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Anyone with a fascination of history and America's European roots will love a day exploring the Elizabeth II, a historic 16th century sailing vessel that is docked along the borders of the Roanoke Island Festival Park. This ship can be admired by virtually anyone who takes a stroll along the downtown Manteo waterfront, as it sticks out like a sore thumb amidst the modern day sail boats, yachts, and fishing boats that are docked nearby. The wooden exterior and brightly colored Tudor flags sail in the breeze, and the sight of the resting ship certainly feels like a step back in time.

Elizabeth-II is moored at Roanoke Island Festival Park

Visitors who want to delve a little deeper into this curious attraction are welcome to climb aboard and explore, as costumed interpreters are more than happy to put their new crew members to work raising the anchor, swabbing the decks, or even helping the captain plot a course to or from the New World. With virtually every nook and cranny of the painstakingly maintained 69' foot 0ship open for exploring, visitors are sure to have a wild adventure going back in time, and experiencing the hard life of America's earliest settlers, before they even set foot on Roanoke Island.

An actor answers questions on the Elizabeth II

The History of the Elizabeth II

The ship, or rather ships, that the Elizabeth II was modeled after are the sailing vessels that were sent to Roanoke Island in 1584 and 1587, respectively. At the time, Tudor-era queen Elizabeth I was trying to keep up with the New World exploration achievements of Spain, which had been sending vessels to and from the Americans for nearly 100 years. Spain had already conquered and settled the South American portions of the New World, so Elizabeth I turned her attention further north, to the modern day United States.

A settlement commandeered by Sir Walter Raleigh was sent to initially set-up a colony in the southern Outer Banks, (near Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands), but after a bout with bad weather and a bit of misdirection, the colonists settled instead on Roanoke Island.

An actor answers questions on the Elizabeth II

This first settlement had trouble with supplies and local Native American relations, and a second colony was sent just three years later, this time with men, women and children, to try a more permanent settlement that could grow into an established New World colony. Unfortunately, the fate of these travelers went down in the history books, as this "Lost Colony" completely disappeared within several years of landing. Their fate is still argued today, and the story has become the plot of the famed "Lost Colony" outdoor drama which is performed nightly in the summertime just a couple hundred yards away from the Elizabeth II.

Certainly, the daily life of dealing with the Outer Banks elements, building a settlement from scratch, and living next to a growingly hostile community of Native Americans was a hard enough life on its own. But before the colonists even got to the New World, they had to deal with months aboard a heaving 16th century ship with cramped quarters, stale food, and barely livable conditions. Life on the ship was really an introduction to how hard their life on the new mainland was about to be, and the Elizabeth II replica plays an important role in teaching visitors the courage and determination America's first English residents needed in order to survive in an entirely New World.

The Elizabeth II was conceived and built as an integral part of America's 400th Birthday Celebration, and was constructed from the ground up right in Manteo at "The Boathouse," which now serves as the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum in downtown Manteo. Popular since it first laid out the gangplank, the Elizabeth II is still an admired and eye-opening attraction for visitors, and an incredible head-turning sight along the Manteo harbor. With no detail spared from the colors of the Tudor flags to the navigational instruments in the Captain's Quarters, the Elizabeth II is truly a remarkable way for visitors to experience the hardships of the first colonists, while still being able to step off of the ship, and step back into modern times.

Elizabeth II in Manteo, NC

Visiting the Elizabeth II

The Elizabeth II can be found in the middle of Shallowbag Bay at the very edge of Roanoke Island Festival Park. Visitors can access the site by entering the Roanoke Island Festival Park, and crossing over through downtown Manteo via a well-placed boardwalk that spans across the bay and presents some pretty incredible views of downtown and the Elizabeth II herself.

At the site, visitors are free to walk around the docks and grassy areas where the Elizabeth II is stationed, but a small admission fee is required to board the ship and take the full and well-guided tour. The ship is well-stocked with trained and costumed crew members who are happy to answer questions and explain the daily operations of life on the ship while out to sea.

The crew members rotate, and visitors will ever quite know what to expect on any given Elizabeth II adventure. On the topside, or the main above-ground level, visitors may be asked to help set the sails or swab the decks as they wander across the ship admiring the hundreds of yards of intricate rigging, and the incredible views of the downtown located just across the bay. Visitors may even be asked to help raise the heavy anchor out of the water, or lower it back down to keep the ship safely near the docks. The "top level" is a pleasure to explore, and on a clear summer day, the breezes and the open water views may make even the most die-hard landlubber want to take to the sea.

Elizabeth-II is moored at Roanoke Island Festival Park

The lower level , however, is not for the claustrophobic, and visitors can wind through narrow hallways to different compartments that were well-known to the captain, crew, and the everyday pedestrian settlers. In these areas, visitors can shift through barrels and boxes to see what goods are being carried to the New World, try out the straw and feather mattresses that served as beds for months at a time, or even pass the time playing checkers with a local 16th century sailor. No detail has been overlooked, and many visitors marvel at the thought of living in such cramped quarters for months at a time, with nothing but the open ocean to look at for entertainment.

The staff and crew of the Elizabeth II take great efforts to make sure everyone gets a hands-on visit, especially their youngest visitors. This is definitely a kid-friendly excursion, as kids are usually the first visitors to get recruited to help the captain find his latitude with an astrolabe, or turn the giant sailing mechanisms that lower or raise the sails. Extremely educational while still feeling like a fun day playing pretend at sea, vacationers are encouraged to bring along their youngest family members who will certainly have an incredible interactive and eye-opening experience.

The Elizabeth II is open daily, generally from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and is open year-round except for the rare occasions when she takes to sea to visit other locations. In the spring and fall months, the Elizabeth II has been known to leave the harbor to serve as a traveling exhibit to other East Coast destinations, often cruising in tandem with the Silver Chalice, a smaller 24' replica of the boats that were used after arriving on Roanoke Island to transport goods and colonists to the shore. Maritime history lovers who can't squeeze in a visit to the Elizabeth II or the Outer Banks are advised to look out for these seasonal tours for an opportunity to see history in action, literally, and heading to a port near their home town.

Other than these small seasonal excursions, the Elizabeth II is wide open to visitors, and everyone is encouraged to take a tour, either as a part of a full Roanoke Island Festival Park excursion, or as just a scenic side trip during a Manteo waterfront stroll.

Elizabeth-II is moored at Roanoke Island Festival Park

Tips and Tricks for visiting the Elizabeth II

  • Don't have time to take the full tour? Visitors are free to explore the exterior of the ship at their leisure, snapping as many photos as they'd like. Virtually every angle can be admired from the grounds surrounding the ship at the docks, and from across the water along the waterfront paths of downtown Manteo. Pay close attention to the intricate detail that was put into the construction of the ship itself from the small, wobbly-looking crows nests to the brightly colored decor touches along the exterior, and even along the bottom of the boat itself. While a couple minutes of admiration will certainly suffice, visitors are advised to take their time and peruse the ship from top to bottom, and enjoy all the painstaking recreation details.
  • For a real treat, enjoy a quick lunch or leisurely dinner at one of downtown Manteo's many restaurants bordering the boardwalk entrance of Roanoke Island Festival Park. Most all of these establishments have outdoor seating overlooking the water, and patrons can enjoy a good meal or a cold cocktail overlooking the Elizabeth II docked nearby. For a little history that requires no effort whatsoever, and one of the best waterfront dining views on the Outer Banks, these local establishments are a must stop for any Manteo visitor.
  • If you're taking the full tour of the Elizabeth II, don't be afraid to ask questions. The staff and crew are more than happy to engage with visitors, and will answer any queries that a visitor might have, from the duration of the trip to the number of lines attached to each sail. Get your curiosities out in the open, and let the crew members guide you to further your experience of touring the Elizabeth II.
  • The Elizabeth II may certainly be a highlight of the Roanoke Island festival park, but it is by no means the park's only attraction. Visitors are advised to dedicate a full morning or afternoon exploring the park in its entirety for a full, interactive experience of the Roanoke Island colonists' lifestyle. Browse through the working Native American and English settlement villages for an in-depth tour of the daily island life more than 400 years ago, and chat with costumed residents who are happy to explain the difficulties colonists faced after coming ashore. The park also has an extensive history center and museum, as well as a gift shop for one-of-a-kind treasures to take home. The Elizabeth II is certainly an attraction all its own, but the surrounding attractions of the Roanoke Island Festival Park paints a complete portrait of the English settlers' full experience.

The Elizabeth II has been turning heads since it was first constructed and moved just a few hundred yards from the Manteo Boathouse to its permanent location in Shallowbag Bay. An incredible attraction that has been drawing visitors for nearly four decades, the ship is a masterpiece of boat building, and a replica so true to life that visitors may forget that they're in the 21st century.

Take an in-depth tour of the ship to meet and greet with a 16th century crew hard at work getting the settlers on their way to building a New World in America, or simply admire the site from a comfortable chair at your favorite local waterfront restaurant or pub. The Elizabeth II simply enhances the Manteo scenery, and cements its reputation as one of the most fascinating and history-rich vacation spots on the Outer Banks, and the entire East Coast.

For a close look at where America History all began, be sure that your crew sets sail for a visit to the Elizabeth II.

Elizabth II Photos

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Elizabeth II at Roanoke Island Festival Park

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Brew Thru

No trip to the Outer Banks is complete without cruising through Brew Thru, the Outer Banks’ original drive thru convenience store. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing cold beverage of Coke, Pepsi and other soft drinks on the go, stocking up your cooler with refreshments to enjoy at the beach or piling up on beer and wine for a party, Brew Thru is a fun and unique experience all vacationers need to see for themselves.

Drive-Through Beer & Gear

Brew Thru is Your One-Stop Shop at the Beach

The year was 1977, and Dana and Becky Lawrentz were chatting with friends over brews in their hometown of Akron, Ohio. They got to talking about a gas station convenience store in the area that had built a makeshift drive-through. Everyone agreed it would be pretty great if you could actually drive through a convenience store and pick up everything you needed without getting out of the car. But what would you call a place like that?

Well, you’d call it a Brew Thru.

It was an idea they couldn’t shake, so the Lawrentzes moved to the Outer Banks and built the first Brew Thru with the help of a partner. The idea was that people could come buy everything they would need for their trip to the beach—beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks, ice—without getting out of the car. That same year, a t-shirt salesman visiting the store and talked them into adding t-shirts to their product line—and 44 years later there are now more than five million Brew Thru t-shirts out in the wild.

The Lawrentzes’ daughter Brandy and her husband Philip Foreman purchased the business from them in 2002, and they now operate five locations across the Outer Banks.“We love being the one-stop shop for folks on the way to their beach house,” Foreman says. “Our car tenders are the friendliest people at the beach. We’re here to greet you, get you everything you need for your trip, load it up in the trunk for you, and have you leaving with a smile on your face.”

The store is quite expansive, featuring more than 100 brands of beer, dozens of wines and even a vast selection of cigars—not to mention all the snacks, t-shirts and other gear. To make ordering a little easier, customers in line get a menu—fondly known as the Summer-y—that outlines everything available at the store. These Summer-ies are also available in many of the beach rentals, which allows vacationers to decide what they want before driving through.

For customers who would like to get out and stretch their legs, there’s the Brew Thru Shop in Kill Devil Hills, where you can find their world famous t-shirts and other gifts. New t-shirt designs are created each year, making a yearly Brew Thru t-shirt a favorite of locals and annual visitors to the Outer Banks.

The Foremans both grew up in the Outer Banks, and they love that Brandy’s parents’ vision for a friendly and convenient place for people to grab their brews and other beach stay essentials is continuing to flourish.

“Our family has been welcoming people to the Outer Banks since 1977,” Foreman says. “We love this beautiful place, and we want everybody to get to enjoy it.”

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Ben Franklin

Stop by Nags Head's Ben Franklin at Mile Post 10 on the Bypass where you will find everything you need for the beach! From Clothing, T-shirts and Swimwear to Boards, Chairs, Umbrellas and Tackle. You'll find it all…and of course, we have the best selection of Souvenirs anywhere on the Outer Banks. Enjoy your vacation! Independently owned by a member of one of the Outer Banks’ oldest families, the Ben Franklin store is stocked with just about everything a visitor would need to go to the beach.

 

Ben Franklin stores were once part of a five-and-dime retail empire, with about 2,500 locations across the country in its heyday. As decades passed and the times and customers began to change, many closed their doors, leading to fewer than 150 of these nostalgic shops. Nags Head Ben Franklin, however, has withstood the test of time and adapted to the needs of its customers to provide a memorable shopping experience on the Outer Banks.

 

Debbie Terry Tolson, manager of the Ben Franklin location in Nags Head, recalls working with former owner Tommie Daniels. Daniels’ father, Moncie Daniels, started the business in downtown Manteo in the early 1900s. The Daniels family has been a longstanding fixture in the Outer Banks business community—Moncie even sold gas to the Wright brothers in 1903.

 

Tommie, with an excellent business mind, saw the opportunity the new Bypass presented and, in 1977, he opened the Nags Head location of Ben Franklin. He was one of the first businesses on the Bypass,” Tolson says.In addition to a new location, the Ben Franklin store saw a new group of customers.

 

“People would come from all around because Tommie had a little bit of everything—it was more like a five and 10 then,” Tolson explains. “As he went to the beach, he began to get more tourists, so he started catering more and more to visitors.”

 

Today, the 21,000-square-foot souvenir shop quickly catches the attention of anyone driving by thanks to the ocean-themed mural that decorates the façade of the building, painted by local artist Rob Snyder. This Ben Franklin location has become the must-stop shop for both first-time visitors to the area and generations of families who escape to the Outer Banks annually.

 

Tolson credits the great prices and friendly customer service to the success of the location, which keeps families returning.“People come in all the time and tell me, ‘my grandmother or my grandfather used to bring me here and now I’m bringing my children,’” she shares. “One of my favorite parts about working here is seeing the people come back year after year.”

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station
Donutz on a Stick

Stay, Play and Eat- Donuts, Ice Cream & Coffee Treats! Located on the Duck Boardwalk, behind Dockside Seafood, this breakfast & Dessert-Shop features treats you've never tasted before! Try the hot, made to order, donutz on a stick with more than 35 toppings! They'll melt in your mouth! Or try the Gluten-Free Donuts; limited quantities, daily. Plus, try any or all of the 9 flavors of homemade tastefully twisted soft serve. Frozen yogurt, sorbets, sherbet, hand dipped and homemade ice cream flavors.

 

Unique coffees, sodas and espresso that will satisfy the whole family. Mix-and-match nostalgic candies and much more. Bring the carnival to your mouth and eat it like nobody’s watchin’! Donutz-On-A-Stick- where visual stimulation meets taste bud overload!

 

Carnival Treats at the Beach—With Flavorful Creations and Allergy-Friendly Options, Donutz on a Stick Serves Up Sweet Treats for Everyone

 

David and Stephanie were not always in the business of carnival confections. In fact, Stephanie was a fitness instructor and David worked in the computer field. But he loved donuts and she loved ice cream, and when they saw an opportunity to bring their favorite treats to beachgoers, they jumped on it.

 

In 2014, the couple opened their first Donutz on a Stick—a family-run, family-friendly dessert shop on the boardwalk. They quickly realized that in order to serve everyone, they would need to get creative. “We had a family who would come in, and one of the little boys would have to wait by the door because of his gluten allergy,” David says. “That didn’t sit well with us. We wanted everyone to come under the same roof no matter what kind of allergies they had. And we continue to work towards that goal.”

 

The Williams’ daughter Desireé spent six weeks experimenting until she created a gluten-free donut that was totally safe and delicious. Gluten-free donuts are now a huge part of the business, with more than 1,000 being served each day, just out of the Duck location. But you will want to call or stop by to reserve them in advance.

 

The Williams’ other three children, David, Justin and Christian, have all invented menu items as well, such as Christian’s donut milkshake, which features hot and fresh cooked donuts blended into a milkshake with another donut on top making it picture perfect.

 

While all the Williams have created menu items, the most popular pick—the donut sundae—was actually a happy accident.

 

“We were being featured in a local magazine and we could only have one photo for the article,” David says. Since both ice cream and donuts were equally popular, “we built the donut sundae for the photo and we discovered after the photoshoot that it tasted amazing. It was completely serendipitous.”

 

The Williams family is constantly creating and improving upon their recipes. At the heart of it all is a desire to see everyone come in and enjoy an experience together. They want to bring the carnival to your mouth.

 

“No matter how busy we are—even if there’s a line down the boardwalk—every customer gets that engagement and service from us,” they say.

 

The family has since opened a second location in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area.

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
Jimmy's Seafood Buffet

Home of the Crab Leg & Lobster Buffet for 25! years! Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet is a great stop for an all you can eat affordable dinner extravaganza. The buffet offers over 100 different items. It even serves Jumbo Alaskan crab legs and Jumbo steamed shrimp, something you will not find on any other buffet in the OBX. The buffet offers a variety of seafood and non seafood options. Try some of Jimmy’s seafood options and load your plate with blackened tuna, Louisiana crawfish, steamed scallops and mussels, fried oysters and deviled crabs. Not in the mood for seafood? Fill your plate with steak, pineapple glazed ham, fried chicken, BBQ ribs, and fettuccini Alfredo to name a few. The buffet also offers a kid section. Let your kids load their plates with chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and corn dog nuggets. Don’t forget dessert! The buffet also offers soft serve ice cream and a plethora of baked goods. 

 

It’s been 25 years since Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet opened its doors for the first time. Since that inaugural summer, the goal has remained the same: provide customers with a tasty, fresh array of seafood full of Caribbean flavor.

 

Elizabeth Dowless and her husband Jerry had always worked in restaurants in the Outer Banks, so when the opportunity to open Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet with a couple of friends arose, it was an easy yes. The Dowlesses bought out the business in 2003, excited to turn Jimmy’s into an Outer Banks staple. When Jerry passed away later that year, Dowless knew she wanted to continue pursuing their dream on her own.

 

Dowless went all in on the concept of a fresh, flavorful seafood buffet and her hard work paid off. Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet is a beloved fixture of Outer Banks dining, with customers returning year after year for the fresh fare.

 

“Customers keep in contact with me throughout the winter. I get people every day asking me when we’re opening for the season, and customers book their vacations around our opening,” Dowless says. “I absolutely love getting to see familiar faces come back to see us each year. I love seeing them lose their minds over the buffet! Their excitement is what I love most about my job.”