Cape Fear River Watch
Located in downtown Wilmington, NC, Greenfield Park and Lake is a beautiful recreation area for the whole family. A five-mile scenic path weaves through a natural garden setting surrounding the 90-acre lake. The park has an abundance of trees, flowers, Spanish moss, turtles, and waterfowl. Cape Fear River Watch operates canoe and paddleboat rentals for the City of Wilmington. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. seasonally. Paddleboats and canoes rent for $5 for the first half hour, or $8 for the first hour. Bike rentals are also available cfrw.us
Carolina Coastal Adventures & Kayak Carolina
Fishing, kayaking, sightseeing, Isalnd Trader Gift Shop. Rentals - bikes, kayaks, canoes, surfboards, fishing gear and more. Guided nature tours and instruction. The program begins with a brief introductory clinic covering basic strokes, safety, and getting comfortable in the kayak. Then you will venture out into the coastal marshlands to view birds and other creatures. No experience necessary. carolinacoastaladventures.com
Cape Hatteras National Seashore: Wright Brothers National Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Ocracoke Island Lighthouse
Stretched over 70 miles of barrier islands, Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a fascinating combination of natural and cultural resources and provides a wide variety of recreational and research opportunities relating to the cultural history and natural heritage of the Outer Banks, Shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the U.S. Lifesaving Service. Main offices and research facilities for Fort Raleigh, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the Bodie Island Lighthouse, the Wright Brothers Memorial, and the Ocracoke Lighthouse are located at the Fort Raleigh facility. Preserves and protects 75 miles along North Carolina's Outer Banks. National park includes Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and visitors centers at Buxton (year-round), Bodie Island and Ocracoke (seasonal). Free. Fee for camping. Cape Hatteras National Seashore recreation.gov
Cape Hatteras National Seashore & Ocracoke Campground
Ocracoke Island
Cape Hatteras was the first National Seashore in the country. It extends from Nags Head to Ocracoke Inlet and includes 13 miles of pristine beach on Ocracoke Island. Local folks call this area "the park" and it offers a wide variety of activities such as birding, boating, camping, cycling, fishing, surfing, swimming, seashelling and wind-boarding! For a wonderful look at nature, visit the Hammock Hills Nature Trail on the island. Local shops on the island offer a variety of rentals such as bikes, kayaks, wind boards, etc.to help you explore this area. Ocracoke Island has the uniqueness of having the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Pamlico Sound on the other. These factors give the visitor a choice of water activities, depending on their abilities. There is also a National Park Campground on the island, situated between the two bodies of water with easy highway access nearby. Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Freedmen's Colony / Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
The Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony is recognized as a historic National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site. A marker was erected in 2001 to designate the site of a permanent colony on Roanoke Island between 1862 and 1867. Most of its 3,000 residents had been slaves three years earlier in northeastern North Carolina. Today, there is a path through the woods north of Fort Raleigh that leads visitors to a commemorative park along Croatan Sound. ## Civil War: Freedmen's Colony set up after Union forces captured the island. Slaves escaping the mainland flocked to the protection of the Federal army. A formal colony was established in May 1863. Several units of Union troops were raised from the colony. Fort Raleigh coastalguide.com/packet/freedmanscolony
Halyburton Memorial Park
Halyburton Memorial Park contains a 58-acre nature preserve, a 1.5 mile walking and biking trail, picnic shelters and playground equipment, and a unique environmental education and events center. halyburtonpond.com
Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
The Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve is an 1,800 acre protected area made up of both maritime deciduous forest, maritime swamp forest and fresh and brackish marsh ecosystems. The only maritime forest in the state dominated by the bald cypress. More Info: Kitty Hawk Woods
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
Knotts Island
8,646 acres in the northeastern part of Currituck County. Visitors Center is in the Kitchen Tract Hunt Club, A small boat launch for boats of 16 foot or smaller, 20 miles of canals and creeks. Open for walking, biking, fishing and wildlife observation. Access to Back Bay of VA and the Currituck Sound. Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge"> recreation.gov
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Salter Path
Located in the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area, the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores includes nature trails open to birders and sightseers. The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores was established to promote an awareness, understanding, appreciation, and conservation of the diverse natural and cultural resources associated with North Carolina's ocean, estuaries, rivers, streams, and other aquatic environments. ncaquariums.com
Oak Island Scenic Parks & Recreation Walkway & Nature Center
The walkway spans the Davis Creek and is a perfect opportunity to view an estuary system. Also connects to an extensive bike and walking path. Newly constructed 52nd Street Nature Center is an educational center where children and adults can learn about the environment. Touch pool, Animals and a Talking Tree Trail. Other facilities include the Oak Island Ocean Education Center at 49th SE Street & Beach Drive; Oak Island Skate Park at 49th Street, SE & Beach Drive; Oak Island Recreation Center at 3003 E. Oak Island Drive. Town Of Oak Island
Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge and Gull Rock
Hyde County
Swan Quarter Refuge is 16,411 acres of salt marsh island and forested wetlands interspersed with potholes, creeks, and drains. Marsh vegetation is dominated by black needlerush and sawgrass. The mainland is forested by loblolly pine, pond pine, and bald cypress. Approximately 8,800 acres are part of the National Wilderness preservation System and as such is protected from all construction, drainage, and managed timber practices which guarantees the integrity of these invaluable wildlands for years to come. The refuge provides wintering habitat for hundreds of black ducks, mergansers, bufflehead, ruddy ducks and thousands of canvasbacks, redheads, surf scoters, and scaup. Additionally, it provides nesting habitat for osprey, black ducks, and colonial waterbirds and supports one of the northernmost populations of the American alligator. Bald eagles use the area in the winter and may find nesting habitat on the refuge. Mammals such as white-tailed deer, raccoons, swamp rabbits, river otter, and occasionally black bear use the refuge too. Visitors can enjoy such recreational opportunities as wildlife observation, fishing, and waterfowl hunting. Visitors are welcome to hike or bike through the two undeveloped trails on the refuge during daylight hours. A 1,000-foot fishing pier is available along with fishing by boat around the marsh edges. A 6,120 acre area of marsh is open to duck and coot hunting in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations. Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge nature.org recreation.gov
Skewarkee Rail Trail
Williamston, Martin County
A mile-long paved biking and walking trail from downtown Williamston to the Roanoke River waterfront. First rail trail in northeastern North Carolina. Martin County Tourism
Wheel Fun Rentals
Explore Pleasure Island on one of our many unique bicycles. Take the whole family for a ride to the pier on a "surrey" bike that will accomodate up to eight riders or take yourself for a ride on an exciting quad sport or chopper wheelfunrentals.com
