Roanoke Island 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.
Blue Sky Studios
- 345 Water Plant Road
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 256-2518
Blue Sky Studios is the teaching studio of a well-known local ceramic artist and a school teacher. The couple teach art classes and workshops to children, teens and adults. Children’s week-long summer art camps include exposure to pottery, casting, sculpture, painting, mixed-media and more. Classes and workshops are held year round.
Captain Johnny Dolphin Tours
- Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 473-1475, (866) 473-1475
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. Dolphin sightings are guaranteed, so if you miss them on your first trip, your second tour is free. Wescott shares his knowledge and history of the area on the tour as well. Dolphin tours last two hours, and there are usually three trips a day (morning, mid-day and afternoon). Expect to pay around $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger. Sunset cruises, bird-watching tours and shrimping/crabbing cruises are also offered. Stop by the dock site on the Manteo Waterfront or call for more information. Note that these tours run only Monday through Friday.
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. 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. 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. She also offers sightseeing cruises, in which you’ll see Elizabeth II, Jockeys Ridge, the Wright Brothers National Memorial, wildlife, shorebirds and more. 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.
Elizabethan Gardens’ Family Fun Series—Wild Wednesdays and Discovery Thursdays
- 1411 National Park Drive (off U.S. Highway 64) next to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- Manteo
- (252) 473-3234
The Elizabethan Gardens Family Fun Series offers Wild Wednesdays and Discovery Thursdays programs in the gardens from June 9 through August 12. These family-friendly, interactive programs include events like Discovery Walks, Exploring Flowers and Pollinators, Tree Walks, Friendly Garden Bugs, Soil and Worm Discoveries, Sensory Walks and Butterfly Walks. All activities are free with paid admission to The Elizabethan Gardens, and all ages are welcome. Stay tuned to www.OuterBanksThisWeek.com for program schedules, times and themes.
Fine Yarns at Kimbeeba and Fiber Arts Gallery
- 207 Budleigh Street
- Manteo
- (252) 473-6330
Kimbeeba is an amazing fiber arts supply center, classroom, weaving studio and gallery. The owner, Sybil, is an experienced artist who enjoys helping others and teaching classes in weaving, spinning, knitting, crocheting and fiber dyeing. Other classes will be offered here as well, such as glass-bead making, book-binding and more. In the store, Sybil offers specialty, novelty and fine yarns of all sorts as well as knitting and weaving supplies, books, patterns, needlepoint and cross-stitch supplies and lots of enthusiasm. In the gallery are finished fiber works by local artists and other artwork for sale. Kimbeeba is located beside the Pioneer Theatre. The local Fiber Arts Guild meets here as well.
Good for You
- 200 Sir Walter Raleigh Street
- Manteo
- (252) 202-2873
Good For You is a place to be good to yourself. Whether you’re a local or on vacation, owners Janet and Gordon Rainey provide this space so that you can take some time for yourself and relax. When you walk into this massage/yoga studio/learning center/resource space for wellness, you start feeling better. And if you need a little help in that direction, just look around. Here you can take classes in yoga and Pilates (private and group) or belly dancing. You can lounge in one of their comfortable chairs and read a book from their extensive library. You can relax with one of their many massages — prenatal, sports, Swedish, reflexology, cranio-sacral, couples. The space is also available for meetings. One thing they do here that’s particularly fun is to help you build a day around wellness for bridal parties, groups events or just for you.
Pirate Adventures of the Outer Banks
- Downtown Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 473-2007
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.
Private Charters Aboard the Sea’scape
- Tours leave from the Manteo waterfront boardwalk by the lighthouse
- Manteo
- (252) 473-2719
The Sea’scape is a beautiful 41’ ketch (which means she has two masts for those of you not in the nautical know) that takes guests on daily tours leaving from the Manteo boardwalk. Captain Dan Bottjen will take up to six 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…ahhhh! The boat has a fully equipped galley, so you’re welcome to bring along refreshments. And there are two heads on board. Half-day sails, lasting two to four hours, are $50 per person ($150 minimum). Full-day sails that last up to seven hours are $75 per person ($250 minimum). And Sunset sails, which last two to four hours, are $60 per person ($180 minimum).
The Lost Colony
- Waterside Theatre, 1409 National Park Drive (off U.S. Highway 64)
- Manteo
- (252) 473-3414
Since its premiere in 1937, The Lost Colony outdoor drama has become one of the Outer Banks’ most beloved attractions. The play itself has become as much a part of the culture and history of Roanoke Island as the historic events it portrays. The symphonic production tells the 400-year-old mystery of the 117 men, women and children who lived for a short time on Roanoke Island then vanished without a trace. Held in the beautiful, open-air Waterside Theatre, the lively show features song, dance and drama. Getting to the actual theater requires a short walk down a paved path through an enchanting forest, stirring the imagination about the colonists’ lives.
In September 2007 a fire consumed The Lost Colony costume shop, destroying all of the show’s working stock and historical costumes. The silver lining in this tragic event was that the show rebounded to an even more stunning production. Renowned Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long, creative costumer for such productions as The Producers and Hair Spray, designed and created a thousand new costumes for the show, and The Lost Colony is more visually stunning than ever. The new costumes are not only beautiful, but they are also more historically accurate, as the redesign allowed Long to portray the Elizabethan class system of the colonists. A new director has also changed some key elements of the play. Even if you’ve seen The Lost Colony several times, it’s worth it to go again to see the new level of sophistication it has attained.
The Lost Colony is performed Monday through Saturday nights from May 28 through August 20, 2010. The show starts at 8 p.m. and is about two hours long. Tickets for Upper Level Seating cost $20 for adults, $19 for seniors (62 and older), $12 for children 11 and younger. Lower Level Seating costs $24 per person. On Mondays and Fridays, one child age 11 and younger gets in free with the purchase of a full-price adult ticket. On Saturday, one child gets a half-price ticket with the purchase of a full-price adult ticket. Advance reservations are recommended. For tickets, you can call (252) 473-3414 or visit www.thelostcolony.com to purchase your tickets online.
During their summer production season, The Lost Colony offers backstage tours Monday through Saturday nights at 7 p.m. On this 45-minute walking tour you’ll see insider views of the theater, costume shop and props. Reservations are required, and the cost is $7 per person. The Lost Colony production company also offers many special events throughout the year, such as children’s theater, musicals and more. See www.outerbanksthisweek.com for more information.
The Lost Colony Children’s Theater Presents The Tale of the Frog Prince
- Waterside Theatre, 1409 National Park Drive
- Manteo
- (252) 473-3414
The Lost Colonycast puts on fantastic versions of children’s favorites every summer. In 2010 it’s The Tale of the Frog Prince, and it’s guaranteed to be a hit. Face-painting, balloon-sculpting and games entertain the children before the show. Performances are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. from June 17 to August 12 in Waterside Theater. Tickets cost $7 per person.
Alligator River Canoe Tours
- Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Buffalo City Road, off U.S. Highway 64 (Dare County Mainland)
- Manteo
- (252) 475-4180
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 and October, 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.
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
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 staffer. These programs are held on Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in June, July and August. Meet at the Creef Cut Wildlife Trail, 4 miles west of the U.S. 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 something exciting to liven up your day? Lift off in a helicopter for an Outer Banks tour. They’ll take you on a tour around Roanoke Island, along the beach between Bodie Island Lighthouse and Wright Brothers National Memorial, or you can customize your own tour. The helicopter accommodates up to three people at a time, and the cockpit is air-conditioned for a comfortable ride. The least expensive trip, the Roanoke Island Tour, costs $99 per tour, and that comes out to only $33 per person if three people go along. The Beach Tour costs $175 or $225 per tour (this is per trip, not per person), depending on the length of the trip. Ask about prices for custom tours. 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.
Dare County Airport Regional Airport Museum
- 410 Airport Road, Manteo
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 475-5570
The Wright Brothers weren’t the only famous pilots to fly on the Outer Banks. Located inside Roanoke Island’s airport is a small, two-room museum dedicated to the days when a Naval Auxiliary Air Station was based on Roanoke Island. In 1941, the U.S. Navy took over the county’s airfield, making it a training site for World War II aircraft. Check out the museum to learn about local heroes like “Kitty Hawk Kid,” Lt. Sheldon R. “Ray” Beacham. Beacham is credited for shooting down two Japanese Zeros in the South Pacific. Beacham and his VF-17 Squadron were one of the most famous Navy Fighter Squadrons, known for the skull and crossbones painted on the noses of their planes. You can also learn about Dave Driskill, who is credited with bringing aviation to the Outer Banks starting in the 1930s. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and admission is free.
Dare County Old Swimming Hole
- Airport Road, next to the Aquarium
- Manteo
- (252) 475-5910
For a soundside swimming session, head down Airport Road to the Old Swimming Hole. The entrance is just beyond the North Carolina Aquarium on the right-hand side, just before you get to the airport. This family-oriented access is the perfect place to go after a tour of the aquarium. The Old Swimming Hole has a great sandy beach, picnic tables, grills, a picnic shelter, a playground, a volleyball court and restrooms. Be aware that the depth changes fairly rapidly in places, so be very vigilant with your wee ones or with non-swimmers.
Downeast Rover
- Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 473-4866, (866) SAIL-OBX
Downeast Rover is a 55-foot topsail schooner offering three two-hour sailing tours into the Roanoke Sound every day. The tall ship’s home berth is right on the Manteo waterfront. The ship sails at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. into the Roanoke Sound. 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. 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.
Elizabeth R Productions
- Various Locations
- Manteo
- (252) 473-1061
Elizabeth R Productions presents historically based dramas written by historian lebame houston and performed in part by acclaimed actor Barbara Hird as Queen Elizabeth I. Hird is committed to authenticity in her interpretation of the character of Queen Elizabeth I, and houston is committed to historical accuracy. The dramas have received international acclaim, but their home base is here on Roanoke Island.
In Elizabeth R, Hird gives a commanding performance as Queen Elizabeth I. It’s a one-woman, hour-long performance in which the Queen spills the intimate details of her life, including her likes and dislikes, the reasons for making her decisions and information about her parents, her lovers and Sir Walter Raleigh’s colonies.
Shepherd of the Ocean is whimsical comedy about the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh. The play premiered in 2006 at the international Sir Walter Ralegh Festival in Youghal, Ireland, receiving rave reviews during its three-week run. Set primarily in a time warp, the play is a flashback of Raleigh’s most cherished moments with Queen Elizabeth.
Bloody Mary and the Virgin Queen is an outrageous musical farce based on the fact that Queen Elizabeth I and her half-sister Mary Tudor absolutely loathed one another during their lives, yet they were buried in the same tomb at Westminster Abbey. The show, set in present day, begins when the tourists have left the Abbey, allowing the ghosts to start their vocal bantering and arguing. The dialogue is a blend of contemporary issues and political satire about world and Roanoke Island events.
All of these productions are recommended for ages 14 and up. For the schedule of performances, call the number above or check www.outerbanksthisweek.com.
Fly the Wolf Parasailing
- Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 441-4124, (877) FLY-THIS (359-8447)
Fly the Wolf takes several parasailing trips a day from the Manteo Waterfront, launching fliers anywhere from 600 to 1,200 feet above the water. You will not find a safer or more experienced crew than with Fly the Wolf Parasailing and Kitty Hawk Kites. You can fly solo or go with one or two other people. The hour-long trips accommodate up to six fliers at a time, with each flier getting about 10 minutes in the air. Trips are booked through Kitty Hawk Kites, and advance reservations are recommended. The boat is docked on the Manteo Waterfront. Call Kitty Hawk Kites to reserve.
