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Best place in Hatteras for kids to learn and hang out

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 2:43 am
by puchanix
My wife & I are planning to go with our three boys (ages 9, 10 & 13) to Hatteras during the last week of October. The kids all know how to handle the kite and have done some body dragging. Seems like Hatteras would be an ideal place to teach them to ride. My question is:

Where is the ideal place to stay so that:

a) they can practice on shallow water right in front of where we are staying.
b) they can hang out on a pool and maybe other fun areas when not kiting (so that my wife and I can kite :-).
c) it is a nice and comfortable accommodation.

I am considering the new Kitty Hawk Waves Resort and Real's Watermen Retreat. Any opinions of these for what we are looking for? Or, would we be better off renting one of the many houses available - and if so could we kite right in front of most houses on the sound? BTW: I might have them take a lesson or two, but will probably primarily teach them myself.

Thanks!

A.

Re: Best place in Hatteras for kids to learn and hang out

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:53 am
by burgz
Hey there,
I'll start this with, I haven't stayed at either Watermans or the Kitty Hawk place in Waves...I've been to both, but not stayed. Having cleared that up, Kitty Hawk seems to have more of a "beach" right in front of their place, so there is more room for the kids to play, learn, etc.
Watermans appears to be a sweet place, but it's right next to the Real school, and that grassy area is usually busy, not sure if kids flying a trainer would be welcomed or not..better ask ahead.

In terms of kids learning with the trainer, just south of Waves as you exit Salvo, there is a pull off to the left (ocean side), if you have a 4 wheel drive, good chance you can drive right onto the beach (ask around and look for signs, if there are bird nests, you can't drive on the beach right there and possibly can't access the beach right there) or go a little further down to the next pull off....either drive or walk out, lay out the trainer and have at it....miles of beach for them to learn without anyone getting into their way...especially in late October.
(on the soundside as you leave Salvo is the day use area...nice place to launch from if wind is right...you can ride right there, kids could fly trainer)
In terms of a pool...you got me..I know some of the rental places have "pools" or "clubs" as part of the home rentals, but in the 30+ years of going down there, only been in one pool and that was after a wedding...little too much to drink.

Hope this helps, hope you have a great time, and sorry we'll miss you, I'm down the week before in Avon....cross my fingers for you that it's blowin steady while you're down. Shoot me a PM if you have more questions

Re: Best place in Hatteras for kids to learn and hang out

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:53 am
by burgz
Hey there,
I'll start this with, I haven't stayed at either Watermans or the Kitty Hawk place in Waves...I've been to both, but not stayed. Having cleared that up, Kitty Hawk seems to have more of a "beach" right in front of their place, so there is more room for the kids to play, learn, etc.
Watermans appears to be a sweet place, but it's right next to the Real school, and that grassy area is usually busy, not sure if kids flying a trainer would be welcomed or not..better ask ahead.

In terms of kids learning with the trainer, just south of Waves as you exit Salvo, there is a pull off to the left (ocean side), if you have a 4 wheel drive, good chance you can drive right onto the beach (ask around and look for signs, if there are bird nests, you can't drive on the beach right there and possibly can't access the beach right there) or go a little further down to the next pull off....either drive or walk out, lay out the trainer and have at it....miles of beach for them to learn without anyone getting into their way...especially in late October.
(on the soundside as you leave Salvo is the day use area...nice place to launch from if wind is right...you can ride right there, kids could fly trainer)
In terms of a pool...you got me..I know some of the rental places have "pools" or "clubs" as part of the home rentals, but in the 30+ years of going down there, only been in one pool and that was after a wedding...little too much to drink.

Hope this helps, hope you have a great time, and sorry we'll miss you, I'm down the week before in Avon....cross my fingers for you that it's blowin steady while you're down. Shoot me a PM if you have more questions

Re: Best place in Hatteras for kids to learn and hang out

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:15 pm
by kiteboardbum
The Kitty Hawk Kites site has a pool and each unit has a hot tub as well. The area right in front of there is super shallow and easy to learn, although you may have to walk a little downwind in the water to teach your kids so you are not in the way of the KHK lessons/riders. In terms of house rentals, some are great to launch from and some are a bit sketchier.

Re: Best place in Hatteras for kids to learn and hang out

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:30 pm
by CaptainArgh
kiteboardbum wrote:The Kitty Hawk Kites site has a pool and each unit has a hot tub as well. The area right in front of there is super shallow and easy to learn, although you may have to walk a little downwind in the water to teach your kids so you are not in the way of the KHK lessons/riders. In terms of house rentals, some are great to launch from and some are a bit sketchier.
Yup, if you rent, having a pool and hot tub that time of year is key! I'm not sure why a luxury spot like Waterman's left that out. Hopefully they add some hot tubs as they have the space under or in front of the condos.

Rent an SUV for your trip. There are some great soundside beaches you can drive to and spend the day. Kids can play or learn while you kite. Also rent a SUP when down there. Good thing to keep the kids busy while you're kiting.

There are a lot of soundfront house rentals which would be your best bet for value, comfort and not kiting around crowds.

Check out the waterfront places in Kinnakeet shores. A lot of those homes are rented through Hatteras Realty. Even though I prefer to rent from Outer Beaches down there (they're friendlier with less fees) HR as the most houses in Kinnakeet. You can get places with a large beach in front of the house, pools, hot tubs, and enough other kiters around to help out if needed.

Also, most of the smaller lessons schools (www.outerbankskiting.com and kitehatteras.net) will pick you up by boat from your soundfront house. So that's pretty darn convenient.

Enjoy.

Re: Best place in Hatteras for kids to learn and hang out

Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 5:36 am
by seand
Hi, I've just got back from 2 weeks in Hatteras. My girlfriend and I stayed at Waves Village which is right next to Kitty Hawk Kites. The apartment had 3 bedrooms (each with it's own TV) and 3 bathrooms and nice open plan kitchen/dining/living area. The large balcony overlooked a good pool and the launch/landing area for kites. The pool was unheated but you have a private hot tub on the balcony and also a gas bbq. There is also wireless internet included. There are 2 restaurants very close but I had to drive to the others and to find groceries.

The launch/landing area is not huge but then the most kiters I saw at any time was 6 so it wasn't a problem at all. The water is shallow for about a mile out so it's a great place to learn.

The wind wasn't as consistant as I'd hoped but that can't be helped so all in all I had a great time and was definetly recommend it.

Enjoy your trip.