Things to Do in Nags Head

Buffalo City Distillery is a state-of-the-art craft distillery just minutes from the beaches across the Wright Memorial Bridge. They produce premium whiskey, bourbon, vodka and gin using local grains from their nearby farm. The distillery is kid-friendly and dog-friendly with a beautifully secure, fully enclosed backyard. Shop at their curated gift shop and enjoy their classic and seasonal cocktails at the distillery bar. They offer distillery tours and tastings, live music, trivia nights, cocktail classes and other special events. Buffalo City is open every day, and their farm-to-bottle spirits can be purchased at the distillery even on Sundays! You can also find their spirits at ABC stores throughout North Carolina.

Looking to get out on the water? Crystal Dawn, docked at Pirate's Cove Marina on the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, is a comfortable, 65-foot, double-decker party boat / head boat that's all about good times on the water. Whether you want to take the kids fishing in the sound and around Oregon Inlet or gather up your friends and family for a party cruise around Roanoke Island, they have got you covered. For sightseeing on the sound, Sunset Cruises are offered from 6 to 7:30 pm nightly in April, May, September and October. During the summer season in June, July, and August cruises are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Along the way you'll see lighthouses, historic sites, working watermen and wildlife like birds and dolphin. Crystal Dawn is available for private charters for birthday and anniversary celebrations, bachelor and bachelorette parties, small weddings, school groups, ashes at sea ceremonies, family functions and more. The boat can accommodate up to 100 passengers. On one of their half-day head boat fishing trips, you'll catch fish such as flounder, croaker, spot, trout, sea mullet, sea bass and more, depending on the season and conditions. All bait, tackle and licenses are furnished, and this is a great way to introduce kids to fishing. The on-board mate can help with everything. They limit the number of passengers on fishing trips to 50 for the comfort of all passengers. Ask about other tours, including the 4th of July Fireworks Cruise and Purple Martin Excursions in late July and early August.

Nothing satisfies your craving for fun like a day at H2OBX Waterpark, located just 3 miles north of Wright Memorial Bridge. Start with that perfect Carolina sun. Add a dose of adrenaline as you climb six stories and shoot down the Rogue Wave or drop 90 screaming feet down The Plank. Stir in a float down Teach’s Tide Adventure River. Test your skills on the Flow Rider wave simulator. Chill as you get toes up in some perfect shade. Top it off with family-friendly food, and you’ve got yourself the best summer day ever. It’s the coolest spot for summer fun for locals and vacationers of all ages. 

The place to be in Nags Head during the summer season, Jennette’s Pier offers anglers a wide variety of fish to target while sightseers can watch brown pelicans overhead and bottlenose dolphins swimming in the sea. The pier is surrounded by wide, clean public beaches, free parking and a bathhouse, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from near and far. Owned and operated by the N.C. Aquariums, this state-of-the-art facility includes large aquariums in its pier house alongside educational exhibits, restrooms and a remodeled Pier Shop. There, visitors can find Jennette’s Pier t-shirts, hats, visors and plushies. Anglers can also find everything they need for a day of fishing, including different types of rod and reel combos, bait and tackle. Ice-cold drinks, snacks and souvenir items are also available in the gift shop.

The Pier property serves as a frequent venue for community events, and the upstairs Oceanview Hall is available to book for wedding receptions.

Education is a strong suit of Jennette’s Pier. The pier has emerged as a must-see place for schools to visit on the coast. In the past decade, they’ve averaged around 8,000 to 10,000 North Carolina students a year. They host school groups on field trips, offer week-long summer camps and teach Family Fishing – a rundown on the angling essentials – for $20. Check out the Surfside Classroom, or sign up for Family Fishing offered weekdays all summer at 9 a.m. Pier staff also keep busy with two important conservation organizations – the OBX Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the Responsible Pier Initiative, which promises to help protect sea turtles.

The pier has a blanket license for all anglers, so if you don’t have a fishing license, you’re covered. A daily fishing pass costs $14 for adults and $7 for children ages 12 and younger. A three-day pass costs $36, and a seven-day pass is $80 (children pay half on passes). Walk-on passes cost $2 for adults and $1 for children. Rods can be rented by the day for $12 (photo ID required). Ask about prices for annual passes, family passes and pin rig passes. 

For more information about their events and pier programs, call or see their social media pages. Jennette’s is open year-round except on Thanksgiving and Christmas days. In season, from May through October, their hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Off-season hours vary, so call ahead.

Looking to get out of the house and on the water? Take a fishing trip on the Miss Oregon Inlet II head boat. With the shortest drive time to fishing grounds around Oregon Inlet, they catch many different species of fish, such as spot, croaker, trout, bluefish, puppy drum, sea mullet and more, and they’re known as the “flounder pounder.” They have everything you need to fish, and everyone is covered under their fishing license. The head boat takes two half-day inshore trips a day. They also offer a Twilight Fishing Cruise most days that includes two hours of fishing and sunset viewing. Most every trip includes dolphin and shorebird sightings as well as views of Savage Inlet Oyster Farm, sound islands and Basnight Bridge. Phone chargers onboard ensure you’ll capture all the memorable moments. The experienced local captain and crew cater to anglers of all ages and skill levels. Advance reservations are recommended, and booking is through Kitty Hawk Kites. Coupons, group rates, military and first responder discounts and private charters are available.

Over the last 70 years, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has earned legendary status for its celebrated charter fishing fleet and proximity to the best fishing grounds. It earned this reputation as a no-frills facility, but big changes in 2024 have brought modernizations and upgrades to match its iconic status. A beautiful new, climate-resistant, two-story building elevated 11 feet above ground is now home to a retail area and tackle shop run by Oceans East Bait & Tackle, a new restaurant called Sea Chef Kitchen and Oregon Inlet Fishing Center's dedicated charter reservation area and event room.

First and foremost, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center is all about making memories on the water. A fleet of 48 boats offers a variety of fishing excursions at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center year-round (weather permitting). Nearshore, inshore vessels offer half-day or full-day trips, while the headboat, Miss Oregon Inlet II, offers a choice of morning or afternoon inlet/sound fishing. Offshore vessels travel to the Gulf Stream, where anglers enjoy a full day on the water going for billfish, tuna, mahi mahi and more, depending on the season. Make-up charters are available if you don't have a full party. Anglers aboard charters do not need to purchase fishing licenses, and all tackle and bait are provided. Even if you're not fishing or going out on the water, watching the boats come in with their catches is fine entertainment. Come to the docks between 3 and 5 p.m. and you'll see the day's catches being unloaded. Be sure to check out the world-record blue marlin replica mount (caught in 1974) displayed in front of the new building and take a photo of your group in front of the record-setting marlin! 

Come inside the tackle shop and retail store for a wide selection of bait, tackle, fishing and boating gear, hardware, sunglasses, apparel and footwear, souvenirs and Oregon Inlet Fishing Center apparel. Sea Chef Kitchen provides counter service with indoor and outdoor seating, take-out and grab-and-go meals for charters. 

Boaters can launch boats at the nearby NPS boat ramp, which has five launching lanes, courtesy docks and about 75 parking spaces for vehicles with trailers. Oregon Inlet Fishing Center sells fuel for boats (gas and diesel). You'll find Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 8 miles south of Whalebone Junction in Nags Head.

Just about every afternoon between 4 and 5 p.m., a dozen or more sport fishing boats return from the Gulf Stream to the Pirate’s Cove Marina to unload their catches of tuna, dolphin, wahoo and other deep-sea fish. If you’re interested in seeing the fish before they’re cleaned, head down to the docks and watch the mates hurl the whopping creatures onto the docks. Kids love this, and the anglers are friendly about sharing their experiences of the day.

If you’re more of a hands-on type, escape from the same old beach routine and head over to Pirate's Cove Marina and Yacht Club to experience the thrill of a lifetime fishing from one of their offshore charter boats. Your adrenaline will be pumping listening to the scream of the drag while you are reeling in your tuna, dolphin, wahoo and marlin. Or book a near-shore trip and drop deep to catch tile fish, sea bass, trigger fish and grouper, or troll for Spanish mackerel and bluefish. No matter what you choose, Pirate's Cove’s charter fleet will show you a great time. Back at the docks you can stop by the Pirates Cove Ship's Store, where you'll find a great selection of t-shirts, resort wear, gifts and one of the best selections of sunglasses on the Outer Banks. Or you can visit Mimi's Tiki Hut, a dockside bar open in the warmer months, and Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar, a full-service restaurant on the second floor overlooking the marina.  

The Pavilion at Pirate's Cove Marina is home base for three renowned summer fishing tournaments – Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament, Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament and Dare County Boat Builders Foundation Tournament – as well as other events. The Pavilion is the largest venue on the Outer Banks and is available for rental, including 24-hour rental, for weddings and other events. A variety of accommodations are available on-site through Pirate's Cove Realty.