Good Reasons to Visit Manteo, North Carolina (Roanoke Sound, north of Pamlico Sound)
We love to visit Manteo. It can accurately be described as a “charming” port of call. And, the city marina here is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Downtown Manteo, within an easy step of the city docks, has a host of good restaurants (don’t miss Tranquil House Inn), a convenience store, and quite a collection of interesting shops (Manteo Booksellers, for one).
A word of caution, one of the two approaches for vessels northbound on Pamlico Sound, and the far shorter of the two, is by way of the Old House Channel from the Pamlico, to southern Roanoke Sound, and then north on the Roanoke Sound channel. There is NOTHING easy about this passage, and I do not recommend it for vessels drawing 5 feet or more.
The other, far deeper and navigationally easier route is by way of Croatoan Sound, and then a southerly cruise through northern Roanoke Sound. The caveat for this route is that you must pass under a fixed bridge with 45 feet of vertical clearance, plenty for almost all powercraft, but not enough for many sailboats.
The safest and easiest route to Manteo is by way of the AICW to Alemarle Sound. Then, a turn to the east will lead to northern Roanoke Sound, and then a quick trip to Shallowbag Bay and Manteo.
However, you get there, Manteo is worth the effort!
Greetings from Manteo, NC,
If you are still headed north and are not past Oriental yet one should consider heading from the Oriental/River Dunes Marina area out to Ocracoke and then up the Outer Banks to Manteo.
Manteo, NC is also a nice stop, complete with a free city dock to tie up to. The town is very quaint with lots of little shops and eateries, omelettes at the Magnolia Grill should not be missed!
Life’s2Short has really fallen in love with the state of NC and all the wonderful cruising it has to offer. Don’t be in a rush to get north, slow down and enjoy all the Outer Banks area has to offer. Gads, it sounds like I’m a poster boy for the NC travel & tourism council……
Hope everyone is enjoying the water under their keel!
Todd & Brenda Lanning
Life’s2Short
Someone told me once, that cruising NC today is like cruising the Chesapeake 20 – 30 years ago. Definitely a place to linger during the Fall and Spring seasons.
Jim
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