Hatteras Island is a barrier island off the coast of North Carolina, on the Atlantic Ocean. Famed for its lighthouse and long sandy beaches, it is a great family friendly place for a relaxing holiday. Many people visiting Hatteras Island will be looking for a beach holiday, and the long sandy beaches looking out over the Atlantic Ocean are well worth exploring - even at the height of summer or the 4th of July weekend you can usually find a good stretch of beach all to yourselves. Canadian Hole, between the towns of Buxton and Avon, is a particularly good spot. In addition to the beach itself, the waters of Pamlico Sound are perfect for wading, and tourists flock there as the conditions are perfect for windsurfing and kite boarding. In terms of sightseeing there is also the lighthouse, which was moved inland in 1999 to protect it from coastal erosion, and the 825 acre Buxton Coastal Reserve, an area of maritime woodland full of spectacular wildlife (there have even been sightings of bald eagles) and plenty of hiking trails for those members of the family looking for a bit more exercise.