Take some time away with loved ones this winter to enjoy an escape featuring plenty of sand, sun, water, and loads of winter fun. North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and especially Cape Hatteras, have something for everyone to enjoy during a well-deserved winter respite. Relax and unwind indoors or out, with a myriad of year-round and Cape Hatteras winter holiday activities to choose from.
Hatteras Island Christmas Parade
If the second Saturday of December is on your vacation itinerary, ring in the Christmas season with a parade. Local businesses, fire departments, the US Coast Guard, and an array of non-profit organizations come together for the mile-long parade. The parade is weather-permitting and starts at the Hatteras Community Center and ends at Eagle Pass Road in the heart of Hatteras village. The family-friendly parade features coastal and holiday-themed floats with candy, toys, and other prizes thrown from participants to spectators on the mark down NC Highway 12. Stay ‘til the end when Santa will make a special appearance. Wind up the experience with hot cocoa, cookies, and more at the Hatteras Community Center. This year’s event takes place 2-5 p.m. on December 9th.
Avon Fishing Pier
Although the waters may be a bit chilly for humans to swim in, the fish don’t mind. For the anglers of the group, there are plenty of places and ways to drop a line and try their luck. Choose to charter a boat, stick to shore, or head to the Avon Fishing Pier to see what’s biting. The pier is open 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. and stretches 665 feet out into the Atlantic! That means fishing off the end will no doubt net some interesting catches that you won’t find if you stay closer to shore. When you arrive, be sure to admire the crooked bends in the pier, a testament to time and Mother Nature beating away at what is the only operating pier on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore today.
Beaches
A wintertime island escape means plenty of beach time. The harsh sun has begun to back off a bit, making it easier to stay out and enjoy the day a little longer. Lay out in the sun and sunbathe, get your exercise with a walk, or run on the sand, or plant an umbrella and have a picnic or sit and read with the waves lapping in the background. If you don’t mind the cold waters, you and your loved ones can paddle around on a stand-up paddleboard, kayak, or canoe. Check out the pristine marshes and wildlife sanctuary of the area. Up the adrenaline and speed when you take off on a jet ski or take to the skies for parasailing. Add in some lessons for a new skill while you’re at it: certified surf instructors can take you from land classes to catching your first wave on a traditional surfboard or windsurfing equipment in no time!
Beach Horseback Ride
Whether you’re a seasoned equestrian or first-time rider, you’ll be sure to enjoy this winter beach experience. The stunning backdrop of the beach and waves of the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Hatteras is a “trail” ride you don’t want to miss. Call or email to make reservations with your preferred company, and be prepared to provide ages, height, and weight of riders so they can pair everyone with the horse that will be most appropriate for their needs.
Hatteras Island Ocean Center
Make the center that is part of the Outer Banks National Scenic Highway – which stretches across Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke Islands, Down East, and the Pamlico Sound – part of your winter plans. It’s a great stop along the route for nature lovers of all ages and is within walking distance of central Hatteras Village! Explore on a kayak nature tour, join the “Turtle Patrol” and learn about the area’s sea turtles, or learn about birding in the barrier islands.
Hatteras Weather Bureau Station
Make sure to add a tour of this historic wood-frame building to your winter itinerary. Built in 1901, the station was in active use 1902-1946. It provided data on Atlantic Ocean conditions from a fixed location farther into the ocean environment than any other on the Atlantic Coast at the time. Once it was decommissioned as a weather station, the building became living quarters for Weather Bureau personnel investigating the area, and has since been used as a research station by universities investigating marine invertebrates and other species.
Welcome Winter in Cape Hatteras
While planning all the fun activities and adventures for your Cape Hatteras winter retreat, make sure that booking comfortable and stylish accommodations are a top priority and book a vacation rental with Lighthouse View Oceanfront Lodging. We have accommodations as small as 1-bedroom, all the way up to a 6-bedroom home so you and all your loved ones can enjoy an island adventure this winter.
Contact us today!
