Bless our National Park staff. They have to deal with some terrible humans, as we witnessed the day…read morewe were there. But it was handled well and we enjoyed our time here. There is a ton to see in the visitor center and even more on the other side of Kill Devil Hill (the big hill with monument) They have a Veterans discount in the gift shop!

We were so happy we stopped here. The walk up to the memorial is steep at times, but there are…read moremultiple paths to take so others may have been more gradual, but it was part of the experience to step up to where these brothers flew their first flight. Do stop in even just to drive around, it was beautiful!

The Barker House in Edenton, North Carolina, is a storied landmark that blends architectural…read moreelegance with deep historical resonance. Built in 1782 for Thomas and Penelope Barker, the home originally stood two blocks north of its current location and began as a modest Federal-style parlor wing and half hall. Penelope Barker is best known for organizing the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, a bold act of protest in which 51 women signed a petition against British taxation--making it one of the earliest political demonstrations by women in America. Unlike the Boston Tea Party, these women signed their names and sent the petition directly to King George III, drawing international attention and criticism from British newspapers. Since relocated (yes, they moved it two blocks), it now serves as Edenton's Welcome Center and the headquarters of the Edenton Historical Commission. Stop in for information about Edenton sights and history. I wasn't staying long here, but I was helped by friendly folks who clearly love their town. [Review 839 of 2025 - 4269 in North Carolina - 24398 overall]

We were greeted by an excellent curator that provided us a very warm Welcome into the Barker House…read more The house is a beautiful step back in time with period antiques and a very nice gift shop. I purchased a Tea House cookbook and was amazed by the recipes along with beautiful historical notes of the area. You must stop in while visiting Edenton!

The only screw-pile lighthouse still standing in North Carolina is the Roanoke River Lighthouse…read morenear Edenton, a unique and durable piece of maritime history. It was constructed in 1886 and lit in 1887 with the intention of directing ships into the Roanoke River from the Albemarle Sound. An inventive answer to the delicate, changing soils of coastal rivers was its distinctive screw-pile foundation, which consisted of steel pilings that were physically screwed into the riverbed. In contrast to the majority of lighthouses of its type, this one was two floors tall and had a lantern tower with a fourth-order Fresnel lens positioned on a corner of the roof instead of in the middle. The Coast Guard sold the lighthouse to Elijah Tate in 1955 after it was discontinued in 1941 because of dwindling river traffic. The building was severely damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, which led to a preservation effort. With the help of the public and private sectors, the Edenton Historical Commission bought it in 2007, relocated it to Colonial Waterfront Park, and repaired it. It now proudly sits on Edenton's port as a museum and a testament to the tenacity of the local community and historical preservation. The lighthouse is free to tour and the "grounds" are accessible 24 hours. It is well worth a stop. I'm only bummed that I wasn't here to see it at sunrise or at sunset as I am sure it is quite magical. [Round number review 24000 overall - 841 of 2025 - 4271 in North Carolina]

Very cute and quaint lighthouse in an amazing part of North Carolina! The history is fascinating,…read morethe building is well-preserved, and the surrounding waterfront views make it a great stop to explore and take photos.

Fort Raleigh has a lot to offer and you can spend a day here with activities to do. With loads to…read moreoffer if you are into nature and history. Also, if you wanted a place for a bit of peace and quiet near the water. The Fort Raleigh part of the name is a bit of a historic thing. Being the site of the Roanoke Colony. You know, that one that vanished into thin air...Croatoan. The Lost Colony, which was resettled by Sir Walter Raleigh. Later, it was used by the Union Army to establish Freedman's Colony. Where freed people were settled and were able to gain plots of land, build a community. Now, it serves as a national historic site with more to offer. On top of the historic stuff there is walking/hiking trails, a reenactment site for the Lost Colony, and Elizabethan Gardens. Loads to do, that isn't so touristy.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site was a great stop for our family. The visitor center has…read morewell-done exhibits about the Lost Colony and the Freedmen's Colony, and the kids especially loved the Junior Ranger program which made the history fun and interactive. The walking trails are peaceful and easy, and the historic earthworks are neat to see. The park rangers were excellent; friendly, knowledgeable, and great with kids. It's a mix of history and nature that's well worth visiting.

We arrived too late to take a tour, but still enjoyed a fun photo op. Rafter a long day traveling,…read morethe pine scented air and peaceful atmosphere were a blessing. The birds were chatting, but we still felt utterly relaxed on these pristine grounds. When in the area it's worth visiting!

Great experience!! Great cause!! Thank you!! Such a quaint little island town!! Thank you for the…read moreexperience!!

This stuff is phenomenal! It is beautiful, well deserved, well maintained, and well staffed. The…read moreRoanoke River is absolutely gorgeous and the accompanying grounds are immaculate. There is the Welcome Center there that we went into and the women were total sweethearts. It didn't appear that they got much business because they were very glad to hear that the three of us were all from different cities in Florida so when we signed the register book it was three different cities along with three different names. These women were totally in character for this part of the country and you could feel the butter melt with their warmth and kindness. The National refuge was really unexpected and quite beautiful. It was informational and educational. This was one of the best stops we unexpectedly made on our road trip. Just goes to show you never know what you're going to find when you pull over and stop in to someplace new, no matter where it is in the country. What's a girl to do? Hey, when you're on a road trip you want to stop and see and do everything so take your time and see as much as you can.

The Cashie River Center at the Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge is an amazing, little-known…read moreresource in the area. I live just 20 miles away and had overlooked the place. I didn't know what I was missing! It has a nice little museum-type display inside with info about local wildlife--animals and plants. The carry all the science type of stuff that you'd expect, and it fascinated my daughter. The people who work there are volunteers, and they are absolutely knowledgable about the area. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I discovered that they give free nature boat rides in the summer. I will def come back for that when it starts for the season.

The Chowan County Courthouse was completed in 1767 and is the oldest courthouse still in active use…read morein North Carolina. The courthouse's design is attributed either to John Hawks, architect of Tryon Palace in New Bern, or Gilbert Leigh, a local builder. It features a T-shaped layout with Flemish bond brickwork, a central courtroom, and a second-floor assembly room often referred to as a ballroom. The building has a two-stage wooden cupola with a weathervane atop the structure, reflecting classical British architectural influences. During the Revolutionary era, the courthouse was a hub of political and legal activity. Figures such as Joseph Hewes (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), James Iredell (later a U.S. Supreme Court Justice), and Samuel Johnston (Governor and U.S. Senator) practiced law and held meetings there. It is one of the most impressive buildings in Edenton and well worth a stop. [Review 838 of 2025 - 4268 in North Carolina - 24397 overall]

Tons of history in this building! Very cool to stand on original stone floors that were imported…read morefrom Britain. It's still an active courtroom and we learned that the NC Supreme Court holds court here once in a while. You can walk around freely and sit in the judge's seat which was a cool experience. The guided tour with Lucas was fun and informative.

What a beautifully restored piece of history! The docents are extremely knowledgeable and happy to…read morechat! They honored the home with tons of little touches - down to same wall colors. They say it will take 45 mins we spent well over an hour! A definite must for the history buffs!

Such a beautiful building and museum with an interesting history, and in a beautiful location!…read moreInside photos aren't allowed, unfortunately, but expect to see some sophisticated plumbing of 1920's, an elevator and some really narrow hallways. The territory is impressive too and the park that is now there is lovely. It's so great that places like that get preserved and shared. We truly enjoyed our experience! Definitely worth a visit!

I've been obsessed with lighthouses since I was a child (an English thing, I guess?). Bodie…read more(Bow-dee NOT "body", I wish carpetbaggers would stop changing the pronunciations-two generations are now mispronouncing it) is not only beautiful, but has the additional museum and boardwalk to a scenic observation deck overlooking wetlands. I'm deathly afraid of heights so I can never go up, but I can appreciate the beauty and history from the ground.

After visiting the Hatteras Lighthouse and finding it all wrapped up in scaffolding, I was super…read moreexcited to get here to Bodie Island to find this one ready to photograph and visit. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is a striking black-and-white banded tower that has stood sentinel over the Outer Banks since 1872. This lighthouse is the third built in the area--the first, constructed in 1847, was abandoned due to a poor foundation, and the second, built in 1859, was destroyed during the Civil War by retreating Confederate troops. The current structure rises 156 feet and houses an original first-order Fresnel lens, casting light visible for up to 19 nautical miles. It was automated in 1940 and later transferred to the National Park Service in 1953. After extensive restoration, it opened to the public for climbing in 2013. Visitors can ascend its 219 steps for panoramic views of the surrounding marshes and Roanoke Sound. The lighthouse is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and remains one of the few tall brick lighthouses in the U.S. still equipped with its original lens. It was way too hot today to try climbing anything let alone that. I took my pictures and was more than satisfied. [Round number review 800 of 2025 - 4232 in North Carolina - 24360 overall]

Wright Memorial Bridge is like the front door to the Outer Banks. I mean there are other ways to…read moreget to the Outer Banks, but this is the grand entrance if you will. This bridge is named in honor of the Wright Brothers as they made their first flight in the Outer Banks region. Stretching over the Currituck Sound it takes you into the Kitty Hawk area and on towards points south. Two lanes going in both directions allowing for a good flow of traffic. Good thing too, during peak tourist season this would be a nightmare elsewise. Even before that, there was only a ferry service that connected the area.

The Wright Memorial Bridge serves an important role for the Outer Banks. It is the sole artery on…read moreand off from the North. It truly is the gateway to the barrier island. The original (lower span) was built in 1966 and the newer East span 1995. The bridge was given the name to honor Wilbur and Orville Wright. The 3 mile stretch over the Currituck Sound begins to the North in Point Harbor and ends in Kitty Hawk. The current West span is closed for repairs. The official route name is highway 158. The history of the first bridge dates to the 1930's. A wooden bridge was constructed at a cost of $225,000 and a $1 toll applied. The bridge replaced private ferry service. The toll was lifted a few years after it was built and purchased by the state of North Carolina. I personally have logged a lot of trips over the bridge since 1991. It's new West span has made life much easier for residents and visitors. If you catch it during peak time in the Summer going with traffic that 3 miles could take 45 minutes. I still cannot help but give it a big thumbs up.