Roanoke Island Recreation (Including Manteo Recreation and Wanchese Recreation)

Outer Banks Sailing Academy

• Manteo waterfront
• Manteo
• (252) 207-1719

Capt. Frank Silver operates the Outer Banks Sailing Academy with the belief that sailing is easy, fun and safe. He offers classes like Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Chartering, Coastal Navigation and Basic Small Boat Sailing for adults and young adults. For youth, Silver operates the Youth Sailing Program at the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum (see separate listing). Classes are offered in Optimist or Vanguard 420 sailboats for ages 8 to 18. Call to inquire about the youth classes schedule or to arrange a time for one of the adult classes you’d like to take.

Pioneer Theatre

• 113 Budleigh Street
• Manteo
• (252) 473-2216

The Pioneer Theatre represents all that was good about the good old days. Fair prices, wholesome entertainment and friendly folks are the hallmarks of this theater that dates back to 1918. (The original building burned, and this one was built in 1934.) The theater runs one first-run movie per week, with show times at 8 p.m. nightly. All the movies are suitable for families. Tickets cost $5, and the snack prices are the best you’ll find anywhere. (We mean it — $3 is usually all you need for popcorn, candy and a drink!) Locals cherish this theater and go even if they’re not particularly interested in the movie. For a movie preview, call the number above and listen to the recording.

Pirate’s Cove Marina

• 1 Sailfish Drive, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, off U.S. Highway 64
• Roanoke Island
• (252) 473-3906, (800) 367-4728

Just about every afternoon between 4 and 5 p.m. a dozen or more sport fishing boats return from the Gulf Stream to the Pirate’s Cove Marina to unload their catches of tuna, dolphin, wahoo and other deep-sea fish. If you’re interested in seeing the fish before they’re cleaned, head down to the docks and watch the mates hurl the whopping creatures onto the docks. Kids love this, and the anglers are usually friendly about sharing their experiences of the day.

If you’re more of a hands-on type, you might want to take a fishing trip yourself. Pirate’s Cove offers several options for getting to the fishing grounds. Approximately 18 private charter boats are available to take you offshore fishing, and other boats are available for inshore fishing charters. Makeup charters are available. Call for details. See our Fishing section for more information.

Pirates! A Boy at Sea

• 1409 National Park Drive, off U.S. Highway 64
• Roanoke Island
• (252) 473-3414

Presented by The Lost Colony actors, this playful production for children is about a boy who gets kidnapped by a magical pirate. It’s an hour of fun for kids of all ages. Show time is 2 p.m. and it runs on the following dates: June 22, 23, 29 and 30, July 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 and August 2, 4, 10 and 11. Admission is $12.

Red Wolf Howling Safaris

• Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Highway 64, East Lake (Dare County Mainland)
• Manteo
• (252) 216-9464

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is the only place in the world where endangered red wolves still exist in the wild! To learn about the wolves and hear them howl, you can attend a Howling Safari. Howlings are held June 1 through August 31 on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Programs last about two hours. Bring a flashlight and wear insect repellent in the summer and fall. Summer Howling Safaris cost $7 per person, with children 12 and younger going for free. Reservations are required. Free howling dates for 2011 are April 23 (7 p.m.), May 28 (7 p.m.) October 15 and 29 (6 p.m.) and December 10 (4 p.m.). Meet at Creef Cut Wildlife Trail, about a 20-minute drive from Manteo on U.S. Highway 64.

Sailing OBX

• Wanchese
• (252) 216-9283

Sail aboard the Lele Kaia, a classic 1966 Cheoy Lee sailboat, in the pristine Croatan Sound. The boat is available for charter with an experienced, friendly captain who loves to share the sport of sailing. Feel free to take the helm as you head out on a sunset cruise, half-day or whole-day charter. Learn about cruising or just sit back and relax in a beautiful natural area. The boat can accommodate up to six people. It’s docked at Wanchese Dock & Haul, which is a little difficult to find, so the captain will arrange a meeting place when you book your charter.

Tennis

• Manteo

Tennis players will find non-lighted courts at the College of the Albemarle on U.S. Highway 64, at Manteo Middle School on U.S. Highway 64 and at Manteo High School on Wingina Avenue. The COA courts are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. The school courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis after school hours and when the students are not practicing.

Thicket Lump Marina

• 219 Thicket Lump Road
• Wanchese
• (252) 473-4500

Way down on the south end of Wanchese in a beautiful location that’s only 5 miles from Oregon Inlet via water, Thicket Lump Marina sells gas and diesel fuel and has one of the best lunch spots on the island — Great Gut Deli (see Restaurants).  If you’re out in your own boat, definitely stop here to fill your gas tank and your belly. Several charter boats use these marina docks (Corolla Bait and Tackle in Corolla and Bob’s Tackle Shop in Duck are the booking agents for these charters) and the Kokomo, (252) 573-0547, which offers the Paradise Dolphin Cruises, docks here as well.

Tram Tours of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

• U.S. Highway 64, East Lake
• (252) 216-9464

Take a tram trip around the refuge and learn about the wild lands and wildlife. Bring your binoculars and camera, drinking water and insect repellent. Summer tram tours cost $7 per person. Children 12 and younger ride free. Reservations are required. June through August, tours are offered Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. In the off-season, tours are offered one Saturday a month for free (May 14, September 10, October 8 and December 10 in 2011).

Weaving Studio at Endless Possibilities

• 105 Budleigh Street
• Manteo
• (252) 475-1575

This shop offers a truly unique concept in creativity and fund-raising. The goods sold here — rugs, purses, pillows, boas and more — are hand-woven and handcrafted out of recycled clothing that was donated to local Outer Banks Hotline thrift shops. The creations are amazing, colorful and original. The shop also offers the work of talented artists on consignment. The knitters, jewelers and sculptors who display their wares here all work with other found or recycled materials. Proceeds of the goods go to Outer Banks Hotline, a local nonprofit organization, to help local women and families on the Outer Banks.

Weavers are at work on the looms right in the store, and they welcome volunteer weavers. (They’ll teach you what to do.) Private weaving classes cost $65 to learn to make rugs, table runners, etc. You can also come in and pay a fee to make your own woven items. This is a great activity for young and old alike — just call ahead to check for loom availability.

Youth Sailing Program at the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum

• 104 Fernando Street, Manteo Waterfront
• Manteo
• (252) 207-7179

For youth who want to learn to sail, Outer Banks Sailing Academy offers a Youth Sailing Program at the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum. Youth ages 8 to 18 can learn to sail with certified instructors in week-long (Monday to Friday) sailing programs in June, July and August. Morning and afternoon sessions are available. Depending on their age and skill level, kids are taught on the Optimist, the number one sail training boat in the world, or the Vanguard 420, the boat used by most high school and college sailing programs. Students should be good swimmers, but no previous sailing experience is required. Advance registration is required. You can register or get info and prices by calling the Outer Banks Sailing Academy at (252) 207-7179.

The Roanoke Island Maritime Museum hosts Shallowbag Bay Sail-Abouts and Open Sails on Tuesdays starting at 6 p..m. throughout the summer, weather permitting. This is a great way to learn about the traditional watercraft of Roanoke Island and even get out on the water in one. Also ask about other workshops that are offered. See Attractions for more information about the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum.