It will be our first trip to the Outer Banks, and I do have a few concerns (the main one is making sure we get on the correct ferry).
Any advice? Must sees?
We are traveling by car from Little Rock to Ocracoke, and did give ourselves plenty of travel time for extra stops since we’re taking all three of our children along for the trip!
It’s been about a decade since I made it to the Outer Banks, so take that for what it’s worth. I only have two pieces of advice:
- If you’re at all interested in nature, strongly consider finding one of the local kayak-tour companies. We took a kayak around some of the inlets, and it was pretty amazing.
- The Outer Banks are (were) a tremendously laid-back place. They lend themselves well to the kind of vacation where nothing is planned and where you just slow way down. We spent a lot of time on the lovely beaches and a lot of time wandering through downtowns. I don’t think they lend themselves well to see-as-much-as-you-can vacations.
I’d much rather have a cherry Coke or a vanilla Coke than an okra Coke.
:**D&R:
(I visited Ocracoke Island on a bike trip in 1987. Don’t remember enough to be of help.)
Allow plenty of time due to construction on I-40 - Knoxville to Asheville. There may even be some detours involved. (ETA - may be finished by now - I don’t know)
The ferry I took to Okracoke was the Cedar Island Ferry, which takes over two hours, but is kind of fun.
Biting flies can be horrendous at times. Other than that, though, it’s really nice there; laid back, not a lot of stuff to do, but enough food and drink options to keep you happy.
Check out the sailboat tours in Ocracoke village. There’s a boat with a red sail that cruises the alleged haunts of pirates. Lots of fun for young 'uns. They also have a “romantic” twilight sail.
There’s also a local “theater” Deepwater Theater that has nightly entertainment, all of which is family-friendly. Lots of folk-type music.
Excellent! Thanks for the replies so far!
Having a brother in Virgina means I am no stranger to the horror that can be I-40, and I had packed bug repellent, already, as mosquitoes swarm me at the mere hint of showing my skin. I hope that will keep away the biting flies, too!
That sounds lovely! My young’uns are all boys (ages 20-9) so I think that would be something all of them could enjoy!
LHoD, the very thought of slowing way down and just reclining on a beach is pure bliss. Hopefully, my oldest son will take point on “adventuring” with the younger two, and my husband and I can just relax!
Off-topic word to the wise: The tastings portion of the World of Coke tour in Atlanta may not be for you. 
Just got back from Cape Hatteras last week. Didn’t go over to Ocracoake but my daughter & her family did and had a great time. Only advice I can give is re: the Outer Banks themselves – if you are in a hurry to get anywhere, don’t be. Everything is far away – an excursion up or down the coast will take longer than you think. And we were there before the season starts. You’ll be sharing the road with a lot more people than we were.
Other than that, I recommend finding a local seafood vendor who can put together a pre-assembled Frogmore stew for you that you then take home and boil yourself. We did this and it was a huge hit with all ages, and a lot more cost effective than the same meal would have been otherwise.
Enjoy the beach!
You didn’t say specifically whether you plan to get to Ocracoke by going south from Nag’s Head, or east from the Cedar Island or Swan Quarter Ferry. I’ve never taken the Swan Quarter ferry, only Cedar Island. Additional info about that will be at the bottom of this message.
If you’re going south from Nag’s Head and Hatteras, don’t be surprised if there’s a long line during the summer for the free ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke, so you might have to wait an hour or more for a ferry. And you might drive right up with no problem. Ya never know.
The village is at the far south of the island, and everything in the village is within walking distance. There’s one big “general store” in town, “The Variety Store,” which is the grocery/hardware/etc. store. Right beside is the main (and possibly only) convenience store in town.
If you’re into high-rises, fun parks, and golf courses, like Myrtle Beach, you’ll probably be bored and/or disappointed. But if you’re just looking for a leisurely va-cay where you can just chill, you might like it.
I would normally recommend considering a boat trip to Portsmouth Island, a ghost town accessible only by boat. However, it’s not something you want to being small children to. They would probably be miserable.
There’s a pasture with some wild horses about midway down the island. It’s usually worth a look-see, but unless they’re feeding, a lot of times, the horses aren’t particularly close.
*Now, about the Cedar Island Ferry. If you’re leaving from Cedar Island, plan your time up to Morehead City, then allow an hour to travel to the ferry station. It’s only about 30 miles, but it’s slow going thru some twisting, winding two-lane roads. It’s recommended that you have reservations, but you don’t have to. You can sit in the stand-by land, and if there’s room, you can hop on board. If you do have reservations, you have to check in not less than a half hour before your departure time. If you don’t, your reservation gets canceled, and you have to sit in the standby lane (voice of experience here). So, you have to allow at least 90 minutes between Morehead and ferry departure time.
If I think of anything more, I’ll post. Or if you have any specific question, ask.
Have a pitcher of beer at the Jolly Roger.
From just looking at the Map (with no experience in such things at all), we had considered the Swan Quarter Ferry. Getting to the Cedar Island Ferry looked a bit more intensive, and we’d not considered coming in from the north (Hatteras) at all, as I figured those roads would be very crowded.
Assume that you will be spending a lot of time on the beach or on a boat, since those are the main things to do. Everybody will need flip flops for walking to the beach, plus plenty of sunscreen. And aloe and painkillers for sunburn.
The tap water at the beach has a faint sulfur taste and it is usually worthwhile to buy a few gallons of drinking water at the grocery store.
A lot of a beach vacation entails lounging around the beach house, so you will want a good book or three, some DVDs to watch, a jigsaw puzzle if you like that sort of thing, and plenty of snack foods.
Go for a sail on the schooner Windfall.com/ And do see the Ocrafolk Opry!
Those are the links I wish I’d added to post #5!
Also, there are some great restaurants in Ocracoke. Order anything made with local seafood and it probably came out of the ocean that morning. The Back Porch and the Atlantic Cafe are two of my favorites.
Thanks to everyone for their posts! I’ve got two of the five of us packed. The laundry is all done, though, so I feel like I’m ahead of the game
Thanks for the links, Suse, and the heads up on the drinking water, awldune!
We hit the road bright and early tomorrow morning!
Having spent a week in Ocracoke each of the last 22 years, I echo praise for the Atlantic Cafe (best restaurant on the island IMHO), the Back Porch (try one of the crab biegnets (sp?)), and the Windfall.
Shelling is best on the North Point. Swimming is treacherous around either point, but there is usually beautiful quiet warm water on the sound side of South Point. The ocean beach somewhat south of the North Point often has the best swimming.
The best kept secret is the trail out to Springer’s Point near Teach’s Hole. The trail head is on a little residential street kind of near the lighthouse and Styron’s Store (which I think might have closed but is a well known landmark anyway). There’s no parking near it, except for maybe a couple of bicycles.
Be kind to the place. It’s fragile and we are without doubt rapidly ruining it. I always bring a trash bag to the beach, and spend a while collecting trash and working up a first class sweat before hitting the waves. Help me out!
I know it’s a bit late, but hope you try Howard’s Pub - EXCELLENT food!
If you’re talking about the delays and detours from last winter, there was a rock slide that had blocked I-40 west of Asheville for several months that I believe has since been cleared.
I’d love to know how you found Ocracoke - I’ve always wanted to go but haven’t. I love out of the way places!
So, we are back, and we had a wonderful time!
Thanks to all who offered advice. We did have one dinner at Howard’s Pub, and brunch one day at the Flying Melon. Though, most evenings we simply shopped at the local markets and the Ocracoke Seafood Company and cooked our own dinners! The Corner Crepe and the Island Smoothie/Ocracoke Coffee Co. was a big hit with the kids, too. My favorite evening was a wine tasting at Zillie’s Pantry. It was an engaging mix of tourists and locals (and so much fun!).
We went for a cruise with Captain Rob on the Windfall, and my husband and youngest son caught an afternoon marionette show at the Deepwater Theater! I was pleasantly surprised at all the galleries and shops for local artisans! I am the proud owner of a beautiful, small watercolor of the beach and lighthouse as my souvenir. We’re not serious shell hunters, but found enough to keep the kids happy as we would walk along the eastern/Atlantic shore. The chest high swells and small breakers were a riot for the boys, too.
Napier, the island was, without a doubt, one of the most lovely, charming places I have ever been. We walked everywhere and made certain we left no trace when we left the beach. I think the thing that struck me most about the whole place was the freshness and…realness of it. You can very much tell how dear that place is to all who make it their home, and it struck me that it did feel like a home place. Not a touristy, fake place.
We’ve already started plans to go back next summer.
And how did I find it, Wilson? Oddly enough, it was an historical fiction book with an aside mention of an island called Ocracoke. I had idly wondered if such a place existed still, so I looked it up on my lunch break at work. I am very glad I did! It was the best family vacation we’d had in years!
So did you like Howard’s? I think it’s GREAT myself!