Harvey Soundside Park

Harvey Soundside Park is a small public access point on the sound side of Nags Head, along S Croatan Hwy toward the south end of town. Nags Head sits on a narrow barrier island with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Roanoke Sound on the other, and this is one of the town's access points to the calmer side of that equation — flat water, no surf, and long views out across the sound instead of the open ocean most visitors come here for.

• Calm, current-light water suited to kayaks, paddleboards, and small boats
• A reasonable spot for crabbing or light sound fishing
• Faces west, which makes it a solid pick for watching the sun go down over the water

It's a modest, low-key site rather than a full-scale park — think a place to park and get down to the water, not a destination with amenities to plan a day around. Staying anywhere along the Beach Road or Croatan Highway corridor in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, or Kitty Hawk and want a quick change of scenery from the oceanfront? This is a straightforward way to reach the sound without leaving town.