Travel Lens
Gardens, tall ships and the mystery of the Lost Colony give this Outer Banks island its own brand of history.
Wander more than 10 acres of seasonal blooms, a butterfly house, Renaissance-style sculpture and a notable camellia collection.
See sea turtles, sharks, stingrays and horseshoe crabs, plus the USS Monitor remnants in the Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit.
Climb aboard Elizabeth II, a replica of a 1585 expedition ship, and explore a re-created settlement with huts and a blacksmith.
Housed in the 1904 courthouse, this gallery shows paintings, sculpture, pottery and photography by local and regional artists.
In Nags Head, a 10-minute drive away, cast a line from the 1,000-foot ocean pier or just stroll the boardwalk above the waves.
Dig into the mystery of the Lost Colony at the site of England’s first New World settlement, and catch the play at the Waterside Theater.
A small red-roofed lighthouse on the Manteo waterfront with a boardwalk, views over Shallowbag Bay and fewer crowds.
Swipe up for all 20 things to do in Roanoke Island in our full guide.