Wright Memorial Bridge is like the front door to the Outer Banks. I mean there are other ways to…read moreget to the Outer Banks, but this is the grand entrance if you will. This bridge is named in honor of the Wright Brothers as they made their first flight in the Outer Banks region. Stretching over the Currituck Sound it takes you into the Kitty Hawk area and on towards points south. Two lanes going in both directions allowing for a good flow of traffic. Good thing too, during peak tourist season this would be a nightmare elsewise. Even before that, there was only a ferry service that connected the area.

The Wright Memorial Bridge serves an important role for the Outer Banks. It is the sole artery on…read moreand off from the North. It truly is the gateway to the barrier island. The original (lower span) was built in 1966 and the newer East span 1995. The bridge was given the name to honor Wilbur and Orville Wright. The 3 mile stretch over the Currituck Sound begins to the North in Point Harbor and ends in Kitty Hawk. The current West span is closed for repairs. The official route name is highway 158. The history of the first bridge dates to the 1930's. A wooden bridge was constructed at a cost of $225,000 and a $1 toll applied. The bridge replaced private ferry service. The toll was lifted a few years after it was built and purchased by the state of North Carolina. I personally have logged a lot of trips over the bridge since 1991. It's new West span has made life much easier for residents and visitors. If you catch it during peak time in the Summer going with traffic that 3 miles could take 45 minutes. I still cannot help but give it a big thumbs up.

Connecting Roanoke Island with Pond Island technically, this bridge allows you access over the…read moreRoanoke Sound. Yes, it does get you access to the Outer Banks, but this stretch technically only goes over this section. This is roughly a mile long bridge that was built in 1994. You get some great views of the area while crossing the bridge. Which is like a theme in this area. Unless you are a passenger, you really don't get to take it in as much. The bridge is named for a former local politician. Who was gone long before this bridge was built. If you are going to Roanoke Island for the tourist spots, this is your access point.

Washington Baum Bridge is a slab bridge over Roanoke Sound, connecting Roanoke Island to Nags Head…read moreon the Outer Banks. Just over a mile long, the bridge was completed in 1994 to replace an older drawbridge. It was named after local native Washington Franklin Baum (1876-1967), an influential citizen of Dare County during its formative years. Four stars for the great view. Because the bridge goes mostly east-west, you'll get an amazing sunrise/sunset view!

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.

One of the many bridges spanning the Outer Banks. This one is probably one the newest bridges in…read morethe area having just opened in 2019. It replaced a bridge that was opened in the 60s (according to articles, people don't like the name of this bridge and kind of refer to this as the New Bonner Bridge as it replaced the Bonner Bridge). Spanning the Oregon Inlet where the Pamlico Sound meets the Atlantic Ocean. Connecting Bodie Island with Pea Island this is a nearly three mile bridge. However, when driving on it, it honestly does not feel that long. You do get some awesome views from the bridge. But be sure to have a copilot to take pictures, it's not a smart idea to be trying to do that while driving. This bridge is like a welcome mat to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. It is kind of a partner with Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge just passed Manteo. You can hit both in one day.

Completed in 1963, the Herber C. Bonner Bridge spanned the Oregon Outlet. It replaced driving along…read morethe beaches to get to the lower islands of the Outer Banks. A series of low-level spans with a high-rise section in the center section for boat traffic, it was 2.7 miles long and built on pilings driven deep. A challenging installation due to the shifting terrain and dynamic coastal geology of the Outer Banks. In time, the bridge suffered from corrosion and souring and structural fatigue due to the saltwater exposure and frequent storms. It was replaced in 2019 by the Marc Basnight Bridge which has a much more advanced design. This new bridge uses stainless steel reinforcements and high-durability concrete to withstand the harsh marine environment. The centerpiece is a 3,550-foot-long unit composed of eleven spans, each 350 feet long, making it the third-longest continuous segmental concrete box girder in North America. It spans about 2.8 miles and features a high-rise navigation span with 100 feet of clearance to accomodate larger vessels. Its design includes deeper pilings--some driven over 100 feet into the seabed--to ensure stability in the ever-shifting inlet. Architecturally, it's sleek and modern, with graceful curves and improved safety features like wider lanes and shoulders. And it's designed for a 100-year service life. It is smooth and easy and the views are incredible. From the high span heading north, you might be able to see the Bodie Island Lighthouse off to the left. There is no stopping or parking on the bridge and there is no toll. For a nice view, stop at the Bonner Bridge Pier on the south side. Some of the old bridge was retained as a fishing pier with parking and porta-potties. [Review 802 of 2025 - 4234 in North Carolina - 24362 overall]

Fort Raleigh has a lot to offer and you can spend a day here with activities to do. With loads to…read moreoffer if you are into nature and history. Also, if you wanted a place for a bit of peace and quiet near the water. The Fort Raleigh part of the name is a bit of a historic thing. Being the site of the Roanoke Colony. You know, that one that vanished into thin air...Croatoan. The Lost Colony, which was resettled by Sir Walter Raleigh. Later, it was used by the Union Army to establish Freedman's Colony. Where freed people were settled and were able to gain plots of land, build a community. Now, it serves as a national historic site with more to offer. On top of the historic stuff there is walking/hiking trails, a reenactment site for the Lost Colony, and Elizabethan Gardens. Loads to do, that isn't so touristy.

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.

After visiting the Hatteras Lighthouse and finding it all wrapped up in scaffolding, I was super…read moreexcited to get here to Bodie Island to find this one ready to photograph and visit. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is a striking black-and-white banded tower that has stood sentinel over the Outer Banks since 1872. This lighthouse is the third built in the area--the first, constructed in 1847, was abandoned due to a poor foundation, and the second, built in 1859, was destroyed during the Civil War by retreating Confederate troops. The current structure rises 156 feet and houses an original first-order Fresnel lens, casting light visible for up to 19 nautical miles. It was automated in 1940 and later transferred to the National Park Service in 1953. After extensive restoration, it opened to the public for climbing in 2013. Visitors can ascend its 219 steps for panoramic views of the surrounding marshes and Roanoke Sound. The lighthouse is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and remains one of the few tall brick lighthouses in the U.S. still equipped with its original lens. It was way too hot today to try climbing anything let alone that. I took my pictures and was more than satisfied. [Round number review 800 of 2025 - 4232 in North Carolina - 24360 overall]

I've been obsessed with lighthouses since I was a child (an English thing, I guess?). Bodie…read more(Bow-dee NOT "body", I wish carpetbaggers would stop changing the pronunciations-two generations are now mispronouncing it) is not only beautiful, but has the additional museum and boardwalk to a scenic observation deck overlooking wetlands. I'm deathly afraid of heights so I can never go up, but I can appreciate the beauty and history from the ground.

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!

The Park Ranger who gave the informative talk of the history of the Wright brothers was an amazing…read morestoryteller. I love when they make history come alive through the stories they tell. The 45 minute talk just flew bye and you wished there was more.

A local told us "that's the old scary bridge" because the bigger Virginia Dare Bridge has one-upped…read morethis bridge. When you go over this 2-laned older bridge, watch out for kamikaze seagulls! We had to dodge dozens of dead birds driving over this bridge built in 1955. It connects Manns Harbor and Roanoke Island.

This is a cool bridge people often fish off of It and they catch pretty good big fishread more