These are some of our favorite places & things to do when visiting Hatteras Island!
Restaurants
Cafe Pamlico
Website: https://www.innonpamlicosound.com/eat/
Phone: (866) 726-5426
Location: 49684 NC Highway 12, P.O. Box 737, Buxton, NC 27920
Inn on Pamlico Sound's high-end bar/eatery providing locally sourced seafood fare & outdoor seating. Fantastic brunch. Often have live music on weekend nights. Reservations highly recommended.
Mad Crabber
Website: https://www.themadcrabber.net/menu
Phone: (252) 995-5959
Location: 40606 NC-12 Avon, NC 27915
Family-owned restaurant featuring steamed & fried seafood meals in a down-home atmosphere. Great kids menu.
Po House
Website: https://www.pohouseobx.com
Phone: 252-995-3353
Location: 39450 NC-12 Avon, NC 27915
Stunning views & flavorful food. No kids menu, but there are great kids options. Fresh food, awesome cocktails, family atmosphere.
Pangea Tavern
Website: https://pangeatavern.com/pages/menu
Phone: (252) 995-3800
Location: 41001 Highway 12, Avon NC, 27915
Casual American fare with a focus on seafood & beers on tap in a relaxed, rustic space with a patio. Awesome playground right next to the patio, perfect for kids of all ages.
Gidget's Pizza and Pasta
Website: https://gidgetspizza.com
Phone: 252-995-3109
Location: 41934 Hwy 12 Avon, NC 27915
Pizzas, pastas, & subs, plus beer & wine from the bar, in a polished, laid-back setting. No delivery option, but definitely our favorite pizza option locally!
Pamlico Deli
Website: https://www.pamlicodeliobx.com/menu
Phone: 252-995-3305
Location: 53013 NC Highway 12 Frisco, NC 27936
Easily one of the best sandwich shops in the Outer Banks. High-quality meats, cheeses, deli sandwiches and salads, sides, charcuterie boards, meal pans to go, beer and wine, desserts and much more!
Orange Blossom Cafe & Bakery
Website: https://orangeblossombakery.com
Location: 47206 NC 12 Hwy Buxton, NC 27920
Famous for their Apply Uglies & pastries, Orange Blossom is a must visit! Get there early to avoid the line.
Hatteras Island Seafood Boils
Website: https://www.hatterasislandseafoodboils.com/menu/
Phone: 252-996-0946
Location: 40396 NC 12 Hwy Avon, NC 27915 (For Pickup Only)
Have you ever wanted to try an authentic seafood boil? This is your place! They will deliver a fully cooked & customized seafood boil to the home, with everything you need to enjoy! This is one of our favorite staple meals. It's always a ton of food & super tasty.
Sites
Hatteras Lighthouse
Website: https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/chls.htm
Location: 46379 Lighthouse Road Buxton, NC 27920
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse protects one of the most hazardous sections of the Atlantic Coast. While you cannot currently climb the lighthouse (expected to open 2026), you can visit the grounds & tour the lightkeeper's home to learn the history of the light house.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Website: https://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm
Whether you are enjoying the beach, kayaking the sound, or camping there is something for everyone to explore! Explore by foot or via ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) - the miles of beach line offer fun for the whole family. Check out the Cape Hatteras point for great fishing, or go down to the Hatteras Inlet Peninsula for some of the best shelling in the area.
Haulover Beach Access - Canadian Hole
Website: https://www.outerbanks.com/canadian-hole.html
Location: NC Hwy 12, Buxton, NC 27920 (Just south of Avon)
The most popular wind surfing spot in the Outer Banks. If you have young children, this is also one of the best beach options. With virtually no waves & nearly a football field's distance of ankle-deep water out into the sound, it's really the perfect beach spot on when the ocean is too rough.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pea-island
Location: 14500 NC Hwy 12 Rodanthe, NC 27968
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is a tiny piece of barrier island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina... small in size, but huge in popularity among both wildlife and people! Pea Island offers visitors the opportunity to experience spectacular flocks of ducks, swans, and other waterfowl, and explore dynamic beaches and dunes. Visitors can stop by the Visitor Center, hike one of the refuge trails, dip a fishing line in the surf or the sound, or relax by the beach.
Activities
Hatteras Island Ocean Center
Website: https://www.hioceancenter.org
Location: 57204 NC Hwy 12 Mile Marker, 71, Hatteras, NC 27943
The Ocean Center provides a wide variety of recreational and educational activities for people of all ages. View the exhibits, experience the wetlands and coastal forest, attend programs and events, and use ocean access.
Avon Fishing Pier
Website: https://koruvillage.com/pages/avon-pier
Location: 41001 Hwy 12 Avon, NC 27915
The Avon Fishing Pier is a place for all to enjoy. Whether you are an experienced angler ready to cast into the Atlantic, eager to enjoy a gorgeous sunrise with a cup of coffee, or simply wanting to sightsee and take it all in, the Avon Pier is where you belong. Open Seasonally.
Outer Banks Kayak Adventures
Website: https://obxadventure.com
Location: Dependent on tour
Outer Banks Kayak Adventures provides quality, affordable, and relaxing kayak and stand up paddle board (SUP) eco-tours. Join us for an unforgettable family adventure and see a more natural side of the Outer Banks.
Hatteras Beach & Village Tours (Shelling Tour)
Website: https://www.hatterasislandvacationrentals.com/blog/hatteras-beach-and-village-tours
Hatteras Beach and Village Tours provides unique beach tours and serves the beaches of Cape Point, Frisco, South Hatteras and Ocracoke Island. Hatteras Beach and Village Tours is a National Park Service (NPS) approved service provider. Reach out to Ray Stallings on Facebook or via (252) 908-2994
Avon Farmer's Market
Website: https://www.avonfarmersmarket.com
Location: 41156 NC Hwy 12 Avon, NC 27915
Open June-September, every Tuesday from 9AM - 1PM. Tons of vendors selling crafts & goods.
Ocracoke Island
Website: https://www.visitocracokenc.com/
Take the Hatteras Village Ferry (get there early for vehicle ferry, or consider taking passenger ferry which typically has less of a wait) to Ocracoke for the day and explore all the island has to offer! From wild horses to yummy restaurants & fun shops, it's a fun island to explore! Great for a day trip. Pack snacks & activities for the ferry, which takes about an hour.
Frisco Mini Golf & Go Karts
Website: https://www.facebook.com/friscokart/
Go Karts, Mini Golf & Bumper Cars. Fun for the whole family! Recommend taking bug spray, as it is all outdoors.
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
Website: https://www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island
Location: 374 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954
One of our favorite places to visit! Fresh & Salt water animals, a sea turtle hospital, touch tanks, and outdoor activities! A great option to visit on your way into or out of Avon. It's also not a bad day trip option, as it's super close to Nags Head & Kitty Hawk.
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