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Attraction near Southern Shores
Ghost Crab Quest runs guided night walks up and down the northern Outer Banks — Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head — built around the Atlantic ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata), the pale, fast-moving crab that comes out of its beach burrows after dark. Each "quest" runs about an hour and a half and includes all the gear needed to spot, chase, and safely handle the crabs, led by guides with backgrounds in wildlife biology, marine science, and outdoor education.
Quests run rain or shine, seven nights a week through the season, and the company partners directly with several OBX vacation rental companies and resorts to build the tours into a stay. It's built for families with young kids as much as curious adults — no experience with the beach after dark required.
34 reviews
2 months ago
Such a fun experience! We have sons ages 4, 6, and 8, and this will be the highlight of their vacation. The educational portion at the beginning was very interesting, and Zach made it right at the kids’ level and engaged them. We learned a lot. The ghost crab catching part was exciting and really different than anything we’ve done before. Zach was an excellent guide. Highly recommend!
a month ago
10/10 recommend. Great night activity to do with the kids. Adults and kids are talking about it days later. We booked a private tour for our group of 10 and Zach did a fantastic job keeping us entertained with his introductions, knowledge, and helping us find crabs.
a year ago
We booked a private ghost crab hunt with Patrick, and it was the highlight of our trip! Patrick was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience so much fun for everyone in our group. He had a great way of engaging the kids while still keeping the adults entertained, and he clearly knows all the best spots to find ghost crabs. We learned so many cool facts about the crabs and the beach at night, and Patrick made sure everyone had plenty of time to spot and catch them (and, of course, release them safely). The atmosphere was magical — walking along the shore under the stars with our flashlights, hearing the waves, and seeing the crabs scurry was unforgettable. Highly recommend this tour and especially Patrick if you want a fun, unique, and memorable Outer Banks adventure!
2 months ago
This was absolutely a blast! It’s a super kid friendly activity and fun for adults too. Zachary was a wonderful guide. He genuinely seemed like he was passionate about what he was doing! I wish I could’ve given him a bigger tip honestly.
2 months ago
Do this only if you enjoy seeing children murder animals. This is a disgusting, barbaric business shrouded in fun and games. Participants run around whacking crabs with nets. Most of them survive this torture done for our amusement; but some do not. I saw at least 4 crabs killed, including one that was a soon to be mother carrying her eggs.