Blake Walsh

22 Best Things to Do in Corolla, NC

  • Published 2023/02/22

Corolla has progressed rapidly in the last two decades to become one of the most sought-after travel destinations worldwide.

The city perfectly blends the natural and the modern with its many marvelous beaches and delightful shopping complexes.

The city is also jam-packed with engaging activities, ensuring an excellent family holiday experience.

Interested to know more about this place?

Here are the 22 best things to do in Corolla, North Carolina:

Catch a Glimpse of the Wild Horses

Wild Horses in Corolla

Lynn Wilkes / Shutterstock.com

For equine lovers, Corolla is the perfect place to catch glimpses of the finest varieties of horses.

You can find majestic steeds sauntering carefree on the many beaches in the city.

Wild Horses along the beach

Patricia Camerota / Shutterstock.com

You could drive alongside in your vehicle and watch the royal gaits of these fantastic creatures as they parade along the beach shores.

Alternatively, you could take a guided tour and learn about the history of horses and their beautiful ways of life and habits.

Close view of Wild Horses

Glenn Woodell / Shutterstock.com

Hone Your Skills at Corolla Light Tennis Complex

Tennis fans of all ages and abilities should visit the Corolla Light Tennis Complex.

There are regulation-sized courts available at the facility, some of which are illuminated for nighttime play.

In addition to a full range of tennis lessons from certified professionals, the complex hosts regular competitive tournaments and clinics designed to hone players’ skills.

Whether you want to play for fun or want to join a league, you can find everything at the Corolla Light Tennis Complex.

With its pristine landscaping and proximity to other famous attractions nearby, this destination provides visitors with an ideal setting for their tennis needs and overall vacation experience.

Take an Exercise Class

The beaches in Corolla conduct numerous classes and programs dedicated to fitness and well-being.

You can participate in one of these and get some much-needed energy boost.

Exercising in the calm and fresh beach air with the soft murmur of the adjoining waters can be an exhilarating experience.

You could alternatively book a seat in a Yoga or Pilates session in one of the studios in the city that organize these regularly.

A trained instructor will guide you in these classes and help you achieve the perfect exercise form and Yoga pose.

Play a Friendly Game of Golf at Currituck Club

The most exclusive gated neighborhood on North Carolina’s Outer Banks is The Currituck Club.

On more than 500 acres, it is surrounded by an outstanding 18-hole golf course and clubhouse.

The clubhouse offers amenities for golfers looking for the perfect spot to relax after a round on the course.

It aims to cater to its members and visitors with many facilities, including a health club, pools, tennis courts, shuffleboard, and more.

From its location near the oceanfront dunes and picturesque views of the surrounding area to its spacious outdoor terrace and airy interiors, this golf clubhouse provides an atmosphere of comfort and elegance.

You’ll find unparalleled facilities within The Currituck Club that are tailored to make your trip unforgettable.

Grab a Book at Island Bookstore

Booklovers can have a sumptuous word feast by visiting the Island Bookstore.

Island Bookstore is located toward the beautiful northern side of the city.

Their vast collection includes books across many subjects, including cooking, fiction, poetry, crafts, and traveling.

Children can have an absolute blast in their extensive kid’s section.

The books here are beautifully illustrated and packed with colorful visuals to keep children hooked for hours.

Some books here have been created to excite children with fun interactions.

If you visit Corolla in the summer, you might also want to attend one of their Author Signing events.

You can interact with famous authors from multiple genres.

They invite reputed writers from almost every genre – thrillers, drama, history, and cooking – to these sessions.

Create Art at Local Color: Painting Parties & Fine Art

Local Color: Painting Parties & Fine Art is perfect for exploring creativity.

It offers a variety of art classes and painting parties for individuals and groups looking to express themselves through art.

Whether you’re an experienced painter or just someone who wants to dabble in the medium, Local Color has something for everyone!

Paint parties are their specialty, allowing visitors to choose from original paintings and recreate them with guidance from experienced artists.

Groups can also select a custom painting based on the ideas that the talented instructors will create.

Renting from Moneyswroth Beach Equipment Rentals

The beaches in Corolla are gorgeous with their shimmering golden sands and blazing suns.

You can pull out your mats and get a healthy tan.

The Moneysworth Beach Rentals provide every kind of beach equipment you’ll need at an affordable rate to help make your beach experience in Corolla comfortable and relaxing.

You can head out into the glorious waters by renting boats and small water vessels.

Ride the waves and enjoy delightful visuals of the vast, stretched, and sparkling blue waters.

Alternatively, you can try paddleboarding as you enjoy the rumble and tumble experience with the waves.

Rent out an exciting bike model from Moenysworth and enjoy hours of healthy bike rides along the coastline.

As soon as you get tired from your physical adventures, set up a barbeque on the beachside by renting out one of the fantastic grills that Moenysworth offers.

The beach experience in Corolla will re-energize you, and you will return to your hotel amply satisfied.

Take Photos at Miss Kitty’s Old-Time Photos and Gifts

Miss Kitty’s Old-Time Photos and Gifts feature a unique, old-time photo studio offering visitors a chance to take home beautiful souvenirs of their beach vacation in a vintage style.

Families can choose from various old-time costumes, ranging from Civil War-era dresses to cowboy hats and everything in between.

After getting ready, customers will enter Miss Kitty’s Victorian photo studio, where they can participate in an engaging activity unmatched by anything else.

Customers can also choose from multiple backdrops or opt for an outdoor shoot on Corolla Beach.

The environment of Miss Kitty’s will undoubtedly make your visit delightful and memorable, whether for a picture or a memento.

Order a Cocktail atOff the Wall Tap House

If you seek the ideal blend of exciting technology, delectable food, and the finest craft beer, you must head to the Off the Wall Tap House.

Their unique DIY beer technology is fascinating and lets you refill your beer glasses yourself as per your choice.

They are also innovative in their recipes. The expert chefs in this place fuse traditional dishes with modern cuisines and flavors to serve you delicious food.

They also hoard a collection of fine wines and cocktails, and you can enjoy your sips in the comfortable ambiance of the place.

They also have a great seating space on the patio. You can even carry along your pets in the patio-seating area.

Unwind with Corolla Yoga

Corolla Yoga is the place to go if you want to practice yoga in the quiet and tranquility of the beach.

The picturesque studio offers a variety of yoga classes for all levels.

The instructors at Corolla Yoga are highly experienced and knowledgeable in their craft.

Corolla Yoga will ensure your practice is tailored to meet your needs while providing helpful guidance and support.

In addition to their various classes, they offer workshops and special events such as outdoor sunrise sessions or moonlight meditations that take full advantage of their beach setting.

Savor the Italian Flavors of Corolla Pizza and Deli

Catch a dash of authentic Italian flavors prepared with fresh ingredients by visiting the Corolla Pizza and Deli.

Their fresh hand-tossed dough ensures sumptuous culinary delight with every bite of your favorite pizza.

The Philly cheesesteaks and the sides are equally excellent.

The atmosphere in this place is easy and informal. You can have the perfect casual dinner date here.

Participate inWater Sports with Kitty Hawk Kites

You can enjoy adventurous water sports by taking a tour with the Kitty Hawk Kites.

They rent out the best quality beach gear and water sports equipment with high-grade safety features to help you enjoy the most incredible water sports thrills without any worries.

Soar in the high skies above the glorious ocean waters by going parasailing.

Alternatively, head down and challenge the waves by wakeboarding or water skiing on the turquoise blue waters.

Rent a kayak and explore the deep waters. Ride your surfboard and conquer the waves.

Take a tubing tour and enjoy maximum sea pleasures.

The options are endless Kitty Hawk is a reputed name in the world of water sports.

With their tours, you can have the perfect water-sport day in Corolla.

Go Fishing with the Corolla Bait and Tackle

Test your patience by dangling your fishing line on a charter fishing trip with the Corolla Bait and Tackle.

Situated adjacent to the Corolla Light Inn, you can enjoy hours of baiting pleasures at this place.

You do not carry your fishing gear with you.

You rent out high-quality rods and reels from the large variety of models and designs available at the Corrola Bait and Tackle.

Their guides will also provide enriching information about the local seas, fish varieties, and the best fishing practices suitable in these waters.

The staff is friendly and hospitable. Once tired of fishing, you can wander to the nearby Harris Teeter Shopping Center and relax with carefree shopping and good food.

Browse the Collection of Wines atCorolla Beer Garden

You can enjoy delicious wines and a wide range of lager beers at the fantastic Corolla Beer Garden.

The place has one of the most extensive collections of beer brands you can ever find.

You can find any beer with the right amount of froth, hardness, sting, and flavor you like here.

Their specialty wines are also curated from some of the best wineries.

From sweet to hard, you can sip on varieties.

They also stack some exotic flavors of liquors procured from wine-makers that use traditional specialty techniques to craft these delicious drinks.

The evenings are unique at the Beer Garden as live music sessions kick in.

Some of the best local bands entertain you with their sweet melodies.

They host some bands from other faraway places as well.

You can have the ideal beer experience in this relaxed and pleasurable place.

Try the Best Popcorn in Outer Banks Popcorn Shoppe

Outer Banks Popcorn Shoppe is a unique attraction in Corolla and heaven for popcorn lovers.

The specialty popcorn shop offers an incredible 18 varieties of gourmet popcorn to provide you with sumptuous, mouthwatering delights.

Another great feature of this place is that all their preparations are entirely handcrafted.

Any popcorn enthusiast will vouch for the authentic taste of hand-made popcorn, and you can enjoy a rare chance to try out some of the world’s best popcorn.

Most other popcorn shops worldwide have switched to machine-based processes – but Popcorn Shoppe hasn’t!

They make all of their fresh popcorn every day.

You can pick up a big basket and enjoy buttery corn while strolling the beaches.

Alternatively, you can pick up a mega-pack to distribute among friends and family back home.

Explore the Surrounding Regions withBack Country Safari Tours

Segway enthusiasts can head to the Back Country Tours and book one of their sports utility automobiles for an exciting safari in the surrounding regions.

They also offer 4×4 off-road tours into the wilderness.

The Back Country Safari Tours operate out of the Corolla Light Town Center, and the staff here is very knowledgeable about excursions and all-terrain vehicles.

They will provide helpful guidance and let you enjoy a fantastic safari in the vast expanses.

Book a Trip with the Corolla Wild Horse Tours

The certified guides of the Corolla Wild Horse Tours will take you on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch wild horses in their unbridled natural state.

You can admire these beautiful creatures who wander carefree in their natural habitat and see exciting wild ways.

The two-hour road trip is an enlightening educational experience, and animal lovers will especially love it.

This will be one of the best things to do for equine lovers in Corolla.

Taste Culinary Delights atBacchus Wine & Market

With an unblemished track record of 30 years of exemplary customer service, Bacchus Wine & Market is the perfect destination for wine and beer lovers in Corolla.

Their specialty wines and craft beers are incredibly delicious, and you will enjoy sipping several varieties.

The gourmet food is equally rich in culinary delights.

Their imported cheese is unique, and you must try those on your visit here.

Angus Steaks is their special recipe and draws diners from far away to this place.

Purchase Surfing Items at Corolla Surf Shop

Surfing enthusiasts must visit the Corolla Surf Shop to lay their hands on high-quality surfing gear and apparel.

This place is packed with top-end surfing-related products from some of the most reputed brands in the business.

You can also pick up their wares on rent and enjoy surfing on the exquisite beaches in Corolla.

They also provide impressive surfing lessons.

You can book a session with their trained coaches to catch helpful insider tips about surfing straight from professional surfers.

Enjoy Fresh Fish at Uncle Ike’s Sandbar & Grill

Enjoy delicious grilled dishes by visiting the lively Uncle Ike’s Sandbar & Grill.

The place has some of the most delectable fish dishes available.

You will enjoy culinary bliss with their soft, freshly cooked fish that are juicy and soft.

Head out with your family to this sandbar and feast on their chef-specialty recipes.

This place is bubbling with energy till 2 am. They also regularly host dance parties to add to the fun for you.

Stock at theFarmer’s Daughter

Farmer’s Daughter is filled with rich local wares and farm produce.

You can see the local culture by visiting this 30-year-old specialty shop.

You can pick up any item from their rich collection of beautiful jewelry, clothing, and crafts to take back as memorabilia.

Their rich harvest of local garden produce is delightful.

You can buy fresh local ingredients and cook a delicious meal.

You can also purchase unique beachwear from this shop.

Unwind at TimBuck II

This is the ideal shopping promenade for you to visit Corolla.

Morean 60 delightful shops line up the spaces here.

You can also enjoy a feast at their many fine-dining restaurants and eateries.

The area is dotted with majestic-looking oak trees.

You can enjoy their shade and the cooling breeze of the area.

It is an ideal place to unwind toward the latter part of your tour.

Final Thoughts

Corolla features activities and attractions for the whole family.

Along your journey, you’ll get unparalleled ocean views and wildlife sightings like wild horses and dolphins playing in the waves.

From chartering a private boat tour to exploring the nearby Currituck Beach Lighthouse, plenty of things to do in Corolla will guarantee an unforgettable vacation.

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