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.
103 Waterfront Spalon
- 103-A Fernando Street
- Manteo
- (252) 473-5323
103 Waterfront Spalon offers hair salon services of all kinds and a full menu of day spa services, including manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials, microdermabrasion, massage, body wraps and La Stone therapy. Ask about the day spa and wedding packages.
Ace Hardware
- 300 N. U.S. Highway 64
- Manteo
- (252) 473-1444
Ace Hardware sells everything for the home, garden and yard. Most people know Ace as a traditional hardware store, a place to find tools, paint, hardware and lawn and garden supplies. But you may not know that they also sell deck furniture, cleaning supplies, kitchen items, bathroom accessories, beach goods, pet supplies, grills, gifts, home accessories, art supplies, Carhartt clothing and much more.
All Summer Long Events Around Roanoke Island
- Various locations around Roanoke Island
- Manteo
- (252) 475-1500
Bloody Mary and the Virgin Queen – Roanoke Island Festival Park, (252) 475-1500. Wednesdays at 3 p.m. on June 3, 10 and 17 and August 5, 12 and 19.
Community Sailing Programs and Learn to Sail Camps – Roanoke Island Maritime Museum, (252) 475-1750.
The Diary of Adam and Eve – The Elizabethan Gardens Theatre, (252) 473-3234. Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. in July and August.
Elizabeth R – Roanoke Island Festival Park Film Theatre, (252) 475-1500. Tuesdays at 3 p.m. on June 2, 9 and 16.
Family Fun Summer Series – The Elizabethan Gardens, (252) 473-3234. Wild Wednesdays (gardens photography show) and Discovery Thursdays (interactive activities). 2 to 4 p.m. from June 10 through August 5.
First Friday—Downtown Manteo, First Friday celebration and street festival, 6 to 8 p.m. from April through December.
The Lost Colony – Waterside Theatre, (252) 473-3414. May 29 to August 20, Monday-Saturday at 8 p.m. (Backstage Tours at 6 p.m.)
The Lost Colony Children’s Theatre presents Charlotte’s Web – Waterside Theatre, (252) 473-3414. June 18 to August 13, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.
Manteo Farmer’s Market – George Washington Creef Park, Manteo Waterfront, Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon throughout the summer months.
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island – Daily programs and special events, (252) 473-3494.
Summer Children’s Performance Series—Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo, (252) 475-1500. June 23 to July 31, Tuesday through Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Tea with the Queen – Waterside Theatre, (252) 473-3414. Thursdays June 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and August 6 and 13, 3 to 5 p.m.
Waterside Art Wednesday – Waterside Theatre, (252) 473-3414. Wednesdays June 17 to August 12, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Ages 7 -12.
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 only. 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.
Bloody Mary and the Virgin Queen
- 1 Festival Park, Roanoke Island Festival Park’s Film Theatre
- Manteo
- (252) 475-1500
This outrageous musical farce is 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. This production is recommended for ages 14 and up. Admission is included in the price of general admission to Roanoke Island Festival Park. The play is performed on Wednesdays June 3, 10 and 17 and on August 5, 12 and 19 at 3 p.m. and lasts about an hour.
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 Ship 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, frozen and live bait. Don’t forget to check out their sunglasses, T-shirts, sweat shirts and hats.
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 boat ramp and ample parking are available.
Coast Is Clear Flying Tours
- Dare County Regional Airport, 410 Airport Road
- Manteo
- 202-RIDE (7433)
Coast is Clear offers air tours in an open-air biplane or in a closed-cockpit plane. In the biplane, two passengers sit in front with leather helmets and goggles. Ten-minute tours around Manteo cost $38, and there are a variety of time and pricing options, ranging up to $98 per person. The closed cockpit plane can take up to three people, with prices starting at $19 per person. Check in is at the airport terminal. It’s best to make a reservation so you don’t have to wait around for your flight.
Coastal Kayak Touring Company North Beach Outfitters
- Waterfront Shops, Duck
- 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. 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 offers head boat-style wreck fishing and Gulf Stream charters. For wreck fishing, the 57-foot boat 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 sea bass, triggerfish, tile fish, amberjack and more. The wreck trips are full-day and cost $98 per person. Bait and tackle are furnished. The boat can be chartered for full-day Gulf Stream trips for parties of six or more people. Off-shore trips usually yield tuna and mahi-mahi, wahoo, king mackerel, marlin or sailfish depending on the season and conditions.
Crystal Dawn Head Boat
- 1 Sailfish Drive, Docks at Pirate’s Cove Marina
- Manteo
- (252) 473-5577
Whether for head boat fishing or sightseeing cruises, the 65-foot Crystal Dawn is big and comfortable. The sightseeing cruises head into the Roanoke Sound Monday through Friday evenings in-season. You’ll see Elizabeth II, Jockeys Ridge, the Wright Memorial, wildlife, shorebirds and more, and the cruise includes commentary about the Outer Banks. The boat can accommodate 150 people, and it’s available for private charter. See the Fishing section for information about the boat’s inshore fishing trips.
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. A lifeguard is on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Diary of Adam and Eve
- 1411 National Park Drive, The Elizabethan Gardens’ Theatre
- Manteo
- (252) 473-3234
The Diary of Adam & Eve is a one-act play from the Broadway musical The Apple Tree. Performances are held in the air-conditioned theater at The Elizabethan Gardens on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. in July and August. Based on a short story by Mark Twain and set to words and music by the team of Harnick and Bock who created Fiddler on the Roof, this light comedy is the perfect story for a garden setting. Younger family members can enjoy a concurrent program, A Snake in the Grass, if they choose not to see the play. Admittance to the play is free with paid admission to The Elizabethan Gardens.
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, and though reservations are recommended they aren’t required. Captain Kim Winslow makes daytime trips 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.
Elizabeth R
- 1 Festival Park, Roanoke Island Festival Park’s Film Theatre
- Manteo
- (252) 475-1500
Miss Barbara Hird gives a commanding performance as Queen Elizabeth I in this one-woman, internationally acclaimed show. Hird is committed to authenticity in this interpretation of the character of Queen Elizabeth I. In the hour-long performance, 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. This production is recommended for ages 14 and up. It runs Tuesdays June 2, 9 and 16 at 3 p.m. Admission is included in the general admission ticket price to the park. Tickets can be ordered in advance.
Fine Yarns at Kimbeeba and Fiber Arts Gallery
- 205 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.
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 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. The price ranges from $75 to $270, depending on how many people go up and how high you choose to go. Observers can ride along for $20. Trips are booked through Kitty Hawk Kites, and advance reservations are recommended. The boat is docked on the Manteo Waterfront.
It’s Royalty Salon, Gifts and Spa
- 205 Budleigh Street
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 473-2209
This spa and salon offers the full range of hair services as well as makeup application and facials by a professional makeup artist. Wedding makeup is her specialty. The gift shop offers purses, belts, artwork and small gifts.
Kitty Hawk Kayaks Kayak & Surf School
- MP 1, 6150 N. Croatan Highway, Kitty Hawk
- Manteo
- (252) 261-0145, (866) 702-5061
Enjoy a kayak tour to some of the finest flat-water kayaking destinations on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kayaks offers multiple specialty tours across the Outer Banks, including tours in Kitty Hawk Woods, Nags Head Woods (hike and paddle), Roanoke Island, Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges and in Corolla. Kayak rentals are also available. Ask about the overnight trips on the Roanoke River and their Coastal Explorer Camps for kids with field trips, surfing lessons and kayaking. The Surf School offers daily lessons and three-day surf camps throughout the summer. You can also take surf kayak lessons and ACA-certified kayak lessons. The friendly, professional staff promise your entire family will have fun.
Kitty Hawk Kites
- 307 Queen Elizabeth Street, Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 473-2357
You can rent bikes here for the whole family from early spring through fall. They have adult and kid bikes, tandem bikes and baby bike seats. And, if exploring Shallowbag Bay and Manteo’s surrounding waters is more your thing, you can rent single or tandem kayaks from Kitty Hawk Kites. You can put in right at the docks beside the shop from a convenient floating dock, and the views are spectacular.
Kitty Hawk Kites’ Kayak Tours
- n/a
- Manteo
- (252) 441-4124 or (800) FLY-THIS (359-8447)
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 $25 to $45 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.
Manteo Bike/Multi-Use Path
- U.S. Highway 64
- Manteo
A wonderful asset to Roanoke Island is a paved, 7-mile multi-use pedestrian path that runs the entire length of the northern part of the island alongside U.S. Highway 64/264. It’s perfect for bicycling, walking, jogging, in-line skating, baby strolling and dog walking. On all but the nastiest days, the path is filled with a blend of Roanoke Island residents and visitors greeting one another. The path winds all the way to the north end of the island, canopied by shady trees along much of the route. At the north end, the path ends at a little beach on the Croatan Sound. There are a few picnic tables, a sandy beach, a pond and a National Park Service interpretive exhibit about the Freedmen’s Colony.
About midway along the path, you come to an entrance to Roanoke Gardens on Mother Vineyard Road. This neighborhood, known as Mother Vineyard, provides a delightful detour from the main path. In this neighborhood grows the largest scuppernong grapevine on the island, the mother of all vineyards, said to date to the 1500s. If you turn east onto Mother Vineyard Road, you’ll do a nice loop through this beautiful and serene section, getting a peek at some local homes, well-manicured yards and the vineyard, and also catching views of Roanoke Sound, Nags Head and Jockey’s Ridge along the back stretch. The full loop will bring you around to Scuppernong Road, which leads back to the bike path.
If you’re headed to Roanoke Island just to use the bike path, you can park your car at Roanoke Island Festival Park or in downtown Manteo. Downtown Manteo’s quiet residential streets are also perfect for running, walking and biking.
