![]() The building wouldn’t have been able to hold out much longer. Natural shoreline erosion had brought the ocean ever closer to the lighthouse since its construction in 1870. What’s interesting about this lighthouse is that it had to be moved from its original location in 1999. You can still check out the beautiful exterior, though! However, when we visited in 2021, it was closed for a multi-year renovation project. ![]() Just like Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is usually open seasonally for climbing. Check the National Park Service’s beach activities page for up-to-date information.ĭo you want to linger on the beach on a chilly evening? Depending on the time of year and location, you may be able to build a fire! Just make sure to get a beach fire permit first (it’s free). Off-road vehicles are generally allowed onto the beach, though the rules can change at different times of the year. You can even try out a kitesurf or kiteboard if you’re looking for some adventure. Once you’ve found your perfect spot, you can settle in for a day of beach walking, kite flying, and picnicking. As you drive along, just be on the lookout for signs pointing you to beach access roads, boardwalks, and parking lots. What would a trip to the Outer Banks be without some time on the beach?įinding a beach is easy here. Beach Areas in Cape Hatteras National Seashore Looking for great local restaurants in the Outer Banks? One of our favorites was Aqua Restaurant, located about 30 miles north of Oregon Inlet. These two-hour narrated boat trips regularly leave from Oregon Inlet to navigate the Roanoke Sound.ĭolphin watch trips also leave from Nags Head to the north, or from Manteo over on Roanoke Island.ĭolphin sightings are practically guaranteed during the summer months, so the tours take place primarily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Or maybe you’d prefer to try a dolphin watch tour. You can charter a fishing boat from the extensive fleet there if that’s your passion! Oregon Inlet Fishing Boats On the southern end of Bodie Island is the fishing center at Oregon Inlet. So the old keepers’ quarters have been converted into a ranger office and visitor’s center. The lighthouse is still functioning, but it doesn’t need live-in keepers anymore. The Bodie Lighthouse also hosts special climbs to coincide with summertime full moons! Tickets for all climbs must be bought online on the day you plan to visit. ![]() If you plan right, you may be able to climb right to the top of a couple of Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s lighthouses and take in the sights from above.īodie Island Lighthouse is open during the summer season (from mid-May through Columbus Day in September) for climbing the 200 steps to the top. One of the main attractions of any beach vacation is a gorgeous ocean view. If you’re not up for camping, of course there are plenty of great hotels and rentals in the Outer Banks too! Bodie Lighthouse ![]() Bring mosquito netting and insect repellent just in case! Frisco Campground even has a handy boardwalk to get you quickly and conveniently over to the ocean!Ī word of caution: mosquitoes love the warm and wet southeast part of the country. Oregon Inlet is the only campground of the four to offer electric hookups and heated showers.Īll of the campgrounds are located quite close to beaches. Reservations must be made and paid for online. The others, Cape Point and Frisco, are open from April through November. Two of the campgrounds, Oregon Inlet and Ocracoke, are open year-round. There are four campgrounds run by the national park system within Cape Hatteras. Camping at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Here are just a few starting points you might want to add to your list if you’re planning an Outer Banks vacation!Īre you visiting off-season? Some of these attractions will still be available! Alternatively, check out Jockey’s Ridge State Park, slightly to the north of this area, or my guide to the best activitiesoutside of peak season. The best vacation spots leave you wanting to explore again. We couldn’t fit it all in this time, but that’s okay. There’s a lot to do – camping, fishing, visiting lighthouses, sailing, hitting the beach, and more! On a recent getaway to the Outer Banks, we sampled the attractions of this seashore. Most of us usually just call this whole region the Outer Banks, but three of the islands are officially protected as part of the 70-mile national seashore: Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke. Located along a thin line of barrier islands in North Carolina, Cape Hatteras National Seashore has become a favorite retreat for many vacationers. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Ĭape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina offers lighthouses, dolphin watch tours, and beautiful beaches to explore along 70 miles of coastline! Bodie Lighthouse
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