There are many child and family-oriented things to do in Hatteras. The island is one of North Carolina’s most family-friendly beaches. Families can explore nature to their heart’s content and enjoy plenty of attractions and activities as well. The thing many families love about Hatteras Island is that it’s a throwback to a simpler time, making this a great place to teach children about simple pleasures and the quiet life.
Featured for Your Visit
Child & Family Oriented in Hatteras
58848 Hatteras Landing, Hatteras Landing, Hatteras
39432 N.C. Highway 12, Island Shops, Avon
24502 N.C. Highway 12, Waves Village, Rodanthe
794 Sunset Boulevard, TimBuck II Shopping Village, Corolla
819 Ocean Trail, Monterey Plaza, Corolla
1216 Duck Road, Wee Winks Square, Duck
3933 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 12.5, Jockey's Ridge Crossing, Nags Head
307 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo
7517 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Whalebone Watersports Center, Nags Head
Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive selection of kites, flags and spinners, toys, apparel, gifts and games on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites specializes in kites, from the single-lines for kids to high-tech stunt varieties. The stores also sell fun outdoor goodies such as flags, toys, boomerangs and games. You’ll find a wide selection of Outer Banks gear, beach sportswear and footwear from Crocs, Chaco, Hey Dude, Southern Fried and Life is Good apparel, t-shirts, sweatshirts, outdoor clothing, sunglasses and more. Kitty Hawk Kites also offers a number of adventure activities including hang gliding, kayak and SUP tours, lessons and rentals, parasailing, Jet Skis, dolphin tours, wild horse tours, historic tours and much more. The brand-new Whalebone Watersports Center on the Nags Head Causeway offers kayak fishing, Jet Skis, pontoon boat rentals and more. At Kitty Hawk Kites' Waves Village Watersports in Rodanthe, you can learn kiteboarding; buy and rent kiteboarding gear; rent a kayak, surfboard or standup paddleboard or climb the adventure tower/ropes course. Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School at Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head offers private lessons, beginner lessons, advanced lessons and training packages for hang gliding, as well as retail merchandise and sand boards available for rent.
Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive selection of kites, flags and spinners, toys, apparel, gifts and games on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites specializes in kites, from the single-lines for kids to high-tech stunt varieties. The stores also sell fun outdoor goodies such as...read more
Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail...read more
Child & Family Oriented in Hatteras
At the end of N.C. Highway 12 just past the ferry docks, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum attracts attention with its composite of ship shapes, porthole windows and curved timbers. One of three North Carolina Maritime Museums operated by the North Carolina Division of Natural and Cultural Resources, the museum focuses on the maritime history and culture of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The Outer Banks’ stretch of sea is...read more
Child & Family Oriented in Hatteras
Hatteras Island Beaches Safety Information
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches are routinely named on Dr. Steven Leatherman's (aka Dr. Beach) annual Top 10 list of the nation's best beaches. It's a worthy honor – the beaches here are wide and flat with white sand and few crowds.
In North Carolina all of the beach below the high-tide mark is public property. So you can...read more
Child & Family Oriented in Hatteras
The Hatteras Island Park Store is located on the grounds of Cape Hatteras Light Station. No visit to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is complete without a stop at the Park Store for seashore-related gifts. Lots of parking and restrooms are on site. The Hatteras Island Park Store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Christmas.read more
Child & Family Oriented in Hatteras
Hatteras Village Park is a nature preserve with a trail that winds through a maritime forest and salt marsh. You'll see high marsh and tidal marsh and cross an elevated boardwalk. Self-guided booklets will point out the plants and animals you might see. Parking and bike racks are available. read more
Child & Family Oriented in Hatteras
Hwy 12 Amusements has a lot to offer for family fun. Outdoors there’s an 18-hole minigolf course right on the sound and a 45-foot tall rock climbing wall on the outside of the building. Indoors you’ll find bowling, laser tag and all manner of arcade games, including Skee-Ball and air hockey. Kids (of all ages) can collect tickets after playing games and use them to...read more
Child & Family Oriented in Hatteras
A monument at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras honors Hotel De Afrique, the first safe haven for African Americans during the Civil War. The wooden house was approximately 1.5 miles west of where the museum now stands. A predecessor to the Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island and part of the National Underground Railroad, the building and surrounding barracks housed former slaves on...read more
Supplementing cultural arts programs in local schools, the Mustang Outreach Program works tirelessly to increase Outer Banks students’ exposure and access to music. In 2012, Mike Dianna, founder of Bearded Face Productions, teamed up with acclaimed local blues musician Ruth Wyand to launch the Mustang Outreach Program. The program welcomes all 3rd through 12th grade students from Currituck and Dare counties, giving them a way...read more
Three vehicle ferries bring cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles and bicycles to Ocracoke Island. The free Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry offers multiple trips daily year-round, and the crossing takes 60 minutes. The ferry operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations are not accepted. The Hatteras terminal is at the southern end of N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island, and after crossing Hatteras Inlet the ferry deposits riders on...read more
Over the last 70 years, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has earned legendary status for its celebrated charter fishing fleet and proximity to the best fishing grounds. It earned this reputation as a no-frills facility, but big changes in 2024 have brought modernizations and upgrades to match its iconic status. A beautiful new, climate-resistant, two-story building elevated 11 feet above ground is now home to a...read more
Want to enjoy a roaring beach bonfire but you don't know where to start to make that happen? Outer Banks Beach Fires will take care of everything. They get the permit, gather up all the supplies and do all the work. All you have to do is relax by the fire, maybe roast a marshmallow or two and enjoy the moonrise. They can accommodate a...read more
Child & Family Oriented in Hatteras
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 ecosystems and wildlife of the refuge and the activities that are permissible there. You may also pick up informational brochures and trail maps. Restrooms and parking are available. You may...read more
Child & Family Oriented in Hatteras
This playground in Rodanthe offers slides, swings and climbing equipment. It's on the site of the Rodanthe Community Center. read more
