The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a place of adventure, especially for those seeking thrills of the aerial kind. From skydiving to helicopter tours to kite flying, the OBX offers experiences that lift you up and away from it all. For the ultimate rush, try parachuting from a plane high above the picturesque beaches and historic lighthouses. Several companies offer tandem jumps for first-timers and solo jumps for the more experienced. Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? No problem. Helicopter tours provide breathtaking views of the islands and Pamlico Sound without ever leaving your seat. When the wind is up, colorful kites fill the skies during various kite festivals. Whether you're an adrenaline junkie or just looking for a new perspective, the Outer Banks has adventures in store for you, sky high and otherwise.
Take the Plunge With Skydiving Over the Outer Banks
For thrill-seekers visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina, skydiving offers an unparalleled rush. At several drop zones in the area, adventurers can take tandem jumps attached to experienced instructors for breathtaking views of the barrier islands, Atlantic Ocean, and Pamlico Sound from up to 14,000 feet high.
Skydive OBX, based in Manteo, and Skydive Coastal Carolinas, located in Elizabeth City, offer tandem jumps for first-time skydivers. After a brief training session, participants gear up and board a plane to ascend high above the picturesque scenery below. Once at the proper altitude, the instructor and student will exit the plane together and free fall at speeds up to 120 mph before the instructor deploys the parachute for a peaceful glide back to the drop zone.
For those seeking an extended thrill ride at a lower cost, parasailing is also popular in the Outer Banks. Multiple companies like OBX Parasail and Kitty Hawk Kites offer boat rides that lift passengers up to 300 feet in the air while towing them behind the boat. Riders are treated to panoramic views of the Currituck Sound and Atlantic coastline during 10 to 15 minutes of airtime.
Between skydiving, parasailing, scenic helicopter tours, and massive kite festivals, the skies above the Outer Banks offer endless entertainment and natural beauty. Aerial adventures abound for visitors seeking to glimpse this coastal wonderland from dramatic new heights.
Helicopter Tours: A Bird's Eye View of the OBX
Helicopter tours offer a unique way to take in the scenic beauty of the Outer Banks. Several companies offer helicopter tours departing from the Dare County Regional Airport that soar over the shifting sand dunes, pristine beaches, and Pamlico Sound.
OBX Helicopters provides 30-minute tours in their Bell 407 helicopter with floor-to-ceiling windows, ideal for sightseeing and photography. The tour flies over some of the area’s most famous landmarks like Jockey’s Ridge State Park, the Wright Brothers National Memorial, and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Outer Banks Helicopters also conducts tours ranging from 20 to 55 minutes in length in their Robinson R44 helicopter. The shorter tours focus on the northern Outer Banks, while the longer tours venture down to Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke Island. These tours are a thrilling way to gain a new perspective on the Outer Banks and create lasting memories.
For those seeking an even more exhilarating aerial experience, OBX Air Charters offers helicopter tours as well as helicopter skydiving where participants can free fall from up to 14,000 feet before parachuting down to the landing zone. The Outer Banks’ open skies and stunning scenery provide the perfect backdrop for such an adventure.
Between scenic helicopter tours, skydiving from dizzying heights, and annual kite flying festivals, the skies above the Outer Banks offer endless entertainment and breathtaking views of this picturesque coastal destination. A bird’s eye view is the only way to truly appreciate the Outer Banks in all its glory.
Parasailing Lessons: Learn to Fly in the Outer Banks
The Outer Banks offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of parasailing. Parasailing lessons provide individuals with the chance to learn how to safely take flight while harnessed to a parachute hundreds of feet in the air.
Several companies along the Outer Banks coast like Kitty Hawk Kites, Duck Corolla Parasail, and a few more offer parasailing lessons and excursions for adventure seekers. Under the guidance of certified instructors, participants can learn proper safety techniques and harnessing procedures to prepare for a parasailing flight. Once the parachute is launched into the air by a boat, individuals experience the exhilaration of soaring high above the Atlantic Ocean with panoramic views of the Outer Banks.
For those interested in a memorable activity during their Outer Banks vacation, parasailing lessons provide an exciting way to see the coast from an unparalleled vantage point. After completing a lesson, individuals will have gained a new skill and lifelong memory of flying over the picturesque beaches and barrier islands of the Outer Banks.
Kiting in the Clouds: Annual Kite Festivals Along the OBX Coast
The Outer Banks of North Carolina host several kite festivals each year that draw crowds from around the country. The largest is the OBX Spring Kite Festival held each April in Nags Head. For over 30 years, kite flyers have gathered to show off their skills and compete for prizes in various categories. Spectators can witness kites of all shapes, sizes, and themes dancing across the sky.
A second major event is the OBX Stunt Kite Competition in May where kite athletes perform aerial acrobatics and choreographed routines set to music. Stunt kite teams twist, turn, and flip their kites through the air at dizzying speeds, demonstrating the latest innovations in kite technology and design. These colorful performances are a sight to behold for all ages.
For those interested in kite-making, the OBX Indoor Kite Festival teaches visitors how to construct their own kites to fly on the beach. Budding kite enthusiasts can choose from a variety of kite kits to assemble and decorate. Local kite experts provide guidance to help even novice kite builders create a kite that soars.
In addition to the larger festivals, kite flyers often gather for casual or themed fly-ins up and down the Outer Banks coastline, especially in the off-season fall and winter months. These impromptu events are announced through local kite and beach organizations.
Between the scenic beaches and consistent winds, the Outer Banks offers ideal conditions for kite flying and has built a culture around the popular pastime. The annual kite festivals and competitions celebrate this long-standing tradition in the region and showcase the Outer Banks as a premier kite destination.
Conclusion
The Outer Banks offers adventures of the aerial kind for thrill-seekers and sightseers alike. Whether you prefer to gently float over the sea while parasailing, get a bird's eye view of the scenic beaches and historic lighthouses from a helicopter tour, or take the plunge for the ultimate adrenaline rush of skydiving, the skies above the OBX deliver. For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, the colorful kite festivals provide entertainment and photo opportunities galore. From up high or down below, adventures await in the air and on the sand. The Outer Banks is a place where you can choose your own adventure, follow the wind, and discover what awaits you up in the wild blue yonder.
