Recreation - Nags Head
Nags Head is a recreation wonderland that stretches from beneath the sea into the heavens. Whether you’re an amateur or professional adventurer, you’ll discover plenty of choices to satisfy you and the experts and equipment to make your pick a pleasurable and safe one.
Snorkel famous shipwrecks, sail sound waters, surf rolling seas or soar over Jockey’s Ridge in a hang glider. Witness wildlife through dolphin watches or by wetting a fishing line. Nags Head has a stem to stern bike path that runs along the Beach Road (N.C. Highway 12) from MP 10 to MP 21.
Natural wonders top the list for attractions in Nags Head. The beach is the main entree with sound side 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.
Family fun and kiddy thrills range from arcade extravaganzas and disco bowling blasts to go-kart races and rounds of golf or mini-golf. Kick back in an air-conditioned movie theater, or become a karaoke star. Inside fun or outdoor adventure awaits the curious in this vacation haven.
Remember: Locals refer to N.C. Highway 12 (aka Virginia Dare Trail) as the Beach Road and U.S. Highway 158 (aka Croatan Highway) as The Bypass.
Cavalier Surf Shop
- 4324 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 13.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7349
One of the oldest surf shops on the Outer Banks, Cavalier is a family-run operation and known for providing good customer service in sales and rentals. You can buy or rent hard or soft-top surfboards, body boards, skim boards and wetsuits. They also offer private or group surfing lessons. Lessons last either one or two hours, include surfboard rental focus on safety and surfing etiquette. They are a great way to get started if you’ve never surfed or an opportunity for more experienced surfers to hone specific skills. In the shop, you’ll find lots of surf and sport clothing and accessories for boys, men and women.
Cloud Nine
- 3022 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP11.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-2992
Colorful and creative, Cloud Nine is a happening stop these days for shoppers and artisans and has been for more than 20 years. Buy beads to create your own jewelry, or bring in a piece of beach glass or a found treasure and they’ll create it for you. The owner, Ginny, is a talented jewelry artist who shares her knowledge and provides lots of helpful info. Ask about their jewelry-making workshops. The shop is recently expanded to offer more beads, worktables and finished jewelry plus books and tools for the aspiring designer. Choose from a selection of gold and silver jewelry and other beaded delights, apparel, incense, body oils and around the world finds. They carry a great selection of local artwork, and Ginny can tell you a bit about each artists.
Grog’s Watersports at Bodie Island Adventures
- 7649 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-8875
Whether you enjoy the thrill of parasailing or the excitement of a Waverunner or a quieter kayak or dolphin tour, they’ve got it waiting for you at Grog’s. This watersport adventure mecca is located now on the Nags Head Causeway (look for the 30-foot observation tower near Basnight’s Lone Cedar Restaurant). They offer nearly every water adventure you can imagine, and they also rent kayaks, pontoon boats, waverunners and fishing skiffs. And ask about their cruises and tours of our coastline. They now take online reservations to make planning your vacation easy.
Kitty Hawk Kites
- 3933 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 13
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-2210
Kitty Hawk Kites gets you outside and having fun with several exciting outdoor activities throughout the Outer Banks. They offer hang gliding lessons on Jockey’s Ridge, kiteboarding lessons at the new Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Resort in Rodanthe and kayaking all over the Outer Banks, ranging from Corolla to Pea Island. Their stores offer a variety of kites, equipment, souvenirs, toys, pirate gear and more.
And, for an indoor sport challenge, Kitty Hawk Kites features an indoor rock climbing wall with experienced staff members on hand.
Kitty Hawk Kites and Whalebone Watersports
- 7517 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-4112
The Whalebone Watersports location offers dolphin watch tours and Jet Ski rentals. In addition, kayak eco-tours and rentals are available, including a moonlight and bioluminescence tour. If you’ve never seen these glowing organisms, you owe yourself this experience!
Kitty Hawk Sports
- 3933 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 13
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-6800
Ready for some action? Kitty Hawk Sports has everything you need to enjoy all the recreation the Outer Banks has to offer—from the wind to the waves to the sound. Kitty Hawk Sports is the retail store located across from Jockey’s Ridge where you can find a huge selection of kayaking equipment, surfboards, body boards, skim boards, fins, wet suits, outdoor and surf brand clothing, T-shirts, OBX paraphernalia and Nags Head Casino products. Then book your Jet Ski, parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing trips and head to Kitty Hawk Watersports, located a little farther down the road on the sound side.
Kitty Hawk Water Sports
- 6920 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 16
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-2756
For the ultimate family adventure visit Kitty Hawk Watersports for a day of fun. You can scream across the water on a Waverunner and afterwards get the family on the bumper boats to laugh until your cheeks hurt, or have a picnic on a 22’ skiff. If you need something to do with the teenagers, let them learn how to windsurf at one of the best spots on the Outer Banks. For the ultimate view take a parasailing flight high above the islands.
Kitty Hawk Water Sports also rents single and tandem kayaks by the hour, day or week. It’s a very easy sport, only taking minutes to learn. Paddle at their location on the Roanoke Sound in very shallow water, or take a kayak with you to find your own waterways. They also offer guided eco-tours; just give them a call to book one.
Nags Head Waterworks
- 7612 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-0477
There are a lot of options for fun at this soundside spot. Fly high above the sound and see great views of Jockey’s Ridge while parasailing with Nags Head Waterworks. They offer single or tandem flights. Observers can ride along in the boat. If you’d like to fish or just cruise around the sound, you can rent a pontoon boat here too. Go for the thrill with a Wave Runner, hang on to your seat in a Jet boat dolphin tour that combines the thrill of fast water turns with the slow quiet of watching for these beautiful creatures or take a leisurely guided tour, which will motor by Jockey’s Ridge and the Manteo Waterfront. You’ll see lots of local wildlife along the way.
OBX Marathon, Gateway Bank Half-Marathon
- Outer Banks
- Nags Head
- Register Online
If you’re a runner or walker, you don’t want to miss this Veteran’s Day Weekend event on a flat course with awesome scenery and the spirited residents of the Outer Banks cheering for you all along the way. On Sunday, November 8, 2009, you can participate in the fourth annual OBX Marathon or the Gateway Bank Half-Marathon. If all that distance at once isn’t your thing, on Saturday November 7, 2009, Kelly’s Hospitality Group hosts the Fun Run, a family-friendly 1.2-mile run/walk to the finish. Participants can even log 25 miles before race day and finish their “marathon” with 1.2 miles that Saturday. The course for the marathon begins in Kitty Hawk, travels on through Kill Devil Hills and around the Wright Memorial, goes through Nags Head and ends on Roanoke Island. The Gateway Bank Half-Marathon begins by Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head and ends on Roanoke Island. Walkers are welcome, so there’s no excuse not to be involved. Register early because this event will sell out.
Outer Banks Family YMCA
- 3000 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-8897
This 28,000-square-foot facility offers a 25-meter indoor lap pool, fitness center with state-of-the-art weight and cardio equipment, group exercise (floor, cycle and water) classes, yoga and Pilates, cycling, racquetball, dry saunas, massage therapy, hot tub, a full-court gymnasium available for basketball, soccer and volleyball and an interactive zone with video game-based equipment. Activities include summer camps for kids, wellness programs, swim lessons and youth and adult sports leagues. They have two large outdoor pools with a waterslide and a great skate park. Free child care is available while you work out! Call for membership fees. Day passes are available for the skate park. Ask about membership access with your rental property or other accommodations.
Outer Banks Family YMCA Skatepark
- 3000 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-8897
The YMCA’s skatepark has a cement bowl, ramps and a street section. The park is open to skateboards, rollerblades, bikes and scooters. Youth 12 and younger must have a parent present to skate. Youth 17 and younger must wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads. Only helmets are required for those 18 and older. There’s a fee for the use of the park, which is discounted for Y members, Nags Head and North Carolina residents. Out-of-state visitors pay $10 a day or $30 a week to use the park. You can also include the skatepark in your vacation on the Outer Banks by staying in a participating Y-Home or Y-Tel (vacation rentals managed by the YMCA) or by purchasing a Weekly Flex Pass.
A-New-U
- 3022 S. Croatan Highway, Pirate’s Quay, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-6490
A-New-U is a full-service tanning salon.
Ashtanga Yoga Center
- 2910 S. Croatan Highway, Central Square Shopping Center, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 202-0345
Classes are available for students of all levels. There are introductory classes for beginners, intermediate classes, the full primary series and multi-level Mysore classes for those who are looking to establish or already have developed a self practice. She also offers a restorative class based on the principles of Ashtanga once a week. Six-week seminars are also available for children. Students should bring a towel and plenty of water to drink; these classes are invigorating and detoxifying.
Atlantic Martial Arts Academy
- 4104 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Surfside Plaza
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-6676
Four-time World Champion Sensei Kym Rock offers classes in self-defense, children’s stranger awareness, rape prevention and lessons in the general philosophy of karate and martial arts.
Beach Waves Too Salon by the Sea
- 7531 S Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Caribbean Corners
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-9992
Beach Waves Too is a full-service hair salon with a great view of the sound. Call for an appointment.
Blackbeard’s Golf
- 6714 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 16
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-4541
At Blackbeard’s Golf you can play 18 holes of mini-golf across streams and by the waterfall. The course is located right behind the Dairy Queen.
Electric Beach Tanning Salon
- 2910 S. Croatan Highway, Central Square, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-2318
Come visit the newest tanning salon on the beach! Electric beach has several beds of various intensity levels and a highly knowledgable owner on the science of the perfect tan. Call for an appointment.
Elite Nails
- 5000 S. Croatan Highway, Outer Banks Mall, MP 14
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-3227
Stop at Elite Nails to pamper yourself with a manicure or pedicure.
Even Keel Massage Therapy
- 3022 S. Croatan Highway, Pirate’s Quay, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-3581
This team of massage therapists specializes in therapeutic and medical massage techniques including myofacial release for relaxation, injury recovery and pain management. Feel free to call them for more information and to schedule an appointment.
Galaxy Golf
- 2914 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-5875
This space-themed mini-golf course includes 36 lighted holes. Aliens younger than 4 with a paying adult play free at this one-stop intergalactic hop.
Hair Artistry /Nail Technology
- 4104 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Surfside Plaza, MP 13
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-CUTS
Stop here for all hair and nail services and tanning.
His Dream Center
- 205 E. Baltic Avenue
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-1155
This Christian life center offers a variety of services and recreation including live drama during the summer in their 250-seat auditorium. Friday nights feature Christian family movies followed by a coffeehouse with live music and snacks for purchase. Once a month enjoy karaoke. Browse their on-site Christian bookstore for bestselling books and a wide variety of CDs, DVDs and gifts. The First Flight Church Assembly of God service is held on Sunday. Rental space is available to the public for weddings and community activities.
Integration Massage & Bodywork
- 2413 S. Croatan Highway, MP 10.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 256-0137
Whether it’s from a job or finances or family life, stress takes a toll and causes muscles to tense up, jaws to clench and backs to ache. Massage and bodywork calms the nervous system, promotes
circulation, eases muscle strains and constrictions causing pain and helps to still the racing thoughts that cause muscles to tighten in the first place. David Henderson has 11 years of experience working with the needs of a diverse clientele, and he uses a combination of deep intuition, experience and training in the science of anatomy, physiology and bodywork. He offers an eclectic blend of styles including cranio-sacral therapy, lymph drainage, swedish, deep tissue and sports massage. He has a team of male and female therapists who work with him, and they offer support to couples, groups and even your best canine friend! He has a beautiful treatment room at
Outer Banks Yoga studio in Kitty Hawk and also works out of the Outer Banks Sports Center in Nags Head. If you prefer, he or his team can travel to you.
Jennette’s Pier
- 7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Beach Road, MP 16.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-6421
Jennette’s Pier is currently closed while the old structure is demolished and a new, 850-foot-long pier and two-story pier house are built. The new pier will be built on concrete pilings, the first pier of its kind on the Outer Banks. The North Carolina Aquarium Society manages the pier, and the new structure will continue to be a family-oriented venue. The fishing pier will still offer anglers and sightseers passes, but you will also appreciate educational programs and aquarium exhibits. Exhibits include fish tanks up to 300 gallons and an introduction to local species called Giants of the Sea. The exhibit includes representatives of state record-holding saltwater fish mounts. It gives a great perspective on the size of record catches. Don’t miss this educational stop when the pier reopens.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
- 592 Carolista Drive, The Bypass, MP 12
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7132
Enter the state park through the visitor’s center and choose from three adventures: Hike up the impressive dune, or travel two nature trails that meander through the dune. The Soundside Nature Trail takes about 45 minutes, and the Tracks in the Sand Trail is a 1.5-mile walk.
Nags Head is home to the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast. Jockey’s Ridge, a series of five 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 426-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 through May, September and October 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; June, July and August, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Soundside Access Gate is open October through March 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April through September 8 a.m. to 7 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.
