Beach Vacation Activities

On the Outer Banks, there are a myriad of ways to enjoy time with the family. Not sure what to do first once you begin your Hatteras Island vacation? There’s plenty to do, from fishing to kiteboarding, museums to water parks, and you can get your feet wet with these family friendly beach activities.

Enjoy a Day at the Beach

Grab the flip flops and the sunscreen, and head for the shore. Be sure and bring plenty of beach toys and energy. While mom and dad relax and enjoy a good beach read, the kids can stay busy building sand castles, looking for shells, finding coquina clams and sand diggers, riding the waves on a boogie board, or just splashing around in the ocean. For a lifeguarded beach, head to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. There is a lifeguard on duty in the summertime near the old lighthouse site, and plenty of parking for everyone in your group.

Let the Games Begin

Hatteras Island is home to a water park in Rodanthe, a small go-kart track in Frisco, and several mini-golf courses throughout the island. After a long day on the beach, enjoy an outdoor family game night under the stars. Best of all, many of these locales offer on-site ice cream shops for a refreshing treat after a fun-filled evening.

Learn while you Have Fun

With a rich and checkered maritime history, it’s no wonder that Hatteras Island has a multitude of cultural attractions scattered throughout the island that pays homage to its costal heritage. Take a day to explore the historic Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station in Rodanthe, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the Frisco Native American Museum, and the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras Village to get a taste of Hatteras Island’s culture and legacy.

Ride the Waves and Wind

With hundreds of miles of beaches and water to explore, a Hatteras Island vacation presents the perfect opportunity to try your hand at a new watersport. The unique combination of Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound that borders this barrier island makes it the ideal playground for surfers, body boarders, windsurfers, kiteboarders, parasailers, and kayakers. Many local stores offer equipment rentals and even lessons to get you started on your new water adventure.

Go Fish

Anglers from all over the East Coast love Hatteras Island, as the intersecting Labrador and Gulf Stream currents attract a variety of big migrating game fish. Whether you cast from the beach, from one of the island’s three piers, or book a charter boat to explore the Gulf Stream waters, many visiting anglers go home with a great catch, or at least a good fish story or two.

Reconnect with the Family

Perhaps the best thing about a Hatteras Island vacation is that it provides ample opportunity to spend time with the family, miles away from the real world. Enjoy a barbecue at your vacation rental home, have a family bonfire on the beach, or simply sit down for a family seafood feast or a long conversation on a waterfront deck. No matter how you have fun, the important thing is that you get to share the memories with your friends and family.