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Take a guided trek through one of the most naturally wild regions of the Outer Banks with this special excursion that cuts through the heart of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.

The Alligator River Guided Canoe Tours are held every week, and are a great way for beginning and expert kayakers alike to discover how unique the inland regions of the North Carolina coastline can be. The tours are roughly 2-3 hours long, and are $20-$30 per person, depending on age. (Kids 12 and under enjoy a modest discount.) The route leads paddlers through the Milltail Creek Paddling trail, which winds through shady backwater canals, with plenty of wildlife along the way. The friendly guide will explain the history of the region, as well as the unique critters that calls the refuge home.

Sunscreen, big repellent, hats, and bug spray are all recommended, and the refuge will provide the canoes, paddles, life jackets, and safety instructions. Held at the end of Buffalo City Road in a quiet corner of Manns Harbor, these weekly tours present a fabulous opportunity to enjoy an adventure off the sand that showcases one of the largest parcels of undisturbed coastal terrain in coastal North Carolina.

The Cotton Gin

For those traveling to the Outer Banks, The Cotton Gin is a beloved landmark with its large windmill and picturesque gardens. The Cotton Gin has stood in the same location since 1929, starting as a working cotton gin and growing to a gift store with 4 locations. Visitors are treated to a unique shopping experience in our main store in Jarvisburg, as well as our beach stores in Corolla, Duck, and Nags Head. Explore room after room filled with décor for your home and coastal fashions for both men and women. Discover the brands you really want, like, Vera Bradley, Vineyard Vines, La Mer Luex, Simply Southern, Lindsay Phillips, Scout, Pandora, Kameleon, Brighton, Spartina, Tommy Bahama, Southern Tide and Salt Life and Old Guys Rule - all under one roof!

 

Don’t forget the gourmet market, or shop our beautiful linens for your bedroom and bath. We also feature coastal books and fine art, or just a whimsical fun gift to bring home to family and friends. Stop by soon and don’t forget to try our estate grown wines in our stores or visit our vineyard and winery, Sanctuary Vineyards, located adjacent to the original Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg.

 

Most know The Cotton Gin as a must-stop shop for fine gifts, beachwear, souvenirs and so much more, but this retailer has a long-standing history within the Outer Banks. A local landmark that holds almost a century of memories, The Cotton Gin started from humble beginnings and continues to adapt to the times and tourists. Tommy Wright’s family has been in the Outer Banks for nearly 200 years. His great-great grandfather, Jacob Francis Wright, shipwrecked in Duck back in the early 1800s. Calling these barrier islands his new home, Wright and his family acclimated to their new environment.

 

Adaptation is a common theme for the Wright family. Tommy and his wife Candace, who continue to steer The Cotton Gin, have seen not only their business change with the times, but the Outer Banks as a vacation destination as well. A farm market in Jarvisburg eventually transformed and flourished into several retail locations dotting the Outer Banks.

 

“As the area changed and tourism took off in the 1960s, the family saw people coming for vacations, so they began to grow vegetables and things developed from there,” says Tommy Wright. The Wright family expanded upon the farm market and began to remodel a working cotton gin, later transforming the gin into The Cotton Gin general store in the late 1960s. While the additions to the farm store drew visitors, it was their encounters with the Wright family that kept people coming back year after year, which is something that remains true today.

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