Hatteras Island Recreation

Hatteras Island Attractions

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
N.C. Highway 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, the National Park Service’s newspaper 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.

Chicamacomico Life Saving Station 23645 NC Highway 12, Rodanthe (MP 39.5) (252) 987-1552 The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station is the nation’s most complete existing example of the life-saving 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, and self-guided tours help complete your knowledge of place and history. 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, including the historic Beach Apparatus Drill Re-enactment on Thursdays at 2 p.m. and a unique Beach Bonfire Program where dramatic true rescue stories are regaled on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Also, on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. native Hatteras Islander Carol Dillon will present a program about the real-life inspiration for Taffy of Torpedo Junction. Ask about special events and other programs. The site is open from mid-April through Thanksgiving weekend, Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission fees are charged.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Lighthouse Road, 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 one of 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. 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. For the 2008 season, the climb will cost $7 for adults and $3.50 for children younger than 12 and seniors age 62 and older. The lighthouse is open from mid to late April 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. The ticket booth opens at 8:15 a.m. 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. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore/Hatteras Island Visitor Center
At the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Lighthouse Road, 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 about visiting Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Lots of parking and restrooms are on site. There's also a bookstore with gifts. 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. Highway 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. 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 previous life.

The museum recently opened almost 1,000 square feet of new exhibits, including an art gallery and a new room overlooking a beautiful bird garden. The gift shop has a great variety of Native American-made items, including arts and crafts, walking sticks, dream-catchers, moccasins, jewelry, paintings, drums, pottery, handmade knives and much more. The facility also includes a book store and even an antiques gallery operated by Friends of the Museum. 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. Winter hours may vary; call for confirmation. Cost is $5 per person, $3 for seniors or $15 per family. Guided tours for groups are available. The museum sponsors a not-to-be-missed annual Inter-Tribal Powwow on Hatteras Island in April.

Blue Marlin Display
Hatteras Village Library and Community Center
N.C. Highway 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 3:30 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. Most days you'll see something, usually yellow-fin 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 Station/Hatteras Welcome Center
Hatteras Village
(252) 986-2203
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, weather observations gathered near Cape Hatteras were important for forecasters all along the East Coast. The Hatteras Island weather station was so critical that in 1901 the U.S. Weather Bureau constructed a dedicated Weather Bureau building in Hatteras Village, one of only 11 such buildings constructed in the nation at the turn of the century. The building still stands in Hatteras Village and is next to the Burrus Red & White grocery store at the corner of Saxon Cut and Kohler roads. The National Park Service restored the building to its original 1901 appearance, yellow exterior and all. The NPS had the benefit of the original building plans to aid in its restoration, so the building is true to its original. The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau operates a visitors/welcome center in one room of the building; stop by to pick up tourist information and also to see the interior of this historic building.

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 Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum attracts a lot of attention in its unique, ship-like building with porthole windows and curved timbers. Now a regional state history museum operated by the State of North Carolina, the museum has several exhibits plus a gift shop, lobby and community room. The museum focuses on the maritime history and shipwrecks of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, often called the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The museum emphasizes 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. All of the planned exhibits are not finished yet. 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, the bell from the Diamond Shoals Lightship (which was sunk by the Germans in WWII) and other exhibits on maritime history and shipwrecks. 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. Highway 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 our sister paper, the Ocracoke Island tabloid). 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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Hatteras Island 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. Highway 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 toward 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. Pick up 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 has always been allowed in some areas of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, but this may change in the future, perhaps by the time you read this. At this writing, several environmental organizations are seeking to have the beaches of Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke islands closed to vehicular access in order to protect the beaches and wildlife until the National Park Service can come up with a permanent management plan for those areas, a process that could take years. The National Park Service and Dare and Hyde counties are engaged in a lawsuit with the environmental organizations over this issue, and a judge is expected to rule on it in the near future but had not done so at press time. It was hoped that the parties could reach a compromise plan that allowed vehicular access and at the same time protected the wildlife.

This is a huge issue on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, so when you’re here, you’ll definitely know which way things have gone. To find out what the current beach driving rules are, read The Island Breeze or the Ocracoke Observer, check with local tackle shops, contact the National Park Service (go to any visitors center or call (252) 473-2111) or visit www.islandfreepress.com.

If off-roading is allowed you can 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 unless you’re an experienced cyclist. The road between the villages (N.C. Highway 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.

Island Cycles & Sports
Hatteras Island Plaza, N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-4336
N.C. Highway 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, and they will deliver bikes to your location. They also sell cycling gear and make repairs in the Avon location.

Ocean Atlantic Rentals N.C. Highway 12, Avon 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.

Fitness, Health and Wellness

Pam Bailey
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 305-8822
Pam Bailey teaches yoga classes at the Community Center in Hatteras Village and offers private classes for small groups at her office or at your location. Give her a call for the class schedule and prices. Pam is a licensed massage therapist offering Swedish massage, cranio-sacral therapy, energy work and other healing modalities. Her office is located next to Island Spice and Wine.

Spa Koru
N.C. Highway 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, group exercise and wellness retreats. 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. Bridal parties are welcome. 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 prices are reasonable, starting at $35 per person for a party of three and varying from there depending on your chosen tour. The owners will do custom tours of the Outer Banks (prices vary).

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Game Rooms

Video Arcade
St. Waves Plaza, Waves
(252) 207-3400
For fun times out of the sun, stop by the Video Arcade at St. Waves Plaza. There are pool tables, air hockey, a variety of video games, a skiing simulator and a few games for little kids.

Angelo's Pizza Arcade
N.C. Highway 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.

Sandbar and Grille
N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-3413
The Sandbar restaurant has a whole level devoted to its game room. You’ll find a pool table, Foosball, video games and more. This is a great place for parents to enjoy a quiet meal with an awesome sound view while the kids play in the game room.

Frisco Mini-Golf and Go-Karts N.C. Highway 12, Frisco (252) 995-6325 The game room at Frisco Mini-Golf has pool tables, air hockey, video games and snacks. 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, a slick track, bumper cars and kiddie go-carts for children 5 years old but no taller than 54 inches.

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Golf

Avon Golf
Avon Fishing Pier, N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-5480
To practice your putting skills, head over to Avon Golf. This 18-hole, natural-grass putting green is on the oceanfront. Unlimited, all-day play is available for one low price, and you can come and go as you please. The course is open from 11 a.m. until midnight in season. Get your tickets at the Avon Fishing Pier.

Uncle Eddy’s Frozen Custard and 18-Hole Minigolf
N.C. Highway 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 is available for a very reasonable price. After golf, cool down with the delicious homemade frozen custard and ice cream this place is known for.

Frisco Mini-Golf and Go-Karts N.C. Highway 12, Frisco (252) 995-6325 For a day or night of good 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. 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. For little kids there are kiddie go-karts; children must be at least 5 years old but no taller than 54 inches. 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. Highway 12, Frisco
(252) 995-4100
You don’t have to leave your golf game behind when you’re on Hatteras Island. This nine-hole executive golf course offers a fun place to keep your game sharp. 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 ($50 for 18 holes, $40 for nine in the summer, and $40 for 18 and $30 for nine in the winter – you may want to call to verify prices since they are subject to change) and carts are included. It's open seven days a week in-season; call ahead in the off-season.

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Hiking

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
N.C. Highway 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. Highway 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 4 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. Highway 12, Buxton and south
Contact the North Carolina Coastal Reserve office in Kitty Hawk at:
(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 known locally as sedges.

It’s a very rare ecosystem for a barrier island, and most visitors don’t even realize it exists. The North Carolina Coastal Reserve, a program of the N.C. Division of Coastal Management, maintains more than 900 acres of the woods for research, education and recreation and offers some great hiking trails for the public to experience this amazing ecosystem.

On a walk here you might see one of 360 species of birds, including bald eagles and peregrine falcons, along with gray fox, white-tailed deer, mink, river otter, box turtles, salamanders or snakes.

A great hiking trail can be found just south of Buxton. Off N.C. Highway 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 1/3-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 2-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 is about 3 miles.

Though trail use is restricted to walkers and some designated trails to horses, some traditional use is accommodated within the reserve. Seasonal hunting is allowed, per state and local regulations (call the reserve office for additional information). Motorized vehicle (cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs) are allowed only on the dirt roads within the reserve. Target shooting and camping are prohibited.

The Coastal Reserve staff maintains 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 does not offer any facilities so please wear appropriate clothing to protect against biting insects and poisonous plants. Bring water, snacks and sunscreen to ensure an enjoyable visit to the woods.

For additional information about hiking, hunting permits and reserve rules please call the reserve office in Kitty Hawk at (252) 261-8891.

Buxton Woods – National Park Service Nature Trail
Lighthouse Road, Buxton
(252) 995-4474
Near the lighthouse on the NPS grounds is a 3/4-mile trail through the maritime forest of Buxton Woods. From N.C. Highway 12, turn onto Lighthouse Road and continue around the curve to the right past the lighthouse. The trailhead is on the right 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. It’s 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. You’ll explore the village back roads, marshes and beaches, and you’ll 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 island’s past into the modern day with the use of stories, history and photographs. Several lifelong 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.

What’s 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. You can buy the book at outlets all over the Outer Banks, or if you want to get it before you arrive, you can order the Hatteras Island Driving Tour & Guidebook here or call (252) 473-1111 and they’ll ship you one.

Hatteras Tours
(252) 475-4477
For a local 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. Tours include Chicamacomico (Rodanthe, Waves & Salvo), Kinnakeet (Avon), The Cape (Buxton), Hatteras Village, Ocracoke Island and Roanoke Island. Family groups are encouraged. Call ahead for more information or to organize a custom tour. 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 Road, 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 250 pounds are not accepted. Rides are offered year round. You must make reservations in advance. Call for prices.

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Movies

RC Hatteras Movies 4
Hatteras Island Plaza, N.C. Highway 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

The Frisco Jubilee
Little Grove Church, N.C. Highway 12, Frisco
(252) 995-3540
Every Friday night from May 23 through October, be sure to catch Hatteras Island’s best musicians for a night of pickin’ and singin’ old favorites, classic bluegrass and Outer Banks originals at the Frisco Jubilee. Some of the musicians you might see include Martin Garrish and Friends, Mahlon Blue and John Couch, Dave Barnett, Speedy Price, Stash Lawrence, April Trueblood, Caitlyn Gray, Wes Lassiter and Johnnie Baum. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are sold at the door for $10 each. Watch for special performances to be held in Rodanthe, Hatteras Village and Ocracoke over the summer.

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Watersports:
Surfing, Kiteboarding, Standup Paddleboarding, Windsurfing, Sailing, Parasailing, Kayaking

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 fairly shallow, 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 access on the ocean and several soundside access roads that make it easy to get on the sound. The watersports outfitters are listed alphabetically with each village, 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. Highway 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 kiteboard, sailboard 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. Highway 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

Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Center
N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
(252) 441-4124, (877) FLY-THIS
Whether you want to learn the sport or refine your skills, Kitty Hawk Kites’ newest Kiteboarding Center offers several types of classes, including private and group ones. Their fast-track kiteboarding camp is two days of group instruction. This center is on the sound, so lessons are on site. Kayak rentals are also offered here.

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

Waves

Hatteras Island Sail Shop
N.C. Highway 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.

Kitty Hawk Kites Rentals Camp Hatteras, N.C. Hwy. 12, Waves (252) 984-1044 Kitty Hawk Kites rents ocean and sound kayaks and Jet-Skis at Camp Hatteras.

REAL Watersports Lesson Center
N.C. Highway 12, Waves
(252) 987-9990; (866) REAL-KITE
The compound of red buildings in the heart of Waves is the REAL Watersports Lesson Center, and it is a great spot for learning the sports of kiteboarding, surfing and standup paddleboarding. REAL’s Zero 2 Hero Kiteboarding and Surfing camps have been rated by Outside magazine as one of the Top Ten Adventure Camps in the World. REAL offers lessons and camps in all three sports daily in season. The new 7,000-square-foot retail and demo shop offers watersports rentals and sells all the watersports equipment and gear you need, including Thule roof-rack equipment. Coming in the summer of 2008 is also a waterfront restaurant and spa. Ask about REAL’s instructional DVDs for kiteboarding, surfing and standup paddleboarding.

Salvo

Hatteras Watersports N.C. Highway 12, Salvo (252) 987-2306 Hatteras Watersports rents Honda and Yamaha 4-stroke WaveRunners and Jet Skis for launching in the sound right on site. They also rent sound and ocean kayaks, which you can launch here or take to your own location, and lead kayak eco-tours in the sound. Hobie Wave 14-foot 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. The house is actually the former Pea Island Coast Guard Station.

Avon

Avon Surf Shop
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-4783
Avon Surf Shop rents and sells surfboards. They also offer individual surf lessons for all ages and all levels. The owners are longtime surfers dedicated to the sport, so you’ll know you’re in good hands. They also have a full skate shop with a large clothing section. It’s located just south of the Dolphin Den in north Avon.

Hatteras Island Boardsports
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-6160
Hatteras Island Boardsports rents kayaks, surfboards, body boards, skim boards, and wetsuits and delivers your gear for free. You can also take group or private surfing lessons. The shop is a one-stop shop for surf gear and apparel for men, women and kids. Some brand names you’ll find here include Billabong, Quiksilver, Volcom, Roxy and Rusty, along with surfboards by Dewey Weber, Rusty and HIB.

Island Cycles & Sports
Hatteras Island Plaza, N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-4336
Island Cycles & Sports rents kayaks, surfboards, skimboards, boogie boards and other fun stuff for the beach. They sell Flexifoil kiteboarding gear. Island Cycles sells and rents bikes and scooters for the whole family, and they will deliver bikes to your location. There’s also a location in Hatteras Village.

Kitty Hawk Kites Island Shops, N.C. Highway 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 on Hatteras Island, including a tour at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. For tour information or to make reservations, call (877) 359-8447. Ocean Air Sports N.C. Highway 12, Avon (252) 995-5000 OceanAir Sports, formerly Windsurfing Hatteras, is a full-service watersports center offering windsurfing and kiteboarding lessons, rentals and gear for sale. Certified coaches offer group and private lessons. OceanAir also rents kayaks, standup paddleboards, 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, North Sails and North Kiteboarding, JP and Neilpryde gear.

Ocean Atlantic Rentals N.C. Highway 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 offers delivery to your cottage. They also rent a ton of stuff for the beach or beach house.

Ride Hatteras
40168 N.C. Highway 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. They also offer surfing lessons for all ages. Kids’ lessons are available, and class sizes are small. You can rent equipment for windsurfing, surfing, body boarding and skimboarding here, and they sell other essential gear.

Sail World
N.C. Highway 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.

Natural Art Surf Shop
N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-5682
Natural Art has been a fixture on the island surfing scene since 1977, and it’s all about serious surfing. They shape custom boards and create custom artwork so you can design your own. They sell new and used boards and rent surfboards, body boards and wetsuits. They also repair surfboards. All the surfing support gear is here too: clothing, footwear, wetsuits, rash guards, accessories, sunscreen, art, you
name it.

REAL Watersports
Bilbo’s Plaza, N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-4740, (866) REAL-KITE
REAL Watersports, the industry leader in instructional lessons and camps as well as gear for the sports of kiteboarding, surfing and standup paddleboarding, is located in Buxton near the Orange Blossom Bakery. Call or stop in to sign up for the REAL Camps, which guarantee that you’ll be self-sufficient within three days. The camps cover everything the student needs to know, and the atmosphere is relaxed and fun. Numerous lesson packages are offered for kiting, surfing and standup paddleboarding. REAL has tons of gear and accessories for sale, including a full line of REAL Instructional DVDs for kiteboarding, surfing and standup paddleboarding. REAL also offers high-speed wireless Internet access for visitors.

Hatteras Village

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 hundreds of feet above the islands for a view you won’t forget. Parasailing can be done as singles or tandems. This company, now in its 16th season, also offers 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. They operate every day except Sunday.

Island Cycles & Sports
N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-2233
Island Cycles & Sports rents kayaks, surfboards, skimboards, boogie boards and other fun stuff for the beach. They sell Flexifoil kiteboarding gear. Island Cycles sells and rents bikes and scooters for the whole family, and they will deliver bikes to your location. There’s also a location in Hatteras Village.

Kitty Hawk Kites Hatteras Landing, Marina Way, Hatteras Village (252) 986-1446, (877) FLY-THIS Kitty Hawk Kites offers kayak rentals and kayak tours from this store location on the waterfront; for information and tour reservations call (877) FLY-THIS.

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Kayak Tours

Two business that are located on the northern Outer Banks offer kayaking trips on Hatteras Island.

Coastal Kayak Touring Company
(252) 261-6262, (252) 441-3393
You haven’t seen the Outer Banks until you’ve seen it from the water, and Coastal Kayak can take you there. They offer trips to four different areas of the Outer Banks: Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary (between Corolla and Duck), Kitty Hawk Woods, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island and the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the Dare County mainland. Tours last two to three hours. The guides offer kayaking instruction if you need it, plus they narrate about the local history and ecology along the way. Single and tandem kayaks are available. Children are welcome, as long they are at least 30 pounds, but certain trips are better for kids than others. Reservations are required.

Kitty Hawk Kayaks
Kayak & Surf School
MP 1, 6150 N. Croatan Highway, Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-0145 or (866) 702-5061
Enjoy a kayak tour to some of the finest flat-water kayaking destinations on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kayaks offers 18 specialty tours across the Outer Banks, including tours in Kitty Hawk Woods, Nags Head Woods (hike and paddle), Roanoke Island, Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges and in Corolla. Kayak rentals are also available, as are surf kayak lessons. The Surf School offers daily lessons and three-day surf camps throughout the summer. The friendly, professional staff promise your entire family will have fun.

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