Visit The Outer Banks

The Ultimate OBX Guide to Adventure

The “OBX,” as its fans know it, is made up of three island areas and 100+ miles of ocean shoreline bending far into the Atlantic Ocean, creating a one-of-a-kind setting. Come explore it.

For Travelers Chasing Adrenaline

Surfing

The OBX is widely known for the best surf breaks on the entire East Coast. Even when conditions are off, that reputation holds. When wind, swell, and weather all line up, Cape Hatteras can thunder for days with the nonstop, untamed force of a teenage garage band.

Hang Gliding

You can learn to hang glide at the world’s largest hang gliding school in the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites teaches beginner lessons and supplies the hang gliding gear you need.

Fishing

For sport fishermen, this is paradise in every season. Charter boats, piers, license details, and a wide range of fishing options all help make these waters some of the best in the world.

Aerial Tour

Channel Orville and Wilbur Wright and lift off above the barrier islands. See Oregon Inlet from the sky, or scan the Graveyard of the Atlantic below for shipwrecks.

For Outdoor Lovers

Kayaking & Canoeing

On the OBX, sound, bay, and estuary waters are as plentiful as ocean beaches, forming a winding mix of salt marshes and shallow open water that calls to paddlers. Join a guided outing, browse specialty shops and outfitters, and choose a public launch site for kayaks, boat, & canoes on either side of these barrier islands.

Biking & Hiking

The OBX works for riders at nearly any skill level, with bridges, broad flat shoulders, and paved paths that roll gently through the landscape. Most routes stay level, creating easy family strolls as well as long stretches for cyclists ready to see how fast their bikes can go. Take the quieter route and explore maritime forests and beaches on foot, too. There are three Coastal Maritime forests in Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, and Buxton. Lace up your hiking shoes and go see them.

Camping

A night beneath the stars feels especially good here. Dare County offers three NPS campgrounds along with numerous private options. OBX is a strong choice for camping families seeking a cost-effective stay in a lively, family-friendly setting. Reconnect with yourself and your people beside calm sound waters or under canopies of live oak. Many campsites sit just a few sandy steps from the ocean, tucked close to rolling dunes.

Family-Friendly Things To Do

Paradise for Animal Lovers

Protected Wildlife Species

Every season brings rare and distinctive wildlife visitors. Birds gather along the coast during migration, and mating seals pause on the shoreline as they travel South. Sea turtles nest here, and hatchlings emerge during nighttime hours. All wildlife should be viewed from a safe distance without feeding, approaching, or putting animals at risk. Learn how to help protect this special place at outerbanks.org/ResponsibleTravel.

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge covers more than 154,000 wildlife acres of wetland habitats and supports many kinds of wildlife, from wood ducks and alligators to black bears and red wolves. Plant life is plentiful as well, including Atlantic white cedar, bald cypress, wildflowers, and shrubs. Visitors can explore hiking and wildlife trails, observation platforms, fishing spots, and kayaking and canoeing routes.

Horseback Riding in Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Riding along the southern end of Hatteras Island offers a memorable way to experience the Carolina coast habitat with Equine Adventures. Follow experienced guides through the maritime forests of Frisco, take in distant views of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and enjoy an easy ride along the water’s edge. For more excitement, pick up the pace and feel the wind with an exhilarating canter down the beach.

Dolphin Watching & Research

Nags Head Dolphin Watch brings guests on an eco-tour in search of wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. On board, visitors can observe how biologists and researchers with the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research, a nonprofit organization, carry out their work and learn about findings from more than a decade of studies & monitoring. These trips offer a close, safe way to connect with these remarkable animals in the wild.

Find Your Way Here

For decades, travelers have called the Outer Banks their happy place. For others, these islands sit at the heart of their joy. People say that when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. We would add that when you care for the place where your heart finds bliss, your soul never ages. Life on the edge of the continent is not simple, and it is not for the faint of heart. But for the spiritually fortunate who have found their passions on the OBX, working hard so they can live fully is the easiest decision of all.

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