Bless our National Park staff. They have to deal with some terrible humans, as we witnessed the day…read morewe were there. But it was handled well and we enjoyed our time here. There is a ton to see in the visitor center and even more on the other side of Kill Devil Hill (the big hill with monument) They have a Veterans discount in the gift shop!

We were so happy we stopped here. The walk up to the memorial is steep at times, but there are…read moremultiple paths to take so others may have been more gradual, but it was part of the experience to step up to where these brothers flew their first flight. Do stop in even just to drive around, it was beautiful!

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!

Love passing this little backyard I have I live down the street and get to enjoy walking downtown…read moreand seeing the Wisconsin when families in town we do the winner fest on the Wisconsin. I've done yoga on there. I've had a party for girls on the run for a half marathon.

I've toured many battleships and this one was a bit too much a a free for all for me. What I mean…read moreis that there is typically a path to follow when touring the inside of a ship. In this ship you could go any which way you liked and it was easy to get lost and not know which way to go. What we did see was super cool and it was so crazy thinking about everything this ship has been through. The staff members were super nice and willing to answer questions. They were really knowledgeable. Parts of the ship were closed off from the public for various reasons such as air quality concerns. The ship was blanketed in Christmas lights and will be featured on the great Christmas Light Fight TV show next week. We are looking forward to seeing that as we only saw the ship in the daytime.

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!

This is probably best taken in by people with children, especially those who aren't extremely…read moreinterested in museums. Aside from the ship, the outdoor sections are a little sparse but they do have live reenactors who are happy to explain a lot about what they do have, and that's really cool. The ship also has a couple people on board who are happy to explain both the historical and modern questions the kids have (like do you actually sail this boat... etc). The museum isn't extensive but it's enough to cover multiple topics and allows children to touch everything which is nice. It's short enough to not lose the attention of kids but does have some things that engage them. The town nearby is also super cute so all in all it's worth venturing out to Festival Park if you have some time on your hands.

I'm not normally a fan of museums but this was a great experience for us…read more First they offer military discount. Second the kids have a scavenger hunt to win a prize in the end. Every stop along the way you are assigned tasks to get a stamp. Majority of the "actors" were amazing with this! There was one girl next to the black smith that refused to give my daughter the stamp because she didn't want to put the armor on, but the young man who showed us the black smithing called her over and gave her the stamp anyways. I believe that was the only off putting experience from the whole thing. Made my daughter not want to continue. I wish I had gotten her name to put an actual complaint in, not all kids will want to wear the armor for various reasons. We listened and watched each demonstration and I think that's enough. The prizes were actually nice, they weren't just some sticker it was either a bookmark or a magnet. Both good quality. I learned a lot, our favorite part was the blacksmith, he explained so much to us and even gave my daughter the nail he made. Both actors on the ship were nice, the young man under the ship really stayed in character and answered all questions as if he was one of the actual crew. Super cool experience.

We arrived too late to take a tour, but still enjoyed a fun photo op. Rafter a long day traveling,…read morethe pine scented air and peaceful atmosphere were a blessing. The birds were chatting, but we still felt utterly relaxed on these pristine grounds. When in the area it's worth visiting!

If you are up this way, you almost have to stop in to the Historic Corolla area and take the climb…read moreup 220 steps to the top of the beautiful brick Currituck lighthouse. Lit on December 1st, 1875, the lighthouse has served as a beacon for safety for 150 years!! The view from the top is spectacular and absolutely worth the price of admission!

A bit confused on the check ins and labels--we wanted to see the spot of "The Lost Colony" of…read moreRoanoke so I checked in at both "The Lost Colony" and "Fort Raleigh" as there is signage at both. It appears most people who review "The Lost Colony" are reviewing the play that is enacted every summer on-site here in the outdoor ampitheatre on site. So I'll keep my review here, as I did not see the play. Nor, unfortunatley, did I get to take the walking tour of Fort Raleigh/the Lost Colony. We arrived after the last one had started. We looked at the website multiple times and could only find "stop by the front desk" when we looked for tour times. Not sure if this is always the case or a delay related to COVID. Anyway, if you want a guided tour--come early, as the last ends at 1 or 2 pm. Fort Raleigh-- you get the historic spot of the Lost Colony, a short video about said lost colony in the viewing room, a few small museums, several walking trails (most shaded and ancient looking in a good way), some ocean front sitting straight out of last century, markers celebrating "First Light of Freedom" and other cool historic occurrences, and much more. And the gift shop. Well worth a stop for history loving travelers in the area.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site was a great stop for our family. The visitor center has…read morewell-done exhibits about the Lost Colony and the Freedmen's Colony, and the kids especially loved the Junior Ranger program which made the history fun and interactive. The walking trails are peaceful and easy, and the historic earthworks are neat to see. The park rangers were excellent; friendly, knowledgeable, and great with kids. It's a mix of history and nature that's well worth visiting.

I came here after going to a sports card show in Norfolk. It wasn't a planned visit but I was just…read morelooking for something interesting to look at since I had a lot of free time and the weather was nice on Saturday. I thought it would be a lot larger but the spot is quite small but it is very nice to walk around. There are also lots of nice areas adjacent to the garden and terrace as well. I parked in front of the garden went around it and then found the USS Wisconsin and the Naval museum just past the garden. I went around and finished checking out the other side of the garden after. The parking was free for 2 hrs in front of the garden and it seemed like parking in general was plentiful and open this weekend. It looked like college dormitories around the garden and some other residential areas around the middle of downtown Norfolk. There were many nice plants in the garden, the terrace was nice but not open as far as I could tell, and the koi pond was nice if someone would clean out the pond scum from the fish pond. There were small bridges over the water and multiple water fountains in the koi pond. There were a few benches to sit on if you wanted to just relax or meditate in the garden. Overall, it was a nice garden but it is not something to go downtown to see, but it is a nice additional thing to see if you are going to the USS Wisconsin and the Naval museum or if you staying in downtown area. Lots of people were exercising (walking and jogging) so it is a nice scene to pass by if you are doing that.

Great spot to walk around. There's ice cream inside too! Very yummy. Beautiful day to explore.read more

The Barker House in Edenton, North Carolina, is a storied landmark that blends architectural…read moreelegance with deep historical resonance. Built in 1782 for Thomas and Penelope Barker, the home originally stood two blocks north of its current location and began as a modest Federal-style parlor wing and half hall. Penelope Barker is best known for organizing the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, a bold act of protest in which 51 women signed a petition against British taxation--making it one of the earliest political demonstrations by women in America. Unlike the Boston Tea Party, these women signed their names and sent the petition directly to King George III, drawing international attention and criticism from British newspapers. Since relocated (yes, they moved it two blocks), it now serves as Edenton's Welcome Center and the headquarters of the Edenton Historical Commission. Stop in for information about Edenton sights and history. I wasn't staying long here, but I was helped by friendly folks who clearly love their town. [Review 839 of 2025 - 4269 in North Carolina - 24398 overall]

We were greeted by an excellent curator that provided us a very warm Welcome into the Barker House…read more The house is a beautiful step back in time with period antiques and a very nice gift shop. I purchased a Tea House cookbook and was amazed by the recipes along with beautiful historical notes of the area. You must stop in while visiting Edenton!

What a beautifully restored piece of history! The docents are extremely knowledgeable and happy to…read morechat! They honored the home with tons of little touches - down to same wall colors. They say it will take 45 mins we spent well over an hour! A definite must for the history buffs!

Such a beautiful building and museum with an interesting history, and in a beautiful location!…read moreInside photos aren't allowed, unfortunately, but expect to see some sophisticated plumbing of 1920's, an elevator and some really narrow hallways. The territory is impressive too and the park that is now there is lovely. It's so great that places like that get preserved and shared. We truly enjoyed our experience! Definitely worth a visit!