Cape Hatteras is fascinating, and we can’t help but want to share our home. If this is your first time traveling to the area, we’ve put together a guide of what to know before visiting Cape Hatteras.
This Island Is Still Changing Shape
The first thing to share in this guide to the Outer Banks is the fact that because our island home is a sandbar, it is constantly changing shape. These changes can be attributed to many things: rising sea levels, intensity of the tides, even the severity of storms that hit upon occasion. With each new “instigator,” the sand shifts in shape and size.
The Villages Aren’t Interchangeable
Cape Hatteras consists of 7 villages, each coming with their own vibe and personality. Our villages aren’t interchangeable, even though they are connected to one highway (NC-12), and depending on where you stay, your vacation experience can differ greatly. Our own village of Buxton is known for its lighthouse and the popularity of surf fishing, while our neighbor Frisco has a reputation for offering a vacation of quiet seclusion and natural experiences in its maritime forests. Avon is the hub of Cape Hatteras, offering the only grocery store and theater, and Rodanthe is famous for its history.
Plan Your Groceries and Gas Before You Head South
As we mentioned earlier in this guide to the Outer Banks, there is only one chain grocery store on Cape Hatteras, Food Lion in Avon. There are a variety of markets scattered throughout, but when you are seeking something particular, you may be forced to visit Food Lion, where EVERYONE else is shopping as well. Barrier island life bears no resemblance to big city life, and there will be fewer gas stations, fewer spots to buy groceries, and less big city conveniences, making it wiser to plan out your shopping and fuel strategy before you leave the mainland.
Why Hatteras Earned the Name “Graveyard of the Atlantic”
Although being known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic seems kind of morbid and perhaps off-putting, you really have nothing to worry about. Rough waters led to thousands of shipwrecks over the centuries, but with the installation of the lighthouses in the 19th century and later, marine radar, echosounders, and Forward Looking Sonar (FLS), an ocean journey is much safer for ships. We do suggest you visit the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum while visiting Cape Hatteras to explore our history and the bad luck of all the ships that still litter the ocean floors surrounding us.
The Sea Turtle Nesting Season Changes More Than You’d Expect
No Hatteras guide would be complete without examining sea turtle nesting season, especially as it changes how you might live while vacationing here. The summer months aren’t just high tourist season; they are also sea turtle nesting season, and being aware of your actions can ensure their safety and protection.
Some tips are just common sense: don’t touch or feed sea turtles, and don’t disturb any nests you may encounter during your visit. (Volunteers will mark their presence by roping off the nest.) Other helpful tips include:
- Remove all beach gear from the beach at the end of the day
- Fill in the holes your children dig (hatchlings can get trapped)
- Never use bright white lights on the beach at night (hatchlings use the white light of the moon to guide them towards water)
What “Off-Season” Actually Buys You Here
It’s sometimes quite surprising the differences in costs between high tourist season and the off-season, and although we won’t be able to give you exact amounts in this guide to the Outer Banks, we can give you an idea.
First, prices do lower, and that’s for pretty much everything. Groceries, restaurant meals, and as you might expect, even vacation rentals. The best part is that whenever you visit, all the amenities, beauty, charm, and style found in our oceanfront properties or suites will be the same. Also, quieter beaches, better fishing catches, and shorter wait times in restaurants are more things to expect during an off-season visit.
Book Your Cape Hatteras Getaway Today
Visiting Cape Hatteras is going to be an adventure you will never forget, and staying in our Lighthouse View seaside sanctuaries will be where your happiest memories are made. Reserve your favorite property directly from Lighthouse View today!
