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Have a Great Dinner at Windmill Point Restaurant

If you want a great meal and an elegant atmosphere, Windmill Point Restaurant is the place for you! Located on the south side of Nags Head at Milepost 16.5 on US Highway 158, Windmill Point offers great views of the sound at sunset. If you are a history buff, you will love the various memorabilia from the 1950s ocean liner SS United States and the upstairs lounge that is modeled after the one on the ship. For a dining experience to remember, visit Windmill Point Restaurant! For reservations, call (252) 441-1535.

Visit the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve

The Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve is a maritime forest that is managed by The Nature Conservancy, which is an international, nonprofit conservation organization. Located in Kill Devil Hills on the west side of US Highway 158, the Preserve is home to many rare plant and animal species. Spend an afternoon hiking on more than 5 miles of trails and footbridges that take you through forest, swamp, pond and dune habitats. Trails are open to visitors during the week between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Bicycles and pets on leashes are restricted to a portion of the trail. For more information, contact the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve at (252) 441-2525.

Hike on the Buxton Woods Nature Trail

If you want to get some exercise while you are in Buxton but aren't crazy about climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the Buxton Woods Nature Trail is the place for you! The trailhead is just past the turnoff to the Lighthouse on the right side of the road. There are picnic tables and charcoal grills in a shaded area just beside the trailhead. The trail is a .75 mile loop that will take you through marshes, trees, grasses and wildlife. Cottonmouth snakes, which are fat, rough-scaled and look brown, yellow, gray or black, are prevalent in this area in the warm months, so give them their space. If you see one, let it get away. If it doesn't move, get away from it. The hike has a few small inclines and is a gravel trail with a few uneven spots, so is not recommended for disabled visitors or small children. Pets are welcome as long as they are on a leash.

Watch Birds and Wildlife at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

Located on the north end of Hatteras Island, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge was founded in 1938 as a winter preserve for snow geese. Today, the refuge is managed by the National Park Service and consists of 5,915 acres attracting almost 400 observed bird species. Naturalists, birdwatchers and fans of the sea turtle all frequent the Refuge during their trips to the Outer Banks. There is a Visitor Center on-site as well as a trail leading along the sound marshes in the area. There is no charge for this attraction, but don't forget to bring your insect repellent! For more information, contact the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge at (252) 987-2394.

Ride the Free Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry

Ocracoke Island is the southernmost island of the Outer Banks and can only be reached by ferry (or boat.) The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) runs a free ferry from Hatteras Village to Ocracoke Island. The ferry ride is approximately 40 minutes long and departs from the southern tip of Hatteras Village and arrives at the northern tip of Ocracoke Island. Once the ferry docks, it is about 15 miles to the quaint village of Ocracoke. Ferries run daily between 5:00 a.m. and midnight. In the peak season, departures from each location (Hatteras and Ocracoke) are every 30 minutes; in the off season departures are every hour. In the peak season, ferry lines tend to get long, so you will want to plan ahead. Reservations are not available for the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry. For more information, you may contact the NCDOT at (800) BY-FERRY.

Play or Watch Others Play in the Waters at Canadian Hole

Canadian Hole is a public area located 1.5 miles south of Avon on Hatteras Island. Windsurfers and kiteboarders who travel to the Outer Banks from around the world spend most of their vacation playing in the Pamlico Sound waters at Canadian Hole. If you are driving by this location on a windy day, pull into the public parking area and take some time to relax and watch the surfers and boarders. Many of them are very talented at their sports and are fun to watch. If you can catch this area near sunset, it is a great photo opportunity with the sails in the sky and the sunset in the background.

Enjoy a Local Seafood Dinner

You can't spend any time at the Outer Banks without having a local seafood dinner. Throughout the Outer Banks, there are many great restaurants that will serve the catch of the day and cook it how you like it. You can't go wrong with an authentic seafood dinner on the Outer Banks. Many of the restaurants will prepare YOUR catch of the day for you, if you have been out fishing and don't want to cook your own catch. All you have to do is ask!

Take a Local Sight-Seeing Tour

If you aren't interested in boat or adventure tours, you may want to take an Outer Banks sight-seeing tour. There are a few options available on the Outer Banks for land tours. Hatteras Tours will take you on a fast-paced tour of island history, geology and culture and can be reached at (252) 986-2995. Candle light walking tours of Historic Old Manteo are offered and can be reserved by calling (252) 475-1701. Other Outer Banks tours are offered by OTS Ventures at (252) 202-3919 or Sandy Beach Tours at (252) 441-9800.

Ride Go-Karts with Your Friends and Family

While you are on the Outer Banks, take the kids (or the adults!) for some go-kart riding. There are a few tracks to choose from and any of them are sure to provide lots of fun and laughter. The Colington Speedway in Kill Devil Hills has three tracks to choose from and can be reached at (252) 480-9144. Dowdy's Amusement Park is located in Nags Head and can be reached at (252) 441-5122. Finally, on Hatteras Island, Frisco Mini Golf & Go-Karts also offers a track for your enjoyment and can be reached at (252) 995-6325.

Learn How To Kiteboard

Kiteboarding is a relatively new sport that is enjoyed by windsurfers, surfers and wake boarders. The Outer Banks is widely recognized as one of the best places in the world to kiteboard because of the winds and shallow sound waters. Though kiteboarding may look relatively easy when you are watching others perform the sport, it is actually quite dangerous and you cannot rent equipment until you have obtained a basic level of certification. For more information on kiteboarding lessons, you may contact REAL Kiteboarding at (866) REAL-KITE. They offer several different kite camps throughout the year for various skill levels. Kitty Hawk Kites also has a kiteboarding school in Nags Head and can be contacted at (252) 449-2210.