The waterfront town of Manteo is located on Roanoke Island between the Croatan Sound and Roanoke Sound. Named after a local Native American chief, the town is rich in history and beautiful scenery, as well as lively downtown dining and shopping. Take a stroll down a scenic cobblestoned street or have your photo taken in front of the famous Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. Watch sailboats come in while enjoying dinner with a view. Manteo’s charm is endless, but its history is equally as intriguing. Most notably, Manteo and the Roanoke Island area is known for one of America’s longest-running mysteries — the disappearance of The Lost Colony, for which there are many tributes and sites to visit around town. Manteo is also the birthplace of the first English child born in America, Virginia Dare.
Things to Do in Manteo
Manteo is the home of several historic sites and attractions, including:
- The Lost Colony
- The Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- The Manteo Waterfront
- Historic Downtown Manteo
The Manteo Waterfront in Historic Downtown Manteo is often the location of seasonal events (First Friday, Dare Days, Christmas Tree lighting) and is comprised of a marina, waterfront gazebo, boathouse, family-run Pioneer Theater, the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, and dozens of shops and restaurants, plus ghost tours. Several boat cruises including dolphin tours, twilight cruises, parasailing, and fishing charters launch from Manteo. Manteo also hosts several other attractions including the Roanoke Island Festival park, The Elizabethan Gardens, The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, Jumpmasters trampoline park, and more.
Manteo Vacation Rentals
There are many options for vacation rentals in Manteo. Seaside Vacations offers a range of rentals to make you feel right at home from intimate cottages to waterfront condos. All rentals are just a short drive from area attractions including dining and shopping, historical sites, and OBX towns such as Nags Head and Kitty Hawk. Take in the carefree coastal feeling with a walk to a nearby marina, breakfast in your private patio, or a night by the fireplace set to the sound of the water just outside your window.
