Bodie Island Lighthouse — Attraction in Wanchese

• We visited on a Thursday around noon in late December 2023 (after Christmas) and after we had just visited the Hatteras Light Station further south. • This was a much smaller visitor center with really only a small NPS Store (compared to the Hatteras Light Station) and an info desk. They do have merch here that is specific for Bodie that isn’t available at Hatteras Light Station. While being smaller it also had many more people than the Hatteras Light Station. • The Junior Ranger Booklet here is the same as the Hatteras Light Station. The badge is also the same. • The NPS Cancellation Stamps are located immediately to the left when you enter the NPS store. • Other than looking around the outside of the lighthouse there isn’t much here at this sight other than a trail that goes out to a overlook/observation deck. It’s nice and built on a boardwalk (which was good when we visited because it had just rained for over 2 days and there were standing puddles of water. The overlook was all ramps so should be wheelchair accessible too. • The bathrooms are located outside the visitor center and right off the path to this boardwalk right near the parking lot. So tip is when you enter don’t park in the first lot but drive down to the second lot. It’s closer to all the different POIs. • Not sure if we would visit this particular site again unless it were to climb the lighthouse (which currently isn’t available). If we had to pick between the Bodie Light Station or the Hatteras Light Station, Hatteras wins for sure. Although it’s much further south and for most people that’s a long drive down and back up. We actually took the ferry over from Cedar Island to Ocracoke and then to Hatteras...

Some honest feedback here! You already probably know the lighthouse is beautiful, but...

If you’re looking to climb Bodie Lighthouse with younger children, just don’t. Save your money. Climbing this lighthouse is not a small-kid-friendly activity due to the manner in which rules are communicated and then enforced. The staff are also abhorrently rude to families with children.

We arrived for our time slot on time with our kids and an 8-month-old. We were told we were able to switch climbing, since rules prevent carrying infants. (I respect the rules—no carrying, no babes? Fine.) Well, by the time my 42-incher was done climbing, they told my 9-year-old he couldn’t climb (his brother took too long), and he was in tears. I’ll be out 6 tickets worth for 4 people if we try to take him back, and who knows if I’ll be able to get a refund.

Beautiful lighthouse, beautiful grounds. I loved climbing with my younger one, and I’m so upset the rangers ruined this one for us. The views from the top are gorgeous. I respect the lighthouse’s structure, nature, and history, but the “self-guided tour” and its staff’s attitude are not good face for the National Park Service. On one hand they want to preserve the steps by limiting climbers; on the other hand, they want to sell as many tickets as possible — no...

Bodie Lighthouse: It's like the mildly interesting friend in your group who's always reliable but never quite steals the spotlight. Located in Nags Head, NC, this historic beacon is worth a visit if you're in the area and have a penchant for lighthouses, or if you just need to stretch your legs and take a break from the beach.

Standing tall and stoic, Bodie Lighthouse is the perfect backdrop for your Instagram photos, making you look adventurous and cultured. However, don’t expect it to blow your socks off. It’s more of a “Hmm, neat” than a “Wow, amazing!” experience. Think of it as the decaf coffee of tourist attractions: pleasant, safe, and won’t keep you up at night pondering its magnificence.

The view from the ground is, admittedly, quite nice, with marshlands and maritime forests providing a scenic and serene backdrop.

So, if you’re cruising through Nags Head and looking for something to do, give Bodie Lighthouse a go. It’s a solid “cool” on the sightseeing scale, especially if you enjoy maritime history or just need a reason to stretch your legs and snap a few pics. Just remember, it’s a lighthouse, not the Taj Mahal – manage your expectations and you’ll have a bright (but not...