Less than five percent of the worlds’ ocean has yet to be explored; so who’s to say mermaids don’t exist? With your access to vast Outer Banks beaches, make the Atlantic Ocean your playground and embrace your inner mermaid. From mermaid lessons for the young and young at heart to free diving and exploring a 1920s shipwreck, there’s a ton to discover on your Outer Banks vacation. So go ahead and make your mermaid dreams come true with our 7 day mermaid itinerary.
DAY 1: KITTY HAWK KITES MERMAID SCHOOL
If you’ve ever dreamt of becoming a mermaid (or merman) Kitty Hawk Kites Mermaid School has you covered. Lifeguard certified mermaid instructors will teach you how to sail through the water with ease. Once you have the basic moves down, you’ll swim around and play mermaid games with your classmates. You can even buy your own mermaid tail to keep and use whenever you want!
DAY 2: ROANOKE ISLAND DIVE
For the more adventurous merpeople in your group, take a trip over to Manteo to Roanoke Island Outfitters and Dive Center. Anyone aged 8 and up can learn the basics of scuba diving in their indoor pool. For ages 15 and up, the good folks at Roanoke Island Outfitters will take you out to an off-the-beach shipwreck to explore the unknown. They also offer a freediving course which teaches you to breath-holding techniques, which will come in handy for day 3 of your mermaid adventure.
DAY 3: THE TRIANGLE WRECKS
Just off of the 2nd street beach access, you’ll find something that you usually wouldn’t find on any old beach; not one but two wrecked ships. A tanker name Kyzickes was the first ship to wreck in 1927. The Carl Gehard, a freighter, wrecked just two years after the Kyzickes and split the old tanker in two, causing a triangle shape of ships. Rent a paddle board or a kayak from Kitty Hawk Kites and use your newly learned free diving skills and go explore! Make sure you bring a buddy with you and who knows, you might even make a couple of mermaid or sea life friends during your exploration.
DAY 4: ALL WASHED UP
You can’t be a mermaid without the proper jewels and All Washed Up Jewelry has the perfect trinkets for all your mermaid needs. Local sisters Ashley and Jill Rawls hand make bar necklaces, bracelets, and more with nautical sayings and phrases embossed on them. Each piece is unique and you can even contact them and get a custom piece done! Their jewelry is available on their etsy page but you can also go to shops like Foxy Flamingo in Nags Head, Sisters Boutique in Manteo, Parrot Bay in Kill Devil Hills, Wave Riding Vehicles in Kitty Hawk, Islands in Duck, Island Revolution in Corolla, Family Jewels in Hatteras, and Over the Moon in Ocracoke.
DAY 5: MERMAID MAKEOVER
Add to your mermaid style with a Mermaid Makeover! Beach Braids at their Duck location offers a Mermaid Makeover complete with mermaid makeup. If you can’t make it over to Duck, don’t worry. Beach Braids has locations in Nags Head and Corolla as well. There you can get braids and hair wraps to complete your mermaid look. Beach Braids also offers color and Mehndi tattoos!
DAY 6: AQUARIUM ADVENTURE
A mermaid is nothing without their fish friends, so take day 6 and head over to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island in Manteo. Get up close and personal with the sand tiger sharks and even watch divers get in the tank with them and answer all your questions! Test your bravery at the touch tank where you can pet a sting ray and even go to the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center and take care and rehabilitate a sick sea turtle. At the end of your visit make sure you stop by the gift shop and pick up some mermaid goodies for you and your family. You can even adopt a (stuffed) animal to take home and make them the Flounder to your Ariel.
DAY 7: MEET A MERMAID
Is there a Little Mermaid in your group that has a birthday or special day coming up soon? What better way to end your mermaid week than to meet a real life mermaid?! Once Upon a Princess Party offers four different princesses that you can invite to your party (including a special mermaid princess). You can also choose different packages where you can get your hair styled like a mermaid with braids, make jewelry, and even paint a mermaid princess picture!
Continue your mermaid fun throughout the entire week in one of our many beach homes that have their own private pool! Put that mermaid tail you purchased from your mermaid lesson to use at your vacation home. Have a mermaid filled week on the Outer Banks and make mer-memories that will last you a lifetime.
