The Elizabethan Gardens, Manteo

About The Elizabethan Gardens

The Elizabethan Gardens is a waterfront garden in Manteo where visitors stroll through elaborate landscaped grounds designed to honor Queen Elizabeth I and commemorate Sir Walter Raleigh's lost colonists. Guests walk dapple-shaded paths past flowering plants, shrubs and trees that change seasonally, discovering a monumental bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth I, ancient Italian marble statuary, and a figure of a young girl. The gardens feature a Butterfly Garden where visitors can watch butterfly releases, a Sunken Garden with fountains and a Crape Myrtle grove, and an Ancient Live Oak tree. Visitors rest on carved marble or cast stone benches, view the Overlook Terrace with waterfront views, and observe birds as part of the North Carolina Birding Trail. A mobile audio tour and the Enchanted Garden scavenger hunt enhance exploration. The gardens host seasonal events including WinterLights and offer a gift shop and nursery.