Explore the sound, town, wildlife refuges and historic sites of Roanoke Island with guided tours for foot, paddle, boat or plane travel. The variety within Roanoke Island’s tours and similarr things to do in Manteo, NC, deliver experiences that delight a wide range of interests. Take a walking tour through the remains of the Lost Colony. Discover downtown Manteo through your sense of taste. Nature lovers set off on hikes deep into wildlife refuges or eco-cruises in the sound. See dolphins playing by climbing aboard a dolphin cruise. With so many tours to choose from, every visitor should find something that tickles their curiosity.
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Tours in Roanoke Island, NC
Milltail Road, off U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
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 preserve and protect a unique wetland habitat type, the pocosin, and its associated wildlife species. Pocosin is a Native American word meaning ‘swamp-on-a-hill’ and is characterized by poorly drained soils high in organic material. The refuge's diversity of habitat types includes high and low pocosin, bogs, fresh and brackish water marshes, hardwood swamps and Atlantic white cedar swamps. Plant species include pitcher plants and sundews, low bush cranberries, bays, Atlantic white cedar, pond pine, gums, red maple and a wide variety of herbaceous and shrub species common to the East Coast.
The refuge has a large population of black bears and is one of the few locations where red wolves exist in the wild. It is a favorite of migratory ducks, geese and swans, and its wildlife diversity also includes wading birds, shorebirds, American woodcock, raptors, American alligators, white-tailed deer, raccoons, rabbits, quail, river otters and neotropical migrant songbirds. This wild Outer Banks attraction will put you in touch with parts of nature that city-bound people don't often have a chance to experience.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge has great Outer Banks things to do – paddling trails, a wildlife drive and two wildlife trails for you to explore. Hunting and fishing opportunities also exist on the refuge. In non-COVID times the staff offers a variety of interpretive programs at different times of the year, including tram and van tours, canoe tours, red wolf howlings and a program about black bears. Open-air tram tours are offered weekly June through August (a fee and reservations are required). Canoe tours are offered three days a week June through August (fee and reservations required). Red wolf howlings are offered weekly June through August and monthly October, November, December and April and May (a fee is required). Call (252) 216-9464 to see if programs are being held and to find out details and make reservations, or go to the website.
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 preserve and protect a unique wetland habitat type, the pocosin, and its associated wildlife species. Pocosin is a Native American word meaning ‘swamp-on-a-hill’ and is characterized by poorly drained soils high in organic material. The refuge's diversity of habitat...read more
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a more than 164,000-acre refuge on the mainland portion...read more
Whether you enjoy the thrill of parasailing or the excitement of a Waverunner, it's waiting for you at Causeway Watersports. This adventure mecca is on the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway (look for the 30-foot observation tower near Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe). They offer Jet Ski rentals and tours and pontoon boat rentals so you can be your own captain of a dolphin tour. For a great deal...read more
Tours in Manteo, NC
The Sea'scape is a beautiful 41' ketch that takes guests on private sailing charters in the Roanoke and Albemarle sounds. Tours leave from the downtown Manteo boardwalk. Co-captains Dan and Katherine Bottjen (both Coast Guard-licensed charter boat captains) can take up to six passengers out at a time. Since these are private charters the only people on the boat (besides the captains) will be you...read more
Tours in Manteo, NC
Downeast Rover is a 55-foot topsail schooner offering sailing tours into the Roanoke Sound daily. The ship’s home berth is right on the Manteo waterfront, and several restaurants are close by if you want to pick up a meal or snacks to take on your cruise. You’ll see Roanoke Island and Nags Head from the water plus birds of all kinds and perhaps some dolphin....read more
Tours in Roanoke Island, NC
This national historic site commemorates and preserves the first English attempts at colonization in the New World (1585 to 1587) and helps visitors gain a better understanding of other Roanoke Island histories including the Carolina Algonquian, the Civil War Battle of Roanoke Island, the Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island and Reginald Fessenden's Roanoke Island experiments with wireless voice radio.
Pay a visit to the visitor...read more
Tours in Manteo, NC
Located on Roanoke Island, just five minutes from Manteo, Island Farm is a living history farm centered on the original Etheridge family property, once part of a 1,500-acre tract. Island Farm is alive with fields in production, animals working and live demonstrations going on throughout the day. In addition to an original farmhouse built in 1847 (one of the oldest on the island), you’ll find an array of...read more
To see a totally different side of the Outer Banks, slip back into the marsh creeks and coves on a kayak. Kitty Hawk Kites offers kayak tours leaving from several locations, including the Manteo waterfront, Kitty Hawk, Alligator River, Pea Island, Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Corolla. Guides point out features of the area ecology and wildlife and talk about the history of...read more
Tours in Manteo, NC
Enhance your vacation with a dolphin or sunset cruise adventure brought to you by the Nags Head Dolphin Watch. These folks promote Atlantic bottlenose dolphin research through their commercial operation and offer two-hour dolphin trips. Naturalists explain coastal ecology and area history during sound excursions aboard either the Phoenix (Nags Head) or Miss Bodie Island (Manteo), both pontoon boats with shade. Drinks are sold, or...read more
Tours in Roanoke Island, NC
As if an air tour over the Outer Banks isn't exciting enough, OBX Air Tour Adventures takes it even further by offering a variety of unique aircraft for their tours. With this company you can choose to soar over the beautiful barrier islands and waters in a helicopter, an open-cockpit biplane or a vintage WWII T-6 Texan. Their air-conditioned Robinson R-44 helicopter gives three passengers an unparalleled...read more
Tours in Manteo, NC
Hair-raising and spine-tingling tales about some of Manteo's landmarks are told on this guided walking tour. This family-oriented tour incorporates ghost stories and local history, and all ages are welcome. Tours are about an hour and a half and are held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The walking distance is about a mile, so wear comfortable walking shoes....read more
Tours in Manteo, NC
OBX Tiki Time is a one-of-a-kind floating tiki boat experience on a custom-built pontoon boat with a thatch-roof shaded deck, comfortable cushioned seating, a festive tiki bar, an onboard head (bathroom), fun custom LED lighting for evening cruises, a bluetooth sound system and island-style ambiance. Run by locals, the captains are U.S. Coast Guard-certified, safety-trained and incredibly knowledgeable about the area’s waters, wildlife and history. They offer public tours for dolphin watching,...read more
Let someone else do the driving while you look for wildlife and listen to narration about the wildlife, plant life and history at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Bring your binoculars, camera, drinking water, snacks and insect repellent, and be sure to dress for the weather. The tram benches have no cushions, so you might want to bring a seat cushion, towel or blanket to...read more
Outer Banks Adventures offers a variety of guided outdoor adventures on the Outer Banks, including airboat rides, SUP tours and wildlife and bear tours in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. The only airboat adventure tour on the islands, their one-hour airboat eco-tours cover 27 miles of the sound near Nags Head and Roanoke Island in their high-speed, open-air boat. Tours leave from Nags Head/Manteo Causeway...read more
