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When you visit the Outer Banks, you come to make memories. And what’s more memorable than an authentically local vacation experience? In Currituck, you can explore the rich maritime history of the area and enjoy locally owned and made products, making it a great destination for that homegrown Outer Banks holiday you’re searching for.
History Made Here
If Currituck Outer Banks history is what you’re after, Historic Corolla Park is the place to be. With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Currituck Sound on the other, this park chronicles years of the Outer Banks’ past within its grounds.
Located in the center of Historic Corolla Park is the newest addition to Currituck’s celebration of coastal history, the Currituck Maritime Museum. The free-to-visit museum preserves and shares the stories of historic boats, decoys and other coastal artifacts important to the maritime heritage of the northern Outer Banks beaches and Currituck County.
Another park staple is the Whalehead mansion, an early 20th-century hunting lodge overlooking the sound. This Art Nouveau architectural masterpiece and mansion by the sea has been restored to the beauty of its origins and reimagined as a museum. The museum has seasonal events, and you can purchase tickets for tours.
Want a bird’s eye view of Historic Corolla Park and beyond? Grab your best walking shoes and climb the 220 steps to the top of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. From the top, you’ll see the ocean, the sound and all the picturesque scenery of the barrier island beaches. The lighthouse was built in 1875 to steer sailors safely offshore and still houses its original lens, making it an unmissable piece of Outer Banks history. A small fee is charged for climbing.
Also in the park you’ll find the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, a space to learn all about the diverse history of the local wildlife. Themed Life by Water’s Rhythm, the center is a perfect place to bring your whole family to engage with all the activities and exhibits on display. From the legendary wild horses of Corolla to the multitudes of endangered bird species that call our beaches home, the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education can teach you something new about the creatures that roam the coastal habitat. Admission is free.
Over on mainland Currituck, you can find the Historic Jarvisburg Colored School. Founded in 1868 by freed slave William B. Hunt, the school is now an historic site sharing and honoring some of the Black heritage of the region and gives a rare example of a pre-Rosenwald African American School. Since its restoration, the school has been part of the National Register of Historic Places, is on the African American Experience of Northeastern North Carolina and is open for tours.
Food and Drink Made Here
All of that exploring of Currituck’s history probably worked up an appetite! Thankfully, there’s no shortage of locally made goods and locally owned businesses here, so you can chow down the Outer Banks way.
For the beverage aficionados, Currituck boasts a vineyard, breweries and a distillery. Sanctuary Vineyards uses muscadine grapes endemic to North Carolina alongside other popular varietals grown on site. Take a tour or book a tasting and experience the magic of North Carolina wines for yourself!
In addition to Sanctuary Vineyards, Currituck is also home to two breweries, Weeping Radish Farm Brewery & Butchery and the Northern Outer Banks Brewing Company. The Weeping Radish is North Carolina’s first and oldest microbrewery, stocked with seasonal and craft beers brewed on site and serving a modern spin on German pub food. As Corolla’s first brewery, the Northern Outer Banks Brewing Company will not only treat you to one of six rotating brews, but they’ll fill your to-go orders too!
Last but not least, and the newest addition to the Currituck bar crawl, is the Buffalo City Distillery. Buffalo City specializes in handcrafted whiskey and vodka made with locally grown ingredients on their very own farm, perfecting the art of farm-to-bottle spirits. For a special, history-imbued treat, try their renowned East Lake Whiskey, paying homage to the area’s Prohibition-era legacy.
If you’re on the hunt for a hub of locally made goods, check out one of Currituck’s many farmers markets. Grandy Greenhouse, Powell’s Roadside Market, Morris Farm Market and Moyock Farm Market are just a few options available for you to check out and grab some produce, baked goods, flowers and other artisanal treats. And just like the farmers markets, there are a plethora of seafood markets to choose from too. Frog Island, Dockside North Seafood Market and the Butcher Block are all ready and able to serve you fresh, locally sourced seafood.
Memories and Adventure Made Here
Whether you are here for a spring getaway or for a summer adventure with your whole family, the activity options are many when planning a vacation or a day trip to Corolla and the Currituck Outer Banks.
For the daring types, test your fortitude on the ropes at the Corolla Adventure Park, or try your hand at surfing, kayaking, parasailing or standup paddleboarding. You can even go off-roading on the 4x4 beaches of Corolla and Carova – just make sure you’ve read up on the rules and regulations first.
Take to the greens with ease at one of Currituck’s seven golf courses, or bring the whole family along for some putt-putt golf instead. For more family-friendly fun, splash around at H2OBX, the Outer Banks’ only waterpark.
If you prefer a calmer adventure, Currituck has several stunning nature trails full of wildlife and natural history along the water or the mainland. The Donal C. O’Brien Sanctuary and Audubon Center at Pine Island is a particularly special venture, as its marshes and maritime forests are virtually untouched. Bird watchers rejoice at the Currituck Banks Coastal Estuarine Reserve and the birding sanctuary of Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge.
For one of the most memorable and quintessential Outer Banks experiences, book a wild horse tour led by folks who are passionate about sharing the stories of the horses and their environment. You can join an experienced and knowledgeable wild horse tour guide as you observe the beauty of the Banker horses from the safety of a 4x4 vehicle.
The Banker horses, a herd of wild Spanish mustangs whose forebears came to the islands hundreds of years ago, call the beaches north of Corolla their home. They are incredibly precious to our environment and roam free from the northern tip of Corolla up to the Virginia border. Though we’re all eager to see these relics of walking Outer Banks history up close, it’s against the law to come within 50 feet of or to feed a wild horse.
To wrap up your trip nicely, don’t forget to take home some Currituck-made gifts and merchandise. Factor in some shopping time amongst all of your exploring and visit some of the local shops and antiques stores.
The charm of the Currituck Outer Banks lies in its authenticity and deep-seated regard for its roots. With all the local history, culture and wilderness to explore, we’re sure you’ll make some memories here that you and your family will cherish for years to come. To learn more about Currituck and get a head start on planning your next vacation, head to VisitCurrituck.com.
Welcome Center
(252) 435-2947
106 Caratoke Highway Moyock, NC 27958
Visitor Center
(252) 453-9612
500 Hunt Club Drive Corolla, NC 27927
About the Author Leah Wingenroth
Leah was born and raised on the Outer Banks and is an alumnus of Appalachian State University and King's College. She currently resides in England, writing and managing content in the lifestyle, education, travel and literary publishing sectors.
