Attractions - Nags Head
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 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.
Bodie Island Lighthouse
- The Beach Road, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Nags Head
- (252) 441-5711
Pronounced "body," this horizontally striped lighthouse is located along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the soundside of the beach road in South Nags Head. The 156-foot tall lighthouse was completed in 1872 and has an interesting history. The structure you see today is actually the third lighthouse to be built in this area. The first lighthouse was built in 1847, rebuilt in 1859 and destroyed in 1862 during the Civil War. The lighthouse is not open to the public for climbing, but you can head to the visitor center (open year-round) in the old Keepers' Quarters to check out exhibits and to browse through their Eastern National Bookstore. There is also a self-guided nature trail through the surrounding marshes. Bodie Island is a great place for photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your camera.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
- The Beach Road, MP 12, Nags Head
- (252) 441-7132
Nags Head is home to the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast. Jockey's Ridge, a series of three dunes, is a natural wonder that's continually changing in shape and height. With the highest hill varying from 90 to 110 feet tall, this system of sand is a haven for adventure. Colorful kites waver over its majesty regularly, and hang gliders climb to its summit to swoop down a sandy incline. Hikers excite in its form and function, and nature buffs appreciate discovering the subtle dune life that exists here. Few can resist the climb to bear witness to renowned Outer Banks sunsets. Included in the 420-acre park are several trails, picnic areas, a visitor center and a museum and gift shop supported by the non-profit Friends of Jockey's Ridge. Natural history programs for adults and children are offered. A boardwalk provides a lookout for a terrific view of the dunes and also serves as a passage for the mobility impaired. Arrangements can be made for a four-wheel dune ride to the top (the park requests a 24-hour notice). In the summer, the sand on the dunes is usually 25 to 30 degrees hotter than the air, so shoes are a necessity. The visitor center closes an hour and fifteen minutes prior to the park grounds. Park ground hours run November through February, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; March and October 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; April, May and September, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; June, July and August, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Ridge closes 15 minutes before the park closes. Jockey's Ridge State Park is open daily, with the exception of Christmas Day.
Nags Head Town Artwork Collection
- Town Hall, The Bypass, MP 15, Nags Head
- No phone
The public is welcome to browse through 100 works of fine art purchased by the town. The self-tour features creations by the area's best artists. View paintings, drawings, sculpture, fiber and ceramic art, mixed media and hand-carved wood work and old and new photographs ranging from a painting of a giant lighthouse to a delicate floral watercolor. The tour is numbered, and a helpful catalogue of works and biographies is available at the front desk on the second floor. There is a special emphasis on regional themes varying from the realistic to the abstract. Check out the figurative polymer sculpture by internationally famous illustrator/artist Bill Nelson. He has a gift for infusing lifelike character into his pieces, many of which appear in the collections of stars such as Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg.
Nags Head Walking Tour
- Nags Head Beach Cottage Historic District, The Beach Road, Nags Head
- No phone
Explore the history of Nags Head with the Nags Head Walking Tour and Guidebook. Pick up your own copy at a local book or specialty store, and then learn about Nags Head by following the Walking Tour. The tour guides you along approximately a mile and a half of the Beach Road in Nags Head that is commonly known as Cottage Row. It typically takes about an hour to complete the tour. Viewing the structures, you'll get a feel for vacationing in Nags Head as it was in the 19th century. Nine of the original 13 cottages still stand and are some of the earliest examples of Nags Head architecture. You'll see the style carried on in the accompanying structures that have been built beside them. Approximately 40 oceanfront cottages make up Cottage Row and are covered in the book. Enjoy getting to know the history behind the grand Nags Head Cottage Row with the Nags Head Walking Tour as your guide
NMP Beachcomber Museum — Miss Mattie Midgett’s Store
- The Beach Road, MP 13, Nags Head
- No phone
Built in 1914 on the soundside before being rolled to the seaside, this unpretentious and once-thriving store houses the celebrated beachcomber collection of Nellie Myrtle Pridgen, Miss Mattie's daughter who was a self-appointed protector of her beloved Nags Head beaches. In support of Mattie's store, the Nags Head Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in June 2003. The resolution declared, "The site, the store and the artifacts are an irreplaceable part of Nags Head history." In 2005 Pridgen was awarded the first annual Nags Header award by the town. The award recognizes a person who has helped shape the image and direction of Nags Head. In the museum, visitors will step back into time viewing artifacts discovered by Pridgen during her years of daily sound to sea jaunts. The collection is essentially the way Nellie left it. Rare shells, beach glass, war paraphernalia, buttons, barnacles, driftwood, messages in bottles and more chronicle her life's time and its relationship with the sea. The unusual, must-see collection houses a huge fulgurite (crystallized sand caused by lightning) that took days for Pridgen to extract - with the help of a bicycle pump. At the time of this writing, the building had not yet become a full-time museum, but they do conduct several open houses at various times throughout the year. The best thing to do is just check by when you’re here to see if you’re lucky enough to coincide with one of the open times.
USS Huron Shipwreck
- Bladen St. Beach Access, The Beach Road MP 11.5, Nags Head
- No phone
Designated in 1991 as North Carolina's first Historic Shipwreck Preserve, the USS Huron lies 250 yards from the beach. During the summer, buoys mark her bow and stern. Myriad sea life and remaining portions of the wreck including boilers, propeller, rudder and cannonball storage racks make this an interesting destination for divers and snorkelers. Erosion has taken its toll and marine growth covers the site, but the lower hull is well preserved with parts of the bow intact up to the main deck. It is illegal to collect artifacts or disturb this site. If you notice anything unusual, record its location and report it to the local authorities or the Underwater Archaeology Unit. (Call 910-458-9042.) Follow safe scuba-diving practices and check on conditions with a lifeguard before swimming out to the wreck. Don't swim or dive alone.
Whalebone Welcome Center
- The Bypass, MP 17, Nags Head
- (877) 629-4386
The Whalebone Welcome Center is right at the entrance to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. There you will find information on all there is to see and do on the Outer Banks, with plenty of local newspapers and pamphlets to take with you. It is an excellent stop for planning your vacation activities, particularly as you head toward the southern villages. The center is operated by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and staffed with helpful, friendly locals. There are other welcome centers located elsewhere along the beach including the Aycock Brown Welcome Center on the Bypass at MP 1, the Outer Banks Welcome Center on Roanoke Island in Manteo and the new Hatteras Welcome Center at the U.S. Weather Bureau Station in the village of Hatteras.
