Looking for a unique summer escape? This summer, consider a visit to Ocracoke in the Outer Banks!
Ocracoke is a quiet, relaxing, and utterly stunning place to visit. This 16-mile-long barrier island is only accessible by ferry or private plane, and it only has one main highway and one small village. This quaint town feels like its own planet.
The history of this island is as unique as its current remoteness. First settled as a colonial trade route stop in the 1700s, it later became a pirate hideout and then a top-secret training base for the U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers. Today, it is a quiet beach village, but fragments of its history can be found all around. The island's famous Banker ponies, for instance, are a group of wild horses thought to be descended from 16th or 17th century Spanish mustangs. You can find out everything you could possibly want to know about the island's history at the Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum!
There are a few popular attractions on Ocracoke. Ocracoke Lighthouse, a 75-foot-tall lighthouse, is the 2nd oldest operating lighthouse in the country. It is widely visited, as is nearby Springer's Point Preserve- the site of the first European settlement on the island. Of course, you have to visit the island's portion of Cape Hatteras National Seashore!
While you're there, check out 1718 Brewing, where you an sip a hazy IPA or crisp summer ale on a lovely patio, or stop by one of the island's many great restaurants!
There's a lot to see and do around Ocracoke! Plan your visit this summer!
