Whether you are planning on sharing your vacation fun across Facebook and Instagram or you just want to some photos for a family album, taking selfies is a great way to make memories that will last a lifetime! Luckily, when you visit the Outer Banks, there are plenty of awesome places to snap a quick selfie with your friends and family. From landmarks to museums, here are the 10 best selfie spots on the OBX:
1. In Front of a Sunset
One of the best parts about the Outer Banks is that there are miles of sound shoreline where you can watch the sun set right over the water. Whether you watch the sunset from the deck of your Seaside Vacations rental home, or you go to a sound beach access, there will be a spectacular view that will take your breath away. The sunset makes the perfect backdrop for a couple’s photo or a shot of the whole family for the cover of your photo album!
2. Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Located in Corolla, NC, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse is the northern most lighthouse on the Outer Banks. Standing at 162-feet tall and boasting a first-order Fresnel lens that is visible for up to 18 nautical miles, the lighthouse is recognized for its distinct brick color and is a great place to snap a quick photo. Whether you climb to the top for a gorgeous view or just explore the lighthouse grounds, your family will love checking this landmark off your list with the photo to prove it!
3. Wright Brothers National Monument
Your family will love visiting the Wright Brothers National Memorial—a 428-acre national park with a visitor center, museum, a replica of the original Wright Flyer and the famous monument honoring the first successful powered flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright. Made of 2,000 tons of gravel, 800 tons of sand and 1,200 tons of granite, this beautiful structure reads “In commemoration of the conquest of the air,” and sits on top of a hill with sound and ocean views making it the perfect place to snap a quick selfie.
4. Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse
The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse sits on a 40-yard boardwalk off downtown Manteo. Modeled after an original structure that once sat in Wanchese, this lighthouse replica now serves as a museum and operates to help boats in the Shallowbag Bay area. Visitors will enjoy the water view while the classic white building with red roof makes for a perfect selfie background!
5. NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island
Both kids and adults will love visiting the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island! Visitors will love learning about the unique geography and diverse ecosystems that make up the Outer Banks all while seeing an array of marine creatures from sharks and sting rays to otters and alligators! Plus, there are literally dozens of great backdrops for selfies. From the soundside pier to the large shark statue outside the entrance, your family will love snapping a pic in each room of the aquarium!
6. Jennette’s Pier
Located in Nags Head, Jennette’s Pier is part of the NC Aquarium system and stretches out 1,000 feet over the ocean. A popular destination for both anglers and sightseers, this recently constructed concrete pier provides gorgeous views of the Atlantic and a unique opportunity for a selfie that will make it seem like you're in the middle of the water.
7. Bodie Island Lighthouse
Located in Nags Head, Bodie Island Lighthouse is a fully operational lighthouse with a first-order Fresnel lens visible for up to 19 nautical miles. Standing at 156-feet tall with a distinct vertical black and white striped pattern and sitting among the natural marshland, visiting this lighthouse should be on every vacationer’s bucket list. Explore the lighthouse grounds or climb up to the top for a gorgeous view and awesome backdrop for a selfie!
8. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
No visit to the Outer Banks is complete without stopping by the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Easily the most recognized lighthouse on the East Coast thanks to it’s 208-foot height and horizontal black and white stripes, every family should have a selfie with this lighthouse in the background! For a beautiful 360-degree view of the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, be sure to climb up the 257 steps to the top for another awesome selfie spot!
9. Ocracoke Island Lighthouse
Ocracoke Island is a great place for taking photos! On your way there, you can snap a photo from the ferry, by the wild pony enclosure, or even Blackbeard’s museum. Perhaps the best place for a selfie, however, is the Ocracoke Lighthouse. With an entirely white exterior and sitting at 75-feet tall, the lighthouse emits a stationary beacon visible up to 14 nautical miles away. Although the lighthouse structure is too damaged for climbing, visitors can walk up to the front and take a gorgeous selfie on the lighthouse grounds.
10. And Of Course… The Beach!
You can’t visit the Outer Banks without taking a selfie on the beach! No matter what town you’re in, your family can always pop over to the ocean for a fun group selfie which is perfect for both a photo album and your favorite social media page!
About the Author: Jessie has been coming to the Outer Banks since she was just 5 years old. She loved it here so much that she finally relocated in 2018. Now her mission is to show the world that the Outer Banks is an incredible place that everyone should experience. When she isn't working, you can find Jessie hanging out with her friends, chilling at home with a good book, or discovering a new Outer Banks adventure.
