Kitty Hawk, a Dare County town in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, played a significant role in aviation history. South of this town was where the first airplane flights of the Wright brothers were made. They returned to Kitty Hawk (established as Chickahawk in the 18th century) and informed their father via telegram. Aside from the soft sandy dunes and strong winds that were ideal for flight experiments, Kitty Hawk has a bay that is scenic and serene that attracts both Northern Outer and Central bank visitors. Covering the vast central outer banks waterfront, it borders the Kill Devil Hills, Colington Harbor, Kitty Hawk southern regions, and Albemarle sound. It’s a protected haven for wildlife and birds, a playground for water sports aficionados, and a paradise for beach lovers. Below is a list of things to do in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Read on and try them now.
1. See the Monument to a Century of Flight
This humongous edifice commemorates the 100th anniversary of when the Wright brothers flew their first power-controlled airplane. Aeronautical aficionados from all over the world contributed to the construction of the memorial. 14 stainless steel pylons in the shape of wings in a 120 feet (37 m) orbit with a height of 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 m) symbolize the length traveled by the historic flight of the Wright brothers in 1903. The monument has a lot of fascinating features when closely scrutinized like the “High Flight” poem inscribed on a granite marker by the entrance and the central courtyard made of bricks with messages engraved from its sponsors. The memorial park is open to the public free of charge.
Monument to a Century of Flight
Address: 100 Ocean Green Ct, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, USA
Website: Monument to a Century of Flight
2. Have some fun at Kitty Hawk Watersports
There’s a lot of water sports you can do in the wide expanse of water that makes Kitty Hawk Bay. You can rent a jet ski or charter a boat to tour you around the bay or drag your parasail. Ride the waves on a stand-up paddleboard or a surfboard. If you want it calm and easy, you can paddle a kayak. You don’t need to be an expert at anything because there are lessons and tours being offered by Kitty Hawk Watersports, a rental service of water sports equipment based in Nags Head.
Kitty Hawk Watersports
Address: 6920 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head, NC 27959, USA
Website: Kitty Hawk Watersports
Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)
3. Go fishing at Kitty Hawk Pier
Kitty Hawk Pier, an iconic landmarks of the town, was renovated and reopened in 2008 with the new pier built on high pilings over the Atlantic Ocean. The 2,200 feet (670.56 meters) Pier House features high ceilings, natural wood interiors, and a seating capacity for 125 guests–great for weddings. The inn behind the pier is fully staffed with coordinators and caterers to assist you with the wedding preparations. Aside from being the perfect venue for weddings and other memorable celebrations, fishing aficionados frequent the pier for its bountiful waters. Fishing gear and yearly or weekly passes are sold at the front desk.
Kitty Hawk Pier
Address: 5353 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, USA
Website: Kitty Hawk Pier
Opening hours: 8am - 10pm (daily)
Price: 30 USD - 125 USD for the fishing gear
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4. Escape the OB-Xscape Rooms
Posted by OB-Xscape Rooms on Thursday, 3 May 2018
Have fun and bond with family and friends in the interactive games at OB-Xscape rooms! Together with your team, you are locked in a room and you all have to find a way out by solving puzzles, finding clues, and deciphering codes before the time is up. The rooms have real-life scenarios and themes which makes it more exciting.
OB-Xscape Rooms
Address: 1 Ocean Blvd Suite 109, Southern Shores, NC 27949, USA
Website: OB-Xscape Rooms
Opening hours: Tue, Wed, & Thu: 11:30am - 10:15pm; Fri, Mon: 1pm – 9pm; Sat: 2pm - 9pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 60 minute rooms: 30 USD/person; 30-minute rooms: 20 USD/person
5. Go camping at Kitty Hawk RV Park
Posted by Richard Woods on Saturday, 1 September 2018
These not-so-typical camping grounds will require you to bring your own RV so you can stay on the site and enjoy the amenities like the full hook up that includes cable TV, sewer, water, and electricity. The campsite is near the beach with private access given to guests so they can frolic in the water and have a picnic on the sands. Just follow the rules and your family will have a good time.
Kitty Hawk RV Park
Address: 3945 N. Croatan Hwy
Website: Kitty Hawk RV Park
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
Price: Starts at 50 USD per night
6. Hike the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
Bond with nature as you trek the woods of the Kitty Hawks Woods Coastal Reserve. The site is a Dedicated Nature Preserve and is part of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve. The location is home to several rare plant species, interdunal ponds, maritime swamp forest, and maritime deciduous forests. One can go biking, hiking, hunting, kayaking, or horseback riding through the woods as long as it does not destroy or disturb the natural environment and organisms. Pets must always be on a leash and riding an ATV is prohibited.
Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
Address: 217 Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
Website: Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
7. Score a birdie at the Sea Scape Golf Links
If you could pick any golf course to play, where would you go??
Posted by Sea Scape Golf Links on Thursday, 10 August 2017
Play golf in one of the best fairways in Kitty Hawk. The golf greens were built on the elevated sandy dunes of the city so the player has an awesome view of the ocean and maritime forests at every hole. Sea Scape Golf Links also has a pro shop selling the top-class golf equipment and apparel, dining facilities that serve lunch and breakfast, and a full bar.
Sea Scape Golf Links
Address: 300 W Eckner St, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, USA
Website: Sea Scape Golf Links
Opening hours: 7am - 6pm (daily)
Price: 30 USD - 99 USD
8. Shop and dine at the Ocean Centre Shopping Center
Posted by High Cotton NC BBQ on Thursday, 16 February 2012
This shopping center may not seem like much but it does host several outlet stores and popular dining establishments that will satiate your retail therapy cravings. Buy your beach essentials at Beach shop, give your hair a new cut and color at Salon Swank, and get a full body massage at Yoga Massage. Dine in restaurants like Salad Bowl, Thai Kitchen, Duck Donuts, and High Cotton BBQ after shopping.
Ocean Centre Shopping Center
Address: 5230 N Va Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, USA
9. Treat yourself to Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet
Date night? More like plate night.
Posted by Jimmy's Seafood Buffet on Thursday, 18 October 2018
You’re in seafood heaven once you try Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet. The owners made sure that everyone will enjoy tasty seafood dishes made from fresh seafood sourced both locally and nationally. Their menu contains international dishes and local fare with a Carribean Twist. Aside from the delicious seafood buffet, people come here for the family-friendly atmosphere with live entertainment, pony rides, putt-putt, and more surprises given any time of the day.
Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet
Address: 4117 N Croatan Hwy, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, USA
Website: Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 2:30pm - 10pm; Sun: 4pm - 9pm
10. Drink and dine at Barefoot Bernie’s Tropical Grill & Bar
Ahi Tuna Taco Bowl Ahi Tuna, Black rice, carrots, snow peas, red peppers, green onions, seaweed salad, picked cucumbers,...
Posted by Barefoot Bernie's Tropical Grill & Bar on Wednesday, 19 June 2019
This family-friendly grill and bar restaurant serves lunch and dinner with a broad menu made from Asian, American, Mediterranean, and Caribbean cuisines. Their signature dish, Catch in a Bag, along with scrumptious sandwiches, wraps, steaks, pizzas, tacos, and a wide selection of gluten-free dishes, has put them on the map as one of the best food destinations in Kitty Hawk. Enjoy a drink or two of their handcrafted beer and cocktails at the kidney-shaped red oak bar surrounded by widescreen TVs. The restaurant has a tropical-themed interior with over 20 flat-screen TVs featuring sporting events you could watch while enjoying your meal.
Barefoot Bernie’s Tropical Grill & Bar
Address: 3730 N Croatan Hwy, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, USA
Website: Barefoot Bernie’s Tropical Grill & Bar
Opening hours: Thu - Sat: 11am - 11pm; Sun - Wed: 11am - 10pm
Price: Starts at 4.29 USD
11. Cycle around Sandy Run Park
Sandy Run Park is a famous 16-acre (0.025 square miles) park in Kitty Hawk popular for its raised walkways cutting through the picturesque wildlife and bird watching areas, bike paths that connect the Wright Brothers Memorial and Kill Devil Hills and over 8 miles (20.71 sq km) of canals for kayaking. These protected areas, including the Maritime Woods Reserve, are filled with tall hardwood trees offering yearlong shade ideal for RV living. The beach is just a short walk or bike ride away.
Sandy Run Park
Address: 4351 The Woods Rd, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, USA
Website: Sandy Run Park
12. Swim and surf at the beaches
The beach is still the number one crowd-puller in Kitty Hawk despite the water’s brackish color. It has the right amount and height of waves for numerous water sports like kayaking, fishing, parasailing, kiteboarding, surfing, and more. The coast is a well-protected area so you have to be familiar with their policies. Dogs, beer, surf fishing, and metal detecting are allowed. Fireworks, bonfires, walking on dunes, picking wild oats, loud noises, and driving a 4x4 are prohibited. Red flags indicate that swimming is not allowed.
Kitty Hawk Beach
Address: Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Website: Kitty Hawk Coastal Reserve
13. Charter a boat and explore Kitty Hawk Bay
If you are about fishing, you’ll love the diversity of fishing available on the Outer Banks. Deep sea, pier, sound or...
Posted by Outer Banks Revealed on Sunday, 1 July 2018
Kitty Hawk Bay is a broad expanse of water shaped like a semi-circle on the Outer Banks region. The islands inside the bay are under the protection of the Kitty Hawk Wood Natural Reserve. Being an almost untouched nature reserve, visitors will find lots of areas to explore and uncover. Charter a boat that will take you on a cruise through the maze of marshes and creeks. The diverse ecosystem is home to rare plants and animals that you will see only in the bay area. Have your camera ready to take pictures of mud turtles, nutria, wild otters, and migratory birds that make sudden appearances in the scenic landscape. You can also hunt and fish within the bay as long as you follow their policies.
Kitty Hawk Bay
Address: Kitty Hawk, NC
Website: Kitty Hawk Fishing Charters
Price: Starts at 200 USD
14. Keep the kids busy at Children at Play Museum
A trip to the children’s museum is an engaging way to enhance your kid’s social skills, creativity, health, and academics and at the same time enjoy family bonding. Play nurse and doctor at the Teddy Bear Hospital. Pretend to catch some fish at the 25-foot (7.62-m) charter boat, take them to the market, and cook them in the Children @Play Café. There are several fun exhibits and activities both kids and adults will enjoy. Have a memorable birthday party at the museum with a customized theme.
Children at Play Museum
Address: 3809 N Croatan Hwy Kitty Hawk NC
Website: Children at Play Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10pm - 5pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
Amazing Kitty Hawk
This lovely town in the Outer Banks offers terrific beaches, several restaurants and shops, and an amazing maritime forest with tranquil nature trails and breathtaking scenery visitors will enjoy exploring. Visit their awesome monuments and places where man first learned how to fly. Whether on land or on water, there’s always something great to do and see at Kitty Hawk! Try them all on your next visit.
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