Nestled on the North Carolina coastline in a region known as the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk makes a great destination for flight buffs and their families.

Kitty Hawk is best known as the home of the Wright Brothers, and the birthplace of modern flight. These former bicycle builders out of Dayton, Ohio, changed the world forever on December 17, 1903, with their first controlled powered airplane flight on Kitty Hawk Beach. The nearby Wright Brothers Museum and Monument charts the brother’s career, from their early failures to eventual successes, and lets visitors get a first-hand look at accurate replicas of their various airplanes.

Not everything in Kitty Hawk is flight related – the area boasts some unique, Outer Banks-specific offerings like BrewThru, the world’s first drive-through convenience store, a mainstay since 1977. Families can also enjoy any number of restaurants, take in a show at the Waterside Theater or bowl to their heart’s content at Nag’s Head Bowling Center. More adventurous types will enjoy all that the Atlantic has to offer with the help of Promenade Waterports. This company boats a 600 ft. pier chocked full of jetskiis, parasailing boats, kayaks, sailboats and more.

So once you’ve booked your flight and picked a hotel, peruse our pages to create an itinerary inspired by fellow travelers who’ve loved their visit to this small town with a big history.