Do you need more than sunshine, warm water, and a gorgeous view to enjoy a beach vacation? On Cape Lookout National Seashore, not only can you lie in the sun and play every water sport imaginable, you can also visit a historic lighthouse and look for wild horses. Your classic beach vacation just got more exciting on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The Outer Banks are a string of barrier islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the east coast of North Carolina. They extend nearly 200 miles from the Virginia border down to the tip of Cape Lookout. Though the Outer Banks are one of the most popular destinations in the state, attracting more than 5 million visitors each year, only about 10% of those people travel all the way to the three islands — North Core Banks, South Core Banks, and Shackleford Banks — that make up Cape Lookout. The three islands, as well as their 56-mile stretch of beaches, was designated Cape Lookout National Seashore in 1966.
Access to Cape Lookout National Seashore is still quite limited. Since no bridges connect the islands to the mainland of North Carolina, you have to take a private boat or a ferry. Passenger ferries from Island Express depart from Harkers Island and Beaufort and dock at Shackleford Banks or the Cape Lookout Lighthouse after a 25-minute ride. There are also vehicle ferries available between Davis and South Core Banks that take about 45 minutes. Though permits are required for vehicles (available through Recreation.gov), having one allows you to easily transport your camping and outdoor gear.
The iconic Cape Lookout Lighthouse
Your first stop on the national seashore should be the historic Cape Lookout Lighthouse. The dangerous Outer Banks were nicknamed “the Graveyard of the Atlantic” for all the ships that wrecked offshore. Cape Lookout was a particularly treacherous area, so its first lighthouse was built in 1812. A life-saving station, which eventually became the Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station, followed in 1888. The lighthouse was moved and rebuilt in 1859 to replace the original — and much shorter — lighthouse on Cape Lookout. It is impossible to miss this one. “The Diamond Lady,” as the lighthouse is affectionately called, stands 163 feet tall and its strong light can been seen from about 15 miles offshore. Plus, the tower has a unique black-and-white pattern that helps sailors differentiate north and south from east and west while out on the water. No wonder it is so recognizable.
Though it is hard to beat the view from the top of the lighthouse, the inside is currently closed so that the staircase may be renovated. Unfortunately, a date has yet to be set for its reopening. But you can visit the Lighthouse Keeper’s House right now. The house was built in 1873 for the lighthouse’s three keepers and their families. It is now a museum, open from March to October, whose exhibits focus on the history of Cape Lookout and its iconic lighthouse. There is also a Light Station Visitor Center with guides, maps, a bookstore, and restrooms. From there, a wooden boardwalk leads down to the beautiful, windswept beach.
The Famous Shackleford Horses
