A visit to the Outer Banks of North Carolina can be an excellent choice for vacationers looking for cheap travel ideas, because the main attraction is the beach and the opportunity to spend time outdoors.
Still, if you've spent days frolicking in the waves and would like to explore other things to do on a budget in the area, here are five travel ideas to help you out:
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1. Visit
Roanoke Island Festival Park and see the lighthouse, learn about the area's history, and explore numerous attractions. Children will love the Roanoke Adventure Museum where they can dress up in 16th century clothing, and the whole family will enjoy the Elizabeth II, a 16th century merchant ship. Admission is just $10 for adults, and you can spend almost an entire day here.
2. The
Jockeys Ridge State Park at Nags Head gets the No. 1 vote for things to do in the Outer Banks on Trip Advisor. It’s famous as the largest sand dune on the East Coast, and your family will enjoy hiking to the top.
You can follow self-guided hiking trails, take a hang-gliding lesson, or join in numerous water sports — or even try sand boarding, according to the park’s website.
3. A visit to North Carolina wouldn’t be complete without seeing its iconic symbol, the
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. For more than 100 years, the striped lighthouse has warned sailors to take care near the Diamond Shoals, a Hatteras website said.
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Open from early April through mid-October, visitors can climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse steps (all 268 of them) for a beautiful view — and good exercise. Admission to a visitors center and museum is nominal.
4. Visit
The Elizabethan Gardens to enjoy horticultural beauty designed to please Queen Elizabeth I and to commemorate the first English settlement in the New World, according to the organization's website. Beautiful statuary, a gatehouse, and an educational center all contribute to the enjoyment of visitors.
5. Take a free ferry ride on the
Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry to Ocracoke Island, then spend a relaxing afternoon on the beach or exploring the small village. You won't find a lot of commercial shops there, so it's a great way to spend an inexpensive, easy-going day.
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