Outer Banks Full-Day Tours: Your Top 5 Picks

So, if you are thinking about a getaway to the Outer Banks, or OBX as some say, then that’s great. And if you want to soak up everything it has to offer but just have a day, then this is very, very doable! Full-day tours are often that very, very nice ticket to packing a whole bunch of vacation experiences into a shorter amount of time. Very similar to biting into a multi-layered cake, but you get all the flavor in one go. The Outer Banks region offers you a collection of choices for day-long excursions, and here’s a look at five great tours that’ll allow you to see much more of this lovely stretch of islands. The thing is, everyone gets the very similar kind of enjoyment from this kind of trip that’s often about digging deeper into the area’s nature, history, or thrilling ventures, while having a carefree day away from it all. Check out more on local OBX attractions.

1. Wild Horse Adventure Tour: Corolla’s Untamed Beauty

First up on our list, we have the Wild Horse Adventure Tour, too, and it might be right up your street if you have an adventurer spirit, right? These tours run out of Corolla and give guests the chance to view the Colonial Spanish Mustangs that roam free right on the northern beaches. And these horses? These horses could be said to be the descendants of Spanish mustangs that were brought over, just a little, like, 500 years ago. It is believed that they swam ashore from wrecked ships. Now these lovely creatures are actually uniquely adapted to live on the Outer Banks. The tour typically takes guests along the beaches and sandy trails, searching the areas that these wild horses are often found. You could call the Corolla Wild Horse Fund the local non-profit who care for the horses.

Also, the tour guides know the area, and a bit about the horse’s history and behaviors so you can see more than you would alone. Along for the trip, and, quite often, that’s local wildlife. It includes tons of species of birds. Also, you could just witness a very remarkable sunrise or sunset, yet? To enjoy this trip you often must plan. This is mainly because seats go a bit quickly, especially in the warmer months. These tours generally are very, very accessible for different levels of abilities, yet most people find bouncing along the beach fun anyway. Also, it’s usually better to leave young children behind.

2. Historic Albemarle Tour: Exploring Northeastern North Carolina’s Past

Moving just a bit to the mainland, the Historic Albemarle Tour gives history lovers what they would say is their fix, that is to say, delving into Northeastern North Carolina’s very rich past. This excursion typically leads guests to historic landmarks, lovely towns and gorgeous waterfront areas across the Albemarle region. Often, that’s a skip down history lane in Edenton. There, tours may show you the colonial homes that line the streets or point to interesting local happenings. Also, the Newbold-White House shows colonial life dating as far back as the 1600’s.

That said, you will probably find other historic sites. You might find the town of Elizabeth City, too, a waterfront hub, just a bit busy due to its rich maritime heritage, and with very nice stories that are usually heard from well informed locals. These sorts of tours provide a glimpse into the local events. So it can usually be said that you might just understand important moments that very much moulded the history of North Carolina. Lunch might just be at one of the lovely local eateries to give a touch more local flavour. It is usually that some walking may be needed to do these historic tours, so one would be very well advised to check on this aspect when booking this sort of historic journey.

3. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Island Tour: Coastal History and Views

You see it, you almost immediately recognize it. Standing tall and proud, just a bit more than 200 feet up to be nearly exact, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is probably very much known to the coastal buffs among you. Many folk visit so that they can check out this striped sentinel, which by the way has been moved in the past to avoid getting wet permanently. Tours to Cape Hatteras commonly pair it with island excursions which actually are more intimate look at the culture around the area. Now, you might even be driven on scenic byways like the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It makes sure one enjoys views that aren’t very easily forgotten.

Also, tour guides usually have info on the importance that the lighthouse played with navigation, also the shipwrecks that gained this zone its quite awful nickname the ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’. It is that the lighthouse, so often visited by many who trek the stairs for very nice, stunning, panoramic vistas. Also there are fishing villages such as Hatteras. The tours allow you time to unwind, just to enjoy the simple charm of coastal living, and in a way too enjoy, with the people, how they cope with weather, storms and all manner of ‘nature’s worst’.

4. Dolphin Watching and Outer Banks Cruise: Marine Life Up Close

If actually having a few very fun experiences in or close to the seas floats your boat, there’s always plenty of dolphin cruises you could very well enjoy! A good option for any marine wildlife lover, tours such as these normally take guests along the waters around the Outer Banks for, you guessed it, seeing pods of dolphins in their home waters. As a matter of fact you could be forgiven for doing not just the Outer Banks. Sometimes boats run up to the Pamlico Sound or somewhere similar. Along the route you’re also, in most cases, very close to wildlife like birds. You might get a guide that lets you know how that lot goes together. You might catch one of the sunset cruises; it’s always a lovely experience when at the end of a long warm day.

Most trips say they put money aside for learning with a marine expert sharing stuff with you while there’s dolphin viewings. This often makes it just that tiny bit, like, educational and definitely a big ‘awww’ moment for people there at the time. Remember, that actually bringing sunblock along when sailing can be a pretty smart idea. It goes very quickly as it reflects off of the waters, usually, and you can get burned very quickly in warmer spells. Oh, yeah, there’s plenty to have a bite too with loads of restaurants available near to all main Outer Banks docks. You know, for those of you looking forward to eating when back.

5. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Tour: See the Swamps

Now for something fairly rare. You go near the Outer Banks, you get Alligator rivers? And swamps? You heard that actually right! But these swaps are more like lakes for alligators where black bears actually meet and enjoy it for free. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge does its job in this place; it has over 150000 acres! You actually find more than alligators there, though; yet! Red wolves or Northern black bears call for protection so all usually can coexist, just a little. If any among you love being near a whole bunch of plants with swamps and a bunch of different animals, you’d usually want something similar like that. Often the guides that you travel with actually can pinpoint species, or stuff similar, with all usually said with them usually making for an adventurous spin around there. One just needs mosquito spray to avoid some bad days when it comes near the waters with wildlife at play or similar.

You’ll likely feel some hot stuff that you do not normally expect because, in order for swamps to grow, conditions will make for high, usually not too awful but possibly nasty levels of moisture that you wouldn’t dream could actually touch you from some faraway shore! However most will find going there a memory actually for them for years that might almost always be about just a bit more time with swamps or just a big animal which very, very normally brings very large smiles after, usually with their own bunch of family around too, yet?!

Key Ideas

• Wild Horse Adventure Tour: Corolla: Colonial Spanish Mustangs roam.
• Historic Albemarle Tour: Go back. Enjoy Northeastern North Carolina past!
• Cape Hatteras: Go round one of tallest coasts – that amazing Hatteras sentinel!
• Cruise and Dolphin watching trips. Views and wild sea animals at a very single, lovely instant
• Refuge that has so much alligator area Not common so much. Lots near to it for very special sight see opportunities