LIFE IS A HIGHWAY

Photos courtesy of the Currituck County Department of Travel and Tourism.

Local Produce Currituck County Rural Center

We get it: It already took long enough to drive here.

Do you really want to get buckled up again? Yes, is the answer. Yes, you do. Maybe you logged one too many sunburns right before water temps nosedived into the sixties, or maybe it’s just that a bit of relaxation restlessness is starting to set in. Whatever the reason, don’t let traffic deter you. The Outer Banks is more than the sum of its parts, and the road untraveled is bound to contain sides of this area you never knew existed.

BY MAGGIE MCNINCH

U.S. Highway 158: The Northern Corridor

Just across the Wright Memorial Bridge on the Currituck County mainland there’s more than a day’s worth of activities to experience at the Currituck County Rural Center in Powells Point. Launch your kayak or canoe and enjoy a paddle on the sound, catch an equestrian training at one of the two riding rings (horses are big here), or simply enjoy skipping pebbles across one of the center’s two ponds. This dog-friendly site also has disc golf baskets, a boardwalk and plenty of room for RVs, plus you can check to see if any special events might be going on while you’re there, such as horse clinics and dressage shows – and even, on some occasions, rodeos! If a casual family outing is more your style, pack a lunch and visit mainland Currituck’s Sound Park, a day-use destination that’s not far from the rural center. Along with plenty of covered picnic tables and grassy spots to spread out on, the park boasts family-friendly activities for all ages, including a deep-bowl skate park, a multi-use field, volleyball courts, walking trails, a tennis court and a playground, plus a boat launch area that’s typically much less crowded than the ones you’ll find on the other side of the bridge. And if you forget to pack lunch, don’t worry: This stretch of asphalt is home to an impressive number of fresh local produce markets. Pull over whenever you see the colorful signs decorated with smiling fruits and veggies, and be prepared to load up on seasonal specialties that can range from sweet corn and tomatoes to berries, melons and summertime peaches that will positively melt in your mouth. Many of these family-run businesses also offer a selection of canned jams and relishes along with other baked goods – much of which you’ll find at reasonable prices that help support a longstanding tradition of regional farming.

CURRITUCK COUNTY 158

Route 12 North

At the northern juncture where the Virginia Dare Trail and Highway 158 converge, continue traveling north on the portion of NC 12 known as Duck Road – where you can visit the 11-acre Duck Town Park. Its amenities include easy access to the spectacular, mile-long Duck Boardwalk (which is lined with plenty of shops and excellent views of the Currituck Sound), a picnic shelter, a playground and an amphitheater that hosts many town-sponsored summer events – from yoga and children’s theater to magic shows, art activities, concerts and even family movie nights on the green. The best part is that the town council and generous local businesses chip in to keep all of these events free and open to the public. For history buffs or environmental enthusiasts (or both), you’ll also want to venture a bit farther north to the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla. This 22,000-square-foot interpretive center is the perfect place to explore the diverse history of our regional wildlife – and its exhibits include an impressive collection of more than 200 antique waterfowl decoys that pay tribute to this area’s rich legacy as a sportsman’s paradise. (P.S., don’t forget to snap a picture with Banks the Bear in the lobby on your way out!) The truly adventurous can go even farther north to the literal end of the road. Carova (so named because it lies across the Carolina-Virginia state divide) doesn’t get any more off-the-beaten path – but you’ll have to get in four-wheel-gear first. If you’re lucky, you might spot one of the Corolla wild horses during your drive, but please keep your distance: These horses are protected by a county ordinance that makes it illegal to get within 50 feet of them. Normal traffic rules do apply on this stretch of sand as well, and you’ll need to get a permit ahead of time if you plan to park. Prior fourwheel-drive experience is also highly encouraged so you don’t make a rookie mistake – like not reducing your tire pressure – because a tow will cost you some serious change.

CURRITUCK CO. 12 DUCK

Duck Town Park & Boardwalk

Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education

Outer Banks

U.S. Highway 158 (a.k.a., The Bypass)

Running the full length of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head, U.S. KITTY HAWK Highway 158 – which is known locally as simply “the bypass” – is the main drag for so many hidden treasures, it 158 KILL DEVIL HILLS can be hard to narrow them down. Of course, you’ll find shops and eateries galore here, but activity-wise, these towns aren’t just known for their pretty beaches. NAGS HEAD If even one of your crew is a fishing fanatic – but no one else finds trekking out on a crowded pier the slightest bit appealing – a compromise can probably be found at Sandy Run Park. Located on The Woods Road within the Kitty Hawk Coastal Preserve, this park features a half-mile boardwalk that loops around a small pond where

Carova

Sandy Run Park

Nags Head Woods

The Oriental Marc Basnight Bridge

Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station Historic Site

Hatteras Marinas

Photos courtesy of Dave Rollins, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Coastal Helicopters, Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station Historic Site, and the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau (top to bottom). you can peacefully enjoy the shade and cast a line (just please remember that you need to have a valid NC fishing license first if you’re older than 16, and that it’s catch-and-release only). What if your aim includes hitting a few too many people on the head during a round of beach frisbee? If that’s the case, you can hone your skills at the public Casey R. Logan Disc Golf Course in Kill Devil Hills. This town-sponsored 18-hole course behind the First Flight schools has something for both professionals and amateurs – with a portion that’s eminently suitable for beginner practicing and a mostly pine-shaded area that’s definitely a bit more challenging (don’t say we didn’t warn you) near the First Flight High School football stadium. The ultimate unwind at the end of a long day is still to come, however. For a breath of fresh air, consider heading to Nags Head Woods. Part of a preserve that’s protected by The Nature Conservancy, this area is one of the largest remaining maritime forests remaining on the East Coast, and it’s your best bet for a quiet hike that’ll feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of the summertime crowds. The Roanoke Trail in particular is a moderate, 1.5-mile roundtrip path that takes you to a tranquil beach on the sound – and it’s even okay to bring Fido along, too.

Route 12 South

Although Hatteras Island may seem relatively far away to those staying on the northern stretches of the Outer Banks, it’s well worth a little added travel time – especially since it can feel as though you crossed over into a whole new world once you hit the Marc Basnight Bridge. (And honestly, the view of Oregon Inlet from the top of the bridge is 12 CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE worth the trip alone.) Once you’re on the other side, birdwatchers in particular will want to keep their eyes peeled for Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge’s three major wildlife impoundments, which are hotspots for feathered friends of all types. One of those impoundments is located at the Pea Island Visitor Center, which is a great place to park and either browse its educational displays or simply take a nearby stroll along the beach – where you just might get a glimpse of the Oriental, a steamer that ran aground in May of 1862, but can still be sighted peeking above the surf in calmer weather. If you keep heading south, however, you’ll enter what’s known as the tri-villages – which includes Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo – and that’s where you’ll want to be on the lookout for the white picket fence surrounding the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station Historic Site. This impeccably restored lifesaving station was the first of its kind in NC when it was established in 1874 – and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a historically accurate rescue reenactment. But don’t run out of steam yet! It’s absolutely worth going the extra mile(s) to the island’s southernmost Hatteras Village. The epicenter of fresh seafood that reaches well beyond the bounds of the Outer Banks, this village is home to a number of fishing marinas where you can watch local crews unload their catch of the day if you time it right. Depending on what’s running, that could include anything from tuna to snapper – and perhaps the occasional big-game marlin, which the area’s been known for since at least the 1930s.

The Purple Martin Migration

64

DARE COUNTY ROANOKE ISLAND

Richard Etheridge Statue

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Route 64

While the town of Manteo might already be on your radar, Roanoke Island as a whole can be full of surprises – including being the site of the only roundabout on that island.

Located at the intersection of Bideford and Sir Walter Raleigh streets not far from downtown Manteo, this roundabout is especially notable because of the life-sized bronze statue of Richard Etheridge at its center. Etheridge, who was a former slave, served as the first African-American commanding officer of a U.S. lifesaving station from 1880 until his death in 1900. As keeper of the Pea Island Lifesaving Station, Etheridge also led the country’s first all-black lifesaving crew – and you can learn more about their historic contributions at the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum, which is located nearby on Sir Walter Raleigh Street. Looking slightly farther west, if you drive to the northernmost point of Roanoke Island, you’ll arrive at the William B. Umstead Memorial Bridge – where you won’t want to miss the migration of purple martins that roost there from July through August. This annual spectacle of around 100,000 martins is so significant that the speed limit on the bridge officially decreases during the summer months to accommodate them! Best viewed at dusk, the public Bebop Multi-Use Pier at the west end of the bridge is a great spot for observers to watch the birds perform their aerial acrobatics. From there, mainland Dare County’s 158,000-acre Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is often regarded as the area’s crowning jewel. Outdoor activities abound on the refuge, including special summer events from June through August – where you can learn about things like the federal red wolf recovery program, which has helped reintroduce this critically endangered species back into the wild. The Alligator River Refuge now hosts the only wild population of red wolves in Eastern NC, and the program has been such a success that the very first wild-born litter of six pups was just welcomed there this past April.

Photos courtesy of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, Wes Snyder, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (top to bottom).