• This is a past event. We will update next upcoming event details as soon as they are available.

Visitors who’ve wondered where the otters go when they duck behind the large tank at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island can have all their questions answered and then some at this special tour that puts the aquarium’s otters in the spotlight.

The Otter Quarters Tour takes visitors behind the scenes of the famous river otter exhibit for an up-close view of some of the otters’ favorite toys, their favorite snacks, and their living quarters which aren’t in plain sight of everyday aquarium visitors. As the otters continue to splash and play, visitors will also learn all about these critters, and why they are such a special addition to the aquarium, and to the Outer Banks in general. This event is open to all visitors ages 6 and up, and kids who are 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Closed toe shoes are required, and reservations can be made online before the event date. Held throughout the summer season, this special event in the heart of Roanoke Island gives visitors a prime opportunity to learn all about one of the most popular exhibits at the aquarium, all while having a great time discovering one of the OBX’s most beloved attractions.

Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar

Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar

Welcome to the home of the happy oyster where for over 35 years the oyster has been our world. The Outer Banks only authentic oyster bar is the place to enjoy sensational fare from the sea washed down with your favorite brew or cocktail. We serve by the peck, pound, and dozen, raw or steamed to perfection. Kicked back casual, down to earth friendly staff, and reasonable prices make Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar the all-time favorite of locals and travelers alike.

The idea wasn’t to set out and establish a new concept restaurant on the Outer Banks, but that’s exactly what Awful Arthur’s owner Jo Whitehead and her late husband, Jay, accomplished more than 35 years ago when they opened the area’s first authentic oyster bar.

 

Awful Arthur’s opened in May 1984 on the Outer Banks. “We embraced the concept of an authentic copper top bar with the idea of it being a major drawing card and it still is,” explains Whitehead. “I get oysters wherever they are local. We follow the warm waters.” 

 

Just across from the ocean, in Kill Devil Hills, oyster season is year-round at Awful Arthur’s. Diners can take a seat at the copper-topped bar to observe the staff shucking oysters, served raw or steamed, along with shrimp, crab legs and clams all steamed to perfection. 

 

It’s not just the raw bar that’s earned Awful Arthur’s both local and national recognition, including being named one of America’s greatest oyster bars by Coastal Living magazine. The restaurant is a seafood-lover’s paradise, offering the freshest catches available.