Top 5 Outer Banks History Tours: Reviews & Insights

So, you know, Outer Banks, North Carolina. It’s a cool place, very dripping in all kinds of, like, interesting stuff that went on way back. And what way could be better, to learn all about it than to hop on a tour? So, too, it’s almost like you’re stepping straight into a history book, and you don’t even need to do the reading! The Outer Banks are chock-full of cool, quirky tours, from, like, super spooky ghost walks to daytime treks exploring old colonial settlements. It can be tricky, that, to figure out just which one’s worth your precious time. Don’t you worry, my friend! I’ve personally checked a bunch of them, and I am here to give you what you need, which is all the juicy deets. Ready to find out what the best historical tours are on the Outer Banks? I hope so, let’s go!

1. Roanoke Island Historical Tour

Okay, so, the Roanoke Island Historical Tour. Arguably it’s the most famous mystery of the Outer Banks and possibly all of North America: What really happened to the Lost Colony? This tour tends to focus on what that poor, unlucky group had to go through and also covers the interactions the colonists likely had with the native peoples. Tours very, very often include a stop at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, which is where the colonists built their fort. You’ll get to check out exhibits that explain what life then was like and see some of the neat tools people used back in the day. You should also hear about theories behind the colony’s failure to thrive, with plenty of spooky whispers and intrigue.

This kind of tour is, in a way, pretty awesome for people who are really fascinated by old stories or who just enjoy solving a brain-teaser puzzle. As a matter of fact, I think I overheard one of the guides telling another that the tour gets people from all over the world who like history a lot, which is saying something!

Want more info on this? Read our full review: Roanoke Island Historical Tour Full Review and Details

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2. Wright Brothers National Memorial Tour

Speaking of ingenuity, if you enjoy tours, The Wright Brothers National Memorial Tour at Kill Devil Hills might be perfect. Okay, so this very place, where Wilbur and Orville Wright first flew, and very often, that location provides one heck of an inspiring backdrop to just hear about their story. You will almost always get to stand right on the spot where history actually was written – how cool is that?

What I also liked that was very neat is that the park rangers know so, so much, which is so nice for really getting the context around their experiments. They very much go into all the ups and downs, including the clever tweaks the Wrights made to their flying machines each time something didn’t work right. But this tour is really interesting in that, more or less, it’s not only for folks interested in aviation or, you know, airplanes – but it might just inspire anyone to reach high, against the odds!

Interested in knowing more? Read our full review: Wright Brothers National Memorial Tour Full Review and Details

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3. Graveyard of the Atlantic Tour

Next, we move onto something that’s totally one-of-a-kind: the Graveyard of the Atlantic Tour! The Outer Banks can be a really treacherous place when it comes to weather conditions, which has caused, over the years, literally hundreds and hundreds of shipwrecks. So, very many local tour companies do guided trips that focus specifically on shipwrecks, lost sailors, and all of the eerie, spooky, nautical stories that have, in a way, built up in this area over time. The local maritime museums usually, very much, are treasure troves of artifacts pulled straight from the depths, so it might be a worthwhile adventure to visit if this tour piques your interest.

Basically, what you’re signing up for, as a matter of fact, are vivid tales of both survival and utter, sad misfortune. Honestly? So, too, it’s almost pretty heavy stuff, but the dramatic, stark stories that, like, honor the memories of the sailors are always done with so much respect. So I will say, just that little trigger warning there! People really into maritime mysteries and underwater history, more or less, find it completely gripping!

Check out the details! Read our full review: Graveyard of the Atlantic Tour Full Review and Details

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4. Blackbeard-Themed Pirate Tour

Arr, matey! So, it’s time to raise the sails! In fact, one of the neatest and maybe most well known parts of Outer Banks lore is, of course, centered all around the fearsome Blackbeard and all of his pirate cronies! What could be cooler than jumping on a Blackbeard-Themed Pirate Tour, hmm? Seriously! As a matter of fact, these tours may actually lead you to the very, very spots where old Blackbeard himself liked to cause problems. Many are held right there in the town of Ocracoke, that is, where he, like, met his end in a very dramatic, hard-fought battle. Now there is all kinds of storytelling and lore, alright? That tends to be spun as you cruise along and learn not only about this pirate’s legendary adventures but also what exactly everyday life was like on the open sea for sailors and scalawags in that wild old pirate era! This is pretty neat.

Okay, so I will say, you need a healthy does of a sense of play and enjoy acting as though you might have been one bad pirate on the open sea? Then this might really be just your thing. Otherwise, perhaps steer clear and keep your land legs firmly planted, ok?

Want to see if this suits you? Read our full review: Blackbeard Themed Pirate Tour Full Review and Details

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5. Whalehead Club & Corolla History Tour

Last, there are some places out in the Outer Banks where old elegance can, as a matter of fact, meet coastal history really elegantly. Usually the Whalehead Club & Corolla History Tour covers an iconic landmark plus, you know, the surrounding stories of what life once was for the Currituck Sound area’s rich and poor. The Whalehead Club is just such a striking, really gigantic, Art Nouveau-era mansion, and going for a tour really gives insight into when the area served very, very briefly as some seriously upscale hunting getaway. It really seems incredible! In some respects, what’s more, they usually tend to talk about what life was like back when hunting was, more or less, the main reason that people actually visited the region, which provides even richer insights and perspective!

You should come if you’re very interested in how the really wealthy would relax back in the old days. Maybe just skip if those details, more or less, would not interest you, or even, like, put you off or cause you some unhappiness, alright? No reason to tour something, more or less, you might very very likely detest!

To discover further! Read our full review: Whalehead Club & Corolla History Tour Full Review and Details

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