During some vacations, a rainy day could be disastrous, but there are so many Cape Hatteras things to do on a rainy day, you won’t even miss the sunshine. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 rainy-day activities to enjoy during a week-long stay on Cape Hatteras!
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
It sounds a little morbid, calling the waters that surround Cape Hatteras the Graveyard of the Atlantic, but truly, it is not. It’s been a very long time since shipwrecks were common. The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum offers a fascinating glimpse of those much darker times, explaining the causes behind all the shipwrecks. But it also honors the stories of those who lost their lives, offers insight into the myths, and reminds us of just how lucky we are today. Exploring the museum is one of our favorite Cape Hatteras things to do on a rainy day!
- Address: 59200 Museum Dr, Hatteras, NC 27943
- Located about 10 miles away from Lighthouse View
- Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM Tuesday-Saturday
- Admission: Free (donations are gratefully accepted)
Pea Island Art Gallery
Shopping anywhere is always fun, and our next option for rainy-day things to do near Cape Hatteras gives the activity an artistic twist. The Pea Island Art Gallery has been a local fixture for more years than we can remember. And as if the art displayed for sale inside the gallery wasn’t enough to keep us coming back time and time again, rain or shine, the charm of its replica 1874 station house home would. Featuring weather-beaten siding that contrasts beautifully with the all-American barn red painted shingles surrounding the entrance, it’s been a fan favorite of amateur and professional photographers for many years.
- Address: 27766 North Carolina Hwy 12, Salvo, NC 27972
- Located approximately 20 miles away from Lighthouse View
- Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM Wednesday-Friday
Frisco Native American Museum
The Frisco Native American Museum offers one of our favorite ways to wander on a rainy day, celebrating the island’s original inhabitants. It features thousands of exhibits from Native Americans from not just in North Carolina but across the country. If the skies clear and the sun makes its golden appearance, the museum offers nature trails that meander over a bridge, around a pond, and through the countryside. The gift shop offers replicas of the artifacts housed here as well as handmade crafts you just won’t find anywhere else.
- Address: 53536 North Carolina Hwy 12, Frisco, NC 27936
- Located about 6 miles away from Lighthouse View
- Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM Tuesday-Sunday
- Admission: $8 Individual; $5 Youths (5-18), Students (w/college ID), and Seniors; $20 Households (2 adults & up to 4 youths)
Create Memories in Pottery or Glass at Studio 12
Did you know the best souvenirs can be the ones you make yourself? Studio 12 offers a variety of classes where you can make family memories, too. Offering pottery painting, glass fusion, and many other activities for a blustery day, you may find yourself wishing every day would be a rainy one! Also featuring a secret coffee shop that serves sweets and savories, visitors can take classes with local artists, sip, snack, and while away the day with purpose. When you aren’t feeling very creative, however, you can browse the shop and purchase colorful, well-crafted souvenirs.
- Address: 41008 North Carolina Hwy 12, Avon, NC 27915
- Located about 5 miles away from Lighthouse View
- Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM Monday-Thursday
- 9 AM to 3 PM Friday
- Book a Class
Spectacular Art Galleries
The most beautiful parts of the world attract the most talented of artists. Or maybe it is just impossible to create a bad rendition of anything when you are surrounded by beauty. Whatever the reason, the artists who live and visit Cape Hatteras show their works in the most spectacular art galleries. When you’re looking for things to do near Cape Hatteras, why not make it an artistic day and visit the following art galleries:
- Pea Island Art Gallery in Salvo
- Seaworthy Gallery in Hatteras
- The Blue Lagoon in Frisco
- Swell Art: Gallery + Gifts in Buxton
Most will be offering art by North Carolina artists, and all will make you wish you had a bigger bank account so you could buy everything they create!
Book Our Oceanfront Cottages Today
When you’re finished enjoying a rainy day on Cape Hatteras, returning to Lighthouse View will feel like coming home. Whether you rent one of our popular cottages or one of our rooms or suites, you’re guaranteed comfort! Browse all our rental options and reserve your favorite space today!
