City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 473-2101

Address: US 64

Description: A competition-size, indoor heated pool is the centerpiece of this health club at the Elizabethan Inn, where water aerobics, swimming lessons, and lap times are offered throughout the year. There’s a workout room with Nautilus and Paramount equipment, free weights, Stair-masters, treadmills, and an aerobicycle. Low-impact and step aerobics instruction is available daily. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a racquetball court, sundecks, a sauna, and massage therapy on the premises. Nautics Hall is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mon through Fri, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on summer weekends. On Sunday during the off-season, hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monthly memberships cost $50 per person.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 473-5577

Address: Pirate’s Cove Marina

Description: Sunset cruises around Roanoke Island take place every evening except Sunday throughout the summer on this sturdy, 2-story 65-foot vessel that accommodates 100 passengers. Trips include commentary about the Outer Banks, while the boat cruises past Andy Griffith’s house, Roanoke Island Festival Park, and Jockey’s Ridge. The boat departs at 6:30 p.m., returning about 90 minutes later. This is also a fishing headboat.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Address: Queen Elizabeth Avenue

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 473-4866, (866) 724-5629

Address: Manteo Waterfront Marina

Description: A 55-foot topsail schooner, the Downeast Rover tall ship is a modern reproduction of a 19th-century sailing vessel. Two-hour cruises onto the placid waters of Roanoke Sound delight passengers with views of dolphin, osprey, heron, and seabirds. A hands-on adventure is also possible on this lovely boat: Passengers may help trim the sails and take a turn at the wheel. Tickets can be purchased on the Downeast Rover, which also has a ship’s store and restroom on board. Deck seating and a belowdecks lounge are available. Reservations are recommended but not required. Private charters for weddings, parties, and other special occasions are available. The Downeast Rover sails from early spring to late fall.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 473-2216

Address: 113 Budleigh St.

Description: The nation’s oldest theater operated continuously by one family, the Pioneer is filled with nostalgia and smells of just-buttered popcorn. And it’s been showing flicks since 1934. For the inexpensive admission price—and the old-fashioned feel of the place—it can’t be beat. Even the popcorn, sodas, and candy are a great deal. The Pioneer is open year-round. All movies start at 8 p.m. daily, and a ticket is only $5. Listings change weekly on Friday; call for a synopsis of the current show. See the Attractions chapter for more information.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 473-2357, (800) 334-4777

Address: Queen Elizabeth Street

Description: Carolina Outdoors rents kayaks from its location, which is right on Shallowbag Bay in downtown Manteo. Ecotours through Shallowbag Bay and surrounding canals are given throughout the day. The tours last about 1.5 hours. Sunset and moonlight tours are also available.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 473-3906, (800) 367-4728

Address: Nags Head–Manteo Causeway

Description: This full-service marina is known for its good service and many amenities. It offers a fuel dock with gas and diesel fuel, and diesel is now available at every slip. An on-site restaurant, Pirates Cove Dockside Restaurant, serves lunch and dinner. Professional fish-cleaning staff is on-hand at the dock, or do it yourself at the facilities. The dock master’s office monitors marine radio channels 16 and 78. Pirate’s Cove is open year-round. For boat-ramp access head across the street to the site just under the west side of the Washington Baum Bridge. This site has concrete ramps and plenty of parking for vehicles with trailers.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 305-4800

Address: 207 Queen Elizabeth Ave.

Description: Located within walking distance of restaurants, a movie theater, a bookstore, and retail shops, this marina has 53 slips and accommodates boats up to 130 feet.Air-conditioned heads and showers are available as well as laundry facilities, a picnic area with gas grills, e-mail access, and rental cars. Fuel is not available. Both 30-amp and 50-amp power is on-site. Block and cube ice are sold on-site. Ask about weekend packages and sailing and fishing charters. Manteo Waterfront Marina is open all year.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 473-3906, (800) 367-4728

Address: Nags Head–Manteo Causeway

Description: Pirate’s Cove is a world-class fishing center known for its boats, captains, and large-purse tournaments. By far the most modern marina on the Outer Banks, its prices reflect its high quality. Seventeen sportfishing boats operate out of this marina, each at a price of $1,650 cash, plus mate’s tip, for a full day of Gulf Stream fishing. Booking is centralized through the marina. Pirate’s Cove Yacht Club is about a 15- to 20-minute boat ride from Oregon Inlet, the northernmost ocean-sound inlet on the Outer Banks. The Gulf Stream is about a 2-hour ride from the inlet. Pirate’s Cove is the central booking agent for four inshore boats. Trips run year-round. Pirate’s Cove sponsors several fishing tournaments each year.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 216-6765, (252) 986-2201

Address: 152 Dogwood Trail

Description: Capt. Rick Caton has long been fishing the Outer Banks waters, both inshore and offshore, and offers a wide variety of trips. Year-round you can charter sound-fishing trips with Caton, who specializes in catching striped bass. He’ll take you fly fishing or light-tackle fishing for trout, puppy drum, flounder, striped bass, and bluefish. Everything you need is furnished. Caton’s inshore trips are offered on the 42-foot Free Agent. Caton also conducts shrimping and crabbing trips, inshore Spanish mackerel trolling trips, and light-tackle bottom fishing over wrecks for triggerfish and black sea bass. Or you can choose to anchor and chum for sharks, cobia, and king mackerel. Call for more information.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 473-5577

Address: Nags Head–Manteo Causeway

Description: This 65-foot, 2-story vessel offers inshore (inlet and sound) bottom-fishing trips from May through October. The boat holds up to 55 passengers. All bait and tackle are provided, but you have to bring your own snacks and drinks. In peak season (Memorial Day to Labor Day), trips run from 7 a.m. to noon or 12:30 to 5 p.m. The rest of the time, the boat heads out from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Crystal Dawn also takes sightseeing trips in the evenings. Country Girl heads offshore from 5 to 35 miles, depending on the weather and the fishing. This is a full-day trip, lasting from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Older children and teenagers are welcome, but younger children are not. Country Girl offers trips from May through October.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 986-2201, (252) 216-6765

Address: 152 Dogwood Trail

Description: Light-tackle backwater trips are taken on the Iron Will, an 18-foot center-console. Capt. Rick Caton books trips on this boat in the spring and fall. Call for prices.

City: Manteo, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (252) 473-8632

Address: 507 Barlowe St.

Description: Captain De Hart books light-tackle fly-fishing charters inshore, in brackish and saltwater, and in coastal rivers and sounds. On the backwaters De Hart uses an 18-foot War Eagle, and in the open sound, he fishes from a 22-foot Javelin. De Hart has been featured on ESPN’s Fly-Fishing America program and is a regular on The Carolina Outdoor Journal.