The Tranquil House Inn and other popular
Roanoke Island sites:

Richard Gere and Diane Lane stayed at The Tranquil House Inn during the filming for “Nights in Rodanthe.” Located right on the waterfront of the Roanoke Island town of Manteo, this charming inn is surrounded by beautiful boardwalks, sailboats and still waters of Shallowbag Bay. Built in the style of stately Outer Banks Inns of the 19th Century and enhanced by the conveniences of the 20th, the charm of custom cypress woodwork and beveled and stained glass will greet you at every turn. You'll be welcomed by innkeepers who have been expecting you, and you'll be pampered by a staff whose friendliness says you're a valued guest. There's no such thing as a typical room here at the Tranquil House Inn. You can choose from rooms with canopies, four-posters, kings, queens, even mini-suites with cozy sitting areas and separate bedrooms.

Roanoke Island and the town of Manteo hold so much to see and do during your visit to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Roanoke Island Festival Park on the Manteo waterfront tells the history of the first English colony in the New World dating back to 1585 with the Elizabeth II replica ship, blacksmithing and woodworking village, art gallery and gift shop and outdoor concert theatre. No matter the weather, there's always something different to do, and another reason to return. First Fridays, Dare Day, the Fourth of July, Virginia Dare's Birthday, Halloween, and Christmas are special times in the town for residents and visitors alike. For more information visit the town website townofmanteo.com

Roanoke Island is home to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, famed site of the first English Colony in the New World. You can still walk the grounds where Queen Elizabeth I established a lone military outpost in 1585 for raiding Spanish ships laden with Aztec gold. In 1587, just over 110 men, women and children sailed to the Outer Banks to scratch out a new life in an unexplored land. All that remains is their earthen fort that is still available to the public today. No one ever saw them again. 20 years later, the English would claim a stake in the New World again, at Jamestown.

Roanoke Island is home to the Freedman's Colony, a place of safe haven during the Civil War where African-Americans could escape slavery if they could just make it across the Roanoke and Croatan Sounds. A marker located at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site recounts their humble beginnings. Freedman's Colony is an official honorary stop along the Underground Railroad.

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, and the Elizabethan Gardens are two popular attractions located on the north side of the island. The Aquarium has a 1/3 scale replica of the U.S.S. Monitor as the centerpiece for their Graveyard of the Atlantic tank, patrolled by sand tiger sharks, barracuda, and other fish found along offshore reefs. Elizbethan Gardens is home to an English pleasure garden, exquisite statuary, and a walking trail that takes you into a world of rare roses, tea shrubs, and a cornucopia of camellias and azaleas.