Why visit REAL this summer?
Add more FUN to your summer with REAL Watersports on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Home of the best gear and instruction in the world, the REAL Team are professionals at having fun and are waiting to deliver epic kiteboarding sessions, surf sessions, and family beach days all summer long. REAL’s motto is “We Make New Riders Every Day”, and the friendly staff at REAL loves to share their passion for watersports and beach lifestyle. With some of the best kiteboarding and surfing locations in North America, and endless uncrowded beaches consistently ranked in the Top 10 Beaches in America, REAL Watersports on Cape Hatteras is your official summer headquarters!
Kiteboarding
Cape Hatteras is home to some of the best kiteboarding spots on the planet, including the world famous Planet of the Apes downwinder.
Cape Hatteras is known as one of the global epicenters of kiteboarding, with consistent winds all year long and miles upon miles of flatwater riding. Many kiteboarders have been visiting REAL for years in the early spring but have never experienced the magic of summer on Cape Hatteras. For the uninitiated, kiteboarding at REAL in the summer means you’re riding without a wetsuit, typically under beautiful sunny skies until last light (until almost 9pm!). The warm temps aren’t just a joy for those on the water, but for your family and friends waiting off the water too; instead of spending time indoors because it’s too chilly to hit the beach without a wetsuit, your spouse/children/parents/friends can be sipping a cool beverage and playing on the shore while they watch you session. Warmer temps are more fun for everyone, and guarantee a warmer reception from your loved ones when you finally return after a long day of sessions.
The unique shape of Cape Hatteras allows kiting in any wind direction, with options for kitesurfing in ocean waves or kiteboarding in the flat waters of the Pamlico Sound. In addition to some of the best slicks and wave spots, Cape Hatteras also holds some of the world’s longest and best downwinders in both the ocean and the flatwater, including the world famous Planet of the Apes downwinder. With abundant waist-deep, warm, sand-bottom water, Cape Hatteras is one of the most beginner friendly places to learn to kite and practice your skills. With warm temps and consistent summer winds, the best summer kiteboarding is at REAL on Cape Hatteras, where the whole family can ride!
Surfing
With uncrowded beaches and soft sand-bottom beach breaks, Cape Hatteras is the ideal location for family surf trips. The various sandbars create endless options for where to paddle out, making it easy to find a wave that matches your skill level. It’s not uncommon to see the whole family surfing during a Cape Hatteras beach day, with Mom & Dad catching waves on the larger main peak and the kids getting their shred on in the smaller gentler waves just a few yards away. The ocean water on Cape Hatteras is consistently warmer and more clear than beaches just up the road north of Oregon Inlet, making boardshorts and bikinis the call for most surf sessions. Leave your parking meter change at home, beach parking on Cape Hatteras is FREE and plentiful, making it easy to pull off the side of the road anywhere you choose to set up your own private beach paradise.
REAL Teamrider Brett Barley surfing with his son on Cape Hatteras
Beach Days
There’s no substitute for a fun, relaxing day at the beach with your family or close friends. Even motivated surfers and kiteboarders like to kick back and enjoy the beautiful scenery and peaceful vibes on Cape Hatteras. Consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 Beaches in America, the beaches near REAL and throughout the island are spacious, clean, and easily accessible. With plenty of room to set up camp for the day, living the dream is just a short walk over the dunes. Bring your beach chairs, umbrellas, beach games, and a well stocked cooler to live like a king on your own secluded beach. When the sun goes down, beachgoers in the know keep the party going with beach bonfires, allowed in many areas on Cape Hatteras with a free fire permit.
Family Activities
Maybe not everyone in your group loves the beach, or maybe after many days of “living the good life” on the beach you want to get out and explore the Outer Banks more. With a wide range of historical landmarks, a vibrant live music scene, and family friendly activities like the First Flight Adventure Park, there’s a whole world of fun waiting to be discovered on the Outer Banks!
Read our guide Top 10 Things To Do on Your Outer Banks Vacation
SLICKSTOCK2016
Want to visit some of the world’s best beaches by day and enjoy live waterfront music every night? Come to SLICKSTOCK 2016 @ REAL Watersports! SLICKSTOCK brings talented musicians to REAL’s beautiful waterfront venue every single night August 8th – 12th, with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys performing LIVE at REAL on August 12th! All shows August 8th – 11th are FREE and open to the public; tickets for Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys on August 12th are only $20 (children 10 and younger free!).
Staying at Watermen’s Retreat puts you at the center of the action for SLICKSTOCK, with Live Music, dining and kiteboarding footsteps away, and beautiful beaches just a short walk away.
Experience summer on Cape Hatteras with REAL, Watermen’s Retreat and Watermen’s Bar & Grill! Contact the REALpros at 252-987-6000 or realpro@realwatersports.com to create your perfect Cape Hatteras vacation!
