11/15/2016
Kids, spouse, work, work, work. Sometimes you just need to get out of town for a while and recalibrate. Whether it be a long weekend, a week, or even two, you don’t have to bounce from airport to airport to get to that ultimate relaxation destination. Hop in the car and head on out to Hatteras Island for some fun on the Cape and some ultimate relaxation that will keep you coming back time and again. What could be better in an island getaway than sun, saltwater and shopping?
REASON #4: SHOPPING
Let’s be real here, we could try for the “Christmas is around the corner” angle, but most of us don’t need a holiday as an excuse to hit up the shops. Retail therapy is real, even if our spouses try to convince us otherwise. Fortunately for you, you’ve found one vacation hot-spot where you can squeeze in some relaxation and peace of mind in addition to a holistic shopping treatment. You won’t find any cookie cutter shopping malls here, but instead, independantly owned shops and boutiques stocked with goodies from local artisans, a significant amount of island memorabilia, curated treats from a wide array of gallery owners and much, much more!
GALLERIES
The abundance of galleries on Hatteras Island is simply unprecedented. All different, nearly every Hatteras Island village has at least one art gallery that you can browse for hours. Take the time to peruse the variations of pottery, paintings, sculpture, mixed media and more. Surrounded by a diverse landscape that varies from lush forest to sprawling beaches and crystal seas, local artisans have are fortunate enough to have a great deal of creative influences all around them, constantly inspiring the next piece.
Being such a small island, the sense of community and sharing is also very strong and in addition to finding an artist’s work on display, there are also many opportunites for you to find the artist, themself, on display. Through workshops such as those held by Antoinette Gaskins Mattingly at Kinnakeet Clay, it is not rare for you to find the opportunity to meet a local artist in person or see them at work.
FOOD/GOURMET/WINE
As we said before, if it’s one thing islanders know how to do, it’s eat! Most everything you need to prepare a delicious feast can be found on the shelves of local island markets such as Conner’s Supermarket or the Frisco Market at Frisco Rod & Gun, but the couple of gourmet and specialty food shops are priceless when it comes to bingeing on delicious treats umm, entertaining for a group of friends and family.
Secret weapons and specialty ingredients are often found in the island’s nooks and crannies of specialty stores. Peruse the shelves of Lee Robinson’s General Store for unusual sauces and canned goods–and we don’t mean anything by Jolly Green Giant, but the good old fashioned art of “canning” (what mason jars were used for before Pinterest went viral).
“Pickled” and “preserved” are terms you’ll come to love in no time, trust us! Also check out Island Spice and Wine in Avon for specialty rubs and spices that you won’t find from your run-of-the-mill grocer. Then on the northern end, Waves Market has an exceptional selection of craft beer, and for all of you wino-saurs out there, all three of these locations have entire aisles dedicated to that adult-friendly grape juice, so you can sip and nae nae all the way to the beach!
ISLAND APPAREL AND NOVELTY STORES
Attractions are plentiful on Hatteras Island as are souvenirs to take home and remember your trip by. Whether you want a sticker, knick knack or t-shirt, there are plenty of places to search for that perfect piece. Local surf shops such as Natural Art and Fox are institutions that fully embrace island surf culture and have a multitude of things from apparel to gear to souvenirs that appeal to folks of all ages.
Additionally, you’ll find various shops at Hatteras Landing that will fulfill a variety of shopping needs for the whole family. You can find apparel, novelty items and toys to use both on your vacation and beyond when you visit Kitty Hawk Kites and their sister stores, Kitty Hawk Surf Co and Life Is Good. Farmer’s Daughter and Island Apparel have scores of t-shirts that will remind you of your time in the sun with family and friends as well. And finally, visit shops such as Mill Creek Gifts, All Decked Out and Ocean Gourmet and Gifts for that last minute souvenir that will seal your time with us on the Outer Banks.
Boutiques
Boutique shopping on Hatteras Island is another way to find that unique piece that you might not otherwise come across in your conventional city shopping mall. Most pieces, hand-picked by local owners, are specific to Hatteras Island. Known for the rich artistic community you’ll find in the local galleries, that same high level of taste tends to run over into boutique floors island-wide. Be sure to check out Izabelle’s Closet for notable clothing pieces, Family Jewels for one-of-a-kind crafted pieces, Coastal Cottage Outfitters for fun home pieces and much, much more!
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