The people were friendly and our toddler enjoyed walking around the big room. They had plenty of…read morebrochures but we decided to just chat with the people instead. I was surprised to see the restrooms were in a separate building but that was actually nice. If we've been on the road for a while I usually don't want to need to pause to chat with someone first.

I'm back in the area and my travel needs have changed, hence the downgrade. I'm disappointed that…read morethis welcome center and rest area have a clear sign that overnight parking is not permitted. I'd have stayed longer in the Outer Banks and done more exploring but not if I have to find a place to park my RV out of town. Bummer. For a plus, this welcome center does have a very free RV dump station. It's easy to access and that was very helpful. Inside, clean restrooms and a nice air conditioned spot for a quick break. [Review 813 of 2025 - 4244 in North Carolina - 24372 overall]

The Tyrell County Visitor's Center is located in Columbia, NC. It was easy to find, and plenty of…read moreparking was available. You can access the buildings by stairs or a ramp. The restrooms are in one building and the Visitor's Center is in a nearby building. Both buildings were clean. A family restroom is available, too. I was immediately greeted upon entering the Visitor's Center and provided with the information I was looking for about Tyrell County. I was pointed in the right direction to get to the boardwalk and downtown, and some places were suggested to stop. I enjoyed the quilts and North Carolina items to view in the Visitor's Center. I could read about the area and its unique ecosystem. The Visitor's Center has travel information for the whole state. I was allowed to stay parked in the parking lot while I went on my walking journey. The tips and insight helped me have an enjoyable stop in Tyrell County. Although many of the businesses I had hoped to visit were not open, I can't fault the Visitor's Center for that. They might be open on my next visit.

As an RV driver, I'm sometimes looking for a place to park overnight on my way to places. So I was…read moredisappointed that Tyrell County's Visitor's Center does not allow overnight parking. Serious bummer that they want people driving tired. Other than that, it's nice with a good parking area, clean restrooms and a nice boardwalk for a stretch and see some green before continuing onwards. [Review 817 of 2025 - 4248 in North Carolina - 24376 overall]

Five stars, plus. Absolutely worth your stop while driving towards Kitty Hawk. Also called the…read moreCurrituck Welcome Center, and just over the border from Virginia, this is THE place to go for all of your information needs about the Outer Banks -- maps, brochures, pamphlets, and more. Also, exceptionally helpful staff, immaculate restrooms, easy and plentiful parking, free postcards of OBX (one per patron please), and little surprises. My husband was thrilled to find hot tasty coffee, while I was excited to find a map of Florida. (We're traveling down the east coast and didn't yet have a map of florida. Who would've thought there would be one in a welcome center for the Outer Banks)?

Everyone was so nice there! They are super helpful and welcoming. Would recommend to anyoneread more

The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center has plenty of parking. The center is divided into two…read moresections, one area for restrooms and another area with a gift shop and state travel brochures. They have brochures for places all over the state and some for Virginia as well. There was a note to limit yourself to 7 but I was provided with a bag and encouraged to take more as I gathered ideas for future trips. The staff was very friendly and provided suggestions on other stops to make in the area. You can walk to the boardwalk that is against the canal and read some of the signboards and markers.

Perfect weather to be outdoor? Then head on over to the dismal swap trail. It's not really a hike…read morethrough the trails tail. Great for bike rides with the family. Running a race? Then this is the place for you to practice on asphalt and not worry about cars. Plenty of parking available and restrooms are available in the parking area as well. They do have a boat ramp available as well!

Located where US Hwy 64, US Hwy 58 and NC 12 intersect, the Whalebone Visitors offers lots of…read moreuseful information on various sites, attractions, restaurants and businesses in the area. There are restroom facilities on site. Staff is very knowledgeable and can even provide restaurant recommendations. This visitor welcomes you as you enter Nags Head or as you head to Hatteras/Ocracoke. NC-12 offers a variety of stopping points, including Bodie Lighthouse, Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, etc.

Every vacation town needs a visitor center and for Ocracoke Island this is the place. Everything…read moreon Ocracoke is fairly small and compact which is cool because in premise everything is easy to find and this place is no different. Just head towards the Cedar Island & Swan Quarter Ferry dock and you'll find a small parking lot with the visitor center located across the road. The one odd thing worth mentioning is that this visitor center is managed by the NPS. This is due to the large presence that the NPS has on the island with the pony pens, the lighthouse and all of the beaches falling under it's jurisdiction via the Cape Hatteras National Seashore umbrella. So if you come what will you see here? There are two buildings with public restrooms on the right and the actual visitor center on the left. The visitor center has exhibits on the main island attractions like the British Cemetery, the Ocracoke Ponies, the lighthouse and the history of pirates in the area which of course involves Blackbeard. Also note the large map on the outside wall of the building which puts everything in the village in a good context as to where it is and how far. The VC also serves as a gift shop with a plethora of books being the main offering along with a good display of pamphlets, brochures and catalogs for Ocracoke accommodations, restaurants, shops and attractions. This is also the launching point for any and all seasonal ranger activities that take place on the island for adults and children. The day we visited we didn't see any ranger presence but the manager who was at the visitor center was great. She was a funny as hell and a great resource for information. She was also a great help in particular with how to find the best parking for going to Spinger's Point. If you need some help getting around on the island (help but not recommendations for lodging or food as policy dictates anyone working here can't do that) or for some kind of trinket of Chinese plastic to take home with you this is your stop. According to the below page the visitor center is open daily 9-5 with the exception of Christmas Day. www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Bottom Line: Free parking, a nice bathroom, friendly people and a decent gift shop…read more The Ocracoke Island Visitors' Center is run by the National Park Service and is proportionate to the size of the island - small. The facility is nice but there's not much to it. I enjoyed looking around the gift shop and picking up a few items to commemorate my trip to the island. I also got a map of the island and I always appreciate a nice, clean bathroom! I suspect there are periodic ranger talks but I didn't see the schedule for them.

A good place to start on the tour of the battlefield sites that defined America…read more The Yorktown Visitor's Center is the perfect starting point for exploring several of the most pivotal sites in American history. The drive from the main road to the center is scenic, offering glimpses of Virginia's historic landscape before arriving at the center. Getting to the actual center seemed a little confusing as there are arrows describing the car tours to visit various sights when leaving the center. The center is not very large. The exhibits inside are well-organized and interactive, showcasing artifacts from the Battle of Yorktown, maps, uniforms, and weaponry from the era. There is a short film that provides an good overview of the battle and its significance in the history of our American independence. The center also features a gift shop with books, souvenirs, and historical memorabilia. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and offered suggestions regarding various tours that you could take when driving around the area. There are several well-marked signs leading visitors from the center to the surrounding area sites. The driving tours take visitors through key historic sites connected to the Siege of Yorktown (1781) and the broader Colonial National Historical Park. Overall, the Yorktown Visitor's Center is an great stop, providing an introduction to this historic battlefield and its role in shaping the nation.

Colonial NHP is spread out over Jamestown, Yorktown and a road connecting them. We went to the…read morevisitor center in Yorktown and thought it was great. It did a great job of explaining what led up to the British surrender and how it happened. I especially liked the part of a ship that was built into the visitors center. Walking through it really was like walking through an 18th century ship - very cool. The visitors center did a great job of explaining the surrounding area and helping us decide where to go. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend checking it out when visiting Yorktown.

I flew from New York with my mother and then we met up with my aunt to travel to Suffolk Visitor…read moreCenter to take the Great Dismal Swamp Underground Railroad Tour. Back in September, we booked the tour for Sunday, November 16th at 9:30am. Today, when we went to check in the "gentleman" at the front desk said that we were listed for the 1:00pm tour and not the 9:30am tour. I assured him that there was no way that we would get the time wrong, given we flew all the way from New York just to take the tour. The "gentleman" then proceeded to put words in my mouth like I was blaming him or expected him to bump others from the 9:30 tour--which I promptly informed him I said no such thing. He also felt the need to put his hand on his hip like he was scolding a child so I mirrored his bad behavior by putting my hand on my hip and let him know that he should just admit that it was a clerical error on the part of Suffolk Visitor Center. The "gentlewoman" that worked at the center tried to offer that there are often cancellations so we could wait to see whether everyone would show up. All but one person who was signed up for the 9:30am tour showed up and so her offer was that one of us could take the tour. That was not acceptable since there were three of us. With that said, I am glad we did not allow the poor customer service exhibited by Suffolk Visitor Center to ruin our day. Instead, we paid the $5 permit at the Great Dismal Swamp read through the placards and pamphlets there and enjoyed the beautiful day. Given the terrible disposition of the staff, I doubt the tour would have provided a respectful or accurate account of the history of the enslaved people who sought refuge in the swamp.

Suffolk Visitor Center (SVC) is located on the corner of North Main Street and East Constance Road…read more It is an impressive brick building with a white pillar facade, and a beautiful, but small interior. The pavilion in the back is where the Farmers' Market is held, and right next door is Riddick's Folly, which I highly recommend you check out when you get a chance. (http://www.yelp.com/biz/riddicks-folly-suffolk?hrid=GbdRtZYapeJjdQl_enPx1w) *Fun Fact: The town of Suffolk was created in 1742 by an English settlement called Constant's Wharf. Guess where they got the name from? You guessed it--Suffolk County, England! There are many amenities here at SVC: -Gift shop with unique local items including books, postcards, peanuts, etc. -Restroom -Sitting room with water fountains and coffee machine -Brochures of Suffolk, Hampton Roads, and greater Virginia -Displays of the Great Dismal Swamp and the Suffolk Story -And, of course, the friendly staff is always there to help! Whether you are a local or visiting the area, I suggest you take a few minutes to stop by. SVC is a great place for buying Christmas gifts. If you need some road trip ideas, go pick up some brochures. Make sure you take advantage of SVC!

After hours pamphlets available at door along with a clean bowl of water for dogs. Virginia…read moreloveworks art on the parking lot. Lots of parking next door at the bank.

The Smithfield Visitor Center is really nice - it's attached to the Arts Center and shares the same…read moreentry lobby area. There are tons of brochures about things to do in Smithfield and Isle of Wight County. Some of them have coupons for entry if there is an admission fee (like touring the St. Luke's Church. There's Windsor Castle Park, kayak rentals at the park where you can launch for $10 an hour (1 person) or $20 an hour (2 people). There are plenty go guided walking tours like Ivy Hill Cemetery, Fort Huger, The Isle of Wight Courthouse Complex, Fort Boykin Historic Park and Nike Park. I spoke to the nice lady working inside, Deb, for quite a while and she was so friendly! She told me about the upcoming markets and events (there are tons) and I can't wait to see some of them! There is a Halloween market, a Picker's market (antiques), Christmas markets, and other vintage or handmade craft fairs all the time. Smithfield is so cute and the town is really good at planning things like this. Most events have a cute ham theme as well or bacon. If you are interested in finding suggestions for things to do in Smithfield - this is a worthwhile stop.

Absolutely the highlight of our Outer Banks trip!…read more Our sunset sail in Manteo was absolutely amazing from beginning to end! The boat was beautiful, and our captain and first mate were wonderful--friendly, welcoming, and made the entire experience feel so special. They went above and beyond to personalize our sail with a beautiful charcuterie board, our favorite drinks, and music. And the homemade strawberry lavender jam on the charcuterie board was incredible--I actually tried to buy some to take home, but unfortunately it wasn't for sale! As if the gorgeous sail wasn't enough, we had dolphins swimming right beside the boat for a good portion of our trip. It was such an incredible experience to watch them so close while sailing. We ended the evening with a beautiful sunset, lots of laughs, and memories we'll never forget. This was hands-down one of our favorite experiences and truly the highlight of our trip to the Outer Banks. If you're considering a sunset sail in Manteo, book it! We would absolutely do it again.

One of the best nights of our vacation was our sunset sail with Jill and Ryan!…read moreThe sailboat is gorgeous and the sail itself was both fun and relaxing- they were such great hosts. And the charcuterie was delicious. Thank you so much!!