Stopped by Pea Island on our way to Cape Hatteras. Pea Island is part of a very expansive area known as the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Pea Island has a nice visitor center (restroom is outside, a short distance away) with a few exhibits and spotting scopes set up to view birds. The volunteer inside was very nice. We saw... More

This is a great spot for wildlife viewing, mostly sea & wading birds but also migratory song birds. (Also a raccoon in the bird feeder near the visitor's center.) We stopped early March last year and mid-March this year. Lots of grackles, red wing blackbirds, egrets, pelicans, gulls, yellow rumped warblers, ducks and wading birds too far away to properly... More

This is just a short drive from Nag's Head, and worth the trip. Did not get a chance to go through the museum however, as it seemed to have limited hours of operation. More

I didn't understand how this one plot of land would house birds. Versus, say, the rest of the island and nature in general. And it turns out, it didn't. At least not in the hour or so that I walked through the ridiculous sun. I saw two birds: a black one and a white one. There are more than that... More

Head south on Rte. 158 from Nags Head, over the bridge and through the dunes. In less than 20 miles, you'll see the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge on your right. Park and get ready for one or two hours of pure peace and quiet. No admission fee! I started at the visitors' center, which has interesting souvenirs and excellent guide... More

We visited Pea Island on a beautiful, sunny 60 degree January day and walked the north pond trail to the observation tower. There are several viewing decks along the trail. Lots of migrating shorebirds as well as songbirds. The complete trail around the water was closed because of nesting. Unfortunately, we could see some of the effects of Irene, which... More

The North Pond Trail is a 1/2 mile walk (one-way) out to several viewing platforms. The view of the marshes is beautiful and I've never before seen such numbers or variety of interesting birds anywhere north of the Everglades. Our most unusual sightings were a flock of White Pelicans and a Sora. The staff at the visitor center helped us... More

We spent some time at the Visitor's Center, and I am so glad that we did. My children, ages 11,9,8 loved birdwatching from the telescopes in the center. There was a great hands-on display that really held the interest of the kids. The rangers were helpful, friendly and very informative. If you cross NC12, you can climb the dune and... More

After getting tired of going to the same crowded beach in Kill Devil Hills each day my boyfriend and I decided to take a day trip towards the end of our trip. We went to the fishing inlet and the lighthouse (which you can't go up...bummer) then found our way to pea island. The dunes aren't as impressive as the... More