Discover the Best of Roanoke Island and Dare County Mainland: Wildlife, History, and Outdoor Adventures
While the Outer Banks beaches draw visitors with sun, sand, and waves, Dare County offers far more. As North Carolina's largest county spanning 1,562 square miles—bigger than Rhode Island—it's packed with woods, wetlands, islands, and wildlife beyond the shoreline.
When you're ready to explore beyond the beaches, uncover Roanoke Island's treasures, kayak Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, and discover hidden gems across the mainland. Here's your guide to the best experiences.
Encounter Extraordinary Wildlife
Birdwatchers spot shorebirds on beaches and waterfowl at Pea Island, but for a spectacle, cross the William B. Umstead Bridge at dusk. Thousands of Purple Martins roost here from summer to late fall, creating a massive aerial display visible on weather radar.
View from the fishing pier and gazebo in Mann's Harbor on the mainland side, or the north-side boat launch—ideal for photographers and nature enthusiasts.
Head to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge for black bears, white-tailed deer, alligators, and rare red wolves. Private guides lead birding tours spotting songbirds, raptors, and the elusive red-cockaded woodpecker.
Along Wildlife Drive, bears are common in spring and early summer. Join U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tours on access roads for history and ecology insights, or Outer Banks Adventures' comfy bus tours.
Red wolves, the world's most endangered with fewer than 400 left (about 20 here), feature in year-round listening tours from Creef Cut Trail. Spot pawprints and hear their yips.
Adventure Awaits: Paddle, Boat, and Explore
Beyond wildlife viewing, hunt deer or fish year-round, but paddle trails shine. From Milltail Creek, navigate 24.5 marked miles to Sawyer Lake and Alligator River. Rent kayaks or join guided tours with Kitty Hawk Kites, Coastal Kayak Touring Company, or Outer Banks Kayak Adventures for lore and scenery.
Explore spoil islands by kayak, SUP, powerboat, or airboat with Outer Banks Adventures—customize for picnics, eco-tours, shelling, or photography. Launch from numerous ramps; reserve overnight slips ahead. Enjoy sailing charters, sunset cruises, or dolphin tours from Manteo marinas.
Savor Fresh Seafood
Seafood defines local life. Visit O'Neal's Sea Harvest in Wanchese for wholesale-fresh fish, shellfish, and crabs—same quality in their kitchen. Try fried fish platters, softshell crab sandwiches, or steamed shrimp.
Join OBX Crabbing and Shrimping Charters with Capt. Marc Mitchum to haul nets and sort catches. Steam your bounty or learn recipes onboard.
Across Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge, Outland Seafood Market steams your shrimp/crabs; next door, White's Gas and Grill offers quick bites and supplies—perfect for stocking coolers.
Immerse in Hands-On History
In Manteo, the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse replica and George Washington Creef Boathouse showcase boatbuilding heritage, from Creef's shad boats to modern O'Neal and Mann designs.
Across Shallowbag Bay, Elizabeth II recreates the 1587 colonist ship—ask about the missing wheel. At Roanoke Island Festival Park, artisans demonstrate 16th-century skills; the Adventure Museum covers tribes, colonists, Civil War, and more.
Bike or drive north to Island Farm (1850s Etheridge homestead), the Mothervine (oldest U.S. grapevine, producing Muscadine since 1584), and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.
Island Farm features costumed interpreters, livestock including Banker Ponies, a historic windmill, and Etheridge family tales, including Capt. Richard Etheridge's Pea Island lifesaving legacy.
The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island highlights local waters with otters, gellies, sharks, and touch tanks. Nearby, Capt. Etheridge's gravesite honors his story on Freedmen's Colony grounds.
Fort Raleigh details the Lost Colony mystery—Virginia Dare's birthplace vanished by 1590, leaving "CROATOAN." Theories abound; summer's outdoor drama brings it alive nearby.
Elizabethan Gardens evoke 16th-century England with 10 acres of blooms and Virginia Dare statue.
