Ocracoke Island

My family has been visiting Ocracoke each summer for the past 15 years. Rent a cottage for more than a week—the longest we’ve stayed is 4. Go kayaking in the sound and eat at Jason’s while you’re still wearing your sandy bathing suit after a day on the beach. Be prepared for power outages and not being able to find your favorite brand of foods—there is only one “major” grocery store on the island. Bring what you need or go without. The Independence Day parade is everything a hometown parade should be. 4-wheel drive vehicles are a must if you want to find a secluded spot to relax. North Point is the best place for finding “olives”—cigar shaped shells. My children have never been to any other beach and they don’t want to right now. We work all year for our summer vacation.

You have to take a ferry to get here but definitely worth it. I even found whole sand dollars on the beach.

i love it in ocracoke! you can ride your bike everywhere. Everyone is sooo nice! the beaches are awesome…and actually was on the travel channel’s america’s best beaches list (i believe). It’s most fun when you stay in a rented house, and not in a hotel. and bring your own bike with you. and be careful in the ocean! don’t go too far out because my boyfriend got stung by a jellyfish. he was fine though, it just hurt for a few days.

… was in May of 2004. It was windy but warm. The island is small so a week is plenty. Be sure to check out the pirate history and all the little tourist trap shops. The lighthouse is not worth the time but the historical museum is. View the video and learn the local dialect. If you are going to be on the beach, take a wind break/shelter. The best beach for shell collecting. The place is over run with whole shells. Add extra time for the ferry and check the schedules before you go.

This island is a special place. Not only is it an island but it is only accessible by ferry! The ferries are frequent and short from Hatteras but you really should make reservations if you’re coming from the other side (Cedar Island), that ride is 2 hours, you have to pay to ride and it can fill up fast in high season. It is worth every bit of trouble getting there though. My husband and I have actually talked about buying property there. It’s not for landlubber types though. I know people that feel trapped there. I feel free.