Roanoke Island Festival Park
#7 in Best Things To Do in Outer Banks
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2 of 2Price & Hours
Details
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- 3.5Value
- 4.0Facilities
- 4.0Atmosphere
Located in Manteo, the Roanoke Island Festival Park takes visitors back in time to the 1500s and the settlement of Roanoke. Inside the park, you can board the replica Elizabeth II ship, where kids will love swabbing the deck and playing games with costumed sailors; visit American Indian Town, where exhibits detail how American Indians lived in the late 16th century; and tour the Settlement Site to see how the early colony looked – all the while interacting with re-enactors wearing period dress. The park also offers a history museum, a docu-drama and a performance series.
Recent visitors said that the staff is knowledgeable and informative about Native American and early American history and that the park is great for families. Others were especially impressed with the ship, saying it's a great way to learn what life was like for these early explorers.
The park is open from early March through December 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children ages 3 to 17 and is free for kids ages 2 and younger. If you visit the park's website, you can print a coupon that offers a $1 discount off admission.
More Best Things To Do in Outer Banks
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2 of 12#1 Outer Banks Beaches
The beaches in the Outer Banks stretch for more than 100 miles along barrier islands that frame the eastern coast of North Carolina. These sands are known for their cleanliness and their family friendliness. Each beach has something different to offer travelers, but take note that lifeguards are on duty on all beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The shores at Hatteras Island are known for their fishing and sailing (the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras is the tallest in the United States) as well as their campgrounds and 4x4 beach driving. The northern shores (specifically Kitty Hawk and Kill Devils Hills) are ideal for water sports like surfing and skimboarding, as they see more waves than the southern beaches. Nags Head also completed a 12-mile beach nourishment program that widened the sands so visitors have more room to spread out. Travelers should be mindful that the public parking is limited in Southern Shores. Those bringing their four-legged friend can head to Duck where dogs are allowed to be off their leash as long as they're under control.
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