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Kitty Hawk Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos
On December 17th, 1903, in a little town in Dare County, North Carolina, two human beings gained the power of flight. I'm not talking about Superman, Iron Man or even Kobe Bryant, I'm talking about Orville and Wilbur Wright. And the little town they did it in was called Kitty Hawk in the Outer Banks. This tiny little town – with a population hovering around three thousand – consists of a central village town that has been around for generations as well as an up and coming beach community and a maritime forest known as the Kitty Hawk Woods. And although the Wright brothers definitely put the tiny town of Kitty Hawk on the map, what keeps it there is its lovely scenery, rich history and friendly small town ambiance that continues to welcome visitors year in and year out.
But let’s get back to those Wright brothers for a moment. The main attraction in Kitty Hawk is definitely the Wright Brother National Memorial which contains the actual patch of land where the famed first flight took place. The memorial is also home to several full-scale reproductions of the Wright 1903 Powered Flyer and interpretive presentations. Also on display are several of the earlier models (the ones that didn't work), including a replica of the 1902 Wright Glider. The grounds showcase the historical markers of each of the attempted powered flights and a 60-foot granite monument honoring the Wright brothers atop the 90 foot Big Kill Devil Hill. After learning the history of light, venture out into the Kitty Hawk Woods near the center of Kitty Hawk village. With over 1,800 acres of maritime deciduous swamp, forest and marsh land there’s plenty of room for the nature buff to explore and get lost. For those seeking a little fun in the sun make sure to hang ten over at Kitty Hawk Beach where visitors are encouraged to enjoy surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, kite boarding and parasailing within and above the rich blue waters of the Atlantic. Those who consider themselves a daredevil can even try hang gliding – although it might be safer to try and fly one of the old Wright Brothers planes.
