Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Hatteras Island

If you're looking for something else to do on the islands besides just chill on the beach with a cooler beer the nearby lighthouses are one of the go-to events. We ended up visiting three lighthouses in the area and enjoyed learning about the history of the islands, the origin of the lighthouses in the area, and how they serve to help protect the maritime traffic in the area over the years. It's also interesting to read about how the islands change and how the lighthouses need to move in order to continue to protect the coastline.

This is *the* lighthouse I'd seen in pictures everywhere. Let me be clear: it is still just a lighthouse. Don't go expecting some amusement-park level entertainment. But if you're a fan of museums and a brisk walk, it's a great stop. The walk to the top was still closed (and, as far as I could tell, had been for awhile and would be for quite some time more), but I enjoyed the museum info about WWI and WWII interactions with German submarines and the moving of the lighthouse. The park rangers were present, attentive, helpful, and did a good job of entertaining people with brief activities.