CHARLOTTE, N.C.—A North Carolina beach destination was recently recognized as one of the most charming small towns in the country.
HGTV included Ocracoke Island, at the southern tip of the state’s Outer Banks region, on its 50 most charming small towns in America list.
“Residents of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, like to say their town is the ‘cure for the common beach.’ The beach is accessible by ferry and sits beside Silver Lake, a scenic harbor. It’s popular for its shops and restaurants, historic British cemetery, and its light station, the oldest still operating in the state,” HGTV wrote.
“Like a good scare? Take a ghost walk with a descendant of Blackbeard’s quartermaster, or catch a short boat ride to Portsmouth Island’s so-called ghost village.”
History of Ocracoke Island
Ocracoke Island remained largely untouched by early English settlers due to dangerous sailing conditions until the late 1600s, when a port was established that connected the island to mainland communities, according to outerbanks.com.
The port quickly became successful, attracting pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard, who used the island’s geography to launch surprise attacks on passing ships. Blackbeard made the region his base of operations until his death in 1718, when the island returned to being a bustling port.
In the early 1900s, tourism began to grow due to the island’s excellent hunting and fishing, with further development in the 1950s and ‘60s when ferry service was introduced, the town’s tourism website says.
What Is There to Do on Ocracoke Island?
There are plenty of things to do on Ocracoke Island, according to visitocracokenc.com:- Relax on the beach
- Paddle out to the salt marsh creeks
- Take a hike on the Hammock Hill Nature Trail, a 0.75-mile boardwalk trail looping around a sand dune forest
- Enjoy a sunset sail or a sunset drink
How Do You Get to Ocracoke Island?
Ocracoke Island is only accessible by car ferry, visitocracokenc.com says. There are three ferry options:- The Swan Quarter Ferry to Ocracoke: You can reserve these tickets in advance, which cost $15. It’s quite a large ferry and there’s a good sitting space upstairs. It takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. Ferries run three times a day.
- The Cedar Island Ferry to Ocracoke: This ferry is smaller than the Swan Quarter one. Again, be sure to book in advance and it costs $15. Ferries run three times a day.
- The Hatteras Ferry to Ocracoke: This free ferry is first come-first serve and no reservations are allowed. Ferries run every hour.
