World-class Roanoke Island attractions are what lure many people here. Many Manteo, NC, attractions – such as Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, The Elizabethan Gardens, The Lost Colony outdoor drama, the Elizabeth II sailing ship and the Roanoke Island Festival Park – celebrate Roanoke Island’s history as the site of the first attempted English colonization of America. There are other Roanoke Island attractions, too, that you won’t want to miss like the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, musical events such as the Shallowbag Shag Beach Music Festival or the Mountain Music by the Sea bluegrass festival at the beautiful outdoor amphitheater, the North Carolina Maritime Museum and the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. You can also step back to the mid-1800s at Island Farm or to a more simple time in the island's history by just walking or biking the streets and looking at the restored homes. With all these Manteo, NC, attractions and the many sites that capture Roanoke Island’s history, you’ll find that a day trip is never enough. In part due to these Roanoke Island attractions, more and more visitors are choosing this island as their vacation destination.
Roanoke Island Attractions are Interactive
One of the coolest parts of Manteo, NC, attractions is their ability to immerse you into the experience, whether it’s a step back into yesteryear or feeling the energizing beat of live music vibrate through your entire being. Take an ox-drawn wagon ride around an old farm. Witness colonist-Native American first encounters in Roanoke Island play out before your eyes. Sniff the sophisticated scent of Queen Elizabeth I’s favorite rose. Explore Manteo’s waterfront on foot and see where culture and cuisine intersect. Learn the proper techniques for handling marine life. Listen to the hearty shouts of pirates echo through Manteo’s waterfront. It’s so much fun for people of all interests. Roanoke Island attractions are beloved by people of all ages, and you’ll see visitors like families with small children, teenage friend groups and older couples all gathering in one place.
Roanoke Island Attractions by Location or Category
In the roundabout at the intersection of Sir Walter Raleigh and Bideford streets, a part of the community's African-American heritage is being preserved and...read more
Experience a new adventure in an old world at Roanoke Island Festival Park. This 25-acre historic site allows guests of all...read more
Originally a boathouse used to build world-record–holding speedboats, this building has seen a variety of boat-building uses in its day. The building’s...read more
Perched over the water along Manteo’s waterfront boardwalk, the picturesque Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is perfectly suited to the town’s maritime setting....read more
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s LEED–certified visitor center is on the north end of Roanoke Island near the entrance to Fort Raleigh National...read more
An unincorporated village on the southern end of Roanoke Island, Wanchese is small and well off the beaten path. Not many visitors make it down this way,...read more
