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.
Country Girl Head Boat
- 1 Sailfish Drive, Docks at Pirate's Cove Marina
- Nags Head
The Country Girl can be chartered for full-day Gulf Stream trips for parties of six or more people for $1,750. Gulf Stream trips usually yield tuna and mahi-mahi, wahoo, king mackerel, marlin or sailfish depending on the season and conditions. The Country Girl also offers head boat–style wreck fishing. The 57-foot sportfisher can accommodate up to 30 passengers and provides plenty of room for everyone. This is a great way to get a big group of friends together for a day on the water. You’ll catch a variety of species, including black sea bass, triggerfish, gray tile fish, grouper, amberjack and more. The cost is $110 per person, with a minimum of 15 people. Bait, tackle and license are furnished. The boat is also available for bird watching, marine mammal excursions and scattering ashes at sea.
Crystal Dawn Head Boat
- 1 Sailfish Drive, Docks at Pirate’s Cove Marina
- Nags Head
Whether for head boat fishing or cruises, you will enjoy the 65-foot, big and comfortable Crystal Dawn. You will fish in the inlet or sound for a variety of fish such as flounder, croaker, spot, trout, sea mullet, sea bass and more, depending on the season and conditions. All bait, tackle and licenses are furnished. Cost for head boat fishing is $40 for adults and $30 for children 10 and younger. The Crystal Dawn also offers sightseeing cruises during which you’ll see Elizabeth II, Jockeys Ridge, the Wright Brothers National Memorial, wildlife, shorebirds and more; ask about prices. The cruise includes a commentary about the Outer Banks while cruising the Roanoke Sound. The vessel is available for private charter.
Full Throttle Raceway
- 6504 S. Croatan Higway, MP 15.5
- Nags Head
You’ve got the need for speed, and Full Throttle Raceway has the speed you need. Full Throttle offers gas-powered, Indy-style go-carts for zipping and zooming around their two tracks — a figure 8 and an oval slick-track. Carts seat one or two people, and the height limit to ride is 55 inches. Full Throttle is open April through September. In the summer months, it’s open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Also visit their sister facilities, Mutiny Bay Adventure Golf next door and Nags Head Raceway a half-mile south.
Grog’s Watersports
- 7649 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-8875
- map
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 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.
Island Limousine and Taxi
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-LIMO (5466), (800) 828-5466
Island Limousine provides basic transportation services of all types, including taxi services, limousine rentals for weddings, proms and parties, and airport shuttles to and from all major regional airports. They also offer opportunities for fun! Going to an out-of-town concert or sporting event? Call Island Limo and let them handle the driving. Want to see the Outer Banks lighthouses and attractions with all your friends? Book a shuttle bus and enjoy a custom sight-seeing tour. How about a pub crawl or wine-tasting tour in which someone else handles the driving? Island Limo can handle all these events and more with a fleet of vehicles that includes well-maintained corporate sedans, L Series sedans, SUVs, stretch SUV and Town Car limousines, passenger vans, shuttle buses and charter buses. All tours and events are custom fit to your needs, and their chauffeurs are trained and licensed.
Kitty Hawk Kites
- 3933 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 13
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-2210
- map
Kitty Hawk Kites gets you outside and having fun with several exciting fresh air 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
- map
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!
Mutiny Bay Adventure Golf
- 6606 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 16
- Nags Head
Play 18 holes on the pirate-themed mini-golf course at Mutiny Bay Adventure Golf…you can’t miss the pirate ship! They also have an arcade, ice cream and beverages, and the entire course is handicapped and baby stroller accessible.
Nags Head Raceway
- 7000 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 16
- Nags Head
Touted by many past riders as the ultimate Indy track, Nags Head Raceway is the place to get your speed-demon juices rolling. Choose from two-seater cars and racers. Fun activities also feature bumper cars, an on-site family arcade with video games and ice cream.
OBX Cruises
- Manteo waterfront
Pull together your favorite people and cruise the local waterways aboard a private luxury yacht for an Outer Banks experience you won’t forget. On board the 52-foot yacht Cypress Queen, you can customize your cruise experience to fulfill your exact wishes. Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the shaded sky lounge at sunset, lunch on the deck while you look at the local scenery or a full catered dinner in the comfort of the air-conditioned salon at night. Enjoy a post-cruise dock party on the waterfront when you get back to the dock. Whatever you choose, the cruise is designed by you, for special events or just a simple cruise. On a standard two-hour cruise, your host serves non-alcoholic beverages, but you are welcome to bring your own alcohol and they’ll provide all the mixers, glasses and ice. Lunch, dinner, appetizers and food trays are available from local restaurants at an additional cost. There are up to three departures daily and the cruises last for two hours. The Cypress Queen can accommodate six passengers.
Outer Banks Family YMCA
- 3000 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-8897
- map
This 28,000-square-foot facility offers a 25-meter indoor lap pool, wellness 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 springboard dive board 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 (see separate write-up for details). 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
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.
Outer Banks Marathon, Gateway Bank Half Marathon, Outer Banks 8K, Buccaneer 5K & Fun Run
- Outer Banks
- Nags Head
- Register Online
- map
2011 marks the 6th Annual Outer Banks Marathon, and if you’re a runner or walker, you don’t want to miss this event on a flat course with awesome scenery and the spirited residents of the Outer Banks cheering for you all along the way. The two-day Race EXPO starts the weekend off on Friday, November 11 and is the first stop for participants to pick up their race number and shirt as well as to shop and visit with more than 25 vendors offering race gear and other local treasures. The 6th annual races start Saturday, November 12. The Outer Banks 8K, Buccaneer 5K and the 1-mile Fun Run will begin at the First Flight High School track. The ever-popular Buccaneer 5K offers a more challenging distance for graduating one-mile Fun Runners. Then Sunday, November 13th is the Outer Banks Marathon and Half Marathon. Both are along a scenic point-to-point course. The full marathon begins in Kitty Hawk, leading runners along the Sound on Bay Drive, around the Wright Brothers National Memorial, through Nags Head Woods Maritime Forest, past Jockey’s Ridge State Park, over the Washington-Baum Bridge and to the finish in downtown Manteo on Roanoke Island. The Half Marathon is the latter half of the marathon course and begins in Nags Head, just north of Jockey’s Ridge at 7 a.m. Walkers are welcome to enjoy the course to the finale and the post-race Pirate Jamboree! Beginning at 8 a.m. participants and their family and friends can celebrate in the streets of downtown Manteo with beer, food and live music, compliments of Outer Banks Sporting Events and its gracious sponsors. 100% of the proceeds from this event are shared by two local non-profits: the Dare Education Foundation, working to maximize student potential by providing resources to benefit students and teachers in all Dare County Schools, and the Outer Banks Relief Foundation, providing financial assistance for families in crises. For information, training plans and to register, please go to www.obxmarathon.org.
Outer Banks Sports Club
- 2413 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-8361
- map
This gym is filled with all the latest cross-training and weight machines including Nautilus, Hammer Strength, Flex, Star Trac, Life Fitness, free weights and more! Plus, they have an indoor elevated running track and a great aerobics room where you can take step, yoga, pilates, spinning, Zumba and Bosu classes. Personal training, tanning and massage are also available. They are open 7 days a week with daily, weekly, seasonal and family vacation packages available. Check out their smoothie bar too!
Pirate’s Cove Yacht Club
- 2000 Sailfish Drive, Manteo, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
- (252) 473-3906, (800) 367-4728
- map
Just about every afternoon between 4 and 5 p.m. a dozen or more sport fishing boats return from the Gulf Stream to the Pirate’s Cove Marina to unload their catches of tuna, dolphin, wahoo and other deep-sea fish. If you’re interested in seeing the fish before they’re cleaned, head down to the docks and watch the mates hurl the whopping creatures onto the docks. Kids love this, and the anglers are usually friendly about sharing their experiences of the day.
If you’re more of a hands-on type, you might want to take a fishing trip yourself. Pirate’s Cove offers several options for getting to the fishing grounds. Approximately 18 private charter boats are available to take you offshore fishing, and other boats are available for inshore fishing charters. Makeup charters are available. Call for details.
Shooters at the Beach
- 2910 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-2395
- map
This gallery/studio features the owner’s fine art prints as well as work from a number of local art photographers. Photography services are also offered here and include beautiful beach and location portraits, commercial photography, art prints and wedding services. See their separate listing in Shopping.
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. New offerings include Hot Yoga and Mommy & Me classes. Massage treatments are available, and various workshops and retreats on yoga and spirituality. The full schedule can be found on their website. Group and individual private sessions are also available. Students should bring a towel and plenty of water to drink; these classes are invigorating and detoxifying.
B&R Car Rentals
- 404 U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
- (252) 473-214
You can rent a car from this local dealership, but be sure to call in advance to make reservations. Daily and weekly rental are available.
Beach Driving
A favorite local activity is cruising the beach when the season allows. In Nags Head, you can take to the sand with your wheels October 1 through April 30. But first you have to get a permit at the town hall. Call (252) 441-5508 for fees.
The suggested speed limit is 15 miles per hour. Enter only at designated ramps. Keep an eye peeled for beachgoers, especially kids and pets who tend to stray! Bear in mind that the wind and water can make a ruckus and impair your hearing and that of pedestrians. Folks also get groggy sunbathing.
Think normal road rules: Pass on the left, keep to the right and yield the right of way to pedestrians. Vehicles and drivers must be street legal — this includes wearing seat belts. If you are in the back of a truck, remain seated in the bed only. Jeep passengers have to remain seated as well. Open alcohol containers are not allowed.
Prepare your tires for the adventure by letting out the appropriate amount of air (and making sure you add it back when you leave the beach!). Pull out of the access way and deflate your tires leaving 20 pounds of pressure. While on the beach keep to the firm, wet section below the high tide line following in already-made tracks. Watch out for shelly, red sand and depressions with standing water. Always stay clear of dunes, and keep a look out for prohibited areas such as nesting sites. Remember to drive behind those folks who are surf fishing!
Biking & Skating
- Nags Head
Bicyclists and skaters are a common site trekking along the town’s multiuse path, which runs along the Beach Road from Eighth Street (KDH/NH line) to MP 21 (Old Oregon Inlet Road in South Nags Head). The path is for walking, jogging, bicycling and skating. The town designates this path as a tow-away, no parking zone for non-motorized activity only. Visitors can bring their own bikes and skates or rent them while here along with necessary safety helmets. State law requires that helmets be worn by those younger than 16 (including passengers) while riding on public roads or right-of-ways. It’s important to keep on the designated path and not navigate on the Beach Road or the Bypass. Those roads are just too busy, and in the case of the Beach Road, too narrow to be safe — especially for children. There are plenty of side roads to navigate, but watch out for sightseers, blowing sand that can thwart your vision and sandy patches that can cause you to skid. Ride on the right side of the road in single file only. Cross at stoplights, and don’t forget your hand signals. One rider per bike is a good rule of thumb. Night riding is not recommended, but if it’s necessary, use a front-lighted white lamp and rear red reflector. The Town of Nags Head requests that folks using in-line skates, roller-skates or skate boards confine their use to the multiuse path only.
Birding
- Locations throughout Nags Head
- Nags Head
- No phone
Outer Banks is often referred to as a birder’s paradise. Within the town of Nags Head there are good areas for birding, such as Nags Head Woods and Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Both sites have information available on the types of birds you’re likely to see. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, an excellent spot for birding, is a short drive away.
Wings over Water is an annual festival, held in November, that is devoted to the natural side of the Outer Banks. It’s a fun and educational event, with nature-oriented field trips, seminars and kayak excursions. You can call (252) 216-WING for more information.
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.
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, bodyboards, skimboards and wetsuits. They also offer private or group surfing lessons. Lessons last either one or two hours, include surfboard rental and 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 artist.
Even Keel Massage Therapy
- 3022 S. Croatan Highway, Pirate’s Quay, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-3581
This team of state and nationally certified 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.
