Day 28 – (05/30) Wanchese, NC (Day 1)

Weather – It was sunny today.  The temperature was in the high 80s.  There was a light breeze.

View of the KOA pond as we left 

We drove 136 miles to Wanchese, NC.  The route: north on US 17 to Old Ford, northeast on NC 171 to US 64 at Jamesville, east on US 64 to Manteo, and south on NC 345 to The Refuge on Roanoke Island campground.

Travel

The drive was beautiful and serene.  The drive on US 17 from New Bern to Old Ford was part of the National Geographic Tidewater Scenic Drive (P 107).  The road was 2 lane and tree-lined.  It passed through fields, small towns and very little commercial development.

US 64 crossed the Alligator River and Croatan Sound as we approached Roanoke Island.

Crossing the Alligator River

Campground

The Refuge has many services and amenities.  We’ll park here for the next three days and explore the Outer Banks.

The Refuge - site #15

The pond, pavilion and nature walk

The pavilion offers seating for everyone

Nature walk

Sunset at  the campground

Sights

There is so much to see here.  We spent part of the afternoon looking around the area and making plans for the next few days.  

Stop 1:  Waterside Theatre to get tickets for The Lost Colony outdoor drama presentation on Wednesday evening.

Entrance to Waterside Theatre

Carol approaches the theatre

Stage for The Lost Colony drama

Stop 2:  Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Remnant of Fort Raleigh

Virginia Dare was born near here on August 18, 1587
(she was the first child of English parents born in America)

Stop3:  Freedman’s Colony of Roanoke Island

We had a certain image of the classic "southern" tree.  You know ... covered with Spanish moss.  This one at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site fits the image.

Our classic southern tree

We then drove over Croatan Sound to the Outer Banks northern beaches.  We went north on NC 12 through Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills to Kitty Hawk in search of the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Jockey’s Ridge State Park.  This section of NC 12 has been developed for tourism; it offers no scenic appeal.  We’ll take a closer look at the memorial and park on Wednesday.

We returned to Manteo (the locals say "Man-ee-o") on Roanoke Island and had a fun dinner at Big Al’s Soda Fountain and Grill.  Al's is a 50s-style diner with all kinds of Coca-Cola memorabilia.