Visit Ocracoke Island
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Enjoy Beautiful Beaches and Ocracoke Lighthouse
A wonderful day trip from the Outer Banks of North Carolina is a visit to the enchanting Ocracoke Island.
The island has miles of unspoiled beaches that are maintained by the National Park Service. The scenery is spectacular.
The village of Ocracoke itself is equally enchanting, from the oldest working lighthouse in North Carolina to the shops of the quaint town built around Silver Lake you will find plenty to enjoy on the island.
There is a wide variety of activities available on the island. Bicycles are everywhere and can be rented for your use for the day. Also popular are the kayaks and fishing boats.
Whether your pleasure is the more active sports or just enjoying the beautiful scenery, Ocracoke has something to offer everyone.
I hope you enjoy these photos from my day on Ocracoke!
Trip to Ocracoke starts with Ferry Ride
leave from Hatteras Village
Ocracoke is only accessible by private plane, private boat, or one of the state run ferries. We started our tip to the island by driving aboard the ferry leaving Hatteras Village.The ferry ride is very well organized and ferries leave every half hour. The ride takes about 45 minutes and you can stay in your car or get out and enjoy the scenery during the trip. There is also an air-conditioned passenger lounge for those who want to escape the heat.
Ocracoke island is a small community of only about 800 year-round residents who work hard to preserve the island's culture and history. Until the 1950's the islands residents were pretty isolated and received their only contact from the mainland from the daily mail boat. The ferry service didn't start to the island until 1957.
The history of the island is rich in lore about the sea, with many stories about pirates and legends of lost treasures.
Today the island has been transformed from a quaint, isolated fishing village to a wonderful vacation spot. In 2007 this remote island was named the #1 Beach in America by the infamous beach aficionado, Stephen Leatherman.
I found the island to be very beautiful, the beaches spectacular and of course, I love the lighthouse. The village itself got rather congested at lunch time, but I noted that this congestion only lasted about 2 hours and then it all calmed down again.
When you visit the Outer Banks, put Ocracoke Islandon your must see list!
Sand Dunes at Ocracoke
beautiful sand dunes
As you travel along Highway 12 from the ferry you notice the beautiful scenery at Ocracoke. On the Atlantic side of the Island beautiful sand dunes are seen all along the highway. We stopped several times so I could photograph this beautiful scenery.
Sea Oats on Ocracoke
Sea Oats at Ocracoke
designs from my photograhs
Sea Oats at Ocracoke by lighthouseenthusiast
Design photo magnets with www.zazzle.com
View of Pamlico Sound
On the Pamlico Sound side of the island the scenery is different, yet also very beautiful.
This photo shows the marshes along the coast facing the Pamlico Sound.
Visiting Ocracoke Lighthouse
North Carolina's oldest lighthouse
The lighthouse is accessible by a boardwalk that runs alongside it. You cannot go inside the lighthouse but can only view it from the boardwalk.
On the day the I visited there was a park ranger by the lighthouse that answered questions about the lighthouse.
Ocracoke Lighthouse is North Carolina's oldest operating lighthouse. The first lighthouse was built on Ocracoke inlet in 1798 but when the inlet shifted this lighthouse became ineffective.
The present lighthouse was built in 1822 and it stands 75 feet tall and shines 14 miles out to sea.
Mini Ocracoke Lighthouse
Ocracoke Lighthouse (#1405)
Amazon Price: (as of 02/14/2012)
Closeup View of Lantern
This lighthouse is considered a harbor lighthouse and emits a constant fixed beam.
For more information on the lighthouse see Lighthouse Friends
Ocracoke Lighthouse from Across Spring Lake
Spring Lake seems to be the center of life in Ocracoke. On one side it is surrounded by small shops and restaurants. With an entrance to the Pamlico Sound the lakeside harbor serves the fisherman in the area. They have a place to dock and pick up supplies and passengers.
In this photo you see the lighthouse across the lake.
Lighthouse Charm
Vermeil 22K Gold on Sterling Silver Ocracoke Lighthouse Charm
Amazon Price: $65.00 (as of 02/14/2012)
Things to do on Ocracoke Island
Boating is a popular pastime. Even the dogs enjoy it!!
The Beaches of Ocracoke
voted #1 in US
The beaches are what bring many people to Ocracoke. There are 16 miles of gorgeous beaches that are virtually unspoiled.
These beaches have been named the #1 Beach in America in 2007 and Conde Naste Traveler magazine recognized them as the #5 beach in the world!!
Own a Photo of America's #1 Beach
my photo of Ocracoke Island
Island Scenery
Visit other Outer Banks Lenses
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Ocracoke Island
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Shirts and Magnets of Ocracoke Lighthouse
designs from my photographs
News on Ocracoke Island
- Palombo draws clear distinctions between himself and Walter Jones
- "My wife and I spent a part of our honeymoon on Ocracoke Island, enjoying the spring evenings, the beautiful beaches and the wonderful people of the Outer Banks. During my campaign I have had the pleasure of meeting with Hatteras and Ocracoke Island ...
- Ocracoke Island Realty Sponsors Ocracoke Island 5K Run and 1 Mile Family Fun Run
- Ocracoke Island Realty is a platinum sponsor for the First Annual Ocracoke Island 5K Run and 1 Mile Family Fun Run. All proceeds will benefit the Ocracoke School Athletic Club and the community radio station. The First Annual Ocracoke Island 5K Run and ...
- Exploring the legend of the Wampus Cats
- It developed when Kathleen Reynolds Gregorash, daughter of this writer and wife Joan, vacationed with her daughter, Kate Gregorash, on Ocracoke Island off the southern end of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. A gleeful e-mail from the vacationers ...
- About Birds: Golden eagle sighting makes venture worthwhile
- Ocracoke and Hatteras were almost bereft of ducks, geese, cormorants, shorebirds, warblers - just about everything. The Ocracoke Island Christmas Bird Count tallied a disappointingly low number of species and individual birds. The only explanation that ...
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
North Carolina lighthouses
Have you been to the Outer Banks?
stop by and leave a comment
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vikksimmons
Jun 12, 2011 @ 8:47 am | delete
- More great photos. The charm was a nice touch.
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JaguarJulie
Oct 5, 2010 @ 5:22 pm | delete
- Do you know that I could sit and stare at lighthouses all day and imagine the stories that they house! I bet you could do that too? ;)
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She's in love with the boy
Sep 28, 2010 @ 11:49 pm | delete
- YES, I love the outer Banks and on my last trip there which was in the end of August my boyfriend took me to ocracoke island lighthouse and proposed to me. Of course I said yes and now he is my fiance!!!! I love the outer banks and ocracoke island!!!
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Keepin'cool
Jul 7, 2010 @ 1:36 pm | delete
- Silver Lake, Ocracoke's harbor has changed dramatically over the last 15-20 years, but the island is still the island. Let's hope the Nag's Head/Avon Syndrome does not continue further south than it already has. Nice photos.
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Wednesday_Elf
Jun 22, 2010 @ 4:14 pm | delete
- I SO love your photos. They bring every story you write ALIVE for me. I've never been to the NC Outer Banks, but sure would love to see all of it, including Ocracoke Island. After having lived on Tybee Island, GA for 13 years, the sand dunes and beach scenes here have that familiar Atlantic Ocean coastline look, but prettier somehow. And another great lighthouse! I just spent last weekend on Pawleys Island, SC for my son's wedding, first time I've been to the beach and ocean in three years, and realized how much I missed it. Thanks for the tour of Ocracoke Island -- love the beach and ocean reminders.
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Ocracoke Nightlight
Ocracoke Island NC Lighthouse Nautical Night Light
Amazon Price: $16.88 (as of 02/14/2012)
Ocracoke Puzzle
The Ocracoke Lighthouse Jigsaw Puzzle 550pc
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