Nags Head North Carolina
Nags Head has been shown by early maps as a promontory of land characterized by high sand dunes that were visible from miles out at sea. The towns name of “Nags Head” is said to be founded by a land of pirates that lured ships ashore in stormy weather. Others say that English explorers carried the name across the sea as a reminder of a similar location on the English coast, and high point on the Isles of Scilly, the last sight of old England that earliers explorers were to see on their voyage to the New World. Nobody really knows for sure, but legend has it that early 18th century bandits known as Bankers realized how profitable piracy was for sea scoundrels such as Blackbeard thus for developing their own army of land based pirates. These new breed of pirates wer known in that area as Mules or Nags. They would walk the beach line at night with lanterns tied around their necks luring off shore skippers in closer to shore causing them to run aground, allowing the Bankers to take over and rob their vessels.
Nags Head actually became whats in known for today, a Plush Resort Area in the early 1830’s. Though highly developed now, Jockey’s Ridge is the last are of the giant moving sand dunes that stood tall over the beaches of Nags Head. You will now find a variety of restaurants, rental properties, shops and other activities of entertainment.
Attractions provided by wikipedia
Located in Nags Head is the largest sand dune on the East Coast, Jockey’s Ridge. The sand dune has migrated over the years from wind and erosion, and has buried a miniature golf course along the way. A castle is still visible and is a major landmark. There is also a buried hotel. The area surrounding Jockey’s Ridge is good for biking, or hiking. Jockey’s Ridge has been popular with Hang-gliders since the advent of the sport, as well as kite flyers and sand gliders. The Ridge includes an informative museum with exhibits on sand, weather, and area animals. The creatures outside are numerous and includes bird species, foxes, mice, squirels, occasional deer and friendly wild rabbits. One of the most exciting features of the Ridge is its capriciousness. Annual visitors find that lagoons can spring up, the sand can shift making for a fresh experience every time. From the top of the Ridge, the ocean as well as the sound can be seen. Jockey’s Ridge has a sound beach on the Roanoke Sound side that visitors can swim in.
As in any other beach town, the ocean and shoreline are the major attractions, providing beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and a variety of water sports. A series of historic cottages overlook the beach in sections. There are three piers, Nags Head Pier, Jeanette’s Pier, and Outer Banks Pier which are popular for fishing. To the south, is Coquina Beach, an unpopulated area that has huge, natural and clean beaches with its famous inhabitants, the coquina clam, which vary from purple to pink, and are the size of a pinky nail. Coquina Beach also holds the remnants of the Laura Barnes shipwreck, which perished in the beginning of the twentieth century. This remains are out in the open and visible.
Nags Head also has a wide variety of restaurants, most of which overlook the sound rather than the ocean.
Nags Head is often a starting base for exploring the surrounding beaches and towns. Bodie Island Lighthouse, to the south, has horizontal black and white stripes. Further south, the symbolic and charming Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is donned with black and white stripes in a diagonal “candy cane stripe” pattern and is the tallest of the lighthouses in the area. Several years ago, the whole lighthouse was moved to delay erosion. The northernly Currituck Beach Lighthouse is left in a natural state of exposed brick and is located near the scenic Whalehead Club and a romantic bridge. A huge achievement to the world, the Wright Brother’s first flight is located in Kitty Hawk, which in reality is in Kill Devil Hills. There are large monuments for each brother, model gliders, replica huts used for storing their supplies, and a center that explains the science and the history of flying in depth, with special centennial exhibits.
