The main Outer Banks attraction: The BEACH! There are so many fun and relaxing ways to enjoy your beach time on the Outer Banks, and we’ve outlined some of our favorite activities below.
Beach Time On The Outer Banks
The main Outer Banks attraction: The BEACH!
So much makes the Outer Banks special, but miles and miles of pristine coastline are what brings visitors back year after year. There are so many fun and relaxing ways to enjoy your beach time on the Outer Banks, and we’ve outlined some of our favorite activities below.
Several different shells can be found on our shores, and the best time to look is low tide. Our beachcombing guide will help you identify your treasures from the sea.
Go for a long walk or beach run.
Hoping to fit in some exercise on vacation? Walking on sand is a workout! It can take more than twice the energy to walk or run on sand compared to hard surfaces. Plus, exercise with an ocean view isn’t so bad…
Catch the sunrise.
Set that alarm. We promise it’s worth it! Sunrises over the Atlantic are breathtaking. Plus, early mornings are one of the best times to spot pods of dolphins swimming parallel to the shoreline. (If you aren’t a morning person, sunset afterglows on the beach are truly beautiful too! Or you can catch the full sunset on the soundside. Check out our soundfront homes here.)
Go for a drive on the sand.
Most Outer Banks towns allow off-roading on the beach during certain times of the year. It’s a ton of fun to pack a lunch, some beach gear, and take a four-wheel-drive vehicle out to find the perfect spot to spend the day. Learn more about each town’s rules and off-road vehicle safety.
Have a beach bonfire.
Few things are more relaxing than the sound of a crackling fire next to waves lapping the shore. Beach fires are only allowed in Nags Head and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Learn more about the regulations and required permits.
Go fish!
Surf fishing from the beach is a pastime enjoyed by all ages. Learn more about the required fishing license and all the other ways to fish on the Outer Banks.
Build a castle.
Sandcastles are a classic beach day activity. Add some friendly competition to the mix by having a sandcastle-building contest with others in your vacation group! You don’t have to stick to castles – your imagination is the limit.
Take in a surfing lesson.
Surfing is a favorite local pastime, and there are great instructors on the Outer Banks ready to help you learn. No board? No problem – if the instructor doesn’t provide boards, they can be rented locally.
Give boogie boarding or skimboarding a try!
Boogie boards (also known as bodyboards) are great for riding shore break waves back to shore. Skimboards are used to glide on the water’s surface closer to shore. Boogie boarding tends to be the easier of the two. Both types of boards can be rented or purchased locally.
Need more vacation inspiration?
Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest! We have several recent blog articles that may inspire your trip planning too.
Free souvenirs from the sea! This guide provides images of shells and other items found on the beaches of Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head.
OBX Beachcombing & Shell Guide
Beachcombing is one of our favorite things to do.
Who doesn’t love free souvenirs from the sea? This guide provides images of shells and other items found on the beaches of Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head.
Where is the best place to find shells on the Outer Banks? Weather, currents, and our shoreline are constantly changing, so you never know quite where the best shell beds will be day-to-day. If you aren’t having luck at your nearest beach access, give a different one a try! There are many public beach accesses to choose from.
When is the best time to go shelling? Beachcombing is in-season all year round. If you’re an early riser, head to the shore for sunrise. Some great shells may have washed up overnight, plus there’s nothing quite like watching the sun rise over the Atlantic. (This is also a common time of day to spot dolphins swimming offshore!) It’s also helpful to follow the tides. Low tide is the ideal time to beachcomb, before the water rises to cover what the waves brought onto the sand.
Scotch Bonnets
Scotch Bonnets are the official North Carolina state seashell! The shell is grown by a type of sea snail and can be 2-4 inches on the longest side. They can be shades of brown, yellow, and orange.
Ocean Quahogs
Ocean Quahog shells are hinged clam shells, but it’s rare to find the two sides still attached once they wash up on the beach. These are thick shells that tend to have a white interior with a purple rim, but some have no purple coloring at all. The oldest living animal on the planet was a quahog at 507 years old!
Broken Pieces of Ocean Quahogs
When quahog shells break up into pieces, it can expose more of the purple coloring commonly found in the deeper layers of the shell. Over time these pieces become worn and smooth. White and purple quahog pieces were used by Native Americans to create wampum beads, which were used at currency.
Atlantic Giant Cockles
Cockles are radially-ribbed hinged clam shells, but it is uncommon to find the two sides still hinged together on Outer Banks beaches. Atlantic Giant Cockles range in size from about a half inch to six inches at their widest part. They are usually off-white with brown and red markings, and their interior is commonly smooth and pink.
Scallops
Scallops are clam shells, and they can be found in a wide variety of colors on the Outer Banks. They are typically about three inches at their widest width and are radially-ribbed with “ears” sticking out slightly on either side of their base where the hinge would be. It isn’t common to find the two sides still hinged together on the beach.
Coquinas
Coquinas are small hinged clam shells that grow to be smaller than an inch. You can find these on Outer Banks beaches at the tide line with both sides still held together by the delicate hinge, which give them a butterfly-like shape. They are typically white on both sides. The interior can have tinges of purple and yellow.
Whelks
A variety of Whelks are sea snails. A variety of whelk shells can be found on Outer Banks beaches, but the knobbed whelk and lightning whelk are the most common. Lightning whelk shells have their opening on the left side, and knobbed whelks have their opening on the right side. These sprial shells can be found in a variety of sizes.
Atlantic Surf Clams
Atlantic Surf Clams are hinged clam shells that are usually white, gray, yellow, and brown. They can grow to be nearly 9 inches, but it’s very rare to find them that large.
Mussels
Mussel shells are wedge-shaped, hinged, and are typically black and dark blue or purple. It’s common to find these shells still hinged on the beach at the tide line.
Ark Clams
Ark Clams are thick, hinged shells with radial ridges. They can be found in a wide variety of colors on the Outer Banks, but white and gray are the most common.
Oysters
Oyster shells are usually teardrop-shaped but can be found in other more freeform shapes as well. They’re comprised of many layers depending on how old they are.
Sea Star
Sea Stars (or starfish) found on the Outer Banks have five tapered arms, also called rays, radiating out from their body. Sea stars are a wonderful beachcombing find, but they should not be taken out of the water or picked up from the sand if at all soft or limp — they could still be alive and are very fragile animals. Once dead, sea stars are dry and stiff.
Shark Eye Moon Snails
Shark Eye Moon Snail shells can be 5 inches at their widest point. They are smooth, spiral-shaped, spherical shells found in a variety of color ranging from brown to blue-gray.
Disk Dosinias
Disk Dosinias are white, flat hinged clam shells. They can be about 3 inches wide.
Baby’s Ear Moon Snails
Baby’s Ear Moon Snails have thin and fragile shells. They have a flattened spiral shape that resembles…and ear! They are typically white, yellow, brown, or gray.
Razor Clams
Razor Clam shells are smooth and delicate with a hinge on their long side. They can be up to 9 inches long and resemble the shape of a straight-razor.
Sand Dollar
Sand Dollars found on Outer Banks beaches are flat discs that can be about 1 to 4 inches at their widest point, and they have a flower-like shape in the center of their body. Sand dollars are brittle, fragile, and white from sun-bleaching. If you find a sand dollar that is a darker color and has fur-like growth on it, it may still be alive and should not be handled.
Driftwood
Driftwood is simply worn pieces of wood that have washed up on the shore. Salt water and wave action lighten and smooth the wood over time, removing any bark.
Sea Glass
Sea glass comes from glass objects that made their way into the ocean, broke up, and eroded to small smooth pieces over time. The most common colors that wash up on the Outer Banks are white, amber, and green. Learn more about Outer Banks sea glass on our blog.
Fulgurite
Fulgurite is sand and sediment fused together by lightning strikes! These pieces of petrified lightning are often mistaken for concrete because of their color (often gray on the Outer Banks) and odd shapes. Although they may not look like much from the outside, they’re usually hollow, and the inside is smooth glass.
Skate & Ray Egg Cases
Skate and Egg Cases, often called “mermaid purses” are black capsules with two skinny tendrils at the top and bottom.
We’d love to see your beachcombing finds!
Tag us in your shell photos on Instagram or send them to us on Facebook. If you’re feeling creative, we’re always sharing new shell display and DIY ideas on Pinterest.
1803 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 252-441-5630 Website
Catch a flick at R/C Theaters Movies 10 in Kill Devil Hills, centrally located right on the bypass and the perfect destination for a cloudy day or when you’re nursing that sunburn. The cinema offers 10 theaters so you can catch the latest hits, and often screens 3D movies. KDH Movies 10 is a great family-friendly activity on the Outer Banks!
109 Veterans Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Website
Enjoy the many offerings of Aviation Park, tucked back on a quiet street in Kill Devil Hills and offering an array of family-friendly activities. The skate park is one of the most popular highlights of this free public park and offers challenging features for many levels of experience. Pads and helmets aren’t required, but as always, be mindful to keep yourself and others safe. If you’re not a skater, there are plenty of other things to enjoy at Aviation Park, including a walking trail that meanders through the woods and along a pond, playground, and roller hockey rink. You might even see the local Roller Derby team practice while you’re visiting!
Feeling creative? Stop by Glazin’ Go Nuts OBX Art Studio in Kill Devil Hills, NC and enjoy a great selection of paint-your-own-pottery pieces to choose from. Find out more about this, other activities and things to do, and additional information to enjoy your stay on the OBX at CarolinaDesigns.com.|{
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2200 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 252-449-2134 Website
Are you feeling creative? Stop by Glazin’ Go Nuts OBX Art Studio in Kill Devil Hills, NC connected to the Front Porch Cafe coffee shop. They have a wonderful selection of paint-your-own-pottery pieces to choose from, and endless colors and glazes to decorate with. Although they are mainly known for their pottery, other art is offered, such as fused glass, canvas painting, and beads, many of which are beach-themed so you can bring home a creative treasure from your trip to the Outer Banks. This is a great rainy day or evening activity for vacationers of all ages!
Drop a line in the water at Avalon Pier, a classic fishing pier in Kill Devil Hills, NC with a bait and tackle store, throwback arcade with games, and cafe. Find out more about this, other activities and things to do, and additional information to enjoy your stay on the OBX at CarolinaDesigns.com.|{
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2111 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 252-441-7494 Website
Drop a line in the water at Avalon Pier, a classic structure in Kill Devil Hills with a bait and tackle store, throwback arcade with games and pool tables, and a small cafe. For $1 admission, you can stroll to the end of the pier for a unique vantage point looking back on the shoreline, or purchase a daily or weekly fishing pass to try your hand at catching flounders, stripers, or whatever is biting (all depends on the day, the season, and your skill!). The pier was built in 1962 and has withstood its fair share of nor’easters and hurricanes. It remains a place where locals gather to fish and surf, and out of towners visit for a taste of nostalgic Outer Banks history.
Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf in Kill Devil Hills, NC is a hit for kids of all ages, and the perfect thing to do one of your nights on vacation. Find out more about this, other activities and things to do, and additional information to enjoy your stay on the OBX at CarolinaDesigns.com.|{
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1600 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 252-480-0142 Website
Lost Treasure Putt-Putt Golf is a hit for family members of all ages, and the perfect thing to do one of your nights on vacation. A train cart is half the fun, and transports you to the top of the two 18-hole courses (Diamond or Gold), meandering through a coal mine and up the mountain. The holes follow the fun story of Professor Duffer A. Hacker and include fun obstacles, caves, waterfalls, prehistoric bones, a pirate ship, and more. This is an entertaining activity for family night or date night!
The Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC is a beautiful space to explore the historical significance of the first flight on Dec 17, 1903. Find out more about this, other activities and things to do, and additional information to enjoy your stay on the OBX at CarolinaDesigns.com.|{
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1000 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 252-473-2111 Website
When the Wright Brothers first arrived on the Outer Banks in 1900 from Dayton, OH, they initially stayed with Bill Tate, the assistant Post Master for the town (his wife was the Post Master). The house is no longer standing, although there is a marker indicating where it was located on Moor Shore Road. That section of town is often called Kitty Hawk Village and is the oldest settled part of the municipality. Wilbur and Orville Wright later moved their camp to the sand dune and saw a grassy area to the south; this was an area referred to as Kill Devil Hill because of the large dune there. At that time they were still in Kitty Hawk Township, which explains why Kitty Hawk is listed as the location of the first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight.
The Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills is a beautiful space to explore the historical significance of their first flight on Dec 17, 1903. Explore the museum, climb the winding walkway up the hill to the monument, or climb on the life-size replica statue of their 1903 flyer at the base of the hill.