A journey of great excitement awaits you in 2025, one filled with pristine beaches, charming lighthouses and all the comforts found in our Lighthouse View Cape Hatteras retreats, but if this is your first time visiting, you may be worried that you will miss something important. We understand these fears, and because our mission is to make your journey one that is unforgettable, we don’t stop at providing serene sanctuaries for your restful escape to the Outer Banks. We want every guest to experience all the magic that can be found in this part of paradise and this complete 2025 Cape Hatteras travel guide is the first step in seeing that you do!
Save the Date
After choosing where you want to go (Cape Hatteras) and where you want to stay (Lighthouse View) there is still one last important decision that you will want to make and that is when can you visit? Not every vacation has to be a summer one (although your summer vacation in Cape Hatteras will be filled with fun and wonder), and you may want to choose to visit when crowds are smaller and the adventures are equally enjoyable. Making your journey to our North Carolina Shores from late April to early June or mid-September to late October may be your best bet, offering beautiful weather, less crowds, and all the toes in the sand time you crave. Because the majority of the tourists haven’t quite flocked to our doorstep as of yet, you may feel as if the beaches are your own and you may discover that shops charge less, and lines in restaurants are far shorter than during the summer months.
Golden Beaches Await
We don’t care how many times you have visited the beaches of the world, ours included, we can pretty much guarantee that once you drop your luggage on the bed of your North Carolina retreat and slip into your “uniform” for the week, (Swimsuits topped with shorts, tees, and wearing flip flops on your feet) your first adventure will be a beachy one. On your first day, you may do nothing more than walk along sandy shores, marveling over the sights, sounds, and scents of salt air, but as your journey continues, the adventures listed below may bring you joy.
Kite Club Hatteras, 40159 North End Road in Avon
Combining the best of two water sports, kiteboarding, also known as kite surfing, teaches visitors how fun it can be to fly and Kite Club Hatteras will be an accessory in the fun. Offering lessons for all skill levels of kiteboarders, including beginners, it won’t be long until you find yourself riding the waves, board under your feet and sail in your hands, adding an extra element of excitement to your adventures on Cape Hatteras.
Outer Banks Kayak Adventures, 101 W Airstrip Road #264 in Kill Devil Hills
Sometimes the most exciting adventures are the ones that bring you the deepest levels of peace, and kayaking through the waters that surround the Outer Banks may be the one adventure that strikes the largest chord. Outer Banks Kayak Adventures offers a variety of tours taking you and your family on wildlife adventures that include birding tours on the Alligator River, sunset kayak and SUP tours, and maybe the most magical of all tours, bioluminescence & full moon night kayak tours. The bioluminescence portion of the tours are actually a chemical reaction of organisms generating light and as you paddle through the waters exploring this natural phenomenon, the full moon shining down on the waters will help bring an added layer of serenity to your tour. For those who aren’t joiners and who may feel comfortable kayaking without guides, Outer Bank Kayak Adventures also offers rentals with all the gear needed for a private adventure you will never forget.
The Fish are Biting
The thrill of pitting your wits against the denizens of the sea is another adventure that often brings visitors to our island home and whether you choose to fish from the shores or go for the big fish with a charter, your catch-of-the-day seafood dinners will be the one you caught yourself!
Surf Fishing
The simplest way to get your line wet is by picking a spot at surfs edge, pack a chair and a cooler, and relax and let nature take its course. Surf fishing is simply another term for fishing from the shore and the best spots on Cape Hatteras for surf fishing include Cape Point, Hatteras Inlet, and Pamlico Sound. A fishing license is required for all anglers 16 years of age and older, but if you don’t want to fuss with a license, you don’t need one to fish from a pier and there are two fishing piers on the Cape, one in Avon and one in Rodanthe. Cape Point is known to be one of the nation’s best fishing spots but we can assure you that your fishing adventures anywhere on Cape Hatteras will be satisfying and exciting.
Charter Expeditions
When the deep waters call you can answer with a fishing charter, that will bring you to where the trophy fish swim free. There are many charters available on Cape Hatteras and you can’t go wrong simply picking one online, but if you need a suggestion, Island Time Charters would be ours. Located at 58080 North Carolina Highway 12 in Hatteras, they are known for their first class light tackle fishing trips. Offering both half day and full day adventures, their goal is you leaving at the end of your charter with a cooler full of the big fish! Got-Em Charters is another popular charter company in the area, offering all the above plus the opportunity to try your hand at wreck fishing, in other words fishing above some of the area’s most famous sunken ships.
It’s Festival Time
The best way to get to know the place you are visiting is to visit during festival time, and when you experience what the locals love, you will fall even deeper in love with Cape Hatteras. The festivals listed below will give you an idea of just how much we love a party.
Taste of the Beach, April 4-6, Various Venues
We Southerners are known for our love of food and your April visit will show you exactly what we have to offer, as April 4 through 6 is when the Taste of the Beach comes to the island. A celebration of Outer Banks food and drink, this festival is sponsored by the Outer Banks Restaurant Association and events within the event include beer dinners, wine pairings, and lavish dinners that will incite a love for the finer things in life. Every year this festival offers something new, so we invite you to discover what 2025 has in store for your taste buds and empty belly!
Wright Kite Festival, August 18-25, Kill Devil Hills
The Wright Brothers had their first big success here in the Outer Banks and the Wright Kite Festival celebrates their accomplishments with color and fun. The Wright Brothers Memorial Walk takes you on a visual tour of their exciting advances in aviation (although, maybe we should call it the invention of aviation, since they made the flight dreams come true.) Offering history, fun, and beautiful kites that will fill the skies with color and charm, this festival has been a local favorite for 47 years.
Not to Be Missed
You are free, of course, to explore whatever interests you during your exciting adventures on Cape Hatteras, but there are a few activities that should not be missed, serving as a reflection of what makes this part of the world special.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 46379 Lighthouse Road in Buxton
The tallest brick lighthouse in America resides on the shores of Cape Hatteras, standing 210 feet tall and providing save harbor for ships since 1870. Currently in the process of being renovated, tours of the interior will not be available until the summer of 2026, but we still encourage you to stop by to admire and photograph this stalwart structure.
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, 59200 Museum Drive in Hatteras
Built to honor those the ships who sank to the bottom of the sea while voyaging on rough waters, this museum makes preservation its primary purpose. There are no entry fees, but donations are cheerfully accepted and when you meander through the great halls of the museum, the exhibits are sure to evoke feelings of empathy for those who met such tragic endings to their lives. The shipwrecks that litter the Atlantic Ocean have become artificial reefs, so they can rest easily in the afterlife, perhaps realizing that their loss provided harbor for the denizens of the sea.
The Restaurants You Will Remember
If you don’t gain a few pounds while traveling, can you really consider your vacation a success? Especially when taking a vacation in the south where comfort food is key and starch, fat, and sugar signifies love. The restaurants we listed below are some of our favorites, but if you come across one that you looks interesting and isn’t mentioned here, go ahead and step inside; we Southerners are known for our cooking and there really aren’t any bad restaurants in the area!
Orange Blossom Bakery & Café, 47206 North Carolina Highway 12 in Buxton
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and if you happen to start your day out with something sweet, well, at least you aren’t skipping the meal. The breakfast menu of the Orange Blossom Bakery & Café is filled with house made pastries and muffins, but also offers savory items such as breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and burritos. Want to get a healthy start on those few extra pounds? The Buxton, a breakfast sandwich piled high with 3 sausage patties, 6 slices of bacon, 3 eggs, tomato, mayo, and homemade bread will certainly be a delicious way to do just that.
BROS, 7100 S Croatan Highway #43 in Nags Head
Whether you are taking a midday break or are wanting a casual dinner that satisfies, BROS is, as they proudly proclaim on their web page, seriously awesome. Burgers, sandwiches, wings, and more dominate the menu of this low key but totally delicious eatery and although the owners were raised in Texas, we have forgiven them for their unfortunate upbringing and totally welcome them to the true south. Probably because we can’t help but devour the foods they serve!
Dinky’s Waterfront Restaurant, 57980 North Carolina Highway 12 in Hatteras
Dining out on Cape Hatteras is not an expensive proposition but when you want a delicious and classic seafood meal, Dinky’s Waterfront Restaurant, does cost a little more than the average. We don’t think you will mind too much, though, as you devour fresh and local seafood while watching the sun set over the sea and sipping cocktails while congratulating yourself on a good choice in meals, especially when you order their blue crab ravioli.
Top Vacation Destination for 2025
Cape Hatteras is projected to be one of the top vacation destinations in 2025 and the activities, events, and restaurants we have listed above are a part of why that is so. A beach vacation is always going to be an adventure in serenity and excitement and a beach vacation on Cape Hatteras will hit even harder. And as you play, dine, and explore the landscape of our island home, you may discover that some of your favorite moments of 2025 will be the ones spent in our Lighthouse View North Carolina retreats. Offering a choice between beachfront single rooms, suites, and cottages that will provide comfort to all who reside within. There’s a vibe that will calm your soul and speak to your heart and when your life journey brings you to our pristine beaches and comfortable escapes, your dreams for the new year will come true. Reserve your favorite Lighthouse View North Carolina escape today, and follow this Cape Hatteras travel guide for an exceptional vacation!
