Corolla Recreation
Looking for something to do beyond the beach? Corolla’s recreation scene tends to focus mostly on beautiful Mother Nature, as any respectable Outer Banks recreation should. One of the most popular activities is taking a tour to see the Corolla wild horses. Another top Corolla recreation is going on a kayak outing to see the natural wonders of this area from a backwaters perspective—it’s quiet and unhurried and settles the soul. As with all Outer Banks recreation, fishing is huge here, so much so that you’ll see an entire section devoted to that addictive activity.
But if you have your shoes all laced up and are ready for some real action, Corolla’s recreation offerings include first-rate tennis courts and a fitness center, screaming go-carts, an 18-hole links course, a climbing wall, Segway tours, putt putt golf courses and hikes in a nearby nature sanctuary or just along some of Corolla’s village lanes.
It can be debated whether the premier Outer Banks recreation is surfing or nightlife (though some would argue it’s actually shopping), but either persuasion is sufficiently supported here. Surf shops provide advise, lessons and gear. And, while Corolla’s nightlife scene isn’t as multi-faceted as that found a bit farther south, you can definitely relax with the perfect martini and live tunes.
Back Country Kayak Tours
- 107 Austin Street, Corolla Light Town Center
- Corolla
- (252) 453-0877
Some of the best wildlife viewing and paddling on the Outer Banks is in the remote northern waterways of the Currituck Sound near the Virginia border. Back Country’s unique 4WD and Kayak Expedition carries small groups and families by 4WD Suburban through 30 miles of off-road beach and sand trail to paddle from the private Spanish Mustang Reserve where they have exclusive access. The waters here are protected from wind and current and the tandem kayaks are super stable. Naturalist guides, who are also your kayak instructors, will explain Outer Banks ecology and point out local wildlife. Back Country limits space to just eight people on each tour, which minimizes overuse. More often than not you will even see the Mustangs from the kayaks if not from the Suburban. Each tour is three-plus hours and is the best of both worlds, an off-road 4WD excursion and a pristine kayak tour. Reservations are required.
Back Country Wild Horse Safari
- 107 Austin Street, Corolla Light Town Center
- Corolla
- (252) 453-0877
Scott Trabue’s Wild Horse Safari is a unique off-road eco-adventure that will deliver you and your family directly to the wild Spanish Mustangs that have thrived on the northern Outer Banks for nearly 500 years. Your naturalist guide will carry you by 4WD Suburban through 30 miles of beaches, dune and back country sand lanes to discover Outer Banks wildlife. Shore life including pelicans, dolphins and osprey are almost always present. You will hear stories about the “Ghost Fleet” and Outer Banks maritime history and learn about the mysterious petrified forest. Back Country Outfitters has exclusive access to the Spanish Mustang Reserve, giving you a chance to see these regal wild horses while your tour guide explains their Spanish Colonial heritage and the local preservation efforts. Reservations are required.
Beach Jeeps of Corolla
- 1159 H Austin Street, Corolla Light Town Center
- Corolla
- (252) 453-6141
Beach Jeeps of Corolla is a great way to see the northern beaches of Corolla and the area’s famous wild horses. The Jeep Safari is a self-guided tour that follows a preplanned route. You’ll see wild Spanish ponies, Penny’s Hill, Swan Beach, and the canals of Carova Beach. In addition to the wild ponies, you may see deer, red fox and dolphins. Tours last two-and-a-half hours and are a great way to explore the secluded northern beaches and see local wildlife in their natural habitat.
Bob’s Wild Horse Tours
- 1066 Ocean Trail, Inn at Corolla Light
- Corolla
- (252) 453-0939
Bob White and his trained staff have been offering tours for a long time in this area and have a great reputation for being entertaining and informative. Bob’s tours last two hours and incorporate quite a bit of local history to complement the sightseeing. At the beginning, your guide will take you past the Whalehead Club and lighthouse and through Corolla Village, showering you with some interesting lore. Then it’s up to the four-wheel-drive area, where you’ll see the horses grazing in their natural habitat. Bob’s tours are mostly given in their new open-top vehicles—one of a kind experience!—and they can accommodate large groups. Call for details and reservations. All tours have a money back guarantee if you don’t see the horses.
Coastal Explorations
- 1118 Corolla Village Lane, Historic Corolla Village
- Corolla
- (252) 453-9872
Coastal Explorations is a small, adventure-oriented touring company in Corolla. Their guides are friendly and outgoing and have the skill and knowledge to keep you entertained and informed. Whether it’s kayak rentals, kayak tours, boat tours, fishing, or crabbing trips, they’ll get you out on the water and having fun!
Corolla Mini Golf
- 785 Sunset Boulevard, TimBuck II Shopping Village
- Corolla
- (252) 453-6900
Enjoy famous views of the Currituck Sound as you tee it up on this 18-hole, carpeted miniature golf course. Ten of the holes are played on a separate island! Look for the course at the back of the shopping complex next to Kitty Hawk Watersports.
Island Revolution Surf Co. and Skatepark
- 1159 Austin Street, Corolla Light Town Center
- Corolla
- (252) 453-9484
The Island Revolution Skatepark offers more than 5,000 feet of extreme fun for the skateboarder in the family, and everyone else will enjoy observing. The skatepark is concrete and is built with diverse features like two bowls, a quarter pipe, street course, grind bars and vertical drop-ins. Helmets must be worn at all times, and kids younger than 18 must also have full pads at all times and have their parents sign a waiver their first time out. A CPR-certified attendant oversees the park. Bikes and scooters are not allowed. Boards and pads can be rented at the Surf Shop. Skate for free on summer Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and consider a skate clinic—$30 for an hour and a half on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m. (in season). Passes can be purchased at Island Revolution Surf Co. and Skatepark. Call for more information.
And, while you’re in town, catch a surf lesson! Experienced surfers teach the lessons, which include a surfboard rental and wetsuit if needed. Choose from a group, couples or private lesson. The group lesson is kept small, at most six people. Lessons last two hours, and the minimum age for lessons is 8. And of course the student must be a good swimmer! Don’t forget to bring along beach essentials, such as sun block, beach towels and a drink. Check out the retail store too for all your surf clothing and gear!
Just for the Beach Rentals
- 501 Hunt Club Drive, Ocean Club Centre
- Corolla
- (252) 453-9388, (252) 453-6106, (866) OBX-RENT
Want to plan your own kayak tour? Just for the Beach Rentals has kayaks available for rent, the sit-on-top style, for single, double or triple paddlers. Or, if you want to leave your car behind, you can make like a local and pedal around Corolla on one of their comfortable beach cruisers.
Didn’t realize there would be so many great tennis courts in Corolla? If you didn’t pack your racket, you can rent one at Just for the Beach. And, if getting in the water is more your thing, they also rent surfboards known as soft-tops, which are ideal for beginning surfers. Surfboard rentals are $20 a day or $50 a week. They also have body and skim boards for rent for $8 a day or $20 a week. Just for the Beach can deliver the everything to you.
Kitty Hawk Kites—Monteray Plaza
- 817 Monteray Drive, Monteray Plaza
- Corolla
- (252) 453-3685, (877) FLY THIS
This Kitty Hawk Kites location offers guided kayak ecotours beginning at Corolla Light. You can book tours by calling the toll free number. Be sure to make reservations for the tours, as they are usually booked solid in season. You can also rent kayaks from Kitty Hawk Kites at the Monteray Plaza store. Additional recreation including Jet Ski rentals, parasailing, hang gliding and kiteboarding can be found at the numerous Kitty Hawk Kites locations found throughout the Outer Banks.
Kitty Hawk Kites—TimBuck II Shopping Village
- 100 Sunset Boulevard, TimBuck II Shopping Village
- Corolla
- (252) 453-8845, (877) FLY THIS
Kitty Hawk Kites in TimBuck II offers guided kayak ecotours beginning at Corolla Light. You can book tours by calling the toll-free number. Be sure to make reservations for the tours, as they are usually booked solid in season. You can also rent kayaks from Kitty Hawk Kites at the Monteray Plaza store. Additional recreation including Jet ski rentals, parasailing, hang-gliding and kiteboarding can be found at the numerous Kitty Hawk Kites locations found throughout the Outer Banks.
Kitty Hawk Watersports
- 798 Sunset Boulevard, TimBuck II Shopping Village
- Corolla
- (252) 453-6900
On the sound at the backside of TimBuck II, Kitty Hawk Watersports rents Waverunners, pontoon boats, sit-on-top and sit-in kayaks, two- and four-seat pedal boats. Guided kayak ecotours are offered in the morning and afternoon and at sunset. Parasailing is also offered here. You can rent the pontoons with or without a captain—sunset cruises are perfect in one of these vessels! Kitty Hawk Watersports has a retail store in TimBuck II, but that is not where you book the tours or rent gear. Go to the sound and look for the water sports building and pier on the sound.
Mike Dianna’s Grill Room
- 777 Sunset Boulevard, TimBuck II Shopping Village
- Corolla
- (252) 453-4336
Mike Dianna’s Grill Room has an outdoor deck and bar with live music in season. As an added benefit for all you oenophiles, their distinctive wine selection has won Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for the past three years.
Ocean Atlantic Rentals
- 103 A Corolla Light Town Center
- Corolla
- (252) 453-2440
If you want to rent kayaks to do some exploring on your own, Ocean Atlantic Rentals will bring them to you. You can rent kayaks for exploring the sound or riding the ocean waves. They also offer surf lessons, for groups or individuals, with CPR certified instructors. Fun!
And, when visiting Corolla, you’ll need your car from time to time to get to the grocery store or between shopping centers. Otherwise, ditch the car and pedal everywhere you go. They rent single-speed beach cruisers, kids’ and BMX bikes, Kiddie Kart trailers and trikes for the little ones, plus you can get helmets and gear for the entire family. Pick up your bikes here or have them delivered to your door!
And if that’s not enough, Ocean Atlantic Rentals also has all the equipment you need for surfing, body boarding or skim boarding. They even have swim fins, which are great for body boarding. If the water is chilly when you’re here, they rent wetsuits to keep you warm while you tackle the waves. Ocean Atlantic Rentals delivers.
Outer Banks Marathon, Gateway Bank Half-Marathon & Kelly Hospitality Group Fun Run
- Outer Banks
If you’re a runner or walker, you don’t want to miss this event on a flat course with awesome scenery and the spirited residents of the Outer Banks cheering for you all along the way. On Sunday, November 8, 2009, you can participate in the fourth annual Outer Banks Marathon or the Gateway Bank Half-Marathon. If all that distance at once isn’t your thing, on Saturday November 7, 2009, Kelly’s Hospitality Group hosts the Fun Run, a family-friendly 1.2-mile run/walk to the finish. Participants can even log 25 miles before race day and finish their “marathon” with 1.2 miles that Saturday. The course for the marathon begins in Kitty Hawk, travels on through Kill Devil Hills and around the Wright Memorial, goes through Nags Head and ends on Roanoke Island. The Gateway Bank Half-Marathon begins by Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head and ends on Roanoke Island. Walkers are welcome, so there’s no excuse not to be involved. For information and to register, go to www.obxmarathon.org, but register early because this event will sell out.
Seqway of the Outer Banks at Back Country Outfitters and Guides
- 107 Austin Street, Corolla Light Town Center
- Corolla
- (252) 453-0877
The Segway looks like so much fun that when you see people gliding around Corolla on them, you’ll want to try one too! The Segway is a self-balancing, two-wheeled electric vehicle built for one. You stand on a small platform to ride, and the Segway responds to your movements. Simply shifting your weight forward makes it go, standing straight up puts the brakes on, and leaning back makes you go backward. Turning the handle left or right controls your turns. It’s so easy it seems the Seqway was made just for you.
At Segway of the Outer Banks located in Back Country Outfitters, they’ll take you through a short certification course and it only takes a few minutes to get comfortable on the Seg. After you’re acclimated, they offer a gliding tour of Historic Corolla Village. The tour lasts about one to one and a half hours, and you’ll view landmarks listed on the National Historic Register, including the 1875 Lighthouse, the Whalehead Club and the old Corolla Schoolhouse. Glide through the past on the future of short transportation, and learn about life on the Outer Banks at the turn of the century.
If you’re looking for real thrills and adventure, you’ll want to try the Mustang Trail Ride. This off-road Segway tour begins with a short Seg certification course then off-roading on a 4WD Suburban journey up the beach to the private Spanish Mustang Reserve where you’ll ride the fat tire Segway XT, an all terrain version of the city Seg. As you ride through miles of sand trails and switchbacks through the maritime forest you’ll feel like your on a 2-wheeled ATV. Not for the faint of heart, this off-road tour runs about three hours plus and reservations are necessary.
Sundogs Sports Bar and Grill
- 807 Ocean Trail, Monterey Plaza
- Corolla
- (252) 453-GAME (4263)
Looking for a little action in quiet Corolla? Sundogs is the place. They are open until 2 a.m. in the summer season and have live entertainment seven nights a week. They also have 11 TVs, a pool table, trivia games and a fully stocked bar where you can hang out and shoot the breeze. No one under age 21 is allowed after 10 p.m.
The Whalehead Club
- 1100 Club Road, Currituck Heritage Park
- Corolla
- (252) 453-9040
The Whalehead Club is open year round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults and free for children ages 8 and younger. Children who take the Standard Tour are invited to “Search and Find.” Neither the Standard nor the Search and Find Tours require reservations.
Specialty tours do require reservations and are offered Monday through Friday. Specialty Tours include: Children’s Art, Children’s Treasure Hunt, a Docent-led Standard Tour, both a daylight and a moonlight version of the Ghost Tour, a Nuts and Bolts Maintenance Tour and a Behind the Scenes Tour.
Additionally, a new children’s program is offered this year called “Knight Magic” aimed at ages 5 to 9 for interactive fun with magic each Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. in July and August.
The grounds of Currituck Heritage Park are perfect for a relaxing afternoon outdoors away from the beach. The grounds are also available to rent for weddings and receptions as well as corporate events and family reunions.
Other special events scheduled at the Whalehead Club during the year of 2009 are listed below; if you need more information about events please call (252) 453-9040 ext. 3:
The 8th Annual “Under the Oaks” Arts Festival: June 24 & 25, Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy an annual outdoor art show on the grounds of Currituck Heritage Park with more than 100 quality artists, local musicians, food concessions and children’s activities. Admission is free and a parking donation is requested.
The Whalehead Club Wine Festivals: July through September, every Wednesday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come celebrate the interesting world of wines. A $20 admission allows adults to sample wines, take a complimentary tour of the Whalehead Club, listen to popular local musical artists and sample food from local vendors. Children and leashed pets are also welcome. Parking is free.
Saturday, July 4th: 17th Annual Independence Day Festival of Fireworks: Friday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. There’s food, fun and entertainment for the entire family. Fireworks begin at dusk. Bring blankets or beach chairs and enjoy one of the best fireworks display on the Outer Banks! Admission is free.
Summer Concert Series on the Lawn: July and August, every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Relax on the south lawn at Currituck Heritage Park and enjoy the local musical talents. Bring a beach chair or blanket and watch the sun set over the Currituck. Admission and parking are free.
The 6th Annual Haunted Corolla Village: October 24 and 25, Friday and Saturday, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Currituck Heritage Park will be haunted. Come and join us for a ghoulishly good time! Meet at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education to buy your ticket, which covers a hayride and the treasure hunt.
Museum Shop Porch Sale: November 27, “Black Friday” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Select unique gifts for everyone with the message of preserving the heritage of the Outer Banks. The Whalehead Club’s Copper Collection is discounted only once a year — and this is it! Enjoy music, apple cider and home-baked treats while you shop.
Currituck Heritage Park Holiday Tours and Illumination Celebration: December 12 starting at 3 p.m. First tour and enjoy the holiday decorations in the historic house museum and then gather on the North Lawn for free hot chocolate. See the Currituck Beach Lighthouse simultaneously lit with a giant cedar tree.
TW’s Tackle Shop
- 603 Currituck Clubhouse Drive, Monteray Plaza
- Corolla
- (252) 453-3339
TW’s is a well-respected Outer Banks tackle shop that’s been in business for 27 years. TW’s sells all the fishing gear, sportswear and bait you’ll need for the whole family to enjoy fishing in the sound or ocean. They have a large selection of lures, jigs, bottom rigs, nets, crabbing supplies and more, and they stock fresh bait like shrimp and mullet and lots of frozen baits. You can rent rods and reels here. Best of all, the folks at TW’s offer lots of free advice for everyone from the novice fisherman to the experienced angler. TW’s is also located in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head. See Shopping for more about the sportswear and home décor items sold here.
Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pine Island
- Corolla
An unmarked trail leads through this 6,000-acre wildlife sanctuary, a protected habitat for birds, deer, rabbits and more than 350 species of plants. Stretching from ocean to sound, Pine Island is one of only a few remaining examples of natural plant and animal assemblages that were once found in abundance on the northern Outer Banks. Park at The Sanderling Inn to access this 2.5-mile soundside path that runs through a portion of the sanctuary.
Carolina Outdoors
- 817 Monteray Drive, Monteray Plaza
- Corolla
- (252) 453-3685
Looking for a little adventure? If you’ want to get vertical, check out the climbing wall at Carolina Outdoors. The 26-foot climbing wall is located in the Monteray Plaza courtyard. You get two climbs for $7. If height just isn’t your thing but you like to get wet and wild, they also rent single and tandem ocean kayaks (the sit-on-top style). No reservations are necessary.
Children’s Knight Magic Camps
- 1101 Corolla Village Road, Currituck Heritage Park
- Corolla
- (252) 453-9040 or (252) 489-9219
Go home with a magic trick to show your friends. Ages 5 and older can experience the wonder and learn the secrets of magic with the star of OBXtreme Magic, world-renowned magician Clive Allen, throughout July and August. Camps are held Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. for $15 per child. Meet at the Picnic Shelter in Currituck Heritage Park.
Coastal Kayak Touring Company
- North Beach Outfitters Waterfront Shops, Duck
- Corolla
- (252) 261-6262 or (252) 441-3393
You haven’t seen the Outer Banks until you’ve seen it from the water, and Coastal Kayak can take you there. They offer trips to four different areas of the Outer Banks: Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary (between Corolla and Duck), Kitty Hawk Woods, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island and the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the Dare County mainland. The Pine Island trip, on the Currituck Sound, is the closest to Duck. Tours last two to three hours. The guides offer kayaking instruction if you need it, plus they narrate about the local history and ecology along the way. Single and tandem kayaks are available. Children are welcome, as long they are at least 30 pounds, but certain trips are better for kids than others. Reservations are required.
Corolla Bait and Tackle
- 101 Austin Street, Corolla Light Town Center and 603 Currituck Drive, The Shoppes at the Currituck Club
- Corolla
- (252) 453-9500, (252) 453-9690
Keith Cummings, owner of Corolla Bait and Tackle, goes beyond the call of duty when it comes to sharing his fishing knowledge. Everyone who comes through the door gets fishing instruction. This full-service tackle shop sells every major brand of tackle for fresh and salt water plus gear, fresh bait, crabbing supplies, ice and more. The advice is free. Corolla Bait and Tackle rents rods, reels and crab pots. Surf fishing classes are offered as well. See Outer Banks Charter Fishing Adventures for guided fishing opportunities.
Corolla Jeep Rentals and Tours
- 1070 Ocean Trail, Whalehead Bay Shoppes
- Corolla
- (252) 453-6899
Corolla Jeep Rentals and Tours offers guided tours of the off-road area, including their own private 400-acre Hunt Club. Guided tours are two hours long and conducted in comfy 15 passenger vans or Suburbans. You can also rent a soft-top Jeep and take off on a self-guided tour, with the aid of the navigation systems provided in the Jeeps. These tours last two-and-a-half hours and the navigation system sends you on a course where wild horses are usually spotted. You’ll see beautiful, remote beaches and wildlife. Corolla Jeeps is one of the few that is open year round and they say they can pretty much find horses for you every day!
The company also offers a variety of fishing charters, held in either the sound or the ocean, for a half, three-quarter or full day. Depending upon which trip you choose, you can catch mackerel, marlin, tuna and dolphin. The boats carry up to six passengers, and if you don’t have a group of six ready to go, they can accommodate you with a make-up charter. All fishing tackle is included, so all you need to bring is lunch.
Corolla Kayak Company
- 1070 Ocean Trail, Whalehead Bay Shoppes
- Corolla
- (252) 453-0077
Corolla Kayak offers guided tours through a section of marsh near the old Currituck Inlet Hunt Club. Paddlers are shuttled up to the four-wheel-drive area where the tour begins. The area covered by this three-hour tour is completely surrounded by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge and goes through marsh creeks and along the sound shores. You’ll often glimpse wild horses. Corolla Kayak also offers a two-hour tour through Whalehead Bay. You’ll leave from the shop and paddle around where birds and other wildlife are plentiful. This tour can be led by a guide or self-guided. All tours are by reservations; call for times and prices. Corolla Kayak also offers ocean kayak rentals, and they can deliver them to you.
