Okracoke is the isolated and least visited of the outer banks islands, because visitors can’t just drive over. To get to Okracoke you take a ferry ride over from Hatteras or from the mainland at Swan Quarter or Cedar Island. Visitors can ferry over with cars or walk on and than travel the island by foot or bicycle.
To get a feel for the island and the history or this sleepy area, be sure to stop at the Visitor Center on the harbor. A self-paced walking tour can be arranged, or tune in on the radio to get background on the charmingly quaint island. Another option is to walk around in the dock area and simply talk to locals and visitors. Folks tend to be very friendly and will point out all the neat things to see and do on the small island.
There are lots of quaint privately owned little shops on the island of Ocracoke. Whether you enjoy looking at beach items and crafts or grabbing a snack, expect to find a unique selection ranging from campy to quite elegant.
When you get hungry, try The Back Porch, which is about a half mile north of town. It’s a small place with a screened in porch. The food is really good, and you can even buy a cookbook featuring the specialties.
About 5 miles outside the village off of Highway 12 you’ll see the Baker ponies. No one is sure how the ponies got to the island, but they have many interesting stories about that. The ponies ran free up until the 1950s when the area was closed in to protect the island from overgrazing and to protect the ponies from traffic. At one point the Boy Scouts cared for the ponies, but now the Park Rangers do that.
One of the most interesting stories on the island is about Black Beard the pirate. His head was cut off on this island and sent to Bath, NC. His treasure is supposed to be somewhere buried on Ocracoke, but no one has found it yet. If you want to kick off a conversation, just ask about the pirates of the area. Everyone seems to love talking about Black Beard and his escapades.
While pirates used Ocracoke as a hideaway, others ended up part of the history of the island unexpectedly. The islands of North Carolina have seen many ship wrecks from the ocean side. If you’re a history buff, then you’ll want to read up on the wrecks during the World War era when German U boats washed up on the shores. One story includes the sinking of the HMC Bedfordshire, a British Royal Navy ship. Four bodies drifted ashore from the wreck, and two have never been identified. Visit the British Cemetery marked by a Union Jack flag to see this sight of international interest.
Be sure to plan on spending most of a trip to Ocracoke on the beach. The rolling waves washing up on white sand are some of the most beautiful in the United States. Visitors can drive down the sand and find secluded areas to relax and get away from everything and everyone. If you like your own space, then you will have no trouble carving some out at Ocracoke.
Part of the charm of Ocracoke and the rest of the Outer Bank region is that it’s a different world. While television has tended to generalize the population, residents of Ocracoke have maintained a distinct look and feel. Even the language sounds different with an unusual shore sound where the word out, for example, sounds more like oat. Whether you’re wandering around the tiny downtown that looks just like the paintings of traditional coastal villages or sitting on a beach unspoiled by the sights and sounds of the modern age, you’ll feel refreshed and like you’ve really been on a vacation.