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Look at the Horses at the Ocracoke Pony Pens

Housed in a 180-acre pasture located just off Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island, the 30 horses that live in the Ocracoke Pony Pens are a popular attraction. Maintained by the National Park Service, the once-wild horses are a large part of the Island's history. At times in history, the herd of wild horses ranged from 200 to 500. Much like the Corolla Wild Horses, it is believed that these horses arrived on Ocracoke by swimming ashore from Spanish shipwrecks off the coast. When you make your trip to Ocracoke Island, don't forget to stop and visit the Ocracoke Pony Pens!

Tour the Whalehead Club

The Whalehead Club, located in Corolla, was built as a private residence in the 1920s, when the Outer Banks was visited primarily by waterfowl hunters. From 1934 through 1969, the home sat empty while the original owners' family was uninterested in spending time in the home's remote location. In 1969 the home was purchased by a new owner, who also left the home sit empty for 25 more years. During this time period, The Whalehead Club suffered significant vandalism. It is now owned by Currituck County and has been restored to its original look from 1925. Visitors are welcome and 45-minute guided tours of the house are available. Admission is $7 for adults and children under eight are free. The Whalehead Club is also a popular setting for many outdoor weddings, since it is situated on the Currituck Sound and offers beautiful water and sunset views.

Play a Friendly Game of Miniature Golf

The Outer Banks is home to more than 12 miniature golf courses, which are located as far north as Corolla and as far south as Frisco. Most courses open at 10:00 a.m. and stay open past midnight in the summer months. There are a variety of themes at these miniature golf courses, ranging from dinosaurs and other animals to pirates and buried treasure. In Corolla, The Grass Course can be reached at (252) 453-4198. In the Nags Head/Kitty Hawk area, try The Promenade at (252) 261-4900 or Galaxy Golf at (252) 441-5875. On Hatteras Island, try Avon Golf at (252) 995-5480 or Frisco Mini Golf at (252) 995-6325. Because there are so many miniature golf courses to choose from, you may want to just take a drive until you see one you like!

Buy a Hermit Crab and Take Your New Pet Home

As you may know, hermit crabs are very popular pets. Similar to letting a child have a goldfish or a hamster, hermit crabs are also low maintenance pets. They need a small living area (a goldfish bowl or empty fish aquarium) with sand and some water. They like to eat cornmeal. At first, the hermit crab is a bit like a turtle and is afraid to come out of his shell. But, after he gets used to you and his surroundings, he will come out to say hello and be very active. When your hermit crab gets large enough and runs out of room in their current shell, he will leave that shell and move to a larger one. While you are visiting the Outer Banks, you can look on the beach for some larger empty shells for your new pet to grow into and put them in his house with him. Many of the local Reef and Wings stores sell hermit crabs and houses at reasonable prices.

Take a Local Sight-Seeing Tour

If you aren't interested in boat or adventure tours, you may want to take an Outer Banks sight-seeing tour. There are a few options available on the Outer Banks for land tours. Hatteras Tours will take you on a fast-paced tour of island history, geology and culture and can be reached at (252) 986-2995. Candle light walking tours of Historic Old Manteo are offered and can be reserved by calling (252) 475-1701. Other Outer Banks tours are offered by OTS Ventures at (252) 202-3919 or Sandy Beach Tours at (252) 441-9800.

Take an Adventure Tour To See the Corolla Wild Horses

The very northern tip of Corolla is home to about 60 wild horses that freely roam the 15,000 acres between this northern edge of Corolla and the Virginia State Line. No one knows for sure how the horses arrived on the Outer Banks, but many believe they came to the area with early European explorers. Adventure tours are available to see the horses either via suburban or via all terrain vehicles (ATVs). To experience the tour in a suburban, contact Wild Horse Safari at (252) 453-0877 or Bob's Off Road Wild Horse Adventure Tours at (252) 453-8602. If you are the more adventurous type and would rather view the horses from your own ATV, contact Corolla Outback Adventures at (252) 453-4484 or Back Country Outfitters & Guides at (252) 453-0877. However you decide to view the horses, remember they are wild, and you should stay at least 500 feet away, and do not feed or touch them.

Go Windsurfing in the Calm Sound Waters Throughout the Outer Banks

There are several great sound side locations on the Outer Banks where you can go windsurfing. Canadian Hole, located between Avon and Buxton, is the most popular because of the wind and water conditions in the area. Nags Head sound side access at Milepost 16 and Jockey Ridge State Park's sound side access are popular spots to launch as well. If you don't know how to windsurf but would like to try it, you can take lessons at numerous places on the Outer Banks. If you are in the northern Outer Banks, you may want to try Kitty Hawk Watersports of Nags Head at (252) 441-2756. If you are on Hatteras Island, you can take lessons from Windsurfing Hatteras at (866) 995-6644 or Hatteras Island Sail Shop at (252) 987-2292.

Visit Local Art Galleries and Shops To View Local Talent and Style

Because of the natural beauty of the ocean and its surroundings on the Outer Banks, many artists live in the area and express their love for the Outer Banks in their artwork. There are several art shows and events throughout the year and several art galleries located throughout the Outer Banks. If you are interested in art, you will love spending a day touring some galleries in the area. If the timing is right, you might also get to see an art show or attend an event! For more information, contact the Dare County Arts Council at (252) 473-5558.

Climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, located in Buxton, is possibly the most famous lighthouse in the nation. The tallest brick lighthouse at 208 feet, it survived a move of more than 1,600 feet away from the eroding shoreline in 1999. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is open for climbing from late March to early October each year. There are daily lighthouse tours, and the ticket booth opens each day at 8:30 a.m. Tickets are only available for the date of purchase, and tours normally sell out by noon each day. The cost to climb the lighthouse is $6 for adults and $3 for children and Senior Citizens. The climb is a tough one with several winding staircases, but the breathtaking views from the top will be something you will never forget. There is also a visitor center and bookstore on the premises, located in the former keepers' quarters.

Visit the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve

The Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve is a maritime forest that is managed by The Nature Conservancy, which is an international, nonprofit conservation organization. Located in Kill Devil Hills on the west side of US Highway 158, the Preserve is home to many rare plant and animal species. Spend an afternoon hiking on more than 5 miles of trails and footbridges that take you through forest, swamp, pond and dune habitats. Trails are open to visitors during the week between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Bicycles and pets on leashes are restricted to a portion of the trail. For more information, contact the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve at (252) 441-2525.