Roanoke Island Recreation (Including Manteo Recreation and Wanchese Recreation)
No matter what Roanoke Island recreation you choose during your stay here, one thing is certain, you’ll never be bored.
Whether you crave relaxation or high-energy adventure, it’s all here. Sail along the sound or take a dolphin-sighting cruise. Go crabbing from a dock or fight a marlin on an off-shore charter fishing trip. Parasail high above water or take a bike ride along the island. Watch the sun set from the decks of a beautiful boat or zip through the sound on a Jet boat. Stroll along the Manteo boardwalk and enjoy the island’s quaint beauty or enjoy a modern movie in an old-fashioned theater. Join the local kids at the town-built skatepark or take the little ones to the waterfront playground. As you can see, Manteo recreation opportunities run the gamut!
And when you look beyond Manteo to other Roanoke Island recreation possibilities, you’ll find air tours, fishing, backwater kayak tours, head boat excursions, yoga and pilates classes, spas, scuba trips and more.
See our Attractions section for more about all of the places to visit on the island, places like the North Carolina Aquarium, Roanoke Island Festival Park, The Elizabethan Gardens and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. Roanoke Island offers numerous special events, festivals, programs, performing arts, summer camps, children’s programs and more all summer long. If you are here in the “off” season there are still lots of interesting events year round too. See our Annual Events.
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Alligator River Canoe Tours
- Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Buffalo City Road, off U.S. Highway 64 (Dare County Mainland)
- Manteo
Don’t miss this chance to really get out in the wild! Take a guided canoe tour through the blackwater canals of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and learn about the fascinating history of the area along the way (there used to be a logging town out here in the middle of nowhere). In May, tours are offered on Wednesday and Friday. In June, July and August, tours are offered on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. In September, tours are held on Wednesday and Friday. Tour time is 9 a.m. to noon and cost $35 per person ($20 for children ages 12 and younger). Reservations are required. Hats, sunscreen, insect repellent and drinking water are recommended.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
- Milltail Road, off U.S. Highway 64
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a 154,000-acre refuge on the mainland portions of Dare and Hyde counties. It was established in 1984 to preserve and protect the pocosin, a unique wetland habitat type, and its associated wildlife species. Pocosin is a Native American word meaning ‘‘swamp-on-a-hill’’ and is characterized by poorly drained soils high in organic material. Its diversity of habitat types includes high and low pocosin, bogs, fresh and brackish water marshes, hardwood swamps and Atlantic white cedar swamps. Plant species include pitcher plants and sun dews, low bush cranberries, bays, Atlantic white cedar, pond pine, gums, red maple and a wide variety of herbaceous and shrub species common to the East Coast.
The refuge is one of the last remaining strongholds for black bear on the Eastern Seaboard, and it is the only place in the world where endangered red wolves still exist in the wild. It is home to concentrations of ducks, geese and swans, and its wildlife diversity also includes wading birds, shorebirds, American woodcock, raptors, American alligators, white-tailed deer, raccoons, rabbits, quail, river otters, red-cockaded woodpeckers and neotropical migrants.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge has great paddling trails, a wildlife drive, two wildlife trails and all types of wildlife and habitat for you to learn about. The staff offers several programs throughout the year, including Tram Tours, Canoe Tours, Red Wolf Howling Safaris and the Bear Necessities program about black bears. See the separate listings for each of these programs in our Recreation section.
The refuge is open year round during daylight hours.
Next spring, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is opening a Visitors Center offering information on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and 10 other refuges in the northeastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia. This Visitors Center will be located on the north end of Roanoke Island. For now, if you want more information about the refuge, it’s best to call (252) 473-1131 or visit their website at www.fws.gov/alligatorriver.gov. The staff that manages the Alligator River refuge also manages Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island; see our Hatteras site’s Recreation chapter for more information.
B&R Car Rentals
- 404 U.S. Highway 64
- Manteo
- (252) 473-2142
- map
You can rent a car from this local dealership, but be sure to call well in advance to make reservations. Daily and weekly rental are available.
Bianca’s Tea Leaf Readings
- 326 Fernando Street
- Manteo
- (252) 473-2277
Need advice? Bianca is an assistant life coach who is highly intuitive and well known for her honest and accurate predictions using Tarot Cards, astrology, a crystal ball, handwriting analysis, horoscope readings, tea leaf readings, color therapy and Feng Shui. For more than 25 years Bianca has helped hundreds live a healthier and stress free life, and she assures you success by advising you in love, business, marriage, divorce, health and family matters. Make an appointment with her at her shop in downtown in Manteo.
Captain Johnny Dolphin Tours
- 303 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 473-1475, (866) 473-1475
- map
It’s very exciting to watch bottlenose dolphins frolicking and rolling through the water. Dolphins live in the sounds and from June through October frequent the local waters. Since 1995 Capt. Stuart Wescott, a ninth-generation Roanoke Island native, has offered dolphin watch tours in the Roanoke Sound aboard the 53-foot pontoon-type boat Capt. Johnny. If you miss the dolphins on your first trip, Capt. Wescott gives you a second tour for free. Wescott shares his knowledge and history of the area on the tour as well. Dolphin tours last two hours, and there are several trips a day (morning, mid-day and sunset). Expect to pay around $30 for adults and $20 for children 12 and younger. Sunset cruises, bird-watching tours and shrimping/crabbing cruises are also offered. New for Monday evenings in 2012 is the BYOP (as in picnic!) sunset tour. Stop by the dock site on the Manteo waterfront, click their information on this website, go to their Facebook page or call for more information. Note that these tours run only Monday through Friday. You can also get 24/7 recorded information about trips at (252) 480-9151.
Charter Private Sailing Aboard the Sea’scape
- Tours leave from the Manteo waterfront boardwalk by the lighthouse
- Manteo
- (252) 473-2719
- map
The Sea’scape is a beautiful 41’ ketch (which means the sailboat has two masts for those of you not in the nautical know) that takes guests on daily private sail charter tours into the Roanoke and Albemarle sounds. Tours leave from the Manteo boardwalk. Captain Dan Bottjen and first mate Katherine can take two to six guests out at a time. Imagine slipping along in the water, a lovely breeze filling the sails, the quiet that comes when you leave the hubub of the shore behind…it’s perfection! The boat has a fully equipped galley, so you’re welcome to bring along food and refreshments. And there are two heads on board. Half-day sails, lasting three to four hours, are $50 per person ($150 minimum). And Sunset sails, which also last three to four hours, are $60 per person ($180 minimum) and are timed to return to the Manteo waterfront right at sunset.
Downeast Rover
- 207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 473-4866, (866) SAIL-OBX
- coupon
Downeast Rover is a 55-foot topsail schooner offering sailing tours into the Roanoke Sound every day. The tall ship’s home berth is right on the Manteo waterfront. You’ll see Roanoke Island and Nags Head from the water plus birds of all kinds and perhaps some dolphin. They also take a sunset cruise in which you’ll watch the sun setting into the sound. While the captain loves children, and they are encouraged for the daytime cruises, he asks that you consider not bringing children younger than 12 on the sunset cruises. Daytime cruises cost $30 for adults and $15 for children younger than 12. Sunset cruises cost $40 for all passengers. Passengers are welcome to bring whatever they would like to eat or drink (alcohol is OK). Downeast Rover is also available for private charters for parties, weddings and celebrations. Call for details and to make reservations.
Kitty Hawk Kites
- 307 Queen Elizabeth Street, Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
Stop by the Manteo Kitty Hawk Kites store for all of your adventure needs. Parasailing trips go out on the water just behind the store, and they also offer kayak tours around Roanoke Island Festival Park and the surrounding marshes. If you feel like going out on your own, feel free to rent a kayak from this location as well. With a reservationist on site, you can book other adventures such as dolphin tours, hang-gliding lessons or kite-boarding sessions.
Kitty Hawk Kites’ Kayak Tours
- n/a
- Manteo
To see a totally different side of Roanoke Island, slip back into the marsh creeks and coves on a kayak. Kitty Hawk Kites offers kayak tours leaving from the Manteo waterfront and winding through the salt marshes into the sound. Guides point out features of the area ecology and wildlife and talk about the history of Roanoke Island. Tandem and single kayaks are available. Expect to pay around $34 to $49 per person for a guided tour. Tours leave from the Kitty Hawk Kites store on the Manteo waterfront. Kitty Hawk Kites offers kayak tours of many areas of the Outer Banks. One that we highly recommend is the Alligator River Tour through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the mainland; the meeting place is about a 20-minute drive inland from Manteo. You must make advance reservations for guided kayak tours.
OBX Cruises
- 303 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 256-7188
- map
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 cruises last for two hours. The Cypress Queen can accommodate six passengers.
Outdoors Outfitters
- 312 U.S. Highway 64
- Manteo
- (252) 473-1356
- map
The Outdoors Outfitters is a true outfitter specializing in kayak tours for children and adults. They’re located in downtown Manteo but offer activities all over the Outer Banks. Ask about their children’s activity tours, naturalist-led eco-tours, biolumenescence or full moon tours, sunrise or sunset tours or Your Family Only! tours. For rentals, they offer delivery to anywhere on Roanoke Island, Nags Head, Pea Island or Alligator River, or you can take the kayak on your vehicle. Don’t want to bring all your camping gear but want to camp? The Outdoors Outfitters rents tents, bags, pads, cooking stoves and other camping gear. Also operating out of this storefront is Nags Head Diving (see separate listing) for scuba diving lessons, tours and equipment. The Outdoors Outfitters store sells and rents scuba gear and spearfishing equipment. New this year, The Outdoors Outfitters is offering scuba diving charters, spear-fishing charters and sportfishing charters aboard their 38-foot boat, The Diving Pirate. They also rent bikes for adults and kids (they also have carriers for infants and little tikes) and offer bike tours of the island.
Paradise Dolphin Cruises
- 219 Thicket Lump Drive, Thicket Lump Marina
- Wanchese
- (252) 573-0547
- map
Paradise Dolphin Cruises has the area’s newest dolphin boat, the Kokomo, which carries up to 40 passengers and offers a comfortable ride with a canopied top, cushioned seats and a restroom. The boat’s location at Thicket Lump Marina in Wanchese offers the closest access to the waters where these amazing creatures are most often found. Paradise offers three dolphin trips daily plus sunset cruises. Every Monday is family day; ask about family prices. The boat is handicapped accessible and is available for private parties and catering. Call for reservations.
Pirate Adventures of the Outer Banks
- Downtown Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
Pirate costumes, face painting, a real pirate ship, messages in bottles, water cannons, stinky pirate enemies and buried treasure — need we say more to convince you that this is the ultimate kid-pleasing adventure? Starting Memorial Day weekend, the Sea Gypsy IV sails seven days a week, six times a day: 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Face painting and dress up begin 30 minutes prior to departure time, so get there early. Cost is $20 person, $12 for children younger than 3. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Skydive OBX
- 410 Airport Road, Dare County Regional Airport
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 678-JUMP (5867)
- map
Attention all thrillseekers! Jumping from a plane at 9,000 feet should get your endorphins flowing — and you get the bonus of a bird’s-eye view of Roanoke Island. Skydive OBX offers tandem skydives for ages 18 and older. You jump strapped in a harness with an instructor, so the adventure requires only minimal training for the customer. The free fall is 30 seconds and the entire ride is about 5 minutes long. Expect the entire process, with training, to take about an hour. Reservations are required.
Air Adventures by Luckey Aviation
- 410 Airport Road, Dare County Regional Airport
- Roanoke Island
- (704) 668-9655
Bob Luckey, a pilot with more than 33 years of safe flying experience, is now offering Air Adventures aerial tours of the Outer Banks. Luckey flies a Cessna Skyhawk, which can carry up to three people, and offers set tours of 15 minutes, a half-hour or one hour as well as custom tours. Seeing the Outer Banks from the air is not only a thrilling ride, but also gives you whole new perspective of the fragility of these beautiful islands.
Barrier Island Aviation
- Dare County Regional Airport, 407 Airport Road
- Manteo
- (252) 473-4247
Barrier Island Aviation offers biplane rides and air tours lasting from 10 minutes up to an hour. Three people can fly in the Cessna and two can go up in the biplane. Tours fly over the ocean shoreline, down to Hatteras or up to Corolla, over Oregon Inlet, Jockey’s Ridge and all the major attractions. Prices average $40 per person for biplane rides and $20 per person for air tours. They take reservations, or you can just walk up.
Bear Necessities
- Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Highway 64, Dare County Mainland
- Manteo
- (252) 987-2394, (252) 216-9464
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is home to one of the largest populations of black bears in the eastern United States. Learn more about the bears and go on a scouting trip to look for the big furry creatures with a Fish and Wildlife Service staff person. These programs are held on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in June, July and August. Meet at the Creef Cut Wildlife Trail, 4 miles west of the U.S. Highway 64/264 split. Bring binoculars and insect repellent. Immediately following the bear program is the Wolf Howling program, so you could feasibly do both.
Better Body Massage
- U.S. Highway 64, at the Island Tanning and Co. building, second floor
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 305-1176
Lori Hillyer is a state licensed, nationally certified massage therapist who has been in practice for close to 10 years. She can offer Swedish, deep tissue, pregnancy, relaxation and customized massages. She also has her cosmetology license, specializing in facials and body treatments.
Bodywork for Balanced Health
- Manteo
- (252) 216-8072
Massage therapist Shaena Hollomon treats clients to relaxing massages in styles like Swedish, deep-tissue and sports massage. Hollomon also offers skilled specialties like Thai massage. Call for an appointment and she will come to you.
Broad Creek Fishing Center Ships Store
- 708 Harbor Drive, Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park
- Wanchese
- (252) 473-9991
Located in the Broad Creek Fishing Center and Marina, the ship store offers everything you need for a day of fishing. Pick up your snacks, beverages and ice here before heading out. They also stock boating accessories and maintenance supplies. Broad Creek offers a large selection of rods and reels, fishing lines, seasonal tackle and fresh and frozen bait. Don’t forget to check out their sunglasses, T-shirts, sweat shirts and hats. Broad Creek offers centralized booking for offshore and inshore charter fishing. They have 12 boats in their fleet, and their booking service offers hassle-free, book-where-you-board convenience.
Causeway Dock and Pier
- Beneath the Washington Baum Bridge (Nags Head/Manteo Causeway)
- Manteo
Beneath the Washington Baum bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway is a small public dock that makes a great spot for fishing or crabbing. Just bring your own tackle and supplies and drop your line. A two-slip boat ramp and ample parking for vehicles and trailers are available.
Coastal Helicopters
- 410 Airport Road, Dare County Regional Airport
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 475-HELI (4354)
Looking for spectacular way to see the Outer Banks? Lift off in a helicopter for the best possible view of the Outer Banks. They’ll take you on a tour around Roanoke Island, along one at the beach where you’ll see shipwrecks, the Bodie Island Lighthouse, Jockey’s Ridge, the Wright Brothers Memorial, sea life and more, or you can customize your own tour. Longer tours also available to see the wild Banker ponies of Corolla, Hatteras and Ocracoke lighthouses and Portsmouth Island. The helicopter accommodates up to three people at a time, and the cockpit is air-conditioned for a comfortable ride. Coastal Helicopters offers charter service around the region, including Corolla, where they have a landing spot. Gift certificates are available.
Coastal Kayak Touring Company
- Tours in various locations
- Manteo
- (252) 261-6262, (252) 441-3393
You haven’t seen the Outer Banks until you’ve seen it from the water, and Coastal Kayak can take you there. They offer trips to four different areas of the Outer Banks: Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary (between Corolla and Duck), Kitty Hawk Woods, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island and the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the Dare County mainland. The Alligator River trip is the closest to Roanoke Island. Tours last two to three hours. The guides offer kayaking instruction if you need it, plus they narrate about the local history and ecology along the way. Single and tandem kayaks are available. Children are welcome as long they are at least 30 pounds, but certain trips are better for kids than others. Reservations are required.
Country Girl Head Boat
- 1 Sailfish Drive, Docks at Pirate's Cove Marina
- Manteo
- (252) 473-5577
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
- Manteo
- (252) 473-5577
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. TheCrystal 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. See the Fishing section for information about the boat’s inshore fishing trips.
