Cape Hatteras Attractions

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
N.C. Hwy. 12, northern Hatteras Island
(252) 987-2394
The refuge’s Visitor Center, located on the northern end of Hatteras Island about 4 miles south of Oregon Inlet, is a good place to start a Pea Island visit. It gives an introduction to the ecosystem and wildlife of the refuge and the activities that are permissible there. You can also pick up informational brochures and trail maps. A restroom and plenty of parking are available. You can start a hike around North Pond here (see the Hiking section below). Ask at the Visitor Center about the canoe tours and guided bird walks that are offered almost year round or other programs that might be held during the summer. The Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Beyond the Visitor Center, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is a 13-mile stretch of pristine barrier island. The beaches are wonderfully devoid of people most of the time, and there are several access points for getting to the beach. Pea Island is also great for surfing, surf fishing, shell hunting, kayaking, photography and other eco-friendly outdoor activities. Driving on the beach is not allowed here.

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Chicamacomico Life Saving Station 23645 NC Hwy. 12, Rodanthe (MP 39.5) (252) 987-1552 The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station is the most complete existing example of the lifesaving stations that were built along the coast in the late 19th century, the age of shipping, to attend to shipwrecks and rescue survivors. The 1874 station was the first operational Life-Saving Station built in North Carolina, serving until 1954. Chicamacomico has been partially restored, thanks to

numerous volunteers who formed a nonprofit organization to save it, and it is now a fine museum and historic site; all structures are original buildings. On a visit here you’ll see the 1874 Station, the 1911 Station, two cookhouses, water tanks and cistern, a stable, a tractor shed, the smaller boathouse (now the Visitors Center) and a village home built in 1907. In the museum, you’ll learn about the U.S. Life-Saving Service and some of the rescues that occurred here. Artifacts, uniforms, rescue equipment, displays and video presentations abound, as well as self-guided tours. The gift shop is full of unique nautical items and works by local craftspeople plus books and old-fashioned toys. Try to catch any of the special programs offered from June through August, as well as special monthly events. Call for a summer program schedule. The site is open from mid-April through Thanksgiving weekend, Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission fees are charged.

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		Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Lighthouse Rd., Buxton (252) 995-4474 If any one thing represents all of Hatteras Island, it has to be the famous black-and-white, spiral-striped Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The lighthouse has become the icon of the island, representing the hopeful, stalwart, survivalist attitude that is so pervasive among the people of Hatteras. This is perhaps the most famous lighthouses in the nation, especially since it survived a controversial, precarious move in 1999. Now in the hands of the National Park Service, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is open to the public. Now in the hands of the National Park Service, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is open to the public.

Visitors 42 inches and taller can climb the spiral staircase up to the top of the lighthouse for an unforgettable view of the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Hatteras and Buxton. The climb costs $6 for adults and $3 for children younger than 12 and seniors age 62 and older. The lighthouse is open from Easter weekend through Columbus Day, but be sure to call ahead for specific dates. Lighthouse tours begin at 9 a.m. daily and run every 10 minutes with a limit of 30 visitors per tour. The last tickets of the day are sold at 4:40 p.m. This is a very popular attraction and no advance tickets are sold, so the best thing to do is to get there early (before noon) and visit the ticket booth to buy a ticket, which will state the time of your tour. Be sure to be at the gate five minutes before your tour time. A museum about lighthouses and the history of the Outer Banks is located inside the historic Double Keepers’ Quarters Building just across the lawn from the lighthouse.

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Hatteras Island Visitor Center
At the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Lighthouse Rd., Buxton
(252) 995-4474
The National Park Service's Hatteras Island Visitor Center is located at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse site. Maps, informational brochures and the park newspaper are available here, and staff can answer any questions you have. Lots of parking and restrooms are on site. There's also a bookstore and gift shop. Inquire at the Visitor Center about the ranger-led history and nature programs that are held regularly from mid-June through mid-August. The Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer months and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year.

Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Center
N.C. Hwy. 12, Frisco
(252) 995-4440
The Native American history of Hatteras Island and the Native American culture of our nation are preserved at this must-see museum in Frisco. The founders of this museum, Joyce and Carl Bornfriend, have taken great care to preserve Native American heritage, and their collection of artifacts, exhibits and natural history displays is nationally recognized and respected. The galleries include information on Native Americans across the United States as well as arts and crafts from around the nation. Particularly interesting to Hatteras Island visitors are the artifacts from the Native Americans who once inhabited this island. A dugout canoe, which was found on the museum property, is displayed with tools, instruments and other items uncovered on the island in an archaeological dig conducted by East Carolina University; these items offer a glimpse into the island's former life. And the museum is opening almost 1,000 square feet of new exhibits for the 2006 season including a new room overlooking a bird yard. The gift shop has a great variety of Native American-made items including arts and crafts, books, walking sticks, dream-catchers, moccasins, jewelry, paintings, drums, pottery, handmade knives and much more. While you're here, be sure to walk on the museum's nature trails that wind through several acres of maritime forest. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Cost is $5 per person, $3 for seniors or $15 per family. Guided tours for groups are available. A portion of the building that houses the museum once served as the village post office and has almost a hundred years of history.

Blue Marlin Display
Hatteras Village Library and Community Center
N.C. Hwy. 12, Hatteras Village
Hatteras Village is the offshore fishing capital of the Outer Banks. Big game marlin fishing began here in the 1930s. To see a blue marlin (one that's been mounted and preserved), go over to the Hatteras Village Library and Community Center. On the outside wall, encased in a glass box, is a world-record, 810-pound blue marlin that was caught on June 11, 1962, off Hatteras Island. The world record has since been broken, but this is still an impressive specimen.

Unloading Catches at the Docks
Hatteras Village Marinas, Hatteras Village
For a chance to see the offshore boats unloading the day's deep-sea catches, head down to one of the Hatteras Village marinas between 4 and 5 p.m. When the boats come in, the fishing mates unload the day's catches onto the docks so the fish can be taken away and cleaned. You'll see lots of tuna, mahi-mahi and wahoo plus some other interesting fish. The big game fish are caught and released, so you won't see all the white marlin, blue marlin and sailfish that were caught that day, though you can count the flags on the boats to see how many were released. If you're really lucky in the winter months you might see a boat bring in a giant blue-fin tuna, a rare spectacle.

U.S. Weather Bureau
Hatteras Village
(252) 473-2111
The bright yellow U.S. Weather Bureau building beside Burrus Red & White has been fully restored and is awaiting its next life, whether it be a weather museum or a visitors center. The National Park Service recently restored the former Weather Bureau building to its original 1901 appearance. The NPS had the benefit of the original building plans to aid in its restoration, so the building is true to its original plan. One of 11 such buildings constructed in the United States at the turn of the century, the Hatteras Weather Bureau is the only one of its kind left. The others have been converted into other uses and are unrecognizable, but the Hatteras station is a treasure. At this writing, it was unclear what the building was going to become, but plans were for it to be open to the public in the summer of 2006. Stop by or call the number above to find out.

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
59200 Museum Dr., Hatteras Village
(252) 986-2995 (or 986-2996)
At the end of N.C. Highway 12 next to the ferry terminal, the new Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum attracts a lot of attention in its unique, ship-like building with porthole windows and curved timbers. Though it is not yet fully complete, the museum opened several exhibits, plus the gift shop, lobby and community room to the public in the summer of 2003. More than 50,000 visitors came to the museum to check it out. The new building is so beautiful inside and the opening exhibit on Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell was so well done that it has built much excitement for what is to come when the museum raises the final funds it needs to complete its galleries and exhibits. When finished, the museum will focus on the maritime history and shipwrecks of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, often called the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The museum will emphasize the periods from 1524 to 1945, with shipwreck artifacts and memorabilia on display and changing exhibits telling the dramatic tales of shipwrecks and lifesaving along the Carolina coast. For now, you can visit the museum for free and see the original 1854 lens to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the enigma machine from the U-85 and other exhibits on maritime history and shipwrecks. If you like what you see, make a donation. This museum is destined to be a major attraction on the Carolina coast. When you’re here, check out the historic markers in the parking lot, which tell interesting stories about the Civil War on the Outer Banks.

Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry
End of N.C. Hwy. 12, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-2353, (800) BY FERRY
For a free boat ride, drive onto the ferry at the south end of Hatteras Island. You'll cross Hatteras Inlet and end up on the absolutely charming island of Ocracoke, where you'll definitely want to spend a few hours or a whole day exploring the village shops, restaurants and historic sites (and pick up a copy of the sister book to this one on Ocracoke Island). The ferry ride is about 45 minutes long. Once you get off the ferry onto Ocracoke Island, you'll need transportation -- your car or a bicycle -- because it's about 13 miles from the ferry dock to the village. The ferry is free and it runs every 30 minutes in the summer season. Call for off-season hours.

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The Beach

In North Carolina, all of the beach below the high-tide mark is public property. So you can enjoy any part of the beach as long as you get there legally. Public beach accesses are located along N.C. 12 throughout Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and there are numerous accesses in the villages. Do not access the beach via private property, i.e., cutting through private oceanfront yards to get there.

The only life-guarded beach on Hatteras Island is at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse beach in the summer months. Otherwise, swimming is at your own risk. Many visitors are surprisingly unaware of the dangers of ocean swimming. Always regard the ocean with a sense of caution, no matter how good a swimmer you are. Rip currents, which suck objects and people from shore to sea, are the biggest threat swimmers may encounter. The most important thing to remember about rip currents is not to try to swim against them directly back to shore. Let the rip carry you out, then swim parallel to the beach to get out of the current, then swim diagonally into shore. Educational materials about rip currents and other ocean dangers are available in local visitor centers. It’s a good idea to carry some sort of flotation device with you when swimming, like a surfboard, body board or raft, but you can’t totally depend on those for safety. Drownings have occurred when non-swimmers lost the rafts or body boards they were depending on for flotation. Another important thing about ocean swimming: Never take your eyes off your children, even if they’re just wading in the surf. Children can be knocked down by waves and washed into the sea in the blink of an eye. We’re not trying to discourage anyone from ocean swimming. Most days on Hatteras Island ocean swimming is safe and wonderful. Just be cautious and educated before going into the water.

If you are unsure about ocean swimming or if the day is particularly rough, you can also swim in the shallower, calmer waters of the Pamlico Sound. The sound is a good place for children and not-so-strong swimmers. It’s a good idea to wear some kind of water shoes, however, so you won’t cut your feet on oyster shells. There are several soundside beaches within Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The most easily accessible are the Salvo Day Use area just south of Salvo and the Haulover area just south of Avon (see the Watersports section). Otherwise, if you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, there are several sand trails in Cape Hatteras National Seashore that lead back to soundside beaches (see an Off-Road Driving Map, available at National Park Service Visitor Centers).

Note: For disabled visitors, Cape Hatteras National Seashore loans out beach wheelchairs on a first-come, first-served basis. For information call (252) 441-5711 or (252) 995-4474.

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Beach Driving

Driving on the beach is allowed in some areas of Cape Hatteras National Seashore but not in the village boundaries or at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. If you want to go off-roading, pick up an Off-Road Driving Map at one of the National Seashore Visitors Centers at Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse or the campgrounds. You can access the beach by vehicle at one of several sand ramps along the island. Be sure to read any signage concerning beach driving; some areas are closed to driving during tourist season, bird-nesting season or if the beach has gotten too narrow to allow for safe driving. There are also several soundside off-road-vehicle trails listed on the maps. Driving on the ocean beach or the soundside trails can be very convenient, especially for anglers looking for the perfect spot to fish. It’s also nice for families to be able to park a car next to the water and set up camp for the day.

Four-wheel-drive vehicles are an absolute necessity when driving in sand. You’ll certainly be the subject of derisive snickering if you attempt it in a two-wheel-drive car and get stuck. But even four-wheel-drive vehicles get stuck from time to time. If you’re going to attempt driving in sand, most people recommend lowering the air pressure in your tires to about 20 to 25 pounds to give the vehicle a little flotation on the sand. Try to follow in the tracks of vehicles that were there before you, and try to maintain a steady pace in the softer, deeper sand. If you do get stuck, a fellow off-roader will usually help you out. If not, call Cape Point Exxon Towing Service in Buxton at (252) 995-5695.

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Bike Rentals

Biking is a good way to get around within the specific village you’re staying in, but it’s not the best way to see the entire island. The road between the villages (N.C. 12) is narrow with a very minimal bike lane and a 55 m.p.h. speed limit, so it’s not really safe to cycle unless you’re a seasoned biker. In the villages, however, the speed limit is slower though the road is really not very accommodating to bikers. Helmets are a good idea (in fact they’re required in North Carolina for kids younger than 16), and kids should ride on side streets. If you want to rent a bicycle, here are a few options.

Just For The Beach
Waves, (252) 987-9939
Just For The Beach rents adult Beach Cruisers, children’s bikes (with or without training wheels), tricycles, tandem bikes, pull-behind carts, bikes with baby seats and tag-alongs.

Ocean Atlantic Rentals Avon, (252) 995-5868 Ocean Atlantic Rentals rents bikes for the whole family. They have large and small frame bikes for men and women plus kids’ bikes, pull-behind carts, child seats, tricycles and helmets for adults and children.

Island Cycles Hatteras Island Plaza, N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon (252) 995-4336 N.C. Hwy. 12, Hatteras Village (252) 986-2233 Cyclists will appreciate this full-service bike shop. Island Cycles sells and rents bikes and scooters for the whole family. They also sell related gear, service bikes and scooters, and make repairs when you need them. Kayak rentals and surfboard rentals are offered too. Island Cycles delivers.

Fitness, Health and Wellness

Island Fitness Club
Light Plant Rd., Buxton
(252) 995-5339
Across from Conner’s Supermarket, this fitness center features cardiovascular and weight-training equipment. Yearly, monthly, weekly and daily passes are available. It’s open every day.

Pam Bailey
N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon
(252) 305-8822
Pam Bailey teaches yoga classes at her Avon massage studio and also at the Community Center in Hatteras Village. Give her a call for the schedule and prices. She also offers deep-tissue massage, cranio-sacral work and various healing modalities. Pam teaches a meditation class and children’s yoga too.

Spa Koru
N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon
(252) 995-3125
Discover your path to personal wellness at this state-of-the-art fitness center. Choose a healthy new beginning with expert instruction in personal training and group exercise. Koru represents the unfolding of life in renewal, vitality, hope and pleasure. Step into a world of relaxation with signature island spa services, pamper your hair and nails in the intimate island salon, or shop for health and beauty products in the boutique. With a beautiful South Pacific theme, Spa Koru promises to “reserve a mental hammock for you to set adrift your worries of the day.” It’s located in Avon, next to the Health East Family Medical Center.

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Flying/Air Tours

Burrus Flying Service
Billy Mitchell Airport, Frisco
(252) 986-2679
For a totally different perspective on Hatteras Island, see it from the air. Burrus offers air tours over Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, for sightseeing, aerial photography or historical tours. Air tours range from $75 to $135. If you have another air tour in mind, the owners will do custom tours of the Outer Banks (prices vary).

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Game Rooms

Mack Daddy’s Crab Shack
N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon
(252) 995-5060
Mack Daddy’s Game Room has a pool table, darts and video games. It’s open during restaurant hours, at dinner only.

Angelo's Pizza Arcade
N.C. Hwy. 12, Buxton
(252) 995-6364
The game room and arcade at this restaurant is enormous, great for kids and adults who are looking for something to do. There are several pool tables, air hockey and tons of video games plus a snack bar with candy and soft drinks. There's a gift shop here as well, selling a wide range of goods from bathing suits, sunhats and beach bags to home décor, soaps and lotions. Call for hours.

Frisco Mini-Golf and Go-Karts N.C. Hwy. 12, Frisco (252) 995-6325 The game room at Frisco Mini-Golf has pool tables, air hockey, video games and snacks like ice cream, nachos and hot dogs and drinks. It’s open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. seven days a week during the season, as are the golf course and go-kart tracks. Call for off-season hours. The go-kart area has a family track, slick track and bumper cars.

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Golf

Avon Golf
Avon Fishing Pier, N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon
(252) 995-5480
To practice your putting skills, head over to Avon Golf. This 18-hole, natural-grass putting green is miraculously lush considering its oceanfront location. Unlimited, all-day play costs $8, and you can come and go as you please. The course is open from 11 a.m. until midnight. Get your tickets at the Avon Fishing Pier.

Uncle Eddy’s Frozen Custard and 18-Hole Minigolf
N.C. Hwy. 12, Buxton
(252) 995-4059
Next to Falcon Motel, this is the place for summer fun. The 18-hole mini-golf course is nestled under live oaks, providing a shady spot to get out of the sun. Unlimited play costs $5 for adults and $2 for kids ages 12 and younger. After golf, cool down with the delicious homemade frozen custard this place is known for. There are more than 50 homemade flavors, from the fruity Hatteras Sunrise to Rum Raisin.

Frisco Mini-Golf and Go-Karts N.C. Hwy. 12, Frisco (252) 995-6325 For a day or night of good, clean fun, head 1.5 miles south of Buxton to this Frisco recreational facility. The mini-golf course, which is actually quite challenging, has 18 holes in a natural setting with waterfalls and fish ponds. You can play all day until 5 p.m. for one fee. After 5 p.m., there is a charge per a round of golf. Kids ages 6 and younger play for free. There are two go-kart tracks here — a slick track and a family track -- and there are also bumper cars. Drivers must be at least 54 inches tall, but little kids can ride with an adult. There’s also a game room here. Everything is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week in season. Call for off-season hours. There’s plenty of parking for larger vehicles like RVs.

Ocean Edge Golf Course
N.C. Hwy. 12, Frisco
(252) 995-4100
If you just can’t bear to leave your golf game behind when you’re on vacation, be sure to visit this nine-hole executive golf course. Play it twice and you’ll get in 18 holes. It’s open year round, and play is on a first-come, first-served basis. Rates are reasonable ($40 for 18 holes, $30 for nine in the summer, and $30 for 18 and $20 for nine in the winter) and carts are included. It’s open seven days a week year round.

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Hiking

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
N.C. Hwy. 12, northern Hatteras Island
(252) 987-2394
A good, flat, easy hike starts at the Pea Island Visitor Center, about 4 miles south of Oregon Inlet. Park in the parking lot and look for the North Pond trailhead behind the restrooms. A sturdy, handicapped-accessible boardwalk leads back into the marshy areas around North Pond where you’ll see a variety of birds and wildlife. After the boardwalk ends, you can keep going on an unpaved service road that takes you all the way around the pond. The North Pond Trail connects with the Salt Flats Trail, and at the end (N.C. 12) you can either turn back and go the way you came or walk down N.C. 12 or along the beach to get back to the Visitor Center. The entire loop, if you take the beach route, is about four miles. The northern leg of the North Pond circuit is prone to excessive mosquito habitation at all times of the year. Don’t let that keep you away; just bring insect repellent. You can also park at the Salt Flats trailhead, a little over a mile north of the Visitor Center. You’ll see a lot of birds on these trails no matter what time of year you’re here, but this hike is most phenomenal in the fall and winter, when thousands of migratory birds are resting over on the pond. You’ll see snow geese, Canada geese, tundra swan and numerous species of ducks. You can pick up trail maps at the Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Ask about the guided bird walks held here.

Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve
Off N.C. 12, Buxton and south
Contact: N.C. Division of Coastal Management
(252) 261-8891
Buxton Woods is the largest remaining maritime forest in the Southeast. It consists of pine- and oak-covered dune ridges interspersed with maritime swamp forest and unique marshy wetlands. It’s a very rare ecosystem for a barrier island, and most visitors don’t even realize it exists. The N.C. Division of Coastal Management maintains a 968-acre portion of the woods for research, education and recreation and offers some great hiking trails for the public to use to experience this amazing ecosystem. On a walk here you might see one of 360 species of birds, including bald eagles and peregrine falcons, plus gray fox, white-tailed deer, mink, river otter, box turtles, salamanders or other creatures.

A great hiking trail can be found just south of Buxton. Off N.C. 12, turn east onto Old Doctor’s Road. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, keep heading straight back on that sand road until it dead ends. If you don’t have four-wheel-drive, park your car on the little turnout off to the side of Old Doctor’s Road. At the end of the sand road is a trailhead sign for a one-third mile hike that takes you up to a high dune ridge. From this ridge you can look down at Jennette’s Sedge, a beautiful interdunal pond teeming with life. If you walk from the beginning of the road to the trail and back, it will take you about an hour.

Another trail through Buxton Woods is a little south of the one on Old Doctor’s Road. Turn east on Water Association Road and take the road all the way back until you reach a 90-degree bend in the road. At the corner of Water Association Road and Great Ridge Road, you’ll find the trailhead. Park there. If you take a right, you’ll follow a big, two-mile loop through the woods and back around to your car at Great Ridge Road. If you take a left, you’ll go through forest and over dunes to the beach. You’ll need to be able to walk in deep sand and over fallen trees and the like. Then you’ll turn around come back the way you came, and the entire walk will have been about 3 miles.

The Coastal Reserve staff recently set up two kiosks to make these trails more user-friendly. Both contain hiking trail maps. One is on Old Doctor’s Road and the other is down Water Association Road.

Buxton Woods – National Park Service Nature Trail
Lighthouse Rd., Buxton
(252) 995-4474
Near the lighthouse on the NPS grounds is a three-quarter-mile trail through the maritime forest of Buxton Woods. When heading toward the lighthouse, turn right on the road that heads toward the Cape Point Campground. The trailhead is at the picnic area. A pine-needle-covered path leads back into the forest. Along the way there are informational signs about the maritime forest ecosystem and the health of Buxton Woods. You’ll pass Jennette’s Sedge, a naturally occurring freshwater pond. This is a mostly flat, easy walk, though it’s not recommended for the disabled because of slightly rough terrain.

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Historical Tours

A great way to see the Hatteras Island of yesterday and today is to take the Hatteras Island Driving Tour. Published by One Boat Guides and available in bookstores, grocery stores and gift shops all over the Outer Banks, the driving tour provides a glimpse into Hatteras Islands past. Its a specially mapped-out tour that takes you down the entire length of the island, from Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Inlet, and points out 49 historic points of interest along the way. The tour takes you to the obvious historical sites like the Chicacomico Life-Saving Station and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, but it also takes you to the lesser-known sites to really delve deep into Hatteras Island history. Youll explore the village back roads, marshes and beaches, and youll see shipwrecks, grave sites, a bridge to nowhere, old island homes and the sites of former inlets. Clear directions help you find each site.

The book weaves the islands past into the modern day with the use of stories, history and photographs. Several life-long island residents shared their memories and stories of the island, which are incorporated into the book. The photographs of the way things were help conjure visual images of what Hatteras Island was like in years gone by.

Whats nice about this tour is that you can take it at your own pace. If you want to stop for a restroom break or lunch or a nature hike, you can do that. If you want to stop to read some text, you can do that. If you want to speed past a few sites, you can do that too. The book is your tour guide, but ultimately you are in charge.

Hatteras Historical Cruises Hatteras Landing Marina, N.C. Hwy. 12, Hatteras Village (252) 986-2239 You won’t see the real Hatteras Village if you just cruise through on Highway 12. For the real perspective of Hatteras Village, join Captains Randy and Jeri Collins aboard the Satisfaction for a historical and wildlife-watching cruise off the beaten path. The one hour and fifteen minute cruise leaves from Hatteras Landing Marina and travels along the sound side of the island, while Randy, a retired history professor, covers the basic geography and history of the island. You’ll learn about Indians, the first explorers, pirates, wars and more, plus you’ll likely see a variety of birds and wildlife. Cruises are offered March through October and depart at 9 and 10:30 a.m., noon, and 1:30 and 3 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Sunset cruises are offered by reservation only. Reservations are recommended for all of the tours, and a maximum of six is allowed on the boat.

Hatteras Tours
(252) 475-4477
For an historian’s perspective of Hatteras Island, you won’t want to miss this bus tour of Hatteras Island. Island native Danny Couch leads tours in a 25-passenger mini-bus, telling fascinating stories and bits of island history along the way. Couch grew up on the island and is passionate about its history. The stories he tells will intrigue you. On Mondays at 10 a.m. he gives the Chicamacomico Tour, starting at Camp Hatteras. On Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m. he gives the Ocracoke Tour, starting at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. Thursdays and Fridays there are two tours: 10 a.m. Kinnakeet to Buxton, starting at Hatteras Realty in Avon, and 2 p.m. Hatteras to Buxton, starting at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. On Wednesdays you can take a tour of Roanoke Island, starting at 8:45 a.m. Call for pickup. Ticket prices range from $25 to $45, depending on the season and the tour. Call the number above for more information or to reserve your seat.

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Horseback Riding

Equine Adventures
Piney Ridge Rd., Frisco
(252) 995-4897
Equine Adventures offers two-hour guided horseback rides through the scenic trails of Frisco Woods and on the beach. All levels of riders are accommodated, but children younger than 12 or people weighing more than 200 pounds are not accepted. Rides are offered year round. You must make reservations in advance. Rides cost $80 per person.

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Movies

RC Hatteras Movies 4
Hatteras Island Plaza, N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon
(252) 995-9060
Avon Movies offers four first-run movies daily. Beware the rainy day, when the theater is most crowded — you can buy advance tickets on those days. For movie info, call the hotline at the number above.

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Music

Local restaurants sometimes have acoustic music or bands in the summer months, and the Frisco Jubilee promises regularly scheduled performances.

Frisco Jubilee
Red Drum Pottery Theater, N.C. Hwy. 12, Frisco
(252) 995-5757
From June through September and occasionally on holiday weekends, the folks at Red Drum Pottery open their theater for the fun-filled Frisco Jubilee. It’s an Opry-style show featuring the Diamond Shoals Band and other local musicians, poetry readings and storytelling. The music is original bluegrass-style and folk, and everyone -- performers and spectators alike -- has a great time. The regular shows run Thursday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. Call for prices.

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Watersports:
Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Paddling, Sailing

Hatteras Island is heaven for watersports enthusiasts. Surfers discovered the legendary waves of the Hatteras Island beaches more than four decades ago, and they’re still coming in droves. When a tropical storm approaches from the south in late summer or fall, surfers from all along the East Coast get to Hatteras Island however they can. Surfboard rentals and sales and surfing lessons are offered at many places on the island.

Windsurfers and kiteboarders alike appreciate the shallow waters of the Pamlico Sound around Hatteras Island. They also like the nearly constant wind of the Outer Banks, the easy sound access that Cape Hatteras National Seashore provides and the lack of obstructions, like power lines and bridges, over the sound waters. In fact, those on the kiteboarding scene generally agree that Hatteras Island is the best place in the world for the sport, for novices and professionals alike. So, as you can imagine, kiteboarding is extremely popular here. There are several kiteboarding schools and camps on the island to teach people this sport. Instruction has improved greatly over the last couple of years, and thousands of people are learning the sport here each summer. Because it is potentially dangerous for the untrained, kiteboarding equipment is not rented. You can take lessons or buy your own gear. Windsurfing lessons, rentals and sales are offered at many outfitters on the island.

Paddlers love the waters of Pamlico Sound. Kayak and canoe rentals are offered at many places, and some outfitters offer kayak eco-tours for all levels of paddlers. Experienced paddlers will get a thrill from riding the ocean waves. Sailors can also enjoy a day on the Pamlico Sound, but remember that the near-shore waters are not at all deep, so a small, shallow-draft boat is essential.

Keep in mind that personal watercraft, like Jet Skis and Waverunners, are illegal to launch or land within the boundaries of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. You can launch or land within the village boundaries, but not from anywhere else. Otherwise, non-motorized watersports launching is allowed anywhere that’s not private property. Many outfitters are located on the soundside of the island, so you can launch any gear you rent from them right on site. Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers unlimited access on the ocean and several soundside access roads that make it easy to get on the sound. As with the rest of this book, we present the information on watersports spots and shops from north to south, beginning in Rodanthe and ending in Hatteras Village.

Soundside Access Areas for Watersports
The following listings are two of the most accessible soundside access areas because they have lots of parking and amenities. There are numerous other soundside access areas in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, but you need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to access them. Pick up an Off-Road Driving Map at one the National Park Service Visitor Centers to find other access areas.

Salvo Day Use Area
N.C. Hwy. 12, south of Salvo
This is a very cool spot for hanging out by the sound. The site is a former National Park Service Campground that was closed due to lack of funds. The former campground area is a little overgrown, but the roads and soundside beach are kept up nicely. When you turn in, head to the right to the northwest corner of the lot. There you’ll find a parking area and restroom facilities next to a small cemetery. The sound beach is an awesome spot for fishing, launching a kite board, sail board or kayak, swimming or sitting in the sun. It’s usually not very crowded, and the calm water is great for kids when the ocean is rough. Be sure to walk through the little cemetery before you leave. Some of the oldest island names are on the headstones.

Haulover Day Use Area
N.C. Hwy. 12, south of Avon
The Haulover Day Use Area is also known as Canadian Hole because it is a hotspot for windsurfers, many of whom hail from Canada. This soundside access makes a day on the sound very convenient. There’s lots of parking plus a bathhouse with rinse-off showers, changing rooms and restrooms. This little beach can be quite the scene when it’s packed with windsurfers and kiteboarders, but a lot of families come here, too, to swim, kayak and sit on the beach.

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Watersports Outfitters

Rodanthe Surf Shop
N.C. Hwy. 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-2412
Rodanthe Surf Shop exists for the love of surfing alone. They rent body, surf and skim boards, and this is the place to custom order your own Hatteras Glass Surfboard, shaped on site.

Rodanthe Watersports and Campground
N.C. Hwy. 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-1431
Rodanthe Watersports offers rentals of Waverunners, kayaks, sailboats, surfboards, skim boards, body boards, wetsuits, beach chairs and umbrellas. Right on the sound, it offers easy, uncrowded access to the water. Look for this business next to Lisa’s Pizzeria.

Hatteras Island Sail Shop
N.C. Hwy. 12, Waves
(252) 987-2292
This soundfront recreation center offers rentals of kayaks, sailboats and windsurfing equipment plus lessons in windsurfing and kiteboarding. An onsite launching facility makes it easy to slip into the water. Kayak eco-tours are offered here, and the staff specializes in teaching watersports to children.

Kitty Hawk Kites St. Waves Plaza, N.C. Hwy. 12, Waves (252) 987-1100, (877) FLY-THIS Camp Hatteras (252) 984-1044 Kitty Hawk Kites offers both ocean and sound kayak rentals at the Waves location as well as at Camp Hatteras. For information or to make reservations call (877) FLY-THIS.

REAL Kiteboarding Center
N.C. Hwy. 12, Waves
(252) 987-9990; (866) REAL-KITE
You can’t miss REAL Kiteboarding’s compound of red buildings in the heart of Waves. This is the REAL Lesson Center, right on the Pamlico Sound, and a perfect place for learning the sport. REAL Kiteboarding invented the Kite Camp in 2000, and they’ve taken kiteboarding instruction to world-renowned levels since then. REAL’s most popular lesson package is a three-day camp called “Zero to Hero” that promises results, but there are numerous other kiteboarding lessons offered, including half- and full-day programs. Ask about the accommodations and high-speed wireless Internet access available here. Also ask about REAL’s new “Zero to Hero” Instructional Kiteboarding DVD.

	Hatteras Watersports N.C. Hwy. 12, Salvo (252) 987-2306 Hatteras Watersports rents Wave Runners and Jet Skis for launching in the sound right on site. They also rent kayaks, which you can launch here or take to your own location, and do kayak eco-tours in the sound. Sailboats are available for rent as well. Between your adventures on the water, this is a great place to hang out, with a big lawn, sound beach, volleyball court, picnic area and restrooms with hot showers. Look for the big old house on the huge lot on the water. The house is actually the former Pea Island Coast Guard Station.
	Kitty Hawk Kites Island Shops, N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon (252) 995-6060, (877) FLY-THIS Kitty Hawk Kites offers both ocean and sound kayak rentals at its Avon store. You can launch at this site or take the kayak to your own location. Kitty Hawk Kites offers a variety of kayak eco-tours, including a great tour at Pea Island. They also offer kiteboarding lessons at various places along the Outer Banks. For information or to make reservations, call (877) FLY-THIS.
	Windsurfing Hatteras N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon (252) 995-5000 Windsurfing Hatteras is your watersports headquarters. It’s a full-service center offering windsurfing and kiteboarding lessons, rentals and gear for sale. Certified coaches offer group and private lessons as well as intensive camps. Windsurfing Hatteras also rents kayaks, surfboards, Waverunners, catamarans and boats. This center is right on the sound, and you can launch from their dock. The store sells clothing, wetsuits, sandals and sunglasses and is the area’s only dealer of Mistral, Naish and North Sails as well as Naish and North Kiteboarding.

Sail World Dairy Queen Shopping Center, N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon (252) 995-5441 Sail World is a full-service watersports shop, offering rentals, lessons and the latest gear for kiteboarding, windsurfing and surfing. Lessons are offered for all ages and all levels; reservations are recommended for lessons. The store sells backpacks, street wear, swimwear, wetsuits, sunglasses and pretty much anything else the active crowd needs.

Ocean Atlantic Rentals N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon (252) 995-5868 Ocean Atlantic Rentals rents surfboards, body boards, skim boards, wetsuits, fins, kayaks and kayaking accessories. You can rent by the day or week. OAR also offers delivery to your cottage.

Hatteras Island Boardsports
N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon
(252) 995-6160
Hatteras Island Boardsports rents kayaks, windsurfers, surfboards, body boards, skim boards, bikes, beach gear and wetsuits and delivers your gear for free. You can also take group or private surfing lessons or participate in a guided kayak tour.

Ride Hatteras
40168 N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon
(252) 995-6755
Ride Hatteras offers windsurfing and kiteboarding lessons for beginner, intermediate or advanced riders. Equipment is tailored to meet the needs of the student and the wind conditions of the day. Kids’ lessons are available, and class sizes are small. They also offer surfing lessons for all ages. Kiteboarding lessons are popular here as are the surfing lessons for all ages. You can rent equipment for kiteboarding and surfing here, and they sell other essential gear.

Island Cycles Hatteras Island Plaza, N.C. Hwy. 12, Avon (252) 995-4336 N.C. Hwy. 12, Hatteras Village (252) 986-2233 Island Cycles rents kayaks, surfboards, bikes and scooters. They deliver or you can pick up your stuff yourself.

Fox Watersports N.C. Hwy. 12, Buxton (252) 995-4372 Fox specializes in windsurfing and surfing. You can buy all the gear you’ll need for these sports plus take lessons if you need them. You can also rent windsurfing equipment, surfboards, kayaks and body boards and purchase sunglasses, clothes, flip-flops or a wetsuit. Sail and surfboard repair are offered.

REAL Kiteboarding
Bilbo’s Plaza, N.C. Hwy. 12, Buxton
(252) 995-4740, (866) REAL-KITE
REAL Kiteboarding, the industry leader in kiteboarding camps and lessons, has its headquarters in Buxton. Call or stop in to sign up for the camps, which guarantee that you’ll be kiting within three days. The camps cover everything the student needs to know, and the atmosphere is relaxed and fun. Numerous lesson packages are offered. REAL has tons of gear and accessories for sale, including their new “Zero to Hero” Instructional DVD for beginning kiteboarders. This store also offers high-speed wireless Internet access for visitors.

Hatteras Parasail
Oden’s Dock
(252) 986-2627
There’s nothing like a bird’s-eye view of the Outer Banks to lift your spirits. Hatteras Parasail can take you to 700 feet above the islands for a view you won’t forget. Parasailing can be done as singles or tandems. This company also offers two and a half hour guided eco-tours in singles or tandem kayaks. The tours take you along the Pamlico Sound and through the waterways of Hatteras Village. Reservations are required for parasailing and the kayak tours.

Kitty Hawk Kites Hatteras Landing, Marina Way, Hatteras Village (252) 986-1446, (877) FLY-THIS Kitty Hawk Kites offers both ocean and sound kayak rentals and kayak eco-tours, including a great tour at Pea Island and at Hatteras Landing. They also offer kiteboarding lessons at various places along the Outer Banks. For information or to make reservations, call (877) FLY-THIS.

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