Your annual family vacation has the possibility of being the one that you compare all others against simply because you chose Cape Hatteras for your destination and our Lighthouse View beachy retreats for your accommodations. This area is one that families adore, encouraging them to return year after year, to discover how everything and nothing has changed, and to re-remember how comfortable it felt to stay in our beachfront escapes. If this is your first year traveling with your family, our family-friendly itinerary when visiting Cape Hatteras offers tips to make all your vacation dreams come true!
Start Every Day at the Beach
It is highly likely that you are reading this now because you have planned a winter visit to Cape Hatteras, and you might have imagined that this would mean you wouldn’t spend much time at the beach. It is true that the water will be too cold to swim, and you will probably need a jacket to explore comfortably, but every day will be the best day when you and your family start out your day at the beach!
A walk along shore’s edge at sunrise—or any time, really—will change your perspective about life’s mysteries, and as you walk, you will talk. You will find yourself discussing the cute new boy at school with your teenage daughter, the fact that your tween thinks he may have found something that he wants to do for the rest of his life, and that your spouse is up for a new job. Or you may say nothing, letting the roar of the surf soothe the anxious parts of your soul as your kids run ahead, stopping every few feet to pick up a shell, a stone, some sea glass, carefully placing each object in their pockets.
Find the Restaurant Where You Feel Like a Regular
Lunch is often something we grab in between adventures, dinner can be a celebration of a special occasion, but breakfast is when we want to find that place we feel comfortable, especially on vacation, and in Cape Hatteras, when you want to feel like a regular as you eat delicious and hearty breakfast dishes, Sonny’s Waterfront Restaurant is where you want to be. Located at 57947 North Carolina Highway 12 and offering the South’s best breakfast foods that include ham steaks, grits, and of course, giant biscuits that are light, fluffy, and addictive, the low cost of the meal may surprise you, and the stunning water views will make you never want to leave. Yes, our cottages and suites do offer fully equipped kitchens, and our hotel rooms are furnished with mini-fridges, coffee makers, and microwaves, but Sonny’s is the spot you will want to return to for breakfast many, many times during your visit.
The Family That Road Trips Together
The thought of a road trip may be a little frightening when traveling with children, but road trips in the Outer Banks often involve a ferry, ensuring that your children will remain fascinated and happy to explore. A visit to Ocracoke Island will thrill, even if it is a longer trip than we normally recommend, as there are two choices for the ferry you will take; one is only for pedestrians and bicyclists, while the other accepts vehicles. The Ocracoke Express Ferry (the one without vehicles) is a seasonal one, so if your visit is during the winter months, you will have to drive on the regular ferry, which is an experience in itself.
Once you arrive on Ocracoke, you can spend the day viewing the banker ponies that have lived here for centuries, take family pictures in front of the Ocracoke lighthouse, or explore the British Cemetery, a small quiet burial ground for four Commonwealth soldiers from World War II. Lunch at the Ocracoke Oyster Company, located at 621 Irvin Garrish Highway, promises to offer a delicious midday break, offering a seafood-centric menu that also includes American BBQ dishes that will ensure that no faces or comments will be made by your kids about the sliminess of an oyster.
You’ll Never Want to Leave
There are some places in this world that just feel like home, and we at Lighthouse View have worked really hard to make our cottages, suites, and rooms be one of those places. Offering comfort and tranquility that will be much appreciated after a hard day of adventuring in the Outer Banks, our charming spaces will welcome your family with warmth, encouraging you and yours to relax a little longer. Reserve your favorite Cape Hatteras retreat today and discover all the things we do to make sure that you will never want to leave!
