The SUP Eco Tourmeets at this centrally located shop in Nags Head. Bring your voucher and ID inside and check in with the friendly staff, who will introduce you to your guide. After meeting your guide(s), he or she will select the proper surfboards for you, your friends and your family that is in your Tourwith you.After loading up the truck with all of your gear, you will follow your guide, caravan style to the Eco Tour location
Once at the site, your guide will give you an overview of the Eco Tour. He or she will lead you through the surf school's "Practice Safe SUP" safety protocols, help you loosen up with some stretching exercises, and give a demonstration of proper paddling and standing up techniques. After the demonstration, it will be your turn to demonstrate your skills for theguide, who will offer tips and pointers to help you through the process. At this point, it time to head into the water!
One of the most popular destinations for the ECO Tour is the Roanoke Island Festival Park Tour. This tour starts in the north end of Shallowbag Bay, in the heart of "downtown" Manteo at the Manteo Mariner's Museum. The Tour takes you south, directly next to the famous "Marsh's Light" lighthouse and then bends around the lighthouse west and north into Dough Creek. Immediately to your left will be Manteo Waterfont Marina, and across the creek is Elizabeth II, a perfect replica of one of the 7 merchant vessels which landed in coastal North Carolina in 1585 and founded the ill fated "Lost Colony". You are paddling in those historicalwaters. As you paddle north deeper into the creek, you have the opportunity to see Osprey's, turtles, fish, crabs, rays and more. Once you reach the marshy edge of the creek, paddlers will head east into the sound using a cut through the marsh. Once in the sound, paddlers will turn back south, head around Roanoke Island Festival Park and back towards Marsh's Light and the entry/exit point of the tour.
Over all, expect an hour and a half of paddling, and about a half an hour of driving. Bring plenty of sunblock, a water bottle and a sun hat.