Take some time away during the Mother’s Day holiday and enjoy the weekend with the mom in your life, surrounded by plenty of sand, sun, water, and fun. North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and especially Cape Hatteras, have something for every mom and their loved ones during a Mother’s Day NC trip celebrating her. Relax in and unwind indoors or out with the one you call mom or find something fun and exciting to do on shore or offshore.
Mother’s Day Brunch
Take a vacation from everything, including cooking, and let someone else cook your Mother’s Day feast. There are several Cape Hatteras restaurants that will be serving up the traditional Mother’s Day brunch. If you have a favorite restaurant from a previous visit, contact them to find out the details like whether reservations are required, and times when the meal will be served.
Spa Day
Pamper Mom with a visit to a spa this Mother’s Day in Cape Hatteras. Choose from any of the local day spas and book the treatments Mom loves. A manicure, pedicure, massage, or body treatment, or even a new hairstyle can reinvigorate, relax, and refresh Mom so she can enjoy the rest of her time in Cape Hatteras.
Beaches
An island escape means time on the beach, especially as the weather continues to warm during the Mother’s Day holiday. Those warming weather and waters of spring mean you can spend a little extra time out in the sun on your beach days. Lay out in the sun and sunbathe, get your exercise, watch the kids play on the sand, or brave the waters for a swim, snorkeling, or SCUBA adventure.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
The iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse officially opens for the season the third Friday in April. The majestic black and white structure protects one of the most hazardous sections of the whole Atlantic Coast and is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are available in-person on a first-come/first-served basis, but you’ll want to be sure you can negotiate the 248-stair iron spiral staircase leading to the top and the best view.
Hatteras Island Ocean Center
The center is part of the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway, stretching across Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke Islands, Down East, and the Pamlico Sound. It’s a great place for nature lovers of all ages and is within walking distance of central Hatteras Village. Take mom on a kayak nature tour, go on “Turtle Patrol” where you’ll learn about the area’s sea turtles and see active nests, or learn about birding in the barrier islands.
Avon Fishing Pier
If mom is an angler, there are plenty of places and ways for her to drop a line and try her luck. You can charter a boat, stick to shore, or simply head to the Avon Fishing Pier. The pier is open 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. and stretches 665 feet out into the Atlantic, so fishing off the end is bound to net some interesting catches you won’t find closer to shore. The crooked bends are a testament to time and Mother Nature beating away at what is today the only operating pier on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Beach Horseback Riding
Whether you and mom are seasoned equestrians or it’s your first time on a horse, make the beautiful backdrop of the beach and Atlantic Ocean waves a trail ride to remember. Call or email to make reservations, and be prepared to provide ages, height, and weight of riders so they can pair you with the horse that will be most appropriate for you.
Hatteras Weather Bureau Station
Cape Hatteras has a lot of history to explore. Along with the historic lighthouse, Mom may want to tour the historic wood-frame building, built in 1901. From 1902-1946 it provided data on conditions in the Atlantic Ocean from a fixed location farther into the ocean environment than any other on the Atlantic Coast. After being decommissioned as a weather station, it became living quarters for Weather Bureau personnel. It has also been used as a research station by universities in North Carolina investigating marine invertebrates.
Water Activities
In addition to the many beach activities that attracted you to Cape Hatteras, there are other fun water sports to get you out on the water. You and mom can paddle your way through calmer waters on a stand up paddleboard, kayak, or canoe. Up the adrenaline and the speed and take off on a jet ski. Riders out for a calm paddle will want to check out the pristine marshes and wildlife sanctuary of the area.
Surf Lessons
Learn a new skill this Mother’s Day. Certified instructors will take you from land classes to catching your first wave in no time. Choose traditional surfing, wind surfing, or both. Once you’re comfortable with your skills, rent some gear and strike out on your own.
Celebrate Mother’s Day in NC
While planning all the fun activities and adventures for mom’s special day, make booking comfortable accommodations a priority when you book a vacation rental with Lighthouse View Oceanfront Lodging. We have accommodations as small as a one-bedroom to treat mom to a solo getaway, all the way up to a six-bedroom single-family so she can surround herself with all her loved ones.
Contact us today!