|
 Along
North Carolina’s coast lies a finger of land – rugged barrier islands –
that stretches south from the Virginia border and is known as the Outer
Banks. Tucked away between Hatteras Island to the north and the now
deserted Portsmouth Island to the south, lies Ocracoke Island.
On June 8, 2007, the
lifeguarded beach on Ocracoke was named as the Number One Beach in
America by Dr. Stephen Leatherman. Known as “Dr. Beach,” Leatherman
annually compiles a list of the top ten beaches in America using a list
of over 50 criteria. Leatherman is recognized as one of the foremost
experts on beach erosion and storm impact. More information on Dr. Beach
is available at
www.drbeach.org
Not too many years ago,
Ocracoke was virtually isolated from the Mainland, with only weekly mail
boats bringing supplies and news from the outside world. Native
islanders known as “O’cockers” were a hardy breed, dependent on the
waters of the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean for not only their
livelihood, but for their infrequent connections to the rest of the
world.
Today, Ocracoke remains
unique, though not in the way the natives remember it. Over 200 homes
and buildings in the village are on the National Register of Historic
Places. Visitors don’t
 find
the door-to-door condos that have sprung up on the northern Outer Banks.
In fact, they don’t find a water slide, a putt-putt golf course, or
chain fast-food restaurants either. Instead, they will find such
treasures as the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina that is still in
operation or a view of the descendents of the original ‘banker ponies’
that became shipwrecked on the island. They will find shady, tree-lined
streets to bike or stroll down and miles and miles of the most pristine
beach on the eastern seaboard.
On this mystical island
– accessible only by boat or airplane - the ghost of Blackbeard the
Pirate whispers in the breezes that blow in off the Atlantic Ocean. The
stunning natural beauty of this remote place and its rich heritage
beckons the visitor to take a step back in time and enjoy a quieter pace
of life.
Learn more about
Ocracoke and Hyde County, North Carolina on this website, or if you
prefer to receive a visitor guide by mail,
click here. |
