Things to Do in Manteo, NC

Including Roanoke Island Things to Do

No matter what Roanoke Island things to do you choose during your time here, one thing is certain: You’ll never be bored. Whether you crave relaxation or high-energy adventure, it’s all here.

The things to do in Manteo, NC, include sailing along the sound or taking a dolphin-sighting cruise. Go crabbing from a dock or fight a marlin on an off-shore charter fishing trip. Parasail high above the water or take a bike ride along the island. Watch the sun set from the decks of a beautiful boat or zip through the sound on a Jet boat. Stroll along the Manteo boardwalk and enjoy the quaint beauty that characterizes Roanoke Island, or settle down to a modern movie in an old-fashioned theater. Join the local kids at the town-built skate park, or take the little ones to the waterfront playground. As you can see, the opportunities for things to do in Manteo, NC, knows no limits.

And when you look beyond the things to do in Manteo, NC, to other Roanoke Island things to do, you’ll find air tours, fishing, backwater kayak tours, head boat excursions, Pirate Boat trips, yoga and Pilates classes, scuba trips and more. Manteo's recreation is more varied than Wanchese's recreation, which centers around fishing.

Various Things to Do in Manteo, NC

A notable feature of Roanoke Island things to do is the abundant history steeped within this island. Many historic sites and influential locations are popular spots to check out. See our Roanoke Island Attractions section for more about things to do in Manteo, NC, and all the places to visit on the island, including Roanoke Island Festival Park, the Elizabethan Gardens, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, an operating 19th-century farm and even the North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island. It also always seems like some sort of special event, festival, program, performing art, summer camp, children’s program and much more is happening on Roanoke Island. You can keep a beat on everything currently occurring by checking out our Roanoke Island Daytime Events page and Roanoke Island Nightlife page. To stay ahead on what’s to come throughout the year, see what Outer Banks Annual Events are going on in Manteo, NC.

Roanoke Island Activities by Location or Category

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Roanoke Island Thing To Do
Milltail Road, off U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
(252) 473-1131

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a more than 164,000-acre refuge on the mainland portion of Dare and Hyde counties. It was established in 1984 to...read more

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a more than 164,000-acre refuge on the mainland portion...read more

Bianca's Readings

Manteo Thing To Do
Multiple locations

Highly intuitive and well known for her honest and accurate readings, Bianca can give you insight on your new normal (and help you understand where your...read more

Highly intuitive and well known for her honest and accurate readings, Bianca can give you...read more

Captain Johnny’s Dolphin Tours

Manteo Thing To Do
400 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo Waterfront, Manteo
(252) 473-1475

It’s very exciting to watch bottlenosed dolphins frolicking and rolling through the water. Dolphins live in the sounds and from June through October...read more

It’s very exciting to watch bottlenosed dolphins frolicking and rolling through the water. Dolphins live...read more

Charter fishing on the Outer Banks is one of the most popular activities. Thousands of visitors and locals take advantage of the excellent fishing these...read more

Charter fishing on the Outer Banks is one of the most popular activities. Thousands of...read more

Country Girl Charters

Roanoke Island Thing To Do
1 Sailfish Drive, Pirate's Cove Marina, Manteo
(252) 473-5577

As one of the few boats in the Oregon Inlet fishing fleet that is licensed to carry more than six anglers, the 57-foot Country Girl can be...read more

As one of the few boats in the Oregon Inlet fishing fleet that is licensed...read more

Crystal Dawn Head Boat

Manteo Thing To Do
2000 Sailfish Drive, Docks at Pirate's Cove Marina, Manteo
(252) 473-5577

Looking to get out on the water? Crystal Dawn, docked at Pirate's Cove Marina on the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, is a comfortable, 65-foot, double-...read more

Looking to get out on the water? Crystal Dawn, docked at Pirate's Cove Marina on...read more

Elizabethan Gardens

Manteo Thing To Do
1411 National Park Drive (off U.S. Highway 64) next to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo
(252) 473-3234

Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English colonists, The Elizabethan Gardens is a rare treasure...read more

Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English...read more

First Fridays in Manteo

Manteo Thing To Do
Downtown Manteo, Manteo
(252) 473-5558

First Friday is a family-oriented festival held in downtown Manteo on the first Friday of every month from April through December. From 6 to 8 p.m. ...read more

First Friday is a family-oriented festival held in downtown Manteo on the first Friday of...read more

Harbor Star Dolphin Tours at Wanchese Marina

Wanchese Thing To Do
4457 Mill Landing Road, Wanchese
(252) 423-3157

Playful dolphins are some of the most intriguing coastal creatures. If you want to see wild dolphins in their natural habitat in the sound, take a tour on...read more

Playful dolphins are some of the most intriguing coastal creatures. If you want to see...read more

Kitty Hawk Kites

Manteo Thing To Do
Multiple locations
(877) 359-8447

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive...read more

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail...read more

Kitty Hawk Surf Co.

Multiple locations

Ready for some action? Kitty Hawk Surf Co. has everything you need to enjoy all the Outer Banks has to offer, from the wind and waves to flat water...read more

Ready for some action? Kitty Hawk Surf Co. has everything you need to enjoy all...read more

Manteo, NC

Manteo Thing To Do

Manteo, the only incorporated town on Roanoke Island and the Dare County seat, is a small island town complete with a picturesque waterfront, a safe harbor...read more

Manteo, the only incorporated town on Roanoke Island and the Dare County seat, is a...read more