We don’t always have the luxury of taking a week off at a time, but we generally need some sort of break in between our vacation times, making a three-day holiday weekend the ideal time to escape real life. And when you choose to take those three days to visit Cape Hatteras, you probably already know that you are going to choose Lighthouse View for your long weekend accommodations, because after all, you are here on our page reading this guide. Your three-day vacation Hatteras Island journey will heal all that you didn’t know needed healed and will provide all manner of adventures, including the ones we have listed below!
Day 1: Your Freedom Looks Great on You!
72 hours always seems like plenty during the dawning hours of your journey and although by journey’s end you are going to wish for more, we will help you fill all the minutes with something wonderful. Starting with a hearty breakfast from a local favorite, Sonny’s Waterfront Restaurant, 57947 North Carolina Highway 12 in Hatteras, you will leave feeling full and ready for a day of fun under the Cape Hatteras sun. You have a few options, however, for this first day in paradise, and because you may be feeling a little tired from your journey, we are going to bet that your only choice will be to spend the day at the beach. Your Lighthouse View escape lies just steps away from shore’s edge and as you spend your day, frolicking in the surf, relaxing on the golden sands with a tropical beverage in hand, you can already feel the chaos in your brain starting to release its grasp. Maybe this first day a little beach therapy is all that you will need, so we can leave the other adventures for tomorrow.
Day 2: A Walk Through History
Waking early and raring to go, day two will probably start with a pastry and a coffee you pick up from Orange Blossom Café, 47206 North Carolina Highway 12, eager to get a start on your walk through history.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 46379 Lighthouse Road in Buxton
The Outer Banks offers multiple historical sites and your first adventure may be family pictures taken in front of the tallest brick lighthouse in America, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Not currently open for tours, the nearly 200-foot-tall black-and-white lighthouse was built in 1870, automated in 1950, and is an active and functioning lighthouse.
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, 59200 Museum Drive in Hatteras
Our next stop in this walk through history brings us to Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, offering a peek into why the five lighthouses in the Outer Banks were necessary, telling the stories of the 2000 to 5000 sunken ships that litter the seafloors of the waters that surround the Outer Banks. (No one knows the exact number, which explains the large range) Offering exhibits, artifacts, and renditions from the ships that lost their battle with the rough waters, this fascinating museum provides a fascinating glimpse into life before lighthouses.
The Wright Brothers National Monument, 1000 N Croatan Highway in Kill Devil Hills
You may have forgotten that flight began in the Outer Banks, but we didn’t, and this monument to the Wright Brothers serves as a wonderful reminder of all they accomplished. If you are visiting on December 17, we celebrate the anniversary of the first flight with a fun ceremony that offers live music, the retelling of their story, and a wreath presentation performed by descendants of the first witnesses to that world changing flight.
Day 3: Well, That Certainly Flew By
We told you that you would wish for more time, but that’s ok, it is always the right time to start planning a return visit. On this last day in paradise, your adventures are going to be of the equine variety, beginning with a horseback ride on the beaches of Hatteras offered by Hatteras Island Horseback Riding. Next, we want to hit the road to go see the wild horses of the Outer Banks, pointing your car in the direction of Ocracoke Island, where the beautiful animals are now living out their days in a 180-acre pony pen. They used to roam free, but their numbers were dwindling, so a fence around their stomping grounds helps to protect them and ensure their continued existence for many more centuries. Finally, on your last night, it just makes sense to enjoy a wonderful and romantic meal at Hatteras Sol Waterside grill, 58646 North Carolina Highway 12 in Hatteras, where seafood and sunsets over the water are what’s on the menu!
So Much More to See
Yes, there is still so much more to see, but we think these suggestions will give you an accurate idea as to what you can expect from an Outer Banks vacation on Hatteras Island. Remember, all roads lead home to Lighthouse View, where comfort, serenity, and beach views are waiting to be enjoyed. Reserve your favorite property today!
