Ocracoke Island/Outer Banks
 

Looking to go there this fall. Anyone been and willing to share advice?

TIA

Ocracoke Island/Outer Banks
 

On Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:58:44 -0500, JB wrote:

Looking to go there this fall. Anyone been and willing to share advice?

I've been there several times, not counting the times as a child (was
raised in NC, but no longer live there) the whole family would share in
renting a beach house for the month at Holden Beach, one of the Brunswick
Islands.

The last time I was there was early May 2006. Weather was nice. Highs
75 to 80; lows in the low 50s. Water too cold for swimming. Made a tour
of all the lighthouses, the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk, the
Sand Dunes park next to it, the little island of Manteo--check out the
English village and the reproduction 1600's sailing vessel--and the bird
sanctuary.

Took the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. Stayed overnight there. It's
a small island and it doesn't take long to see everything. There's a
nice little museum in the town. And don't forget trying to find some of
the wild ponies.

Then took the 2 to 3 hour ferry ride from Ocracoke to Cedar Island, and
on to the Cape Lookout lighthouse. That ended the tour, since most all
of the larger barrier islands from Morehead City south are developed for
vacationers.

There are many sights to see there other than what I visited on my trip,
but it was only a 3-nighter, and my time was limited.

I don't know what time in the Fall you plan to visit, but I was there
once in mid-October: The days were nice--70s, but the nights were damn
nippy, especially near the Atlantic Ocean side when the wind was up.

Stef

Ocracoke Island/Outer Banks
 

On 4/3/2011 12:17 AM, Stefan Patric wrote:
On Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:58:44 -0500, JB wrote:

Looking to go there this fall. Anyone been and willing to share advice?

Steph,

Thanks for the reply. We plan on being there the week of September 25th.
Have a house rented on the sound in North Pond with a dock. Rentals, for
the most part, are for a full week. The island/town does look small so,
for me, given the length of time we'll be there, the strategy will be to
relax and take it easy.

I was wondering about entering the isalnds from the north and then
heading back to the main land by taking the ferry from Ocracoke to Swan
Quarter. Have you ever done this? What's this portion of North Carolins
like? We'll be gone for two weeks in all so I'm just looking to take in
the sights.

Thanks again.

John


I've been there several times, not counting the times as a child (was
raised in NC, but no longer live there) the whole family would share in
renting a beach house for the month at Holden Beach, one of the Brunswick
Islands.

The last time I was there was early May 2006. Weather was nice. Highs
75 to 80; lows in the low 50s. Water too cold for swimming. Made a tour
of all the lighthouses, the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk, the
Sand Dunes park next to it, the little island of Manteo--check out the
English village and the reproduction 1600's sailing vessel--and the bird
sanctuary.

Took the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. Stayed overnight there. It's
a small island and it doesn't take long to see everything. There's a
nice little museum in the town. And don't forget trying to find some of
the wild ponies.

Then took the 2 to 3 hour ferry ride from Ocracoke to Cedar Island, and
on to the Cape Lookout lighthouse. That ended the tour, since most all
of the larger barrier islands from Morehead City south are developed for
vacationers.

There are many sights to see there other than what I visited on my trip,
but it was only a 3-nighter, and my time was limited.

I don't know what time in the Fall you plan to visit, but I was there
once in mid-October: The days were nice--70s, but the nights were damn
nippy, especially near the Atlantic Ocean side when the wind was up.

Stef

Ocracoke Island/Outer Banks
 

On Sun, 03 Apr 2011 13:45:29 -0500, JB wrote:

On 4/3/2011 12:17 AM, Stefan Patric wrote:
On Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:58:44 -0500, JB wrote:

Looking to go there this fall. Anyone been and willing to share
advice?

Steph,

Thanks for the reply. We plan on being there the week of September 25th.
Have a house rented on the sound in North Pond with a dock. Rentals, for
the most part, are for a full week. The island/town does look small so,
for me, given the length of time we'll be there, the strategy will be to
relax and take it easy.

Relaxing and unhurriedness is what Ocracoke is famous for. Take your
time and explore. Visit the lighthouse. It's small. Even for a
lighthouse. Enjoy the beach on the Atlantic side of Highway 12: miles and
miles of white sand, and not a single hotel, beach house or pier to mar
the view. Except for the little bump that is the town of Ocracoke, the
rest of the island is protected national seashore--minimal development

Late September should be great weather-wise--days still warm; nights
cooling. So, bring a sweater and jacket. Plus, the summer vacation
season is over, so, no crowds, except on the weekends. And, maybe, not
even then. Ocracoke is "remote"--boat and air access only.

I was wondering about entering the isalnds from the north and then
heading back to the main land by taking the ferry from Ocracoke to Swan
Quarter. Have you ever done this? What's this portion of North Carolins
like? We'll be gone for two weeks in all so I'm just looking to take in
the sights.


The farthest north entry to the Outer Banks is US-158 at Point Harbor.
I've never been that way. For my visits, Highway 64 through Manteo was
easier and faster. It really depends on where you're coming from, which
was Raleigh in my case. The difference between those two entry points on
the island is only about 12 miles or so, but on the mainland, getting
from one to the other is hours of driving.

Never done the Swan Quarter route. So, I can't say good or bad about it,
but coastal North Carolina is flat, sandy with lots of pine trees. Safe,
easy driving as long as you stick to state or national highways.

Have a nice trip.

Stef


John


I've been there several times, not counting the times as a child (was
raised in NC, but no longer live there) the whole family would share in
renting a beach house for the month at Holden Beach, one of the
Brunswick Islands.

The last time I was there was early May 2006. Weather was nice. Highs
75 to 80; lows in the low 50s. Water too cold for swimming. Made a
tour of all the lighthouses, the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty
Hawk, the Sand Dunes park next to it, the little island of
Manteo--check out the English village and the reproduction 1600's
sailing vessel--and the bird sanctuary.

Took the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. Stayed overnight there.
It's a small island and it doesn't take long to see everything.
There's a nice little museum in the town. And don't forget trying to
find some of the wild ponies.

Then took the 2 to 3 hour ferry ride from Ocracoke to Cedar Island, and
on to the Cape Lookout lighthouse. That ended the tour, since most all
of the larger barrier islands from Morehead City south are developed
for vacationers.

There are many sights to see there other than what I visited on my
trip, but it was only a 3-nighter, and my time was limited.

I don't know what time in the Fall you plan to visit, but I was there
once in mid-October: The days were nice--70s, but the nights were damn
nippy, especially near the Atlantic Ocean side when the wind was up.

Stef

v