Spring Fever on the Outer Banks

You know it's a holiday week when you have to wait 10 minutes to turn left on the Bypass again. It’s busy on the Outer Banks this week! I'm not complaining — welcome everyone! With more traffic on the streets and more people on the beach and bike paths and in the shops and restaurants, it’s suddenly feeling very “in-season” on the Outer Banks. The Easter weekers and spring breakers are pouring in, and with the beautiful weather we're having, everyone here has a case of spring fever. If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the spring-like weather on the Outer Banks, you’re in luck this week. Easter activities abound on the weekend, and there are many ways to satisfy the desire to be outside having fun.

Visit Roanoke Island

Roanoke Island is beautiful this time of year, with dogwoods, azaleas and daffodils blooming all over town. It’s worth a visit just to walk or bike around town and enjoy the signs of spring.

The Elizabethan Gardens is by far the springiest place on the Outer Banks, thanks to its sheer concentration of floral beauty. The azaleas and tulips are absolutely gorgeous, and there is so much to look at and admire as you wander along the pathways. During the month of April, The Elizabethan Gardens is hosting its second annual Butterfly Festival. There are Butterfly Releases on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the month at the John White Butterfly Center within the gardens. Advance ticket purchase is required, and each event is limited to 25 guests You can get more information here.

The Butterfly Garden at The Elizabethan Gardens is a welcome sign of spring. This photo and the one above courtesy of The Elizabethan Gardens' Facebook.

Another great place to celebrate spring is Island Farm on Roanoke Island. This is a charming living history site that depicts what life was like on the island in the 1850s. It’s fun to visit anytime, but if you go on Tuesday or Thursday, you can meet a banker pony (tamed horses from the Corolla wild horse herd). The farm has two formerly wild horses living on site. The time to meet the horses is from 9 to 11 a.m. On Wednesdays you can make your own rag doll, and on Fridays you can take a guided tour of the Etheridge Homeplace, one of the oldest restored homes on the island. The farm is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

After your fun at these attractions, be sure to have an al fresco lunch or dinner in downtown Manteo. Avenue Grille, Olives, Lost Colony Brewery and Tavern, Ortega’z and Nouvines all offer outdoor seating.

Do the Outdoor Attractions

On Saturday, April 16 it’s free to visit Wright Brothers National Memorial. You can tour the museum and grounds and climb to the top of the hill to the memorial itself for a great springtime view of the ocean and sound.

Spring is the perfect season to scramble around on the sand dunes at Jockey's Ridge State Park. It’s not too hot, making it the perfect time to climb at sunrise, sunset or anytime in between. Kitty Hawk Kites is hosting its Fly Into Spring kite festival at the park on Friday and Saturday. You'll see massive 30- to 100-foot kites flying high over the dunes.

Climbing Currituck Beach Lighthouse is an indoor activity, but the reward is when you step outside 158 feet above the ground for a spectacular view of the northern Outer Banks. Before or after your climb, spend time outdoors in Historic Corolla Park. 

Kitty Hawk Kites' Easter Eggstravaganza welcomes the Easter bunny. Photo courtesy Kitty Hawk Kites Facebook

Easter Events & Egg Hunts

The Elizabethan Gardens hosts its annual Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 16. They'll have egg hunts, hat contests, games and so much more. Pre-reserved, timed entry is required, and tickets are sold online only in advance.

Kitty Hawk Kites’ Fly Into Spring Festival is accompanied by an Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 16. KHK holds the egg hunts both days at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing (the shopping center across from the dunes) at 11 a.m. (for several different age brackets). Pictures with the Easter bunny will be available from 12 to 1 p.m.

The Nags Head Police Department's Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, April 16 at 10 a.m. in Dowdy Park. Bring your baskets to fill with candy and prizes. They’ll have separate hunts for little bunnies ages 1 to 5 and 6 to 10. Times are 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and it’s free.

There's a Corolla Easter Egg Stravaganza in Historic Corolla Park on Friday, April 15 at 1 p.m. This event will be held near Whalehead.

Down in Ocracoke, Ocracoke United Methodist Church is holding the Ocracoke Community Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. It’s free to attend. Bring a basket.

See more information about these events and a full rundown of the week's other events in our Daytime and Nightlife sections.

Drink & Dine Outdoors

This season we're dining outdoors because we want to, not because we have to. The Outer Banks has some great places to drink and dine outdoors, like the family-friendly backyard at Outer Banks Brewing Station in KDH, the soundside yard at Village Table in Duck, the oceanfront bar at Fishheads in Nags Head and on and on. See a list of outdoor dining establishments here.

Fishheads at Outer Banks Pier is now open for the season with oceanfront dining. Photo courtesy Fishheads Facebook

Rent Bicycles

Getting around on two wheels is the perfect spring activity. One of the best places to ride is Manteo, which has quiet side streets and a long bike path stretching along the island. Bike paths are making almost every town along the Outer Banks more bicycle-friendly. Find information about the paths and bike rentals here.

Camp

Spring is the perfect season for camping on the Outer Banks – the nights are cool, the days are warm and best of all it's bug-free! All the NPS Campgrounds – Oregon Inlet, Cape Point, Frisco and Ocracoke – are open for oceanside camping. Book online at recreation.gov. All of the privately owned campgrounds are open as well. View a list here.