Washingtonian....

KAYAKING NORTH CAROLINA'S

OUTER BANKS WITH KITTY HAWK KAYAKS

In contrast to many developed beach resort areas along the east coast, the Outer Banks of North Carolina remain relatively pristine. The environment and wildlife of the area make it ideal for exploring by sea kayak and Kitty Hawk Kayaks is the ideal company to get you paddling.

Kitty Hawk Kayaks, a division of windsurfing leader Kitty Hawk Sports, was the original kayak company on the Outer Banks. They continue to add new tours and programs that offer a unique form of adventurous exploration in this extraordinary ecosystem.

Sea kayaking has become one of the most popular ways for wandering around the watery world. The kayaks are surprisingly stable and easy to maneuver. A small amount of instruction from the friendly guides is usually all that is needed.

Kitty Hawk Kayaks uses open cockpit kayaks, as well as closed cockpit versions for longer trips and cooler weather. Anyone 12 or older can paddle their own kayaks, while they offer special tandem kayaks for children and adults to paddle together (it makes a great family adventure).

Director Marianne Dubresson currently offers more than 10 different touring sites and options, as well as sea kayak lessons, rentals, and sales. Along with the day-trips from the spring to the fall, there are also special overnight trips and even outings during the winter.

Roanoke Island is the site of their oldest tour, which they call the Indian Guided History Tour. The two-hour tour starts from the Manteo waterfront and heads down a narrow creek around Ice Plant Island. The educational trip combines quiet paddling with the history of the Lost Colony and the nature of the wetlands.

The most pristine tour is the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge Tour. With the assistance of the Federal Fish & Wildlife Service, Kitty Hawk Kayaks mapped out 15 miles of scenic paddling trails. A wealth of history surrounds these 150,000 acres, from the days of a booming lumber town to the current red wolf revival project.

The most popular tour starts at the Kitty Hawk Mini-Marina, where the guides lead two- or four-hour nature tours along Jean Guite Creek and right through one of the last maritime forests. Nutrias, herons, kingfishers, and a neighborhood swan follow every stroke of visiting paddlers.

Overnight trips include primitive camping at Lake Matamuskeet, Roanoke Island, and Portsmouth Island. The overnight tours are open to any paddlers with some experience and lots of interest in the Outer Banks.

Kitty Hawk Kayaks offers a unique and adventurous way to spend a day (or more) at the beach. Contact them at P.O. Box 939, Nags Head, NC 27959, (919) 441-9200.