Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Currituck Heritage Park
(252) 453-4939
www.currituckbeachlight.com

The northernmost lighthouse on the Outer Banks, built in 1875, is open for climbing but closes in inclement weather, so call ahead. There’s a great Museum Shop here too. Easter through October, hours are 10 am to 6 pm; November hours are 10 am to 5 pm. Tickets required for climbing. Call for rates.

The Whalehead Club
Currituck Heritage Park
(252) 453-9040
www.whaleheadclub.com

The Whalehead Club is a historic house museum in the Art Nouveau style and has been returned to its original 1925 grandeur. Admission is by guided tour only. Open Easter to Thanksgiving; call ahead for special holiday hours in December and to ask about special tours. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm (10 am to 4 pm in the offseason). Call for tour admission.

Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education
Currituck Heritage Park
(252) 453-0221
www.ncwildlife.org

Educational programs for all ages are held in the summer, including sound habitat exploration, decoy carving and fishing in the sound. Call to register in advance. Workshops are held Monday through Friday from 9 am to 2 pm. Most programs are free. The center will be open year-round with exhibits, educational programs and a gift shop.

Wild Horses Exhibit
Schoolhouse Road
(252) 453-3341
www.twiddy.com

An exhibit on the Corolla Wild Horses is set up in the old two-room Corolla Schoolhouse on Schoolhouse Road. This is a great chance to learn about the horses and see the inside of the old school. The museum is free and is open Thursdays from 10 am to 6 pm. Call for other hours.

The Nature Conservancy’s Nags Head Woods Preserve
Ocean Acres Drive
(252) 441-2525

Celebrate nature in a maritime forest with more than five miles of hiking trails with a range of difficulties. The woods are home to an unusually diverse assemblage of plant and animal life. Maps, self-guided pamphlets and bird species lists are available at the visitor center. Trails are open year round from dawn to dusk. Free admission; donations to The Nature Conservancy are welcome.

Wright Brothers National Memorial
U.S. Hwy. 158
(252) 441-7430
www.nps.gov/wrbr

This site commemorates the achievements of the Wright Brothers with replicas of the Wright flyer and glider, exhibits and the Wright monument. Open daily. From Memorial to Labor Day hours are 9 am to 6 pm; the remainder of the year hours are 9 am to 5 pm. Call for admission rates.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park
U.S. Hwy. 158
(252) 441-7132,
(252) 441-2588 program registration
www.jockeysridgestatepark.com

Featuring the East Coast’s tallest living sand dune, the park is also home to a soundside nature trail and bird preserve. The museum has exhibits on the vegetation and animals in the park and interactive games for kids. Educational programs are held in the summer. Open at 8 am all year; closing time varies seasonally. Free admission.

Jennette’s Pier
N.C. Hwy. 12
(252) 441-6421
www.jennettespier.net

Jennette’s Pier is owned and operated by the North Carolina Aquarium Society. The pier house includes fish tanks, a “Giants of the Sea” exhibit and educational programs. The pier is open April through November. Summer pier hours are 6 am to midnight. Off-season hours vary. Admission to the exhibits is free; some fees apply for educational programs and fishing.

The Lost Colony
Off U.S. Hwy. 64
(252) 473-3414, (866) 468-7630
www.thelostcolony.org

This historical outdoor drama tells the story of the English colony that vanished, leaving behind only a mystery that remains unsolved. It’s performed at sunset in the Waterside Theater from June to August, Monday through Saturday at 8:30 pm. Call for ticket prices. Backstage tours are offered at 6:30 pm; advance tickets are required.

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
Airport Road
(252) 473-3494
www.ncaquariums.com

With exhibits on the waters of the Outer Banks, the aquarium explores the diverse marine communities in the area. The 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic tank hosts visitor questions and answers with a scuba diver and a daily underwater dive program. Open daily 9 am to 5 pm. Call for admission fees.

Roanoke Island Elizabethan Gardens
Off U.S. Hwy. 64
(252) 473-3234
www.elizabethangardens.org

A beautifully designed English-style garden, Elizabethan Gardens has native and tropical plants, Italian Renaissance sculptures, rose and herb gardens, and a striking Sunken Garden. The gift shop stocks decorations for homes and gardens, and some of the plants cultured in the on-site greenhouse are for sale. Open daily year round. Hours vary seasonally. Call for admission fees.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Off U.S. Hwy. 64
(252) 473-5772
www.nps.gov/fora

Fort Raleigh celebrates the first English attempt at colonization and settlement in the New World. A museum in the Visitor Center includes artifacts found on-site. Footpaths provide access to the Thomas Hariot Nature Trail. Call for Admission fees.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
N.C. Hwy. 12, Buxton
(252) 995-4474
www.nps.gov/caha

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the nation. Visitors can climb the 268 spiraling stairs for a spectacular view. It is open from the Friday before Easter until Columbus Day, 9 am to 5 pm; summer hours are 9 am to 6 pm. The lighthouse closes to climbers in inclement weather, so call ahead. Programs are held in the summer. Call for admission fees.

Frisco Native American Museum
N.C. Hwy. 12, Frisco
(252) 995-4440
www.nativeamericanmuseum.org

This museum houses a nationally recognized collection of Native American art and artifacts, specializing in artifacts from the first human inhabitants of Hatteras Island. A nature trail on-site winds through acres of maritime forest. Guided tours and special programs are available. Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday 11 am to 5 pm, Mondays by appointment. Call for admission fees.

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
N.C. Hwy. 12, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-2996
www.graveyardoftheatlantic.com

Not yet fully open, but still with interesting exhibits, this museum’s mission is to preserve and present the rich maritime history of the Outer Banks, particularly the shipwrecks off the treacherous coast, dubbed the Graveyard of the Atlantic. From May to early October the museum is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm; call ahead in the off season. No admission fee; donations are needed and greatly appreciated.

Tanger Outlet Center
MP16 Hwy 158 Nags Head
252 441-5634
www.tangeroutlet.com

Tanger Outlet Center has over 25 brand name manufacturer and designer outlet stores. An incredible shopping experience for the bargain hunter.

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center
NC 12 North end of the bridge
800 272-5199
www.oregon-inlet.com

Home of the largest a most modern fishing fleets on the eastern seaboard. They offer full and half day off shore and sound fishing charters. A full and well stocked marina for all your needs. The National Park maintains a boat launch facility behind the center. There is ample parking and no fee for use of the facility.