This is a beautiful park to watch the sunset on the sound. This would be a great spot to take…read morephotos together, bring chairs and sit, or enjoy a stroll around. Plenty of parking available.

I didn't get any pictures of the inside of the museum, but rest assured, it's a great time. Free…read moreadmission, and very clean bathrooms! The girls and I enjoyed seeing all of the natural resources of North Carolina.

This marker is located along the waterfront in Elizabeth City and points out this important…read moreindustry that was launched right here. The marker reads, "Soybean Processing. In 1915 W.T. Culpepper launched the soybean oil industry in the United States at Elizabeth City Oil & Fertilizer Co., 1 mile northeast." After the boll weevil crippled North Carolina's cotton industry, the Elizabeth City Oil and Fertilizer Company made history in 1915 by producing the first commercial domestic soybean oil--without altering its cottonseed equipment. Led by William Thomas Culpepper, the plant's success sparked statewide adoption, transforming soybeans from livestock forage into a vital crop thanks to George Washington Carver's earlier research on their nutritional and soil-replenishing benefits. Thriving in the region's climate, soybeans soon became a cornerstone of North Carolina agriculture, with the now-vanished Elizabeth City plant marking a pivotal shift in farming and industry. There is more information online. [Review 983 of 2025 - 4353 in North Carolina - 24537 overall]

Easily accessible with marking in the Camden County High School,. this marker points out one of the…read moreColonial era citizens of the era who went on to serve in the American Revolution and later in the US Congress. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Dempsey Burgess. Member of provincial congresses, 1775-1776; lieutenant colonel of militia in Revolution; Congressman, 1795-99. Grave is 7 miles S.E." Burgess, born in 1751 in Pasquotank County, was a Revolutionary War-era political and military leader whose early life likely centered on farming. He entered politics in 1773 and served in the provincial congresses of 1775-1776 alongside Isaac Gregory. When Camden County was established in 1777, Burgess helped plan its courthouse and jail. During the war, he held militia ranks of major and lieutenant colonel. Afterward, he resumed farming and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1795, serving two terms before retiring in 1799. He died at his plantation in 1800, survived by his wife and four children. There is more detail online. [Review 1041 of 2025 - 4368 in North Carolina - 24595 overall]

Completed in 2002, the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge spans 5.2 miles and carries US 64 (Bypass)…read moreacross the Croatan Sound between Manns Harbor and Roanoke Island. It is the longest bridge in the state of North Carolina! It was built as a secondary to the nearby Umstead bridge which can struggle to carry hurricane evacuation traffic at peak times. The bridge is a segmented girder design made of prestressed concrete, supported by 88 columns and more than 2,000 pilings driven up to 100 feet into the sound's bed. At the peak, it raises 66 feet to allow marine traffic to pass below. I found it easy to cross though no breakdown lanes and no crosswinds today. And there is no toll. [Review 814 of 2025 - 4245 in North Carolina - 24373 overall]

This bridge named for Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World (born 1587), has…read moreanother claim to fame. It's the longest bridge in North Carolina, spanning over 5 miles. Completed in 2002, this 4 lane bridge helped alleviate traffic from the smaller William B Umstead Bridge built in 1955. You can see the older bridge across the Croatan Sound from this bridge! In the event of a hurricane, this bridge is vital to evacuation, as the smaller bridge can't handle the volume of traffic. As we made our ascent upwards toward the apex of the bridge, I'm not embarrassed to say, the driver and I were a tad nervous when we met the skyline! It was almost as though we could touch the clouds! I truly respect those confident drivers who don't flinch an inch when bridge crossing! You have my admiration and "support"! If you visit Manteo, be sure to visit the museum of The Lost Colony!

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 marker is along the shoreline of the Pasquotank River and next to Mariners' Wharf. There is…read morenearby parking to stop and read the marker. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Culpepper's Rebellion. Culpeper and Durant led a revolt against British trade laws, seized the government 1677, 2 miles southeast." Culpeper's Rebellion (1677-1678) was a grassroots revolt here in Albemarle County, driven by anger over British trade restrictions and the oppressive rule of British agents. The Navigation Acts, which taxed goods moving between colonies, intensified local frustrations, especially as the Proprietors continued appointing officials who limited colonists' rights. The crisis peaked when Thomas Miller, acting governor and enforcer of the trade laws, abused his power by manipulating elections and punishing dissenters. In response, John Culpeper, John Jenkins, and George Durant led an armed takeover, imprisoning Miller and running the colony themselves for two years with greater stability. Culpeper was later tried for treason in England but acquitted, revealing the vulnerability of proprietary rule and the growing assertiveness of colonial self-governance. There is more information online. This is marker number A-21 and it was erected in 1940 by the Department of Conservation and Development. [Review 992 of 2025 - 4354 in North Carolina - 24546 overall]

Interesting to see but I wouldn't go too far out of your way to see it…read more The best part about this monument is it's open to the public free of charge.

This is nicely done and you get detailed of all the 1st and advances in aviation. We spend time to…read moreread everything and learned a lot. This is a must to get a better understanding of all that happen with 100 ish year of flight

BLUF: To the casual observer the Mother Vine may just resemble misplaced and untamed vegetation…read moregrowing haphazardly in the front yard of a private home; however, this legendary plant is significant, historic and mysterious. Seemingly, the Mother Vine is a scuppernong grapevine that grows on an elevated trellis in the front yard of a private home. Simplistically the vine is often referred to as the oldest cultivated grapevine in the country and that is why it is deemed to be significant, historic and treasured. The origins of the grapevine are highly nuanced and a bit mysterious so the exact history eludes me. Most reports are that this particular vine is over 400 years old but I did read one story that said testing revealed this actual vine is about 300+ years old. Whether it was the Croatan Native Americans or English settlers that first cultivated the vine is also up for debate. Whatever the case, this vine is old and it's great that it still survives. Something else that is really neat about this vine is that it is cared for mostly by neighbors in the residential community in which it resides. As noted above, the vine is located in the front yard of a private home. I read an article from a few years ago that said the plan was to transfer the property to the Outer Banks Conservationists but I am not clear if that is the title for the property or the care for the property. Property records indicate the property is still privately owned and I didn't see where the Other Banks Conservationists website made mention of the property or vine so I'm not sure if a transfer was made or if that is still in the works. In any event we were sure to be extra courteous as we tip toed around the front yard to ooh and ahh at the vine. We visited mid-morning on a Saturday and aside from being deeply appreciative that this site was open, we were also grateful for there being a few parking spots and a sign welcoming visitors. In addition to the vine, we also took the short path down to the Roanoke Sound shoreline. I appreciate all the efforts of the family on whose property this vine resides, the neighbors and other individuals and organizations to protect this vine and to make it open to the public. Thank you!

Visiting the Mother Vine is such a special experience, especially if you're someone who loves and…read moreappreciates wine. Mother Vine is located on a private property on Roanoke Island in the Outer Banks. The owners of the property and caretakers of the vine have gone above and beyond to create a beautiful experience for anyone who wants to visit. After driving through a beautiful, quiet little neighborhood, you arrive at the property. There are plenty of signs on the property indicating that this is the place to visit Mother Vine. There's also a little parking area that the property owners created specifically for visitors. One lovely little detail that I wasn't expecting was a sign pointing to a path that leads out to the waterfront. That's actually how I began my visit. I parked, and then walked out to the waterfront with my cup of morning coffee and took in a quiet, breathtaking Outer Banks sunrise. That alone was truly an experience I will never forget. After spending a little time by the waterfront, I went over to visit Mother Vine, which is located in the front yard of the property. The vine will be a different experience depending on what time of year you're visiting. I went in the winter months and got to see it when it's brown and all of the remaining grapes were dried and browning. There was beauty in that for me. You could also choose to visit in the warm weather months, when the vine is lush and green. On the day that I visited, I was the only one there, and the morning was so easy and lovely. I'm so grateful to the kind homeowners who opened up this gem to the public. If you find yourself in the Outer Banks, this is a wonderful and free experience. Just please remember to be respectful of both the historic vine and the family who resides on the property if and when you stop by.