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Natural wonders top the list for attractions in Nags Head. The beach is the main entree with soundside bathing and treks to Jockey's Ridge as exciting side dishes. Explore Nags Head by foot, bicycle, watercraft or plane for a complete view of the fragile ecosystem.
Whether you’re snorkeling for shells, kiting on the ridge, biking or walking the town bike path, traveling a wooded trail, hang gliding, sailing, kayaking or |
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surfing, Nags Head offers many inroads to nature. And, for wonder of another sort, spark your creativity with a visit to Gallery Row or tour the town’s public art collection. State of the art beauty exists in all forms — natural and manmade — in this little Outer Banks seaside habitat. Most of it is free for the asking. |
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Attractions Index. Click on each Attraction below to read more. Naturally the beach is the greatest attraction Nags Head has to offer. From solitary walks along the shore to rollicking good times in the waves, her majesty steals the show. We know that all visitors here understand how to enjoy the beach and ocean. It’s a large part of why you chose the Outer Banks for a visit, right? So, here, we would like to give you a few water safety tips and other information you need to stay safe and secure while you’re on these shores. Mercurial by nature, the great Atlantic's temperature and condition vary depending on the season or which way the wind is blowing -- at times moving toasty and calm Gulf Stream waters close to shore, at times rough and rolling. Maximize your pleasure by following time-worn and essential safety precautions. Approach the sea with care: Walk or wade into the water rather than running or diving. Remember to face the waves. If red flags are flying, swimming is prohibited. Swim team champion or not, stay out of the water when the red flags fly, even if you see surfers out there! The weather may seem lovely, but the ocean is unsafe under red flag warning. Strong currents and shifting sand add an unpredictable curve when judging the sea's condition. Read all safety tips at the lifeguard stands. Keep an eye peeled for rip currents. These are slender currents that flow outward from the shore, usually at a break in the sandbar. They exhibit wave action on both sides, a deeper channel that can have a choppy center with cloudy water flowing outward past the breaking waves. Don't panic if caught in one. Swim parallel to shore until you are out of the current, and then let the waves help you back into shallow water. A word on sharks: They are native to our waters, but more people die from bee stings each year then shark attacks. Stay out of the water if you are bleeding. Don’t carry or disperse bloody bait chum if you wade or swim to a sandbar to fish. Avoid swimming at low light, especially evenings and late nights as sharks feed at low light times like dawn and dusk. Give wide berth to schooling or feeding fish. You usually can see this action as they churn up the water and attract a bevy of circling gulls. Some, such as bluefish, have sharp teeth! Get out of the water and grab a pole instead for some exciting fishing action. Bring your favorite beach toys — surfboard, boogie board or fishing tackle — or rent equipment while you’re here. Swimming, surfing, surf-fishing or floating on any board or device is prohibited within 75 yards on either side of a fishing pier. Surfboard leashes are required. Remember to body surf and body board with your hands in front riding across the waves, and only ride waves that break in open water. You can launch a personal watercraft from the ocean in Nags Head with manpower and no wake until 600 feet out (launching of a PWC is not allowed anymore at Oregon Inlet because of a ban by the National Park Service). Beach driving is allowed between October 1 and April 30. But you have to get a permit at the Town Hall to drive an ORV on the beach. The beach is a great place to get exercise for you and your pets. Dogs are allowed on the beach in Nags Head if they are on a leash 6 feet or less at all times. Beach fires offer romance, but permits are part of the package. You can pick one up at the Nags Head Fire Department, U.S. Hwy. 158, after 5 p.m. on the day the fire is requested. You’ll need a picture ID, your address and location of the fire to get the permit. Fires are not permitted if the winds are 10 knots or more. They can’t be built within 50 feet of any combustible material. The hollowed out pit can’t be larger than 3 feet in diameter nor smaller than 1 foot deep. An adult must be in attendance. The fire must be completely extinguished before leaving it. Beach adventures usually involve sandcastles and hole digging. Use caution since sand is unstable and can cave in on you. Make sure you fill in your excavations so unsuspecting walkers don’t trip or fall into your handiwork. If you’re not staying in an oceanfront house and want to get to the beach, there are 40 public beach accesses that range from the unguarded and unpaved to those with lifeguards, handicap parking, bathhouses, showers and wood walkways. Lifeguards are on the beach from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend but the hours they’re on their stands vary. Most beaches have roving guards. Hours and locations, we are told, are subject to change without notice. Public Beach Accesses are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are two sides to every coin, and some adventurers prefer subtler sound treks to ocean excursions. A sound experience differs from the ocean in wave action, water depths and currents. Generally it is more shallow and calm than the sea, but the wind can kick up some choppy currents, so treat all water excursions with care. Walk the lengthy shore behind Jockey’s Ridge off Soundside Road at sunset for a peace-filled jaunt. The setting sun, lapping waters and attendant wildlife make a soothing combination. But, if you do this jaunt, keep your eye on the time toward the end of the day. You don’t want to return to your car all relaxed and find the gates locked. Hours are posted on the gate. They usually lock up at 5 p.m. off-season and 7 p.m. in-season. This site also is the most popular sound swimming area in Nags Head. Folks like the wide, sandy beach and shallow water. You’ll usually find a lot of families here because the shallow waters provide a safe swimming experience for little ones. Note, however, that there is no lifeguard on duty, so keep a close eye yourself. We recommend that you bring lots of sun screen and water or other liquids as it’s just a wide open beach here with no shade, and these summer days get hot, hot, hot. And, speaking of hot, make sure you and your kids wear shoes of some sort so the sand doesn’t burn your tootsies. Nags Head has several sound accesses that are handicapped accessible, and they are located at the Nags Head Estuarine Site and Little Bridge on the Nags Head Causeway. Some sound accesses (like Jockey's Ridge State Park, located off Soundside Road at Milepost 13) include parking, and most do not allow motorized watercraft. None of them have lifeguards. You can launch a kayak at the Nags Head Estuarine Site on the Nags Head Causeway or the Harvey Estuarine at Milepost 16 on the Bypass. Jockey’s Ridge State Park |
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Gallery
Row A cache of creative shops, Gallery Row came into being in the late 1970s when local artist Jesse Morales explored the idea of clustering art-related businesses within walking distance of his art gallery. Most of the gallery owners live on site in this four-street enclave, which consists of about eight venues, offering anything from fine art to beachy crafts with some gifts thrown in the mix. While Morales has passed away, his gallery continues to operate today under the same name. These shops are between the highways and can be found between MP 9 and 10. See our Nags Head Shopping page for the details on each shop. |
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| Nags Head Town Artwork Collection NMP Beachcomber Museum — Miss Mattie Midgett’s Store USS Huron Shipwreck Bodie Island Lighthouse Nags Head Walking Tour
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