Things to Do

Our favorite ways to spend a day on Hatteras Island — gathered over decades of getting it right.

Where We Love to Eat

The island table

Hatteras Village

Dinky's Waterfront Restaurant

A village institution atop the Village Marina, with panoramic Pamlico Sound views made for sunsets and a stunning African-mahogany bar. Dinner only, no reservations — and the line forms early for good reason. Our anchor stop at the south end of the island; the blue crab ravioli and the nightly catch special never disappoint.

Hatteras Village

Hatteras Sol Waterside Grill

Spectacular Sound views from the deck bar and what many call the best clam chowder on the island. A focused menu executed to perfection, with daily specials not to be missed. No reservations, so grab a drink on the deck while you wait. A can't-miss every trip down.

Frisco

Tavern on 12

A sprawling menu of homemade fare — seafood specials, brick-oven pizzas (try the Crab Margarita Pie), grilled plates, sandwiches, and wraps. The lot full of locals tells you everything. Our go-to mid-island lunch, with a great beer list and a covered patio when the weather cooperates. Like the Froggy Dog, it's earned a song of its own — Where the Beer Got Real:

Buxton

Roots & Leaves

Across from Conner's Supermarket, open Wed–Mon 7am–noon, and worth building your morning around. Small-batch vegan donuts hand-cut on vintage equipment, a serious espresso bar, and real NY-style bagels. The signature yeast donuts sell out fast — often by 9:30 — so get there early. A non-negotiable Buxton stop.

Avon

Ketch 55 Seafood Grill

A Hatteras institution since 2004 for fresh local seafood, produce, and hand-cut steaks — from simple steamed plates to beautifully composed dishes, each with a suggested beer or wine pairing. Live music adds to the full-body experience by the sea. Our dinner staple whenever we're staying in Avon.

Avon

Oceana's Bistro

Casual, cozy, and open year-round in the heart of Avon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fish tacos, crab-loaded grillers, crab cakes, burgers, and daily specials — with servings that hang off the edges of the plate. One of those places where nobody goes home hungry or unhappy.

Buxton

Rusty's Surf & Turf

Chef Rusty Midgett blends a passion for surf travel with global flavors, for a menu genuinely unlike anything else on the island. The hushpuppy appetizer is legendary, the shrimp and grits are perfect, and the daily specials push boundaries in the best way. The spot that surprises people — they leave talking about it for months.

Avon

The Froggy Dog

One of Avon's longtime institutions, right on Highway 12. It was first run by Fran — of Frank & Fran's bait-shop fame — and though it's changed hands several times over the decades, it's still going strong. A local landmark beloved enough that someone wrote a song about it — Froggy Nights in Avon:

On & In the Water

Get out on the Atlantic and the Sound

Surf fishing at sunrise on the beach near Cape Point
Cape Hatteras & Beyond

Surf Fishing

There's nothing like surf fishing the beaches from the Tri-Villages down to Cape Point. Red drum rule the shallows — bull reds give a serious fight in spring and fall — with bluefish, flounder, and speckled trout keeping it interesting. Cape Point, where the currents converge, is one of the most productive surf spots on the entire East Coast. Sunrise over the Atlantic with a rod in the sand is as good as it gets.

A bright, breezy beach day on Hatteras Island
Canadian Hole & REAL Watersports

Windsurfing & Kiteboarding

Canadian Hole — the Haulover Day Use Area between Avon and Buxton — has anchored exceptional East Coast windsurfing for decades, the Sound alive with colorful kites and sails all summer. Just south, Kite Point is credited as the birthplace of Hatteras kiteboarding, the lighthouse framing the horizon. For lessons and gear, REAL Watersports in Waves and OceanAir Sports in Avon are both excellent.

A sportfishing boat heading offshore past the dunes
Hatteras Village & Oregon Inlet

Offshore Fishing Charters

With the Gulf Stream close offshore, Hatteras is one of the world's top charter launch points — yellowfin and bluefin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, king mackerel, and prized blue and white marlin. Hatteras Landing Marina is our closer launch; the reimagined Oregon Inlet Fishing Center (new in 2024) is home to the East Coast's largest, most modern fleet. Nothing beats rolling off the dock before sunrise and reaching the Stream as the sun comes up. Our own favorites are the Qualifier out of Oregon Inlet and the Release out of Hatteras Village.

Sunset over the Pamlico Sound
The Tri-Villages

Red Beard's Tiki Cruises

Private tiki-boat cruises on the Pamlico Sound out of Rodanthe, Waves & Salvo — no strangers, just your crew, with complimentary shuttle service. Morning, midday, and sunset cruises are available, and the sunset ride in particular is hard to beat. Bring your drinks, enjoy the Sound, and watch the sky turn. Book a cruise → They have a song for it, too:

Island Icons

The landmarks worth the drive

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse rising over the marsh
Buxton

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The tallest brick lighthouse in America. Climb the 257 steps for a view that stretches the whole island — a short drive south. When the encroaching surf threatened it, the entire tower — nearly 5,000 tons — was famously moved 2,900 feet inland in 1999. Watch the move →

The pier's oceanfront restaurant and rooftop deck glowing at sunset
Avon

Avon Fishing Pier

Walk out over the Atlantic, drop a line, or just catch the sunrise — minutes from the house and a true local institution. On summer Thursday evenings, the pier's Beach Club throws a beachfront concert series (late June through mid-August, music around 8 PM) with touring acts and crowd-favorite tribute bands. See the current lineup & tickets →

Build your week around the good stuff

Find an open week and the whole island is yours to explore.

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