The largest of the three N.C. Coastal Reserve sites on the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk Woods has foot and kayak trails, but the main focus here is and always has been protecting the natural environment.
Places
Take A Hike to Start the New Year Right
All North Carolina state parks, including those on the coast, are hosting First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day, which rangers describe as an opportunity to begin 2020 on the right step.
Cedar Point’s Park, Trails to Open Friday
Cedar Point in Carteret County is set to open for the first time its new 56-acre park and hiking trails on the White Oak River, with features to protect and enhance water quality.
Jockey’s Ridge Park Staff Eager For Upgrades
Staff at Jockey’s Ridge State Park are planning major improvements to the visitor center last updated in 2001, but a possible delay could mean the park will be closed much of next summer.
Pettigrew A Hidden Gem Among State Parks
Pettigrew State Park is sometimes overlooked among North Carolina’s state parks, but those who venture off the beaten path will discover its convergence of wildlife, nature and history.
National Park Visitors Boost Coastal Economy
Visitors to national parks on the N.C. coast spent more than $225 million in their surrounding communities, pouring about $280 million into the local economies, according to a recent analysis.
Cape Lookout Rolls Out Summer Programs
The staff at Cape Lookout National Seashore recently announced activities and schedules for the 2019 season to help visitors plan their escape to the park’s 56 miles of undeveloped beach.
For Plymouth, River Is Route to Revitalization
Plymouth has been a strategic port and thriving mill town at different times in its history, and now folks here say the Roanoke River and its diverse wildlife could bring a resurgence.
Whale Center Takes Shape, But Tasks Remain
The new Bonehenge Whale Center in Beaufort is nearly complete, but the marine mammal museum and workshop probably won’t be open to the public anytime soon.
Renovated Center Showcases First Flight
Once planned for demolition, the National Park Service instead restored the early-1960s modernist visitor center at the Wright Brothers Memorial, which recently reopened after the two-year, $5.8 million project.
Coastal Park Trails Offer Nature Connection
State Parks and the Croatan National Forest offer hikers miles of trails through a variety of habitats, from maritime forests to sand dunes, and the chance to learn some history and get a glimpse of rare plants or endangered critters.
Benches at Preserve Memorialize Islanders
Benches along the Jim Stephenson Nature Trail at Springer’s Point Preserve on Ocracoke Island offer more than places to stop and rest, they are posthumous tributes to notable folks who made their home here.
Effort On to Repair Damaged Historic Home
Lightning recently damaged the 1907 Midgett House, part of the Chicamacomico Historic Site at Rodanthe, and caretakers need financial help to repair and reopen the popular exhibit.
Battle Brews Over Frisco UFO House
The owner of the Frisco “UFO house” wants to preserve the unusual landmark, an area attraction since the early 1970s, and turn it into a souvenir shop, but county officials say the structure meets no building codes.
Report: Parks, Nature Boost Coast’s Economy
The appeal of national parks and natural areas on the North Carolina coast brought in more than $215 million in visitor spending in 2016, according to a recent National Park Service report.
What’s In A Name? Onslow County Places
From Alum Spring to Verona, Bachelor’s Delight to Stump Sound, Onslow County’s unusual place names provide a glimpse at early life in its coastal communities.
