Photo by Raymond Kotewicz on Unsplash

The Outer Banks (OBX) is a standout vacation destination off the coast of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, offering outdoor adventure, pristine beaches, wonderful attractions, and rich history. Whether you love leisurely walks, water sports, learning, or relaxing on the beach, there’s certainly something for everyone on this string of barrier islands and spits. However, if you’re looking to make your trip to the OBX extra special, it’s worth adding some of these activities to your travel itinerary: 

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Once you’ve found one of the most idyllic Outer Banks vacation rentals to make your vacation extra memorable, take a trip to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. 

The Memorial commemorates the very first successful powered flights in a machine that’s heavier than air, known as the Wright Flyer. While Wilbur and Orville Wright were based in Dayton, Ohio, they had traveled to North Carolina after learning from the U.S. Weather Bureau that the area had steady winds. They also appreciated the area’s privacy at the time.

The National Memorial features many wonderful exhibits and attractions worth exploring, including a hangar that recreates the world’s first airplane hangar, a visitor center, and the Memorial Tower. 

Lighthouses

If you feel like spending your vacation participating in leisurely walks, there are plenty of lighthouses to visit around the OBX. You can climb the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla, North Carolina, admire the 156-foot-tall Bodie Island Lighthouse in the vicinity of Bodie Island, or visit the tallest lighthouse in the United States, Cape Hatteras Light on Hatteras Island in Buxton. All of these lighthouses have special histories and stories to tell, meaning you can leave the area feeling richer in knowledge. 

Wild Horse Tours

If you’ve never seen horses in their natural environment, herein lies the opportunity. You can book a wild horse tour and see Colonial Spanish Mustangs living naturally in the 4WD beach area of Corolla, North Carolina. There are plenty of guided tours in the area, most of which allow you to explore the northern Outer Banks beaches from the edges of Corolla to the Virginia State Line. 

Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Beach lovers won’t want to miss an opportunity to see enormous sand dunes, and you’re in the right place! Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, Dare County, is where you’ll discover an active sand dune system that’s considered the tallest of its kind in the eastern United States.

The tall dune area is a desert-like environment with strong winds that move the dunes up to six feet southwest each year. Experts believe there is at least 30 million tons of sand in the park. However, it’s not just the sand that will grab your interest at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. 

The park is also home to the Roanoke Sound and the maritime forest. Roanoke Sound is a body of water separating Bodie Island from Roanoke Island and is home to blue crabs, seahorses, shrimp, pipefish, and other creatures. The maritime forest is also a remarkable attraction with its vast array of flora and fauna, including southern red oaks, gray fox, and tiger beetles. 

Nature lovers are in their element when they choose to visit the Outer Banks in North Carolina. From watching wild horses to climbing lighthouses to soaking in the views, there’s something for all interests and abilities.