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Take a Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Manteo

One of the oldest Outer Banks communities, Manteo is the county seat of Dare County and is home to several old office buildings that are still in use today. Manteo also has several bed and breakfast inns, restaurants, shops and attractions - all of which attract thousands of visitors to Roanoke Island each season. The downtown area is located on the waterfront, which has 53 modern dockside boat slips and a comfort station with showers and bathrooms. The downtown area has many independently owned shops and restaurants that provide for an interesting afternoon of shopping. Also in the area is the American Bicentennial Park, which has a wooden boardwalk along the waterfront, a gazebo area and picnic tables for resting and a playground for the kids. In Historic Downtown Manteo, there is something for everyone!

Tour the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

Located on Roanoke Island, the North Carolina Aquarium is a 68,000 square-foot facility with a "Waters of the Outer Banks" theme. Visitors see a variety of marine communities including coastal freshwaters, wetlands, estuaries, roadside ditches and the Gulf Stream. A main attraction at the aquarium is the Graveyard of the Atlantic tank, which holds 285,000 gallons of saltwater and is home to sea turtles, sharks and almost 1,000 other sea creatures. The aquarium is open year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily (except for Christmas and New Year's Day.) Prices are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and active military personnel, $5 for children ages six to 17, and kids five and under are free. For more information, contact the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island at (252) 473-3494.

Spend the Afternoon at Jockey's Ridge State Park

Jockey's Ridge State Park is home to the East Coast's tallest sand dune that is 1.5 miles long, 100 feet high and consists of 420 acres and is a popular day time destination. Though the park doesn't have any overnight camping facilities, many visitors enjoy the park daily. Visitors come to this park to hike to the top of the dune and enjoy the panoramic ocean and sound views, which are even more beautiful during sunset. Sound side access in the park is a popular place for windsurfers to launch. People also enjoy hang gliding off the dune and flying their kites in this large, open park. For more information, contact the park at (252) 441-7132.

Tour the Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park

The Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park is a 69-acre industrial park that was built in 1980 to entice large-scale seafood processing companies to bring their business to Wanchese. Oregon Inlet, the East Coast's most dangerous inlet, shoaled terribly through the 1980s and few of the fishing boats could make it through the inlet, so the large-scale seafood processors never arrived. The industrial park remained mostly vacant until 1994, when smaller area businesses began moving into the park. Today, the area is almost full with various marine-related industries. The industrial park is an educational stop for visitors interested in the world of boatbuilding and sea harvesting. Visitors are welcome to come in and check out the boat docks. For more information, contact the industrial park at (252) 473-5867.

Go Hiking on the Hammock Hills Nature Trail

Located north of Ocracoke Village, the 0.75-mile Hammock Hills Nature Trail will take you on a 30-minute walk through various sections of the Island, including sand dunes, maritime forest and a salt marsh. Signs along the trail teach about various plant life surviving in the Ocracoke weather and elements. You will want to remember your camera and insect repellent before you take this hike, and don't forget that snakes may be hiding in the underbrush. The trailhead is located just across Highway 12 from the Ocracoke Campground.

Take a Scenic Flight Tour

If you think the Outer Banks are beautiful from the ground, wait until you see them from the sky! This stretch of islands and waters will amaze you. Depending on where you fly, you will see things from the air such as the Oregon Inlet, one of the four area lighthouses, the Wright Brothers Memorial, and more! For a tour of the northern Outer Banks, you may contact Kitty Hawk Aero Tours at (877) 274-2461 or Outer Banks Seaplanes at (252) 475-1007. Kitty Hawk Aero Tours depart from the Manteo Airport. Outer Banks Seaplanes take off and land on the Roanoke Sound. For a tour of Hatteras and/or Ocracoke Islands, contact Burris Flying Service at (252) 986-2679. Prices for the above services start between $30 and $75 per person, depending on the size of your group and the length of your flight. You will want to call ahead to make reservations.

Go Beachcombing For Shells

Beachcombing for shells, also called shelling, on the beaches of the Outer Banks is an activity enjoyed by all. The best times to look for shells are after a high tide, after a storm, in the morning and during the winter months. When picking up shells from the sand, make sure you check first to make sure nothing is still alive inside the shell. If the shell you choose is the home to a live sea creature, set him back in the sand and keep searching. After you are done with your beachcombing, don't forget to soak the shells in bleach water or another cleaning agent. Even if the shells you choose are empty now, they had something living in them at one time and need to be cleaned before you pack them in your suitcase.

Visit the Deserted Portsmouth Island

Portsmouth Island is a small, deserted island just south of Ocracoke Island. Though it was once inhabited, now Portsmouth Island has no residents and is accessible only by boat. There is a 2-mile trail that leads from the village to the beach. Wilderness camping is allowed, but don't forget your insect repellent! For more information on the Island, contact Cape Lookout National Seashore at (252) 728-2250. If you would rather have a guided tour, Portsmouth Island ATV Excursions allows you to ride the shores of this island and visit its attractions. Two trips are offered each day and cost $75 per person. For more information, contact (252) 928-4484.

Tour the Frisco Native American Museum and Natural History Center

The Native American Museum & Natural History Center in Frisco is full of unusual collections of Native American artifacts dating back to the 1930s. The Museum has one of the largest collections of artifacts from the Chiricahua Apache tribe, as well as several artifacts from other tribes from around the country. There is a gift shop at the museum that sells various art, crafts, jewelry, toys and books. Outside the museum, there are outdoor nature trails leading into three acres of woods. The museum is open year-round on Tuesday through Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $2 per person or $5 per family, and group rates are available. For more information, contact the Museum at (252) 995-4440.

Take a Red Wolf Howl Tour at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Located on the Dare County mainland west of Manteo on Highway 64, you will find the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge consists of 150,000 acres of wetlands, fields and swamps. A variety of animal species call the refuge home, including black bears, white-tailed deer, gray fox, bobcats, raccoons, mink, beaver, squirrels, opossum, river otter, alligators and red wolves. Though they are a threatened species, red wolves have made a comeback in this part of North Carolina, thanks to careful management since the 1980s. Night tours to hear the red wolves howl are given every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. in the refuge from late June through mid-August. For more information, contact the refuge at (252) 473-1131, ext. 243.