White crape myrtles line US 64 within the corporate limits of the Town of Manteo.  Both pink and white varieties bloom in July and August.  The 25-year-old trees make a colorful showing.

Beginning in late 1982, 818 crape myrtles were planted along US 64 to form the greenway called the Roanoke Voyages Corridor.  Pink crape myrtles were planted in Dare County’s jurisdiction.

The watermelon-red of crape myrtles is a sure sign of summer on Roanoke Island.  The best show of color along the Roanoke Voyages Corridor occurs in July.  (Roanoke Island Commission/Ray Matthews photo)

The Roanoke Voyages Corridor on US 64 connects the William B. Umstead Bridge to Manns Harbor, the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge to Manns Harbor, and the Washington Baum Bridge to Nags Head.  (Roanoke Island Commission/Ray Matthews photo)

Beginning in 1982, some 228 live oaks were planted on the North End of Roanoke Island in the vicinity of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.  The Roanoke Voyages Corridor commemorates the 400th anniversary of the first English colony in America. (Roanoke Island Commission/Ray Matthews photo)

Carl Vestal, with the Roadside Environmental Unit of NC Department of Transportation, helped to plant more than 1,000 trees along the Roanoke Voyages Corridor beginning in 1982.  He still works to maintain the live oaks, crape myrtles, and flower beds, along with a dedicated staff.  With some 16 miles of right of way to tend, the landscape crew's work never ends.  Carl and his crew say thanks for not littering, and keeping the right of way clear of objects to make mowing easier.

The crepe myrtles and live oaks of the Roanoke Voyages Corridor on US 64 on Roanoke Island have been awarded the distinction of being a North Carolina Scenic Byway. (Roanoke Island Commission/Ray Matthews photo)

With colorful crape myrtles lining both sides of the Roanoke Voyages Corridor, residents running everyday errands as well as visitors to the island’s historic sites enjoy this scenic drive. (Roanoke Island Commission/Ray Matthews photo)