The worst thing about going on vacation is that eventually the vacation has to end. We’ve just returned from a relaxing, fun filled week on Hatteras Island. Yes, I live near the beach already, but it’s nice to escape from our touristy beach community and relax in a less commercialized area. Let me show you my favorite slice of paradise where the sea oats rustle in the ocean breeze, sea gulls perch on beach cottage decks, and waves crashing on the beach lull you to sleep each night.
The local attire here is swimsuits and flip flops. The rule of no-shirt/no-service doesn’t really apply on the island either. Packing for a Hatteras Island vacation is easy. Just toss in a few swimsuits, sundresses, sunglasses, sunscreen, and maybe a hoodie and you’re good to go!
Hatteras Island is part of the Outer Banks of North Carolina and is actually a National Park with several townships. The Pamlico Sound is on the west side of the island and the Atlantic is on the east side. Remember the movie Nights of Rodanthe starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane? That was filmed at a beach house in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island. We pass it on the way down to where we love to stay in a town further south called Avon.
The island’s population is mostly seasonal tourists with plenty of vacation homes on the Sound or the oceanfront. We normally have always stayed on the oceanfront but this time we chose a cedar shake beach cottage on the Sound side. Whenever we stay at one of these beach cottages I spend too much time redecorating them in my head! Oh how some homes could be just stunning if I could get my hands on them! (I really need to buy one I think!!)
We were treated to stunning views of the ocean and views of the sunset over the sound. There was even a small pond right behind our home. The Sound is just behind that back house in the sunset picture below.
The island has received a lot of rain and the beach grass was beautiful and green and wild flowers were blooming all over the dunes. The grass is normally quite brown by this time of the summer.
My best friend’s family rented the home next to ours which made for an extra fun filled week. We’d walk off our seafood dinner each night on the shoreline and the kids would attempt to catch crabs scrambling across the sand.
I think what I love the most about Hatteras are the vast expanses of beaches. At home, you’re piled up on top of each other, umbrella to umbrella, with barely room to walk. Here there is space to roam and be secluded if you want.
If you are looking for a more populated beach, the island has that too! You can drive your 4 wheel drive vehicles on designated ORV (off road vehicle) beaches. A permit is required, and the state has limited the areas significantly this past year, but it is a fun way to explore the shoreline. Just pack up the back of your truck and find a sandy spot to rest for the day. We enjoy the ORV ramps in the town of Frisco. This is where my husband enjoys surfing.
For days when the ocean waves are a bit to rough, we head over to the Sound side of the island and take up some wind surfing lessons. I think my teen daughters enjoyed the hunky instructor more than the windsurfing! My son said he’s going to stick to surfing instead. The sound is only a few feet deep for miles, which makes it ideal for fishing and little kids swimming. It is also the world premier area for kite surfing and wind surfing.
See why I love Hatteras Island so much? It is an ideal family vacation getaway. It’s also where I gather most of my shells for my Shell Art. This week the shells were mostly hidden by high tides, though I managed to collect a few.
I hate saying goodbye to paradise…. until next time Hatteras…
While I was away I hope you enjoyed last week’s Summer Blogger Blitz and maybe met a few blogs you weren’t familiar with. Special thanks to all those lovely ladies for taking care of you all while I was gone.
Kim
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I love OBX! Years ago, we rented a house on the beach in Waves, in October. It was truly a rejuvenating week. Your lovely images reminded me of how much I loved it there! (I get what you mean about living at the shore yet still wanting to get away to another shore too!)
The hurricane last year washed out the road right there at Rodanthe/Waves and they seem to still have a lot of debris still. It was strange going over the temporary bridge and seeing the power of the ocean destruction.
How fun! This is a part of the country that I have not been but it looks so pretty. Is that your dog?
Nope, that’s my best friend walking her little great dane pup. 😉
Sooo enjoyed your post.We loved our trip a few years ago to Nags Head. I can truly say that it was the one vacation we came from and felt like we really had a vacation….we relaxed and just enjoyed the beaches there.It was also the first time we ever found several pieces of beach glass….that was such a treat! =)
Thank you! We’ve never stayed in Nags Head. We’ve done Duck/Southern Shores though also in years past. It’s all so pretty.
OK, I want to run my toes in that sand right about now! Gorgeous pictures and what a fun, memorable experience!
-Jen
Thank you! I’m missing it badly already.
Looks like you had a great time and beautiful place to stay 🙂 Thanks again for having me guest post!
Any time darlin’! I was so happy to have you!
I think I said this before you left but I ADORE North Carolina. Everything from the OBX to Wilmington. Your photos look gorgeous and make me miss it there (my sister lives there and we visit her at least once a year). We are actually consider moving out there soon, this reminds me I would be make the right decision. Thanks for sharing, hope you relaxed and had a blast.
I have never been to NC but I do want to go! Daniel Pollera is one of my favorite artists and I think he does some of his beachscapes from there. You’re fortunate to live in such a pretty place.
I have not been to the Outer Banks in years. Now you have made me want to go.
Looks beautiful! This just made me crave a beach vacation. Just have to convince the hubby! Glad you had a great time.
-Erin @ DIY On the Cheap
Love your post Kim! Your photos are so stunning too! We visited OBX for the first time last summer and loved it as well! We did a Humvee tour to see the wild horses of Corolla – such an amazing site to see wild horses with their babies right on the beach! We all had such a great time! So glad you and your family had fun 🙂 Heather @ Setting for Four
It was a great time!! Love the post and the pictures! Yep, that beast of an animal belongs to me!! …she just ate my new Droid Razor Maxx…anyone interested in a new puppy?! LOL 😉
Thanks Cin! We need to vacation together more often!
I found your blog from a Pinterest post of your laundry room and I am enjoying your writings and pics so much. I’m very blessed to not only live on the coast about 2 hours north of the OBX but I have a sister who lives in Kitty Hawk (sound side) and owns a scrapbook store there (full of all kinds of unique beach lovelies) AND my oldest nephew lives in Waves and owns a yummy deli/market. We’d move there tomorrow if we could. I always like meeting someone who shares my love of all things beachy.
I found your blog from a Pinterest post of your laundry room and I am enjoying your writings and pics so much. I’m very blessed to not only live on the coast about 2 hours north of the OBX but I have a sister who lives in Kitty Hawk (sound side) and owns a scrapbook store there (full of all kinds of unique beach lovelies) AND my oldest nephew lives in Waves and owns a yummy deli/market. We’d move there tomorrow if we could. I always like meeting someone who shares my love of all things beachy.
I found your blog from infarrantlycreative and when I saw your post about Hatteras, well I just had to read it. I am forrunate enough to have lived here on the Outer Banka for over twenty years, growing up right in paradise. Now, I work for a vacation rental company, Kitty Dunes Rentals-The Vacation People, and get to help folks have their own amazing beach vacation. Growing up here was a blast and to return after college was a treat. Next time you are down, have your son try kitesurfing. If he loves to surf, this will be right up his alley! I surf, kitesurf, hangglide, and love this area completely. If you let me know when you are coming, I would live to do a meet-up. I truly enjoy silently stalking you ( have been lurking for a week now). When I hit this post today, I could stay silent no more. Although I am more partial to my neck of the beach (I live and work in Kitty Hawk), I love day trips to Hatteras and Ocracoke! Thanks for visiting our little island paradise! Come again soon!
Hi,
My name is Sarah and I’m with Dwellable. I was looking for blog posts about the Outer Banks to share on our site and I came across your post…If you’re open to it, drop me a line at Sarah(at)dwellable(dot)com.
Hope to hear from you 🙂
Sarah
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My last big vacation, the family and myself rented out some of Martha’s Vineyard rentals. I’m not sure what our next trip will be but this looks great! I love having any reason to sit with my feet in the sand.