This was the best Mother's Day gift. Enjoyed by our family of all ages and something different to…read moredo after many visits to OBX. BJ could not have been a better storyteller or more welcoming. Highly recommend!

We took the haunted ghost tours in OBX - Manteo, NC tonight. It was a great time. We met and were…read moreassigned Rowan as our guide. She did a great job giving us both history and the coast stories. The tour lasted about 90 minutes, which I think is the perfect time for a toast walk. We walked thru down town Manteo and would stop to hear the stories. It was good that we'd stop and everyone in the group could hear because we were all gathered and Rowan did well at projecting her voice. The walk was great is a sleepy, quaint town!

The Outer Banks Adventures air boat with Captain Jamie was fantastic! It was a lot of fun for our…read morewhole family and specifically for our kids. Captain Jamie was very knowledgeable about the area wildlife and history. He provided an educational, interesting, and fun experience. He was the perfect captain for the trip. Talking on the headsets during the ride was fun too! We'll definitely do it again!

James was a fantastic tour guide! The airboat was a great time, one of my favorite tours I've ever…read moredone. The boat is fast and fun with great fun facts about the area at stops! I accidentally dropped my sunglasses to the bottom of the airboat and he even rescued them (sorry, James!). Would definitely recommend!

We did a private hunt with Bonnie this week and it was excellent!! She was so great with the kids…read morein our group and we caught lots of crabs. It was also wonderful to learn about other local wildlife. Definitely recommend!!

We had a BLAST chasing around these crabs. It's incredible how many there are out there at night!…read moreOur guide was super knowledgeable and made it fun for our 7 and 4 year olds. Definitely check this out during your next OBX trip!

Wonderful experience at this hotel! Service was excellent and very clear with their hours and…read moreamenities. Room was spacious and clean. Views from the second floor outdoor deck- gorgeous. We appreciated the snacks at Happy Hour and breakfast in the morning. Manteo is a sweet little town and we hope to be back!

Went on a Mother-Daughter retreat during the off-season in Manteo. Here are the pros/cons…read more.. Yes, I would recommend the place for it's architectural charm and location right off the marina. The rooms were pretty comfortable, and the continental breakfast with homemade blueberry muffins were delicious. Downside, there was still renovation activity going on in the rooms nearby. Plus, the mini fridges had not been installed yet so no way to keep our leftovers cool. In the end, the staff was super friendly and ready to assist... and the check in/out was a breeze.

Nice way to spend an afternoon…read more After beach, sand, sun, beach, sand, sun, it was a nice break to do something different. Our neighbors at the house we rented suggested dolphin watching and recommended Capt. Stuart Wescott and his tour. Wasn't too happy that I had to travel down to Manteo (car travel in the Outer Banks can be murder - worst than the GW bridge in rush hour). Luckily, it wasn't as bad as I had feared. The quaint little town of Manteo was an added bonus. Nice seaport-esque village with nice quaint little stores. As for the cruise itself, you actually sail with Capt Wescott. He was very nice and knowledgeable. Told silly jokes to keep the voyage light hearted. Sold drinks at a very reasonable price. The bathroom was also very convenient and clean. Strangely, this seems to be a selling point compared to their competitors. Saw many dolphins. Very docile and peaceful. Don't expect any flips or spins or twists. This isn't a SeaWorld show. The captain was very patient. Kept us out there a while until everyone had their fill of watching dolphins swim. After the initial excitement of finding and seeing the dolphins, there's only so much more you can watch, at least for me. On the downside, it is a touch expensive for a ferry ride but comparable to everyone else. Overall, a nice alternative If you need a break from the beach to let the sunburn recover.

My family and I have enjoyed this particular company for several years now. We always see dolphins…read more The Captain is very knowledgable and entertaining. The boat is spacious, clean and shaded. I highly recommend Outer Banks Cruises A.K.A. Captain Johnny's Dolphin Tour.

The best place to go for an unforgettable experience! Staff is kind, knowledgeable, and…read moreaccommodating. We went during off season when everything was pretty much closed.. then we found this gem! Looking forward to coming back!

We were so fortunate to take this amazing biplane flight with Dan, who was a safe, courteous,…read moreprofessional, and knowledgeable pilot. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and it was very special to end the flight with a circular view of the Kitty Hawk first flight monument. The open air cockpit was very comfortable with no wind in our face. The 40 minute flight should be your minimum because it is worth every minute in the air. Check out the gift shop after your flight for a lot of cool swag!

Hubby and I chose this place to take a ride celebrating our anniversary. Making an appt ahead of…read moretime went flawless and we kept in contact after initial call thru texting which was perfect. Steph was pleasant and outgoing. She prepared us with some guidance on getting into copter ahead of time which was very helpful. Larry our pilot was friendly and funny. We chose the south route which takes you over islands, marshes and lighthouse. We were very happy with our ride and price. We highly recommend. The copter holds three passengers. Larry is an excellent pilot. We will return to do the north side this fall.

Took a trip with Coastal Helicopters today and it was awesome! I would highly recommend them!read more

I visited this place twice; last summer (2025) and this summer (2026). I'm not a hard alcohol…read moreconnoisseur, but a friend recommended the OBX Distilling tasting room/ bar. She really enjoyed the rum here. While the drinks are fine, if a bit pricy, the service is lacking. The two girls that work here do not have the maturity or customer service skills to make it worth coming back for me. Are college-age girls the only available human capital available during the summer months here? I sat at a table which is supposed to be waited on. After letting the girl know I wasn't ready, I asked for some water which I never got. I sat for 10 minutes being ignored. I finally went to the bar to order and was helped immediately (the place was only half full - not that busy for two people). Not a good experience. At $14 a pop for a craft cocktail, I expect better interpersonal skills from a bartender. Why do employers think that the personality trait of 'nice' translates to a better employee?

A visit to this little distillery was highly recommended by a bartender in Kill Devil Hills. It…read moreis kid and dog-friendly. You can sample their spirits at the tasting counter and also have drinks at the bar. They don't have a kitchen but they sell some snacks if you get the munchies (you can bring in food too).

My husband had an amazing stay at the White Doe Inn celebrating our first wedding anniversary. We…read morestayed in the beautiful Scuppernong Suite that had a fireplace and separate sitting room. We splurged on the charcuterie board upon arrival which was 100% worth it. From 4-5pm they had happy hour with complementary wine and appetizers. The Inn owners were so nice and offered great recommendations for things to see and do in the area. We took their suggestion to have dinner at Salt and Cyprus with waterfront views and great cocktails. In the morning, the inn's breakfast was perfect. Fresh fruit, homemade muffin, coffee, juice, biscuits and gravy, and scrambled eggs. With our short stay, we ran out of time to try out their fire pits and take a bike ride through town. Next time we'll have to stay at least two nights!

WOW!!!!!!! We went to Manteo (Roanoke Island) and booked here last minute and are so glad we did…read more This is a 150yr old house and the new owners are absolutely amazing. There spare no expense to make the guests feel like royalty. First of all, high end coffee machine, fresh made cookies every day, ice cream sandwiches in the freezer... Then, the breakfasts are like dining in a Michelin star restaurant. Easily would be $25-30 in a restaurant. They have a happy hour(s) each night from 4 to 6 and serve 3-4 high quality wines and an assortment of local and regional beers. David and Tania are amazing hosts and we will definitely be back. There is lost to do and see in this area and the White Doe is a perfect hub for all things north OBX.

Not as tall as the "ocean" lighthouses on the Outer Banks such as Hatteras and Bodie Island,…read moreRoanoke Marshes protects traffic on the Shallowbag Bay and the Croaton Sound in Manteo. This building was completed in 2004 and is a faithful replica of the original 1877 lighthouse that was decommissioned in 1955 and ultimately lost during an attempted relocation. A number of screw piles (long iron pilings twisted into the soft, marshy bottom to offer stability in shallow waters) support the lighthouse, a square, cottage-style structure. The muddy terrain and shifting shoals of the Croatan Sound were especially well-suited to this design. The building has clapboard siding, a gabled roof, and a small lantern room in the middle of the roof ridge. Its small and welcoming size, which is more akin to a beach house than a soaring beacon, enhances its allure and accessibility. The lighthouse's interior is filled with marine antiques and informative displays that honor the area's nautical past. The building itself, which provides a tactile sense of coastal life and lighthouse keeping, is open for investigation, even if the spiral staircase leading to the lantern room is normally locked to the public. The beacon continues its tradition of directing vessels through the sound by using a contemporary LED system, having previously been driven by a fourth-order Fresnel lens. There is lots of street parking in this part of Manteo and lots to explore nearby. [Review 810 of 2025 - 4242 in North Carolina - 24370 overall]

This is a cute little light house right in Downtown Manteo. It's walkable from all the shops and…read moreyou can walk inside for a free mini education on the history of the lighthouse. The long deck walk was sturdy and can accommodate those less mobile and I believe, strollers. Grab a few photos prior to walking out to see it and enjoy! This is one of the reasons I love the Outer Banks! Nothing beats that breeze on your face and the sound of the water!