Cape Hatteras Vacation

[makattak]

My wife and I want to go to Cape Hatteras later this next month. Does anyone have any advice on where to stay and what to do while we are there?

We have some things planned, but relaxing is the main goal.

So, who knows Cape Hatteras?

[French G.]

Be sure to spend a day in Ocracoke, got to take the ferry to get there. Nice place to stay too. Renting a house? I used to know the place, but it is quite built up since I was there a lot.

[mtnbkr]

+1 to Ocracoke

Also don't forget to hit the Weeping Radish brewpub in Manteo and while on Roanoke Island, check out the aquarium.

The smaller lighthouses are charming and lack the crowds of the big Hatteras one.

This is a good time of year to go, the weather is mild and no crowds.

I haven't been in 4 years (used to go frequently), so I can't give you many specifics regarding food, but there's a great crab shack on the old highway at the northern end of Kitty Hawk.

The Wright Bros memorial and museum is worth a trip.

Chris

[French G.]

Forgot about the Weeping Radish, now I remember why I know squat about Hatteras, we've stayed in Manteo the last umpteen times we went. Renting a house in Duck next week. In my misspent youth I camped in the park campgrounds a lot, love Frisco because it is up high and the breeze keeps the bugs off...or snaps your fiberglass tent poles like twigs. Just depends. Lots of good pier and surf fishing, I may try a little this next week, haven't fished in years. Probably some good speck action soundside.

I seem to remember that the Back Porch restaurant in Ocracoke was good. I think I'll be cooking in most of this next week, it's a more predictable experience than dining out around Nags Head.

[Jamisjockey]

Screw Hatteras, stay in Ocracoke.  No specific recommendations on where to stay.  Season is over, so the rates should be good.  Try VRBO.com, or stay in one of the BandB's in the village.  If its not in the village, don't bother.
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ocracoke-north-carolina.html 
You're just coming out of the tourist season, alot of stuff might be battened down.  Weather will be iffy in a month.  Should be mild, but it might be blowing, and when it's blowing its got a serious bite.  But there won't be any crowds.  Just be prepared for cold fall weather, with some long pants and rain jackets.

Like Chris said, make the trip up to the memorial.  Check out the lighthouses.  You can Pretty much do the whole run to the Currituck light and see the memorial in one day from Ocracoke or Hatteras.
Eat local, don't bother with anything that looks like a chain.  Try some "downeast" pig BBQ.  Crabs of course.
Sit in an adirondack chair and watch the sun come up over the Atlantic with a hot cup of joe.  This is the best time of the year for beach combing, too.
Enjoy!

[mtnbkr]

Try some "downeast" pig BBQ. 

The Pigman in Kitty Hawk (or is it Nags Head, not sure where the demarc is located.

Chris

[makattak]

Screw Hatteras, stay in Ocracoke.  No specific recommendations on where to stay.  Season is over, so the rates should be good.  Try VRBO.com, or stay in one of the BandB's in the village.  If its not in the village, don't bother.
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ocracoke-north-carolina.html 
You're just coming out of the tourist season, alot of stuff might be battened down.  Weather will be iffy in a month.  Should be mild, but it might be blowing, and when it's blowing its got a serious bite.  But there won't be any crowds.  Just be prepared for cold fall weather, with some long pants and rain jackets.

Like Chris said, make the trip up to the memorial.  Check out the lighthouses.  You can Pretty much do the whole run to the Currituck light and see the memorial in one day from Ocracoke or Hatteras.
Eat local, don't bother with anything that looks like a chain.  Try some "downeast" pig BBQ.  Crabs of course.
Sit in an adirondack chair and watch the sun come up over the Atlantic with a hot cup of joe.  This is the best time of the year for beach combing, too.
Enjoy!

Thanks, Jamis for suggesting Ocracoke. The island was beautiful. The beaches were even better. Also, it was 80 and close to 80 every day we went to the beach last week. Then, as we were leaving, it became cold and rainy.

We saw the lighthouses, the Roanoke colony (what little is left), and the Kitty Hawk Memorial as well.

On another note, if anyone wants the best food in the Outer Banks (at least that we ate), try Basknight's Lone Cedar Cafe in Nags Head.

Related to that, I discovered I love bluefish. Mmmmmmm!

[mtnbkr]

Related to that, I discovered I love bluefish. Mmmmmmm!

The best bluefish is the bluefish you catch and clean yourself on the Nags Head pier. :D

Chris

[French G.]

I'm also partial to Owen's in Nag's Head for good seafood, hit that last week. Unless they moved, it looks like the Weeping Radish is no more in Manteo.

[Jamisjockey]

you bet    Glad you had a good time.  The OBX is one of my most favorite places in the world.

[BlueStarLizzard]

we stayed in a rentel in Avon. right across the street from the DQ and a nice walk down the street to the ocean. we used Surf and Sound reality.