Oh, how we love to explore new places, opening our minds to new experiences, expanding our horizons, and filling our soul with the need to travel to more places, but we can’t always discover all a new place has to offer. Take your upcoming vacation in Cape Hatteras, for example, you probably already know about the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, about the wild ponies that live out their lives on the beaches of the Outer Banks, and the comfortable and inviting luxury of our Lighthouse View vacation accommodations, but did you know that Blackbeard the pirate used the inlets of Ocracoke Island as a hiding places and eventually lost his life in a battle just off its coast? Obviously, you do now, and you will learn so much more about the top five hidden gems in Cape Hatteras, simply because you are here, on this page.
The Search for Sea Glass
Every beach traveler probably has a jar or bowl filled with seashells they have picked up from beaches around the world, but did you know the Outer Banks is also known for its proliferation of sea glass? And because of all the shipwrecks that have occurred here over the centuries, the beaches of Hatteras Island are some of the best places in the world to find sea glass. For those who don’t know, sea glass is simply glass that has been weathered and smoothed due to its exposure to the sea, offering a frosted look and losing all its sharp edges, making it perfectly safe to pick up and store in your pockets.
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, 59200 Museum Drive in Hatteras
If you have followed our page for any length of time, you probably already know about the museum. We are very proud of this unique museum, and we talk about it a lot. But even if you aren’t new to the page, you may not know WHY we would offer a museum with that name. It’s a bit gruesome and kind of sad if you think about it, but it doesn’t change the realty that this part of the Atlantic Ocean is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Treacherous waters and dangerous storms were the cause for the thousands of ships that wrecked in this area, their skeletons scattered along the sandy depths of the sea, and in one particular case, on the beach of Cape Hatteras, where 100 years later, its skeletal remains can still be seen on the beach between Salvo and Avon. The museum was built to teach us about the history of all the ships lost at sea in the waters that surround our barrier island.
Hatteras Weather Bureau Station, 57190 Kohler Road in Hatteras
Knowing the weather is important, whether you are on land or at sea, and there has always been a weather station on Hatteras since 1870, even if it may have been moved around a few times over the years. The Hatteras Weather Bureau Station, however, was built in 1901, and although it has been decommissioned and today is used as a welcome center, its history and connection to a famous tragedy makes it an interesting place to visit. The date was April 14 in the year 1912, and a telegraph was received with just one sentence typed out. “Have struck an iceberg.” That message, of course, was from the Titanic, and the message was forwarded on to David Sarnoff, a weather station operator in New York, who immediately dismissed it as a prank sent by two drunks (the two operators at the Hatteras weather station) and nothing more was done about it. We don’t know if it would have changed any of the outcome if it had been taken seriously, but it is still a fascinating piece of trivia, and the original telegraph is on display at the Graveyards of the Atlantic Museum, should you be interested.
Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills
It is no secret that man’s first flight took place right here in the Outer Banks, but did you know that a large memorial located atop Kill Devil Hill can be visited during your Cape Hatteras adventures? This is where many test flights were conducted on what was once a sand dune with shifting sands that later stabilized to become Kill Devil Hill. The monument, created from white granite and standing 60 feet tall, is also the site of celebrations held on the anniversary of the first flight.
Portsmouth Village in Ocracoke
For our final Hatteras hidden gem, we are taking you about 24 miles outside of Hatteras, back to Ocracoke Island for the opportunity to visit a real ghost town. Portsmouth Village used to be a bustling port until two major hurricanes changed the landscape of the Outer Banks, destroying the village and making Hatteras a more convenient port. Today, the village can only be reached by ferry, offering 12 remaining structures and a vivid reminder of our dependence on the kindness of Mother Nature.
The Most Sparkling NOT Hidden Gem of All
After almost 75 years in the same location (we’ve expanded and renovated often over the years!), Lighthouse View is a sparkling Outer Banks gem, providing comfort to all who reside within. Reserve your favorite retreat today!
