"Ferry In - Ferry Out" Top 5 Page for this destination Ocracoke by grandmaR

Ocracoke Travel Guide: 99 reviews and 225 photos

Ferry crew practicing - Ocracoke
Ferry crew practicing
Top of Ocracoke Lighthouse - Ocracoke

Top of Ocracoke Lighthouse

You can only get to Ocracoke Island by boat or plane. Ocracoke is in Hyde County and is one of the barrier islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina where the pirate Blackbeard is known to have once hung out. The island is noted for fishing and birdwatching.

The first European visitor was probably Sir Walter Raleigh's 1585 colony in their flagship, "Tiger" which ran aground on a sand bar in Ocracoke Inlet and was forced to land on the island for repairs.

The name Ocracoke is undoubtedly Indian in origin. It was shown on the earliest maps as "Woccocon". In 1715, the name had become Ococcock and soon after shown on maps as Ocracoke.

Lighthouse Keepers House in Ocracoke - Ocracoke

Lighthouse Keepers House in Ocracoke

Established as a port in 1715, Ocracoke (pronounced OHK-ruh-coke) grew in importance until 1787, when 697 vessels reached North Carolina through Ocracoke Inlet. The village of Ocracoke, on the southern soundside, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It includes the 1823 Ocracoke Lighthouse as well as several historic commercial building and over 100 homes.

The town is laid out with Old World irregularity along sandy streets overhung with moss-covered oaks and yaupon.

This picture is probably of the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage (of the Ocracoke Lighthouse). The house is now occupied by Park Service personnel; please respect their privacy.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Quiet
  • Cons:Isolated
  • Last visit to Ocracoke: Dec 2004
  • Intro Updated May 26, 2005
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (33)

Runway? - Ocracoke Air Strip Transportation (5)

I know that Ocracoke has a small airstrip, but I didn't remember seeing it. I also don't remember taking this picture... more travel advice

Walking tour map - Ocracoke Walking Tour #4 to #10 and #12 to $14 Things to Do (9)

Print out the map before you go. This is what I missed: Behind the Post Office is (4 ) The first post office where... more travel advice

Marina electric hookup with sign - Ocracoke Off Season Ocracoke Favorites (3)

The somewhat gull dropping spotted sign on top of the electrical connection for slip number 13 says: Fees Collected... more travel advice

List of rules for the marina and a map - Ocracoke National Park Service Ocracoke Silver... Warnings and Dangers (2)

List on the left: 1) Quiet hours are from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am 3) Prohibited on Docks: a) Bicycling b) Skateboarding ... more travel advice

Comments (3)

  • Reply
    Dec 3, 2006 at 8:52 AM

    The best burgers on OBX. The fresh fish sandwiches are awesome...great views, friendly place

  • Reply
    NCCruiseGurl's Profile Photo
    Oct 19, 2006 at 7:42 PM

    Hi GrandmaR, I was on Ocracoke during the May 13, 2005 British Cemetary rememberance and heard the 21 gun salute from the trailer I was staying in. Also my birthday weekend. The local kindergarten class walked down to observe the ceremony, too.

  • Reply
    b1bob's Profile Photo
    May 25, 2005 at 9:20 AM

    Nice beginning on Ocracoke. I don't believe I have made it that far south yet.

grandmaR's Related Pages

Ocracoke Travel Guide

 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
grandmaR's Profile Photo

grandmaR

“"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”

Online Now

Female

Top 1,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 0 0 2 4
Forum Rank:
0 0 0 5 8

Badges & Stats in Ocracoke

  • 33 Reviews
  • 104 Photos
  • 0 Forum posts
  • 3 Comments
  • 6,594PageViews
  • See All Stats
  • See All Badges (179)

Have you been to Ocracoke?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Ocracoke

Photos in Ocracoke

See All Photos (104)

Top 10 Pages

See All Travel Pages (998)

Friends

See All Friends (50)

Travel Interests

See All Travel Interests (5)

Latest Ocracoke hotel reviews

Ocracoke Campground
21 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 16, 2013
Edwards of Ocracoke
83 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 8, 2013
Pony Island Motel
91 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 29, 2013
The Ocracoke Harbor Inn
118 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 6, 2013
Captain's Landing Waterfront Hotel Suites
87 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 10, 2013