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The Outer Banks of NC are calling, you should ready for Ocracoke

By Brian Miller

The sun sets as seen from the Swan Quarter ferry as it travels back from Ocracoke Island, Sept. 17, 2018, the second day the island was reopened to residents after Hurricane Florence.Ocracokeisland Mb37 09172018
The sun sets as seen from the Swan Quarter ferry as it travels back from Ocracoke Island, Sept. 17, 2018, the second day the island was reopened to residents after Hurricane Florence.Ocracokeisland Mb37 09172018 /
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There is something special about the North Carolina Outer Banks. From the far south of the state, the island chain serves as the natural barrier to the Carolina coast and offers a million things to do.

When you hear the Outer Banks, or OBX as it is affectionately referred to in the state, many think of Cape Hatteras, the black spiral light that shows up on the weather channels every time a hurricane heads to the coast.

Cape Hatteras is only a part of the OBX and to be quite honest, it’s not the best that the OBX has to offer.

We stay on the Outer Banks at least once a year but our choice tends to be Ocracoke Island or closer to Nags Head and Kitty Hawk. To get to Ocracoke, you will need to travel by one of the state-run ferry services. There are three departure points with one of those coming from Hatteras Island.

Ocracoke is small and it takes less time to drive from one end to the other than it takes to cross the 45-minute ferry to Hatteras off the North end. The island has plenty of bread and breakfast options and hotels. Restaurants line the harbor closest to the ferry docks on the Southside.

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Once outside of the town, a long road runs parallel with the ocean on one side and the sound on the other. Parking areas will sprout up along the way so you can head to the beach. Along the sandy beach, you will find ray casings and seashells of all sorts.

Of all the places you can enjoy on the OBX, Ocracoke has a small charm feel that happens to be on the ocean. The community goes quiet shortly after dark sans the few pedestrians making their way by foot along the main road back to their rooms after dinner or a quick stop at the only grocery store on the island.

Now is the time to start making your spring and summer plans to visit the islands and Ocracoke should be the first place you start looking.

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