Take flight at the birthplace of aviation

The coast of North Carolina has inspired mankind for centuries, but on December 17, 1903, the pull reached new heights. Brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved man’s first successful heavier than air, powered, controlled flight that day at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk. The site is now a National Historical Memorial with a museum and reproductions of the airplanes and living quarters. The memorial even features original air foils used in the wind tunnel, a wooden piece of the flyer and a 5-foot section of cloth from the wing that has never been displayed before. The soft sand and constant wind that brought the brothers to North Carolina make the Outer Banks a great place to fly a kite or enjoy the commanding view from Big Kill Devil Hill. The Wright Brothers complex offers all sorts of activities that demonstrate the evolution of flight.