Local Attractions
Natural Attractions
Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary: A 3,400-acre private sanctuary for birds and wildlife. Located on one side of NC Highway 12, just north of The Sanderling as you enter Currituck County. Resort guests are granted private access to the jogging and nature trail. Jogging trails also extend through the entire Sanderling community on the ocean side.
Jockey's Ridge State Park: This state park encompasses over 400 acres, including the highest sand dunes on the East Coast. Nature programs, hang gliding, climbing and picnic facilities are available. Located adjacent to NC Highway 158 between Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head.
Nags Head Woods: A 700-acre maritime forest maintained by the Nature Conservancy. Provides a visitor center, hiking trails and bird watching. Located adjacent to NC Highway 158 near Nags Head.
North Carolina Aquarium: Public aquarium with exhibits, films, field trips, guided tours and other group activities. On Roanoke Island near Manteo off NC Highway 64.
Bodie Island Marshes: World-famous bird watching area. Located adjacent to NC Highway 12 between its intersection with US 64 and Oregon Inlet Bonner Bridge.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge: Wildlife includes many species of wildfowl such as snow geese, wading, shore and upland birds. Observation platforms provided. Located just south of Oregon Inlet Bonner Bridge off NC Highway 12.
Cape Point and Buxton Woods: This area features a one-mile nature trail through Buxton Woods, a visitor's center, lighthouse, shipwreck and fishing. Located near the south end of Hatteras Island off NC Highway 12 at Buxton.
NC Wildlife Education Center: Offers family friendly programming to include bird watching, beach walks, kayak trips, archery, fishing and worm-composing. Open Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm and located right between the Lighthouse and Whalehead Club, just past mile post 11 in Corolla on Route 12. Admission to the museum gallery is Free.
Corolla Wild Horse Tours: Join Corolla Outback for a 20 mile round trip tour that departs from Corolla Village traveling North along the shore to Carova Beach and False Cape Park at the Virginia state line. Your personal guide will take you into the Wild Horse Conservation Easement and other areas accessible only to us. Outside of their designated habitat, horses are often sighted galloping along the beach or cooling off in the surf. Along the way an ancient maritime forest at Wash Woods is a curious sight, with stumps rising from the sand that extend out into the surf in mute testimony to earlier environmental changes. Your group is led by an experienced guide who is knowledgeable and informative about the area and its history. Unscheduled appearances of wildlife and other photo opportunities can and do unexpectedly appear creating lasting impressions providing unforgettable memories. Self driving adventures are also available.
Historical Attractions
Currituck Lighthouse & Keeper's House: The northernmost lighthouse on the Outer Banks was put into commission in 1875 and is still active today. Located off NC Highway 12 in Corolla just north of The Sanderling.
Wright Brother's Memorial & Visitor's Center: Site of the first engine-powered airplane flight. Exhibits include the famous Wright Memorial and reconstructions of early flying machines. Located off US 158 in Kill Devil Hills.
Elizabethan Gardens: A project of the Garden Clubs of North Carolina, these formal gardens are an example of 16th century palace grounds. Located on Roanoke Island off NC Highway 64 past Manteo.
Lost Colony: A symphonic outdoor drama of The Lost Colony, an unsolved historical mystery concerning the disappearance of Sir Walter Raleigh's first colony in America. Seasonal. Reservations advised. Located on NC Highway 64 near Manteo on Roanoke Island. 473-3414 or 1-800-488-5012
Roanoke Island Festival Park: A walk through history, featuring films and interactive exhibits, the Elizabeth II-a recreated sailing vessel of 1585, a visual arts gallery, seasonal concerts and nature walks. Located across from the Manteo waterfront on Roanoke Island.
Bodie Island Lighthouse and Visitor's Center: The horizontally striped lighthouse was built in 1872 and continues to operate today. Seashore and natural history exhibits are offered in season. Located off NC Highway 12 just north of Oregon Inlet Bonner Bridge. 473-2111
Ocracoke Lighthouse and Visitor's Center: The southernmost operational lighthouse on the Outer Banks is also the second oldest working lighthouse in America. The Ocracoke Visitor's Center has an information booth, book shop and exhibits. Located on NC Highway 12 at the south end of Ocracoke Island.
