The free ferry to Hatteras opens up the northern Outer Banks for day trips. Cape Hatteras National Seashore stretches the length of Hatteras Island, with the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States — at its southern end near Buxton. The village of Hatteras itself is the departure point for the return ferry, with a few restaurants and a small museum about the island's history. Further north, Manteo on Roanoke Island is a well-preserved colonial-era town with good museums covering the Lost Colony and the region's maritime history, about two hours from the Hatteras ferry dock.