Corolla’s Wild Horses

Corolla Wild Horse Fund
P.O. Box 361 / 1126 Old Schoolhouse Lane Corolla, NC. 27927 / (252) 453-8002

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

Come catch a glimpse of free-roaming wild horses on the beaches of Carova (north of Corolla).  These genteel Outer Banks residents are known to be the descendants of Spanish Mustangs that swam ashore from shipwrecks 300 years ago. The size and endurance of the Corolla wild horses – along with their even temperaments and astounding beauty – are distinguishing features of Spanish-type horses and point compellingly to their extraordinary history.

Currituck Heritage Park

1110 Club Rd (off Rt. 12 N)
Corolla, NC 27927
(252) 453-9040

The Whalehead Club

Located in Corolla, this park is home to the esteemed Whalehead Club and the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education.  Bring your family and enjoy a picnic under live oaks, an afternoon of crabbing, beautiful sunsets over the Currituck Sound, or a stroll along the grounds with your furry friend.

The Whalehead Club

1110 Club Rd (off Rt. 12 N)
Corolla, NC 27927
(252) 453-9040

The Whalehead Club

Situated on 39 acres of land along the beautiful Currituck Sound, the Whalehead Club is an essential part of Currituck Heritage Park. Built by Edward Collings Knight, Jr. in 1922, this 21,000-square foot landmark was his private residence; its location chosen to fulfill his enthusiasm for waterfowl hunting. Come and visit the newly restored Whalehead Club with its unique architecture, Tiffany lighting fixtures, copper shingled roof, yellow exterior and five stately chimneys.

The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education

1110 Club Rd (off Rt. 12 N)
Corolla, NC 27927
(252) 453-9040

The Whalehead Club

Located inside Currituck Heritage Park, this new center offers exhibits, films, classes and more.  Ever wanted to carve your own duck decoy?  Or encounter Outer Banks wildlife in their natural habitat by kayaking around the sound?  Classes offered include Decoy Carving, Kayaking and more…including Birding, Fishing and Nature Photography.  Also featured inside are over 250 decoys, an 8,400-gallon aquarium, an exhibit gallery and a gift shop.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse and Historic Corolla Village

1101 Corolla Village Rd.
Corolla, NC 27927
(252) 453-4939

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

The 158-foot tall Currituck Beach Lighthouse has been in service since 1873. The Victorian beacon and its original keeper's quarters are open to the public for tours. If you have the fortitude to make it to the top of the 214 stairs, you'll be treated to an amazing bird's-eye view of the island. The lighthouse is steps from Corolla Village's historic chapel, post office, general store and schoolhouse. The Parker House and Griggs House, also in the village, are good examples of early Outer Banks architecture.

Jockey's Ridge State Park

Milepost 12, Hwy 158 Bypass
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 441-7132

Jockey's Ridge State Park

Located in the town of Nags Head, Jockey's Ridge is the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States. Many recreational activities take place here -- from hang gliding to kite flying. Nature trails and boardwalks wind through the dunes, making it a popular spot for walkers and joggers.

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
374 Airport Road, Manteo, N.C. 27954
(252) 473-3494, (866) 332-3475

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

On a beautiful site overlooking the Croatan Sound, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is one of three state-operated aquariums on the North Carolina coast. The Aquarium on Roanoke Island features the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic saltwater tank exhibit, interactive exhibits, two touch tanks, a theater and a new exhibit, Aquarium Confidential, which offers a look behind the scenes. Throughout the aquarium are exhibit tanks filled with fish of North Carolina coastal habitats, including sharks and rays. You will see eels, sea turtles and more than 200 fish in a shipwreck habitat displaying a 1/3-scale replica of the USS Monitor. In the Wetlands on the Edge sky-lit atrium, you will see river otters, alligators and turtles lazing on rocks in the sun. Each day at the aquarium there are educational programs, fish feedings and demonstrations.

The gift shop has a great selection of toys and gifts related to sea life and ecology. Snacks are available outside the aquarium from vending machines, and in the shoulder and summer months visit the Goodlife Express, located just inside the admissions area.

The aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for children ages 6 to 17 and free for children 5 and younger and Aquarium Society members.

Roanoke Island Festival Park & History Center

1 Festival Park
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 475-1500

Roanoke Island Festival Park

History buffs won't want to miss Roanoke Island Festival Park, across from the Manteo waterfront. The park includes living history exhibits depicting colonial life, as well as a life-size replica of the Elizabeth II, a 16th-century masted ship. Other highlights include the Roanoke Adventure Museum, the North Carolina Maritime Center and the Outer Banks History Center. The park plays host to a busy calendar of festivals, art shows and other events.

The Elizabethan Gardens

1411 National Park Dr.
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-3234

The Elizabethan Garden

Nearly 11 acres of lush botanical gardens and several 16th-century style outbuildings offer both horticulture and history buffs plenty to feast upon. Highlights of the gardens include an ancient live oak thought to be more than 400 years old and a sunken garden with an antique Italian fountain. Anglophiles will dig the Shakespearean Herb Garden and the Queen's Rose Garden -- which was given to The Elizabethan Gardens by Queen Elizabeth II.

The Elizabeth II

1 Festival Park
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 475-1500

Roanoke Island Festival Park

Located in Roanoke Island Festival Park, this representative 16th-century sailing ship features sailors dressed in period clothing and speaking Elizabethan dialect – just like those who sailed across the Atlantic in 1585!  These interpreters will delight everyone as they bring the history of the voyages to life.

The Lost Colony

Fort Raleigh
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-3414

The Lost Colony

America's longest running outdoor drama details the arrival and disappearance of America's first English settlers. The current production is led by an award-winning artistic team, including four-time Tony Award Winning Production Designer William Ivey Long and Emmy-nominated General Manager Carl Curnutte.

Wright Brothers Memorial

Hwy 158 Bypass, Milepost 6.5
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 441-7430

Wright Brothers National Memorial

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the impossible: the first successful sustained powered flight in a heavier-than-air machine. The Wright Brothers Memorial features museum exhibits, reconstructed camp buildings and a replica of the first plane. A memorial pylon sits atop the 90-foot Kill Devil Hill, and visitors who make the ascent at sunset will be treated to amazing views.