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Outer Banks Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Overview
Explore North Carolina's Outer Banks on this self-guided car tour. First, see the majestic Bodie Island Lighthouse and the peaceful Coquina Beach, where nature and history merge. Continue to Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site, a maritime hero attraction. Next, see the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, a coastal landmark. Last stop: the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where flight dreams were realized. Explore maritime history and pioneering spirit in stunning coastal scenery.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
City: Outer Banks
Thu 10 Apr
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You can choose the date already on the booking website
Starting at $24.99
Thu 10 Apr
Starting at $24.99
Make a reservation
What's Included
Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
Additional Info
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
  • How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
  • Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
  • Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
What To Expect
1
Bodie Island Lighthouse
In 1921, the four-masted schooner Laura Barnes was sailing from Massachusetts to South Carolina to pick up a load of cargo. But the weather turned foul. A dense fog rolled in and the waves grew treacherous. Unable to see, the captain didn’t spot this shore… until it was too late! The ship crashed into the beach and broke apart. The entire crew made it out alive, but the ship stayed stuck! Salvagers scavenged most of it, but some of the ship’s remains are still lodged in the sand here to this day!
2
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
We’re now driving through 13 miles of nature preserve! It’s the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and it stretches from the bottom of the Oregon Inlet to the northern border of the community of Rodanthe. And it’s part of what scientists call “the Atlantic Flyway.” This is a corridor that migratory birds use to travel up and down the coast, sort of like a highway in the sky! Birds use these beaches as pit stops along their way.
3
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Do you remember that the Bodie Lighthouse was so poorly built that it leaned like the tower of Pisa? Well, you’re about to see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and it had a tough time starting out too.
4
Hatteras
We’re entering the small village of Hatteras. If you love fishing, this little village is the place for you! Locals and visitors alike make their money and spend their free time with a rod and reel in their hands. It’s got a population of around 400 people, so it’s as quiet and as quaint as a small town can get. The roads snake and meander around with no grids and no official plots. Everything here feels connected to nature.
5
Jockey's Ridge State Park
In just a moment we’ll see huge sand dunes off to our left. Those belong to Jockey’s Ridge State Park, the tallest sand dune system in the Eastern United States! But why are there sand dunes in the middle of this island? Aren’t the islands themselves sand dunes? Well, scientists believe that over many years, storms and hurricanes wash sand inland. Meanwhile, the winds from the mainland blow in the other direction.
6
Wright Brothers National Memorial
To visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial, turn left onto Wright Memorial Drive. It’s got full-scale models of the brothers’ planes, markers of the distances of each flight the Wright Flyer took, and more.
7
Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve
We’re driving through the town of Kitty Hawk. You’ve probably heard the name before. After all, historians credit this town with being where Wilbur and Orville took their first flight. But technically, the brothers took their flight a few miles south of the town line, in a place called Kill Devil Hills. Quite a name, I know! Since that wasn’t an official town in 1903, Kitty Hawk gets the credit for Orville and Wilbur!
8
Duck Town Park Boardwalk
Coming up on our left is the Duck Town Park Boardwalk. This scenic park features waterfront trails, shops, restaurants, and more. If you’d like to visit and stretch your legs, turn left at the sign that says, “Town of Duck.” Otherwise, continue straight.
9
Corolla
We’re entering the town of Corolla. Off to our right, beyond the houses, stretches the seemingly infinite expanse of sand known as Corolla Beach. The locals here number around 500, but in the summer, the population surges into the thousands! Vacationers come here from all over to enjoy the small-town feel, the watersports, and that herd of wild horses.
10
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Currituck Beach Lighthouse is coming up in a few minutes. I’ll let you know when to turn if you want to see it. On December 1, 1875, engineers finished construction on this “first-order” lighthouse. “First order” means the biggest kind of lighthouse. The Fresnel lens at the top of the tower stands about eight and a half feet tall and stretches to around six feet wide! Its light can be seen from 21 miles away! The lighthouse itself stands 162 feet tall.
Show 7 more stops
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveler Photos
Reviews (18)
Lorey C
Dec 2023
The tour was a historical delight. We explored iconic lighthouse and learned about the Wright Brother's flight. The rich history made the journey memorable along the beautiful shoreline.
Response from Host
Dec 2023
Lorey, I'm thrilled that the Outer Banks Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour offered you a delightful historical experience! It's lovely that you enjoyed exploring the iconic lighthouses and delving into the Wright Brothers' flight history along the stunning shoreline. If you're eager to discover more places with ease and depth, don’t forget to check out my Action+ Tour Bundle for over 100 more self-guided tours.
Betty T
Nov 2023
Very informative my husband asked about the vegetation in the area. Some information we knew but then their was new information
Response from Host
Nov 2023
Betty, I'm thrilled to hear that you found my Outer Banks Audio Tour very informative and provided both familiar and new insights, especially regarding the vegetation in the area. If you're looking forward to more explorations, don't forget to check out my Action+ Tour Bundle for over 100 more self-guided adventures.
Joann B
Nov 2023
My wife and I recently wrapped up this tour, and it was beautiful! It's a lot of fun and full of exciting information. It was great since it ensured we didn't miss any cool spots on Cape Hatteras, and the Wright Brothers' story was quite touching. It's worth it and a fantastic way to ensure you see everything!
Response from Host
Dec 2023
Joann, I'm delighted you and your wife enjoyed my Outer Banks Audio Tour! It's lovely to know that the tour added to the fun and excitement of your trip, ensuring you didn't miss any highlights in Cape Hatteras and that you found the Wright Brothers' story touching. If you're looking forward to more explorations, don’t forget to check out my Action+ Tour Bundle for over 100 more self-guided adventures.

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