Here are some ways to travel to Roanoke Island and Manteo:
1. By Car: Roanoke Island is accessible by car via North Carolina Highway 12. The island is located approximately 150 miles northeast of Raleigh, North Carolina, and 100 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia.
2. By Air: The closest major airport to Roanoke Island is Norfolk International Airport (ORF) in Norfolk, Virginia. From there, you can rent a car or take a taxi or rideshare to Manteo.
3. By Bus: Greyhound buses serve Manteo and Roanoke Island. The bus station is located in downtown Manteo.
4. By Ferry: There are ferry services from mainland North Carolina to Roanoke Island. The Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry operates between Hatteras, North Carolina, and Ocracoke, North Carolina. From Ocracoke, you can take a connecting ferry to Manteo.
Once on Roanoke Island, you can explore various places and attractions related to its history:
1. Roanoke Island Festival Park: This park commemorates the Roanoke Colony and offers exhibits, reconstructions, and living history programs.
2. The Lost Colony: This outdoor historical drama is performed during the summer months and tells the story of the Roanoke Colony's disappearance.
3. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site: This site marks the location of the first English settlement on Roanoke Island and includes interpretive exhibits and walking trails.
4. North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island: This aquarium features exhibits on marine life found in the waters surrounding Roanoke Island and the North Carolina coast.
5. Elizabethan Gardens: These gardens are inspired by the gardens of Elizabethan England and offer a beautiful and peaceful place to explore.
6. Wright Brothers National Memorial: This memorial commemorates the Wright brothers' first powered flight, which took place just a few miles from Roanoke Island in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Roanoke Island is a place rich in history and natural beauty, and it offers visitors a chance to learn about the early days of English colonization in North America and to explore the unique ecosystems of the North Carolina coast.
