The world dreams about an Outer Banks vacation, but you know that the secret to a happy life is to know when to stop dreaming and start doing, and now it is almost time for you to land on Cape Hatteras to begin the vacation you have been looking forward to taking. You’ve made a lot of good decisions in the planning of this trip, starting with choosing our Lighthouse View retreats for one of our Cape Hatteras oceanfront rentals. Knowing that your days with us are going to be blissful ones spent exploring all the fun you can have at the beaches of Cape Hatteras and embracing the serenity that comes with the sea will make this vacation the one you remember forever as the trip that showed you paradise really does exist.
Five Beaches, No Waiting
There are five beaches with lifeguards that can be found along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore—Coquina, Frisco, Ocracoke, Old Lighthouse, and Rodanthe—and Old Lighthouse Beach is the one that is closest to the beach where your vacation hideaway rests. The lifeguards will be there from Memorial Day through Labor Day, so if you are visiting during the off seasons and have young children, you will need to keep a close eye on your kids. The sea is magnetic for people of all ages as you well know and safety is important. In any case, your days on Cape Hatteras will be magical ones as you play on the beaches in all the ways we show you below.
Coquina Beach Adventures
Located about 41 miles away from your Lighthouse View retreats, Coquina Beach is popular with seashell seekers, beach walkers, and those who love to hear stories about shipwrecks, especially as this was the location where the Laura Barnes ran ashore in 1921. The currents are a little too strong for weaker swimmers to feel comfortable, but the lifeguards will make you feel safer and you may discover you love this beach because it is one you can have a bonfire on, after getting the required permit, of course. It’s rare to find beaches that permit bonfires these days, but Cape Hatteras offers multiple beaches in which you can end your day with flames. Also offering restrooms, showers, changing rooms, and a large parking lot makes Coquina Beach a popular one, in spite of its rough currents.
Fun on Frisco Beach
Our next lifeguarded beach you may want to explore during your time on Cape Hatteras is Frisco Beach, located just 8 miles away from your North Carolina sanctuary, making it a great alternative when you are looking for a change of pace, beach-wise. For our guests who brought their fur children along for the ride, Frisco Beach is a dog-friendly beach as long as they are on a leash that is no longer than 6 feet. Equine Adventures, located at 52193 Piney Ridge Road in Frisco, offers 3-hour horse rides on Frisco Beach, allowing couples to make a more romantic dream come true, that of a horseback ride on the beach. If you are bunking with your precious pooch, however, you will need to leave them at home, because horses and dogs just don’t mix. On windy days you may see lots of kites flying, and if you want to join in the fun, Kitty Hawk Kites, 58848 Hatteras Landing in Hatteras offers a large selection of colorful kites for sale. Shell seekers, sunbathers, and swimmers are all drawn to Frisco Beach, so even on non-windy days you will have a great time; bonfires are allowed on Frisco Beach with a free permit as well.
Opting for Ocracoke Beach
Although Ocracoke Beach is only about 33 miles away from your vacation retreat, it does take about an hour and a half to get there from here, so you may not spend much time on its sandy shores. The town of Ocracoke, however, is known for its Ocracoke Banker ponies, descendants of the horses that were lost at sea or abandoned by Spanish explorers during the 16th century, and if that fascinates you, a visit should be in your future. After you view the ponies, your time on the beach may be filled with shelling or fishing, and if you brought your 4WD rental, there are areas that you can get a permit and actually drive on the sand for fun! The currents aren’t as strong here, but the waves are consistent, making it a popular surfing spot as well as a swimmers paradise as well. And yes, you guessed it, bonfires are permitted on Ocracoke Beach as well, but you need the permit here also.
Roaming on Rodanthe Beach
We’re saving what we think of as the best beach for last, so let’s head over to Rodanthe Beach next, located just 20+ miles away from our Lighthouse View vacation rentals. Rodanthe Beach is a more action-oriented one, being the area where surfers, windsurfers, and kiteboarders like to frequent. Lessons for kiteboarding can be had at Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding School, located at 24798 North Carolina Highway 12 and they also offer rental equipment if you already know how to kiteboard and just want to spend a few hours playing in the surf. Rodanthe Pier is a popular fishing spot, and low tide is the perfect time to go shelling, especially after a storm or, if you like a little more excitement in your beachcombing activities, this beach is a great one to search for shark’s teeth. Rodanthe Beach is also another great beach to enjoy a bonfire after the sun has set and the stars come out to play.
Getting Closer to Home on Old Lighthouse Beach
Old Lighthouse Beach is the one that lies closest to the beach outside your Lighthouse View Cape Hatteras oceanfront rental and may be the one you spend much of your time on during your Outer Banks vacation. Named for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse that should be open for tours again by the summer of 2026, this beach is literally within walking distance of your front door. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself sitting in the shadow of the lighthouse some evenings, watching the sun fall into the ocean but not before setting the sky on fire. Another thing you shouldn’t be surprised about is the number of windsurfers and regular surfers you may witness in the waters off Old Lighthouse Beach. Shelling, sunbathing, and swimming are popular activities here and, of course, bonfires are allowed as well.
The Beach You Have Been Waiting For Your Entire Life
As you might have guessed, we saved the beach outside your Lighthouse View escape for last, knowing that you will spend many an hour exploring the beach and all you can do in the waters framed by soft sand and the remnants of last week’s sandcastles. Located just steps away from your room, suite, or Lighthouse View beachfront cottage your best moments will take place right here. Wake early in the morning and watch the sunrise from your balcony, almost all our spaces feature ocean views (although some do offer pool views instead) so you can roll out of bed, fall into one of the chairs, and prepared to be amazed by the views. Build new sandcastles to replace the ones the tides washed away the night before and use one of the plastic shovels to dig a little deeper in the sand during low tide, increasing your odds of finding a really cool seashell. Leashed pets are allowed on most beaches in this part of the world, so long walks at sunset with your favorite fur baby may be when some of your best memories are made, and a bonfire before bed will make more of your vacation dreams come true!
Those Who Know, Know
We at Lighthouse View are constantly surprised by travelers who find their way to the Outer Banks and choose to stay in vacation rentals that are located further inland, not a single ocean view in the mix. Those who know, know that once they catch their first glimpse of sand and sea, they will never want to be far from that magnificence again, which is why you chose our charming oceanfront escapes for your vacation accommodations. And because we know that no two vacations are the same, we offer accommodations options that will help you find the spaces that will fit your family like a fine leather glove, as shown in the paragraphs below.
Room for 4
Small families, close friends, and couples in love will probably choose one of our not so basic rooms, offering the space for up to four guests in our larger ones, and room for a romantic couple in all the others. As we mentioned earlier, there are a couple of rooms that face the pools, but more likely than not, you will want our oceanfront rooms. Offering the most comfortable beds in the state, these spaces will also provide state of the art televisions, microwaves and mini fridges so you can reheat the leftovers from your dinner at Café Pamlico. But the amenity you will love the most, the one that will speak to your heart and fill your soul with joy will be the views from the semi-private patios that look out onto sandy beaches and the Atlantic Ocean.
Elevating Your Vacation Experience in Our Sweetest Suites
More is always better when it comes to vacation sanctuaries and our Lighthouse View suites are perfect examples of this belief. Just as with our regular rooms, most suites will be ocean view, ensuring that you never need to be out of sight of the water that will become your obsession. The biggest difference between our suites and rooms, however, is the presence of a fully equipped kitchen. Modern, full-sized appliances, including a dishwasher, and a charming kitchen table and chairs allow guests to choose to stay in for an evening, enjoy a home-cooked meal, and maybe play board games until the kids are ready to climb into their bed for a long night’s sleep. Balconies furnished with chairs and small tables are the ideal place to sit with a glass of wine, savoring the quiet of sleeping children and the roar of the ocean and as you sit and savor these beautiful moments, the sky filled with the twinkling of a billion stars will remind you of the days when all skies looked like magic and shooting stars were a semi-regular occurrence.
The Beach Cottage of Your Dreams
The dreams you had of a beach vacation, however, probably involved a cottage with space to roam and with weathered shingles on its exterior signifying a battle with the elements that it would always win. You might have imagined your sister and her family joining yours, coming together to play and laugh and retreating to your own spaces at the end of every day. And when you opened your eyes and start scrolling through our website, you realized that our cottages really were your dreams come true. Beach life hits differently and these charming escapes that rise from sandy shores offer the laidback vibe and innate serenity that the sea provides. Wake every morning for a walk along shore’s edge, rolling back into bed once the sun has reached its perch in the sky. Make sandwiches that don’t have to be eaten where the sand blows in the wind, because you know you can be in and out of your cottage in just minutes. And if your hair is a little (a lot) messy, your feet have forgotten what it is like to be enclosed in shoes, and your OOTD is simply a different swimsuit, you will have mastered beach life in all the ways that matter!
The Beaches of Cape Hatteras and Our Lighthouse View Oceanfront Retreats Await
Life is better at the beach and wonderful when you get to spend your Outer Banks vacation in our oceanfront escapes. Reserve your favorite today!
