Wright Brothers Memorial

Part natural oasis and part sunny beach town, Kitty Hawk is a fantastic destination for kids who love adventure. From watersports lessons to museums designed for busy hands, families will want to discover these top Outer Banks attractions and activities to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Educational Sites and Attractions

Wright Brothers Memorial - This iconic site features a Visitors Center where kids will be wowed by the life-sized, replica gliders that steal the show. Regular media programs and talks are also offered by the National Park Service to make the story of the First Flight accessible for all ages.

Jennette's Pier - Start an afternoon of fishing or beaching by exploring the expansive pier house that features borrowed exhibits from the North Carolina Aquarium. Located in Nags Head, the recently renovated Jennette's Pier is great for educational programs, angling, and sightseeing combined.

North Carolina Aquarium - Located a 30 minute drive away from Kitty Hawk, the North Carolina Aquarium in Manteo features multiple exhibits on local, deep water, and exotic species, as well as special rooms and displays that are interactive and are designed just for kids.

Island Farm - Take a trip back to the 1850s at this working Roanoke Island farm that features costumed interpreters, local friendly farm animals, and plenty of opportunities for kids and adults to join in the daily activities of a typical mid-19th century Outer Banks farm.

Roanoke Island Festival Park - Located in a pretty Manteo outdoor setting, patrons can meet and mingle with costumed settlers and Native Americans as they explore this extensive replica of Roanoke Island circa 1586.

Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education - Head 20-30 minutes north to Corolla to learn about the sea critters that call the Outer Banks home at the extensive Center for Wildlife Education. Adjacent to the Historic Corolla Park, this center boasts a 5,000 gallon saltwater tank, museum exhibits, and regular programs for explorers of all ages.

Outdoor Activities

Kitty Hawk Woods - With multiple ways to access this extensive natural reserve, kids can run wild in one of the central Outer Banks' largest parcels of maritime forests. Follow the nature trails that veer off of The Woods road, or create your own route along the ample paddling trails that border the sound.

Public Parks - Kitty Hawk has two public parks that are quietly located along the wooded soundside region.

  • Sandy Run Park features a covered pavilion, picnic areas, grills, a raised walkway for bird watching, and access to hiking and biking paths. There's also a canoe / kayak launch that leads to maritime woods canals and the open sound waters. Sandy Run Park is located on The Woods Road within the Preserve at Kitty Hawk Woods.
  • Kitty Hawk Park is one of the newest parks in Dare County, and boasts a covered picnic shelter, Skate Park, a half mile walking trail, playground, and even a dog park. The park is located at 900 West Kitty Hawk Road in Kitty Hawk.

Promenade Watersports - This extensive watersports complex features everything kids need to have fun on the water. Activities include jet skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, boating, sailing, and even parasailing, allowing patrons to choose their own adventure. The center is located at 105 Promenade Lane, next to the Wright Memorial Bridge.

Kayaking, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing and Stand-up Paddle Boarding - Active kids can head to several local locales for watersports equipment and lessons. Kitty Hawk Kayaks in Kitty Hawk offers both SUP lessons and guided kayaking eco-tours while Nags Head's Kitty Hawk Kite has a wealth of lessons available, from hang gliding to kiteboarding clinics.

Fishing - Head to the Kitty Hawk Pier, the Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills, or Jennette's Pier in Nags Head for a full day of angling and incredible open ocean views. The majority of piers on the Outer Banks offer special reduced rates for young anglers.

Mini-Golf - Head to Paradise Golf and Arcade or Lost Treasure Golf, both located in neighboring Kill Devil Hills, for a fun afternoon or evening on the links. Additional amenities at these mini-golf centers include go kart tracks, bumper cars, arcades and snack bars.

Kitty Hawk Beaches - There are eight public beaches in Kitty Hawk, including three with lifeguard stations which are located at the Byrd Street access, the Eckner Street access, and the Kitty Hawk Bath House access. Beach gear and rentals can be picked up at local souvenir stores, or beach rental shops like Ocean Atlantic Rentals and Moneysworth Rentals.

Other Entertainment

Bowling - Nags Heads' OBX Bowling, (formerly the Nags Head Bowling Alley), is open daily for friendly family bowling competitions. The bowling alley also features a separate arcade, as well as a snack bar for cold drinks and easy kid-friendly lunches.

Arcades - Game lovers can check out Paradise Golf & Arcade and Destination Fun Laser Tag, which are both conveniently located in Kill Devil Hills along the Beach Bypass.An arcade is also located at the OBX Bowling Center in Nags Head and at the R/C movie theater in Kill Devil Hills.

Laser Tag - There are two laser tag centers in the central Outer Banks, which are Destination Fun Laser Tag and Outer Banks Gearworks. Both centers are appropriate for kids, and feature snack bars, arcades, and / or other amenities for patrons.

Movie Theatres - The R/C Theatre in Kill Devil Hills is located a quick 5-10 minute drive away for young movie fans, and features multiple curved screens, digital surround sound, stadium seating, a snack bar and an arcade. For a historic experience, head to Manteo and the Pioneer Theater, which is one of the oldest family-owned movie theaters in North Carolina.

Arts and Crafts - Kids can get their hands dirty at Kitty Hawk's The Jelly Lounge, which features a suite of arts and crafts classes, as well as parties for kids and adults. Nearby, Kill Devil Hills' Garden of Beadin' allows kids to create their own masterpieces and sea-worthy pieces of jewelry.

YMCA - The YMCA in Nags Head features a sprawling indoor pool and an outdoor skate park, as well as special fitness classes designed just for kids. Temporary passes and guest memberships are available for Outer Banks visitors.

Ice Cream - Take a bike ride or stroll along the Beach Road in Kitty Hawk, and it won't take too long to spot an ice cream stand or two. Popular local ice cream purveyors include Salty Cow, Big Buck's, and Rita's - which are all found in Kitty Hawk.

 

Black Pelican

Black Pelican

Black Pelican oceanfront restaurant is one of the Outer Banks’ premier restaurants serving lunch and dinner daily. Black Pelican is where you can enjoy fresh seafood, steaks, vegetarian dishes, sandwiches and some of the barrier island’s best wood-fired pizzas complete with a beautiful ocean view from the dining rooms and outdoor deck. The restaurant is big enough to handle large parties, but the setting is intimate enough for a cozy date.

Jimmy's Seafood Buffet

Jimmy's Seafood Buffet

Home of the Crab Leg & Lobster Buffet for 25! years! Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet is a great stop for an all you can eat affordable dinner extravaganza. The buffet offers over 100 different items. It even serves Jumbo Alaskan crab legs and Jumbo steamed shrimp, something you will not find on any other buffet in the OBX. The buffet offers a variety of seafood and non seafood options. Try some of Jimmy’s seafood options and load your plate with blackened tuna, Louisiana crawfish, steamed scallops and mussels, fried oysters and deviled crabs. Not in the mood for seafood? Fill your plate with steak, pineapple glazed ham, fried chicken, BBQ ribs, and fettuccini Alfredo to name a few. The buffet also offers a kid section. Let your kids load their plates with chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and corn dog nuggets. Don’t forget dessert! The buffet also offers soft serve ice cream and a plethora of baked goods. 

 

It’s been 25 years since Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet opened its doors for the first time. Since that inaugural summer, the goal has remained the same: provide customers with a tasty, fresh array of seafood full of Caribbean flavor.

 

Elizabeth Dowless and her husband Jerry had always worked in restaurants in the Outer Banks, so when the opportunity to open Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet with a couple of friends arose, it was an easy yes. The Dowlesses bought out the business in 2003, excited to turn Jimmy’s into an Outer Banks staple. When Jerry passed away later that year, Dowless knew she wanted to continue pursuing their dream on her own.

 

Dowless went all in on the concept of a fresh, flavorful seafood buffet and her hard work paid off. Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet is a beloved fixture of Outer Banks dining, with customers returning year after year for the fresh fare.

 

“Customers keep in contact with me throughout the winter. I get people every day asking me when we’re opening for the season, and customers book their vacations around our opening,” Dowless says. “I absolutely love getting to see familiar faces come back to see us each year. I love seeing them lose their minds over the buffet! Their excitement is what I love most about my job.”

Big Buck's Homemade Ice Cream

Big Buck's Homemade Ice Cream

Serving our customers on the Outer Banks since 1994, Big Buck's ice Cream is dedicated serving you “The Best.” We offer a full line of super-premium ice cream products, smoothies, chocolates, and custom-made ice cream cakes! 2 locations are open all year: Duck  and Manteo, at The Waterfront Shops.

 

We offer a full line of Espresso Drinks from Hot Vanilla Cappuccinos and Hot Chocolate to Iced Caramel Lattes & Frozen Mochas, all made to order. Big Buck’s fresh fruit smoothies are lactose-free and made to order. Also offering lactose-free sorbets made from the best fruits available. Old time favorites are sure to please! Choose from a delicious collection of milkshakes, sundaes and banana splits.

 

Savor the moment with our Homemade Chocolate! Chocolates are made daily in each location. We offer a large selection from Dark to Milk to White. Milk Chocolate Oreos & Almond Toffee, Dark Chocolate Berries and Cherries Clusters & Hand-dipped Peppermint Patties with a Drizzle of White Chocolate, Extra-Dark Sea Salt Caramels & our famous homemade caramel chocolate pretzels oh & don’t forget the ever-popular caramel pecan turtle, just to name a few treats!

 

Belinda Pleva grew up serving ice cream out of her parent’s shop. She loved being part of what she calls “a happy business.” “I love it when people come into the shop and you hand them something, and it makes them smile,” Pleva says. “That moment when you hand an ice cream cone over to a little kid and their eyes just light up. That’s what I love about the ice cream business.”

 

In 1994, Pleva opened up her own ice cream and chocolate shop, Big Buck’s Ice Cream, in the brand-new Timbuk II Shopping Center in Corolla. Business was good, but something was missing.

 

“I was never satisfied with the ingredients in the ice creams and chocolates you could purchase back then. I wanted to serve my customers delicious flavors with ingredients they could actually pronounce,” Pleva says.

 

Pleva took a trip to Italy to study the gelaterias. She fell in love with the incredible flavors, and when she returned home to the Outer Banks, she began working tirelessly to perfect the flavors in her own ice cream.

 

Big Buck’s homemade ice cream combined the flavors of the Italian gelaterias and the richness of American ice cream. It quickly became a tourist favorite. After having the same unsatisfactory experience with the readymade chocolates she was selling, she also took a trip to Brussels to learn more about making handmade chocolates. Pleva brought the chocolate-making experience right back with her, and the result was the finest quality of chocolates on the Outer Banks.

 

After her huge success in the Corolla shop, Pleva was able to open up three more shops—one in Kitty Hawk, one in Manteo and one in Duck.

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