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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.
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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 orsurfing, 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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Nags Head 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
Nags Head Annual Events Click here. Nature is the main attraction in Kill Devil Hills, and the town’s beautiful beaches bring visitors to our shores year after year. Below, we’ve provided some information on how to enjoy Kill Devil Hills’s beaches safely and with respect for the fragile ecosystem of the barrier islands and the power of the ocean. Whether you’re a surfer, kiteboarder, kayaker or sunbather, Kill Devil Hills is the perfect place to pursue your favorite outdoor activities. You can’t visit the Outer Banks without seeing the place where flight began. Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial. There are several temporary additions to the site that were placed there during the centennial celebration, so this is a great time to visit and see the special exhibits. Kill Devil Hills Attractions Index. Click on each Attraction below to read more. The Beach I The Sound I Wright Brothers Memorial | Annual Events The Beach Kill Devil Hills has more public beach accesses than we can list here, though we do provide information on the ones that have full amenities, below. In most areas there is a public access every few streets; look for signs posted along the Beach Road. Most have ample off-street parking and showers for rinsing sandy bodies. Many beach accesses have wooden walkways that make trekking over the dunes much easier. Lifeguards are posted along the beach from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Memorial to Labor Day. Roving lifeguards also patrol the beaches. It is good practice to always swim in front of a lifeguard. Not every access has a lifeguard, so this may require seeking a different beach access or walking down the beach to position yourself in front of the lifeguard stand. Look at signs posted on the lifeguard stand for important information about the ocean conditions such as the water temperature and the danger of rip currents. A word on rip currents: They occur along the Outer Banks with regularity. A rip current forms when water rushes out to sea in a narrow path. They often occur around sandbars; look for differences in the water's color or surface and an area of water that streams away from shore. Rip currents can pull you out toward sea for a short way, and where most inexperienced swimmers get in trouble is that they panic and try to swim straight back toward shore. Don't do this; the current is too strong to swim directly against it. Instead, float for a minute to calm yourself then swim diagonally to shore to move out of the rip current, then you can swim back to the beach or catch a wave in. On days when ocean conditions make swimming too dangerous, red flags will be flying at beach accesses. This means all swimming is prohibited. Please respect the lifeguards' decision and do not attempt to swim or let children wade in the water. Enjoy other beach activities instead - take a long walk, play games or hunt shells. Or, head to the soundside to a watersports headquarters for kayaking, parasailing or Jet skiing. A few beach accesses with wooden walkways, handicapped parking, lifeguard and showers are:
The Sound A sound access with parking, pier and picnic area is:
Dogs are allowed on the beach in Kill Devil Hills from mid-September to mid-May. They must be on a leash, and owners must clean up after pets and dispose of waste properly (meaning in a trash can, not buried in the sand.) Bringing a dog to the beach in the summer could result in fines. Dogs aiding the handicapped are allowed year round. Personal Watercraft like Jet skis or Waverunners are allowed within town limits, but they cannot be operated within 300 feet of the shoreline or fishing piers. Bonfires are not allowed on the beach in Kill Devil Hills. Driving on the beach is allowed from October 1 to April 30. The suggested speed limit is 15 m.p.h. Stay off the dunes. The vehicle must have valid registration and license plate, and the driver must have a valid license. Keep in mind where you are while on the beach because beach driving is not allowed in Kitty Hawk, the neighboring town to the north. Nags Head, the neighboring town to the south, requires a beach driving permit. Fireworks are often tempting to vacationers. In Kill Devil Hills, fireworks that explode or fly through the air are illegal. These types of fireworks include bottle rockets and Roman Candles. Legal fireworks include sparklers and cone fountains, but these can still be dangerous. Never use fireworks in a crowd or without a responsible adult present. Use fireworks away from buildings and dune grasses. Always dispose of litter caused by fireworks. Dispose of used fireworks only after first soaking them in water. For any questions regarding fireworks, contact the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department at (252) 480-4060. Trash One last thing to remember: Whatever you bring to the beach, take home from the beach. That includes all trash. We all come to the Outer Banks for the beach. If we all do our part in taking care of the beach, everyone’s experience will be great.
The Memorial includes a visitor’s center with a bookstore, exhibits on the Wright Brothers and full-scale replicas of both the 1902 Wright Glider and the 1903 Wright Flyer. On the grounds are markers of all four flights that took place on December 17. There are replica buildings of the Wright brothers’ living quarters and hangar. The centennial pavilion includes exhibits on the Wright Flyer, the First Flight Centennial celebration, NASA and the future of flight and the Outer Banks at the turn of the century. A 30-minute film is shown daily in the pavilion center on The Machines of the Wright Brothers from 1900 to 1903. There is a gift shop filled with First Flight Centennial memorabilia such as Ts, hats, glassware and even a Century of Flight edition of Monopoly. On top of the 90-foot dune known as Big Kill Devil Hill is a 60-foot granite monument. You can climb the hill to get a striking view of Kill Devil Hills, the ocean and the sound. The Wright Brothers National Memorial is open year round. The admission fee is $3 per person and is good for seven days. Children and teens 16 and younger are free, and seniors 62 and older are free with a valid Golden Age Passport. An annual admission pass is $20. Kill Devil Hills Annual Events click here. Kitty Hawk AttractionsMost likely, you’re visiting the Outer Banks because of the beaches,
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| • General Attractions |
The Beach
The beach is hands-down the most popular attraction in Kitty Hawk. There is no end to the pleasure to be had there - hunt for shells or sea glass, swim, fly a kite, people watch, build a sand castle, take a jog or walk, surf, boogie board, or if all that is too much, simply read a book or snooze. You can enjoy the surf and sand more safely and responsibly by being aware of the following town ordinances.
Red flags will fly at the beach when swimming is prohibited. This only happens when ocean conditions are very unsafe, even for experienced swimmers. Ignoring the warning could result in a fine up to $250 not to mention the risk you impose on your own safety and rescue personnel.
In season (from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day) dogs are only allowed on the beach from 6 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. The rest of the year, dogs are allowed on the beach anytime. But at all times, dogs on the beach must be on a leash and the owner must clean up after the pet properly.
Boats or personal watercraft that are powered by an engine are not allowed to launch from or land on the beach at any time.
Driving on the beach and beach fires are prohibited within the town of Kitty Hawk.
It is always a good idea to swim near a lifeguard. In Kitty Hawk, lifeguards are posted on stands from
10 a.m. to 7 p.m., from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Public beach accesses with lifeguards are:
Byrd Street
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Eckner Street
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Kitty Hawk Bath House (near the intersection of Kitty Hawk Road and the Beach Road)
The Sound
Heading to the soundside is a different beach experience. The sound is usually warmer, calmer and more shallow than the ocean. Still, the sound is affected by wind for depth and turbulence, so a mean Southwest wind can whip up some waves, though they won’t really rival ocean waves. Because the sound is typically very shallow, even far from shore, you’ll often see kayakers, kite boarders and windsurfers in the sound. Wading in the sound on calm days is ideal for small children, who are often overwhelmed by the noisy ocean. There are no lifeguards on the sound side in Kitty Hawk, so use caution when swimming or wading, and don’t let the little ones out of your sight.
A public sound access is located at Windgrass Circle. It is handicapped accessible.
Aycock Brown Welcome Center
The Bypass, MP 1
(877) OBX-4FUN
The Aycock Brown Welcome Center is an excellent stop for planning your Outer Banks vacation. If you’re arriving from the north, it will be a convenient stop as you drive into town. There is information on everything to see and do on the Outer Banks, with displays and exhibits as well as local newspapers and pamphlets to take with you. The center is operated by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and staffed with helpful, friendly locals who are happy to help with any questions.
Monument to a Century of Flight
The Bypass, MP 1
Behind the Aycock Brown Welcome Center
The Monument to a Century of Flight was dedicated in November of 2003, just before the First Flight Centennial “in celebration of the soaring of the human spirit.” Fourteen steel wing-shaped structures reach from 10 to 20 feet, circling 120 feet, the distance of the Wright Brother’s first flight. The pillars have engraved granite panels that chronicle the 100 most significant events in the history of aviation. They begin with the first flight in Kitty Hawk by the Wright Brothers in 1903 and go on to list such achievements in flight as the first solo flight across the Atlantic, made by Charles Lindbergh in 1927, Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier in 1947 and Neil Armstrong walking on the moon in 1969. The monument ends the celebration by stating, “Humankind is a continuum of pioneers sharing timeless dreams and the boundless possibilities of vast unexplored world.” Standing among the wing-shaped pillars that reach for the sky as you stand high on a dune, looking out at the Atlantic, you can’t help but agree.
Kitty Hawk Woods
Kitty Hawk Woods is a unique environment: a maritime forest, swamp and marsh. Totaling 1,877 acres, the Town of Kitty Hawk owns 461 acres with a conservation easement from the state. A diverse array of wildlife is at home in Kitty Hawk Woods. In some areas gray foxes, raccoons and white-tailed deer can be found. In marsh areas, a number of amphibians and reptiles thrive as well as river otter and muskrat. Birders will want to explore the woods for the hawks, wrens, herons and swans that can be found in the woods and the marsh areas. You can access Kitty Hawk Woods from Eckner Street, Amadas Road and Birch Lane. Please respect this unique natural setting and stay on marked trails while exploring the woods.
Outer Banks Music Showcase
Kitty Hawk Plaza
The Bypass, MP 4.5
(252) 261-7505
The Outer Banks Music Showcase is wholesome entertainment for the whole family. The Music Showcase is a two-hour variety show featuring live music and comedy. Done in the Branson, Missouri, style, the 15-member cast includes vocalists and a full, seven-piece band putting on a live, entertaining show. The musical numbers include a wide range of genres from pop, country and beach music hits from the 50s all the way to the popular songs of today. The regular season show is new every year and runs from April to October. The Christmas show begins in mid-November and runs through December. Look for special shows like an Elvis tribute, Bluegrass, and family comedy show. Tickets are $20.95 for adults, $11.95 for children 12 and younger and $19.95 for seniors. Ask about group rates for parties of 20 or more.
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Box 308 • Manteo NC, 27954 • 252-473-1111
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