There are vacation destinations where you will spend most of your time inside, exploring museums, Broadway plays, and other famous indoor attractions, but in Cape Hatteras, you will want to spend as much time outside as you possibly can. Breathing in salty air as you hike, play, and explore, the land and seascape of Cape Hatteras might make you wish you could sleep out under the stars, but the comfortable beds in our Lighthouse View rooms, suites, and cottages will soon convince you of the better choice. In any case, this guide to the top five outdoor activities in Cape Hatteras will help you enjoy a Cape Hatteras vacation you will never forget.
Kiteboarding at Kite Point
Once upon a time, Kite Point was a quiet sound-side beach known as Canadian Hole, almost deserted and offering a serenity that was savored. Always popular with local windsurfers, in the 1990s a new sport came to town, and in what seemed like an overnight happening, Canadian Hole became THE beach for kiteboarders, and the name Kite Point soon followed. Today, schools such as Kite Hatteras and Kite Club Hatteras help train a new generation of thrill seekers in the sport of kiteboarding, and you too can get in on the fun!
Horseback Riding on the Beach
The Outer Banks is known for its wild ponies that are descendants of ones that may have come from the ships of Spanish explorers many centuries ago, and although it is illegal to ride, feed, or even pet those wild ponies, horseback riding on the beach is still a popular sport. Hatteras Island Horseback Riding, located at Ramp 55 Park Service Parking Lot in Hatteras, offers tamed and gentle steeds taking guests on beach rides, offering a romantic sunrise adventure or a fun family adventure that will never be forgotten.
Wander More While Hiking in Cape Hatteras
There are a large number of trails that traverse the landscape of Cape Hatteras, including a short but scenic one that loops through the maritime forest of Buxton Woods, around saltwater and freshwater ponds, and under the canopies of towering pines and ancient live oaks. Extending less than a mile around and back, this hike is perfect for families, offering a chance to experience nature without tiring out the young ones. The wildlife that inhabit Buxton Woods are timid, but may make brief appearances during your hike, giving you and your children the river otters and bald eagles.
Making Waves and Memories While Kayaking in Cape Hatteras
There’s poetry involved with a kayaking trip on the waters of Cape Hatteras, offering a chance to be at one with nature, and as you paddle atop calm waters, perhaps catching sight of dolphins frolicking in the distance and seeing bald eagles take off in flight, this adventure may be the one that lingers in your memories longer than any other. Rent your kayak and paddles from Slash Creek Outfitters, 57698 North Carolina Highway 12 in Hatteras, and launch your kayak in the Oregon Inlet or the Salvo Sound. Outer Banks Kayak Adventures, 101 W Airstrip Road #264 in Kill Devil Hills, offers a selection of kayaking tours for those who may feel a little unsure about paddling in uncharted waters (at least to them). The tours they offer will take you all over the Outer Banks, including birding tours at the Alligator River Refuge, a Kitty Hawk Maritime Forest & Marsh Tours, and our personal favorite, a Bioluminescence & Full Moon Night Kayak Tour.
Beach Days at Home With Lighthouse View
A day on the beach is the most popular outdoor activity of all and is one that can be enjoyed without having to wander from the comfortable delights found in your Lighthouse View will bring you. The beaches that lie outside your door, a part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, are where you will relax, soak in the sun, and let the serenity of the sea burrow its way into your soul. There are no rules to how you spend your day on the beach, and if you want to sit in a beach chair, book in hand, your Stanley cup filled with your favorite beverage, and a cooler full of sandwiches and snacks at your side, then that is what you should do. If you are a walker and find yourself walking along shore’s edge, taking photos of lighthouses, beach cottages, and seabirds in flight, that is what you should do. And if you love exploring the world under the sea and decide to spend your days with snorkel mask and flippers, all we will say about that is don’t forget to reapply sunscreen frequently!
Every Adventure Will Be Your Favorite
And every return home to your Lighthouse View retreat will be one your soul sighs happily over. Reserve your favorite escape today!
