windy, which makes for great kite flying or hang gliding. They offer hang gliding lessons here. There is a kite store across the street to purchase kites!! There is a recently uncovered sand castle from a mini golf place from the 1970s. That was pretty cool to see. In the early, quiet mornings, you may see some wildlife or animal tracks in the sand, including foxes, coyotes, and opossums. I fly kites frequently, but have never visited a spot as great to fly as here!Additionally, this place is great to watch the sunset from

It looks like a great place to fish, and there are a lot of people that fish here. It is also nice to just go out on the pier to sight see, and to watch people catch fish, but also be warned about the sheer number of sharp hooks flying through the air and the number of fish heads being sliced off. It costs money even to sight see, but it is only a few dollars. The entrance is pretty grand, and there is a fish tank, informational exhibits, and a gift shop. I also appreciate that they have a restroom, and that was free, although I'd gladly have paid an entrance fee at the time. It is right next to a public beach, and along the multiuse trail. We biked in about 4 miles through Nags Head.

This is such a great story and great show. I will tell you the back stage pass is worth it. You learn more about. The show and you get to see things that others wish to be able to. Now the special effects are stunning and I will say there is not a bad seat in the house . The further up you are the more effects you can see and it is stunning. The show happens all around you not just on stage. There is snacks and beverages for everyone, the bathroom ma are clean and the cast are amazing talented members. Go enjoy the show !

Amazing established gardens with 60 plus years of work! This place is tranquil and shaded for a reprieve on a hot, sunny day. Well worth the admission and also loaded with history of the flora and fauna as well as the people and events that shaped the gardens. There is a very nice waterfront overlooking the Sound. Also the greenhouse and nursery sells many plants to the public if you are interested. The staff has all the answers if you have questions about anything related to the gardens or history of the place. A must see for visitors and locals alike!

We loved the aquarium! The exhibits obviously have all kinds of interesting and beautiful marine creatures, the outdoor wetlands area with the alligators and otters was really cool and experiential and the interactive parts of the exhibits were so great for kids. The diver in the shark tank was really fun and gave knuckles to all the kids standing there watching. The kids got to touch stingrays and pencil urchins, got to pretend to diagnose, treat and release an injured turtle in a really well done exhibit room and hunt for sharks teeth outside. And the kids were thrilled they got to keep the teeth they found! Nice gift shop too with lots of kid and adult gifts. We stayed for three hours and thoroughly enjoyed it!

This is a great place to visit with kids! My children learned about this lighthouse in 4th grade, so of course we had to come see it while we were in the area! It has such a neat history. They open ticket sales for each day at 7am on the recreation.gov website, so I made sure to get mine right after they went live. It seems though that they might have tickets still left in the afternoon in the slower months. The marsh area was also great to check out and we saw a Great Egret fishing for food!

If you’re driving through this area. This is a great little stop. Really nice volunteer staffed visitor’s center. Great hiking trails that are easy and accessible. Restrooms are fine park style ones. Lots of areas to view wildlife.

We stopped by here while visiting the Outer Banks for the first time this September. We had a wonderful experience. I wish I had gotten her name but the woman working there was so informative not only on the lifesaving station history but on the community history as well. The history is fascinating and it was nice to walk around and explore the grounds and buildings. It prompted us to go explore the nearby Oregon Inlet Station as well, which is currently closed up but beautiful. I purchased a few books there and am starting to learn more about the history of the Lifesaving Stations as well as the Coastguard and Carolina shipwrecks. Would definitely recommend a stop if you are visiting the area.

Great spot to fish! The staff is nice and knowledgeable and you cant beat the great view. Music on Friday nights is fun and the drink/snack prices are very reasonable.

A few friends and I just completed the Zero to Hero Wing Foil Camp at REAL, and we were blown away. From start to finish, the experience exceeded all expectations. The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and made a huge difference in our progress. Before the camp, we had tried (and failed) to wing foil on our own—but by the end of Day 3, we were gliding up on foil and feeling confident enough to take our new skills back home. Nic Baac and Brendan Guthrie were our instructors, and they were absolutely phenomenal. Patient, attentive, and completely in tune with both us and the ever-changing conditions. Whenever the wind shifted, they were quick to adjust our wing size or tweak the setup so we could keep progressing. What initially felt like an intimidating sport quickly became approachable and genuinely fun, thanks to their consistent encouragement and expert coaching. Honestly, if I could take their positive energy and mindset into other parts of my life, everything would probably get a little better. Beyond the amazing instruction, the culture and atmosphere at REAL are truly special. Every team member we encountered was welcoming and knowledgeable. Jeff helped me pick out a new wetsuit, and his recommendation was spot-on—thanks to his deep expertise, I ended up with the perfect suit for the conditions. We stayed at the Waterman’s Retreat in one of the cabanas, and it couldn’t have been more convenient—just steps away from REAL. The cabana was clean and comfortable, with cozy beds and a handy little kitchenette. The rates were also really reasonable. And the on-site restaurant? Outstanding. We ate there several times, and every meal hit the mark. If it were located back home in Durham, it would definitely be in our regular rotation. The staff was attentive, the beer glasses stayed full, and the tuna sandwich is an absolute must. In short, whether you’re a complete beginner or have some experience under your belt, REAL is the place to go for wing foiling or any wind/water sport. The conditions are consistent, the launch area is clean and accessible, and the water is perfect—deep enough to foil, but shallow enough to stand if you need a break. It’s easy to see why REAL has earned such a stellar international reputation.

This is a lovely gallery that has some wonderful pieces from many artists. The collection is well curated and the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. Many local and regional artists work are sold in this store. Currently, this store is asking that patrons continue to wear masks and use hand sanitizer when they come into the store to protect patrons and the staff. Otherwise with multiple customers it is very tight so it would be difficult to distance. Will be back to visit this lovely gallery when put on the OBX in the future!

This is the best place to watch the sunset. We waded out into the water and sat down to watch the sunset. One night there were kiteboarders to watch. It gets a little crowded on the shore but not in the water.

A coastal storm, came together with an astronomical (full moon ) tide and caused a wash over. 3:30 AM I woke to the sounds of thundering breakers sixty feet in front of our beach front efficiency unit along with the beep, beep, beep of the excavator plowing away tons of sand to prevent the tidal surge from running down rt 12 and flooding the town. At nine AM, I called the motel office. I said, "Good morning. Well, the cable TV is out, There's no water, the stairs got washed off, there's pipes and planks all over the sand, four feet of which is covering the parking lot and the building's been swaying in the strong winds and it's been shuddering as the waves crash into the pilings." They told me the building is designed to do that and that this is Cape Hatteras. This happens all the time. So, if you want to make your vacation a little more adventurous, stay in a beach front unit in Buxton on Cape Hatteras in North Carolina in November. Fishing and birdwatching opportunities abound. But fishing is grudgingly giving way to surfing, sail boarding kite boarding and para surfing as a new wave of sport enthusiasts come here to harness the energy of the wind and waves. There's raw beauty here and real weather as the Labrador and Gulf Stream currents converge on the easternmost point of Cape Hatteras. Everyone has high clearance 4wd vehicles. Here, those big pickup trucks are more than just phallic symbols. They allow you to drive the beaches, even when those beaches cover the roads.

$2 to be entertained by fishermen (and women!) and see one of the coolest and most warped piers I’ve seen - and I’ve seen a lot. There were some surfers that were exciting to see out there and the guy at the counter gave me a subtle compliment that he could tell I worked out so 5 stars all around for hospitality! The pier is long so wear sunscreen and snap a photo on the giant Adirondack chair in the lawn out front!

The lighthouse is the tallest in the US. Unfortunately we couldn’t climb due to it undergoing restoration, however this was the first time in a few decades the park ranger said the lighthouse was completely unpainted. It’s also pretty interesting knowing the history of how they moved the lighthouse 2900ft in 23 days. Definitely a go to. Can’t wait until it opens back up to climb!

What a wonderful morning ride! The horses were ready for us when we arrived. The guides gave detailed instructions with demo prior to leaving the ranch and again during the ride. This is great for inexperienced and experienced riders. The guides took our pictures at the ocean and we never had to leave our horseback. Very well worth the money. PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO TIP if you enjoyed yourself. These folks work hard to keep their animals happy and healthy, and you safe! Thank you, ladies!

Drive slow, idiots fly kites from the ‘tracks’ and jump out onto them in oblivian. Patience will get you a prime spot, sometimes it’s worth it to go up all the way near 48. Much less ‘political’ this year (2022) so far. Beautiful stretch of beach to spend the day.

This is an interesting place to spend time and soak up learning about the ecology of this fascinating area of the outer banks. (also -- there is a great ice cream store NEXT DOOR!) lots of science exhibits and interesting items about the locals. I VERY nice boardwalk that goes out into the marsh. There are items for sale as well.

The ferry service from Hatteras to Ocracoke is free, which by itself is a great deal. The ride is exciting and the scenery is beautiful. The staff was professional and efficient.

Neat educational spot that can be explored in an hour. Amazing to see how many shipwrecks took place in the area. The interactive touchscreen map really put the scope into perspective. Admission is free and they do accept donations.

Easily one of the best beaches in the US. This is a spectacular stretch if beach! Technically 12 miles or so long it stretches from Ocracoke inlet to Hatteras inlet. I'm talking about the part close to the town of Ocracoke just passed the airstrip. I've seen whales twice and dolphin pretty much every time I go. There is a well kept changing/bath room and outdoor showers. The boardwalk to the beach features a wheelchair friendly overlook too.

A touching tribute to list sailors serving far from their native home. If you are on Ocracoke, I would highly recommend paying this spot a visit.

I love all things history, and this place is full of it! Such a neat place, I'd definitely visit again.

We were so glad we caught opening day!! Having loved Blackbeard from childhood this was a treat! Very informative and a wonderful assortment of info, exhibits and artwork of him. A great gift shop that honestly has the best prices on the island! Meeting the owners waa honestly highlight of my trip over, sweet people that have a love of fur kids like I do. Cant wait to stop next year!

Here’s a well-crafted Google review for the Ocracoke Island Light Station: ⸻ A must-see piece of history on Ocracoke Island! The Ocracoke Island Lighthouse is a beautiful and well-preserved landmark that offers a glimpse into the maritime history of the Outer Banks. While you can’t climb the steps to the top, you can walk inside the lighthouse, which is a rare treat! Access is easy via a short boardwalk, and it’s open to the public and completely free. A friendly and knowledgeable volunteer was on site during our visit to share fascinating stories about the lighthouse’s construction, its keepers, and its role in guiding mariners for over a century. The whole experience is peaceful, educational, and doesn’t take long — plan for about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much time you spend soaking it all in. You can ride your bike or drive there while exploring Ocracoke, and it makes for a perfect little side trip. Whether you’re into history, architecture, or just looking for a quiet and scenic stop, this lighthouse is absolutely worth a visit!

What a great walk. Ride your bike there or take a walk. No parking for carts or cars. Watch the sunset and get some gorgeous views