A Guide to Ocracoke Island (A Must Visit)
If you asked me to choose one place that is perfect for getaways, I would choose Ocracoke Island for its relaxing and quiet atmosphere. This island offers fun activities for all ages and is far from being an overrated tourist spot.
The island is truly one of the best places to make lasting memories for family and friends. Here is a helpful and informative guide to Ocracoke Island!
History
There are many influences when it comes to how Ocracoke Island was established. Ocracoke was impacted by Native Americans, Pirates, Europeans, and even the Civil War. The eighteenth-century marked the time when the island was used for cattle and sheep.
You can’t go to the island without hearing about Blackbeard, the pirate that died during a naval battle. Afterward, Blackbeard’s descendants continued to live on the island with one special man by the name of William Howard who was the first to live on the isolated island.
Ocracoke also provided a point of entrance during important battles like the war between states. The island added onto the infrastructure and created churches and schools. Today, around 750 people are living on this charming island. The fact that Ocracoke Island is only accessible by boat or airplane makes it the ideal location for retirees.
How to get to Ocracoke Island
There are very few ways to get to this isolated island with the most common being by boat. I can’t complain about the gorgeous views of the sound as the seagulls fly by.
You are packed onto a boat with other vehicles for an hour so it’s perfect for enjoying the scenery, taking photos, or sneaking in a quick nap. During the peak season, the ferry can get quite crowded around noon, but it generally slows down as the day goes by.
The ferry is pretty flexible and is open for transport every day of the week. Make sure to view the schedule and plan the time that you will be going in case there are long wait times. But the way that Hatteras Island is built up, there are options to use the bathroom, shop, and get food before embarking on the ferry.
The best part about the ferry is that it’s free! One of the other ways to gain access to the island is through airplanes. This is one of the most important parts to add to the Ocracoke Island guide since it took my family some time to navigate the ferry times.
Places to Stay on the Island
Ocracoke Harbor Inn
This Inn is located in the middle of everything with great access to the Ocracoke Lighthouse, restaurants, and the Ocracoke Beach. They offer wonderful service for a decent price. I had to include accommodations on this Ocracoke Island guide for people looking to stay for more than a day.
Pony Island Motel
This charming motel has to be one of the best places to stay on Ocracoke Island. It is fairly close to everything and offers great service and clean rooms.
Blackbeard’s Lodge
This lodge might be a little outdated (1936), but if you want to immerse yourself in the island’s history, this place is for you. There is also a free airport shuttle with access to restaurants, shops, and landmarks.
Margaritaville
A beautiful cottage that screams island vibes. This vacation rental has everything that a decent size family could want. No matter where you stay on Ocracoke Island, you have access to everything.
Places to Eat
SMacNally’s Bar and Grill
Get ready to indulge in freshly caught fish along with a refreshing beverage and water views. This restaurant is locally owned and often has a long wait during peak season.
Dajio
Dajio is most noted for Southern cuisine and its charming dining room. The restaurant also has a beautifully decorated outdoor seating area.
Jason’s Restaurant
If you’re looking for a restaurant to fit everyone’s palette, Jason’s Restaurant might be a good fit! They offer tasty shrimp, pizza, and even wraps.
Ocracoke Oyster Company
Can’t visit Ocracoke Island without stopping by this family-friendly restaurant. Might as well dig into the oysters and the BBQ as you won’t be disappointed.
How to Travel Around the Island
The island might be only 15 miles long but there are many ways to explore. One of the most common ways of traveling around the island is by renting a bike or golf cart.
You can also choose to walk or even use the free tram. For an additional adventure, many people also get their license to go off-roading. The best part about the transportation on Ocracoke Island is that anyone can choose which way works for them.
Places to go Shopping
Pirates Chest Gift Shop
This pirate-themed shop is kind of hard to miss with the colorful flags as you drive towards the visitor parking lot. This gift shop is the ultimate souvenir shop for all ages and features two floors full of awesome merchandise.
Over the Moon
Over the Moon is an antique heaven that sells some of the cutest and unique gifts. I recommend this shop for people looking to decorate and make their living space a paradise.
Island Ragpicker
This island-themed shop is also the perfect place to find antiques. Alongside the shopping experience, there is a cute porch space for people looking to relax.
Things to do on Ocracoke
Go Fishing
It is not a surprise that Ocracoke Island offers some of the best fishing places on the Outer Banks. There are many fishing charters and underdeveloped shorelines. If you choose to fish, go to the pier as you’re not required to have a license. Many species found through fishing on Ocracoke Island include Mahi Mahi, Blue Marlin, Tuna, King Mackerel, and Bluefin.
Walk Around Ocracoke Village
One of the first things you see once arriving on Ocracoke Island is the boardwalk and a view of the white lighthouse. Many of the restaurants and shops have a view of the gorgeous pier. You can’t go wrong when exploring Ocracoke Village!
Water Sports Activities
If you’re ever going to participate in water sports, Ocracoke Island is the place to do it as the sound is much calmer than the ocean. People love to go boating, sailing, canoeing, paddleboarding, and more. Visit Ride the Wind Surf Shop for renting equipment for your adventure.
Visit Art Galleries
Whenever I visit the Outer Banks, I always find myself going into local art galleries due to memories from my childhood. I can guarantee that you won’t find the same art pieces anywhere else, especially once you visit the galleries on Ocracoke Island. Some of the art galleries that I recommend are Over the Moon, Island Artworks, and Down Creek Gallery.
Fly Kites
Kitty Hawk Kites is the best place to find your special kite. The best part about this shop is that there are several locations on the Outer Banks. This shop also has flags, wind art, and even drones for people who might not be into kites.
Walk to Ocracoke Lighthouse
This historic lighthouse was the support for mariners back in the 1700s through Ocracoke Inlet. Although the lighthouse greatly helped passing boats, the lighthouse is no longer in service to the mariners.The Ocracoke Lighthouse can be visited today but one is not permitted to climb it. What I love about this lighthouse is that it’s situated right in the middle of a neighborhood instead of being isolated around trees.
See the Beautiful Ponies
Take a trip to see the ponies at the pony pen. They were once roaming wild on the island, but the National Park Service made it a mission to look after the animals. Don’t worry they have plenty of space to roam free on the marsh and the beach! Couldn’t miss including the ponies on this Ocracoke Island guide.
Listen to Live Music
Visiting a tropical place requires live music and Ocracoke Island has no shortage of places worth going to. Be sure to look into Coyote Music Den, The Breeze, and SMacnallys.
Watch the Sunsets
Although I’ve never managed to catch a sunset except for on the ferry back to Hatteras, Ocracoke is home to beautiful sunsets. Add these places to your list for a place to watch the sunset on the island: Springer’s Point, Ocracoke Lighthouse, Ocracoke Community Square Deck, and from your vacation rental.
Best Time to Visit
The best times to visit Ocracoke are between March and April before the tourist crowds show up. The temperatures are usually ideal during the offseason. If you can only visit during the peak season, make sure to grab some hefty sunscreen, especially for the ferry ride over to the island as it takes around an hour each way.
The temperatures can be fairly hot, with a high of 83 degrees Fahrenheit. It also depends on the time of day you choose to travel to Ocracoke. The best time to travel on the ferry is during the early morning hours.
Fun Facts about Ocracoke
The Ocracoke Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse that still operates in North Carolina with its beautifully crafted white exterior and a walkway leading up to it. It is also the second oldest in the nation. The island is also considered to be a fishing village that’s only around 15 miles long.
From kayaking on the Pamlico Sound to visiting the lighthouse, Ocracoke Island is a vacation spot worth checking out. I hope you loved this Ocracoke Island guide! Here are more awesome vacation spots in the articles below: