Hatteras Island Vacation

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

Join me on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, G+ or SUBSCRIBE.