Visit the Island of Ocracoke

Are you counting down the days until your spring or summer OBX vacation? Can’t wait to spend several days relaxing in your comfortable Outer Banks rental and exploring all the great locations in the Outer Banks? Most people who are planning on visiting the Outer Banks know about all the “hot spots” already. But what about some of the other, more secret places? Although Ocracoke is a bit of a drive, it is most certainly worth driving down for the day. So, during your stay in an Outer Banks rental, set aside a day to take the scenic drive to the quaint and charming island of Ocracoke. Read on to find out why the beautiful island is called the “Pearl of the Outer Banks.”

The Outer Banks is known for its beaches, but the pristine beaches of Ocracoke Island are certainly some of the best of the best. The 16 miles of undeveloped seashore have earned high rankings in Dr. Beach’s annual top ten lists, even taking first place in years past. Spend the day at the beach with lifeguards or go exploring further down and be the only person on the beach for miles. Scan the beach for some of the most beautiful seashells of the Outer Banks here or try your hand at surf fishing. At the end of the day, watch a glorious sunrise before heading back to your Outer Banks rental. 

If you are an adventurer at heart, don’t fear. Ocracoke is one of the quieter places in the Outer Banks, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ample opportunities for excitement! If you already have experience, take out a rental and make your own adventure. Are you a beginner? Talk to the island’s water sports professionals for help. Try your hand at kayaking, surfing, parasailing, or jet skiing. Feeling extra daring? Rent out a skiff and have fun navigating through the surf.

If you brought along the kids along to the Outer Banks rental, there are many occasions to sneak some learning into this family vacation! The National Park Service provides interpretive programs, guided walks and ranger problems for those visitors who want to explore the island. Some of the kids programs include Turtle Talks, Seashore Arts and Evening Campfire. Kids won’t even realize they’re learning when they’re having this much fun! Visit the Ocracoke National park Service Visitor Center located along the shore of Silver Lake for more information. 

For those nature lovers, there are plenty of hikes to explore. Follow the Hammock Hills Nature Trail through natural hammocks, pine forest, marsh and thickets. Or, instead, spend the afternoon at Springer’s Point Nature Preserve. Be awed by the maritime forest that is bursting with abundant wildlife, centuries old live oaks, traces of historic structures and the beach where Blackbeard’s crew watched and waited to attack unsuspecting ships sailing on by. 

For all you historians out there, don’t forget to visit the Ocracoke Lighthouse while vacationing at our Outer Banks rental. The beacon was built in 1823 and is one of the oldest lighthouses still in active service in the United States. It serves as a beautiful symbol of the beloved island of Ocracoke. Also worth mentioning is the Ocracoke Preservation Museum. Listed on the National register of Historic Places, the museum features island antiques and exhibits on decoys, fishing, the Civil War and the Island Brogue. Visit www.ocracokepreservation.org for more information.

While staying at your Outer Banks rental, take a day trip out to the island of Ocracoke for a change of pace. A day spent on this quaint, charming island is a day well spent. With its pristine beaches, historic sites, recreational activities and abundances of local wildlife, this island’s nickname, the “Pearl of Outer Banks,” is well-deserved. Come visit the island and see why yourself.

Hidden Treasures of the Outer Banks

People stay at our Outer Banks oceanfront rentals for more than just one reason. While our Outer Banks oceanfront rentals are luxurious and packed with all the amenities you need for a vacation home away from home, they also choose to vacation with us because of the location! Whether you’re looking for a place to bring the entire family, a location for a romantic weekend getaway, or a spot for friends to reunite for days of fun and laughter, Outer Banks is a favorite vacation spot for many.

There are many reasons why the Outer Banks is loved by both its visitors and its residents alike. Most people who come here know about Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head or The Lost Colony in Manteo. They also know to visit the Cape Hatteras lighthouse and to see the wild horses of Corolla. But what about some other activities that may not be as popular? What are some of the Outer Banks hidden treasures that visitors should check out while staying in their Outer Banks oceanfront rentals?

The Island Farm in ManteoVisit a living history site that interprets daily life on Roanoke Island in the mid-1800s. There you can find the Etheridge farmstead, which is the oldest period restoration of a house on Roanoke Island and includes 19^th century furnishings, some of which are original to the house. There are almost a dozen buildings to explore, such as the farmhouse, a reconstructed slave cabin, outhouse, cookhouse, smokehouse, dairy, barns, chicken coop, blacksmith shop and more. Kids will be delighted to see the chickens that roam freely on the grounds, as well as the sheep, ponies, an ox and a cow. 

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Maritime Museum In this Hatteras museum, come find out why the coasts of the Outer Banks have been nicknamed “The Graveyard of the Atlantic? The museum is one of the finest, most innovative maritime facilities in the nation. Learn about chilling stories of several historical shipwrecks that have dotted our coasts, and try to solve the mystery of the Ghost Ship of Diamond Shoals. 

Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve- Because these woods are shielded by ocean winds from the sandy dunes, the Nags Head Woods features a diversity of plant and animal life that is unusual to find on a barrier island. Bird lovers will be amazed that over 100 species of birds have been seen in these woods, and nature lovers will appreciate the grandeur of the oaks, hickories and beech trees; some of which are hundreds of years old. Keep your eyes out for 15 species of amphibians and 28 species of reptiles. Don’t leave your camera at one of our Outer banks oceanfront rentals!

North Carolina Roanoke Island Aquarium Tucked away in small town Manteo is the aquarium with the largest collection of sharks in the state. Bring the whole family as you spend the day interacting with scuba divers, touching an alligator and feeding the sting rays. There’s always something new to see and do here, so plan your visit while you’re staying at one of our Outer Banks oceanfront rentals.

There is something on the Outer Banks for everyone, and it’s always a treat to find one of the less visited gems of the Outer Banks. There are many more hidden treasures of the Outer Banks to visit while staying in one of our Outer Banks oceanfront rentals. A good way to find out about more hidden gems is to keep posted on our blog often and we’ll keep you updated with the best activities in the OBX. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding things to do while staying in our Outer Banks oceanfront rentals—that is, unless you’re simply having trouble deciding!

Blackbeard History

Calling all Buccaneers to the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks is an area rich in history, boasting places such as the location of the first flight in Kill Devil Hills and the site of the first English settlement and Lost Colony on Roanoke Island. However, there is yet another reason why the Outer Banks is steeped in history, this one having to do with adventures and swashbuckling pirates. There is a huge pirate culture prevalent the Outer Banks, celebrated by restaurants, festivals, shops, activities and more. But where did this obsession with Pirates in the Outer Banks come from? You can thank one person in particular: The most terrifying of all buccaneers of his time, the Pirate Blackbeard. While you’re staying in one of your Outer Banks rental, have your own adventure when you check out one of our many pirate-themed attractions. But first, here is a little history on the famous Outer Banks pirate.

With its shallow inlets, the Outer Banks became a popular place for pirates during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The most popular pirate of all, Blackbeard, called Bath, North Carolina his home as he spent much of time plundering and pillaging ships off the coasts of the Outer Banks. Blackbeard, although terrifyingly immoral, was an incredibly interesting character. His real name was actually Edward Teach, which is a hardly a name that would invoke fear in anyone’s heart. He was born around 1680 in Bristol and all that is known about his pre-pirate years is that he served as a privateer in Queen Anne’s Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession.

In 1716, Teach joined the crew of Benjamin Hornigold, one of the most notorious pirates before Blackbeard.  When they captured a French slave ship the next year, Blackbeard became the captain of the stolen vessel and renamed the ship Queen Anne’s Revenge. After arming the ship, he spent the next few months harassing ships up and down the eastern coast of North America.

It was not long after that Blackbeard grew his long black beard that covered most of his face earned him his nickname. For a chilling effect, Blackbeard would tie hemp to the ends of his beard and under the edges of his captain’s hat so that smoke would billow out theatrically around his face. He was also known to wear a crimson blood colored coat and always carried two swords on his waist and several pistols and knives in his pockets. It was this image that struck terror into the hearts of whomever he came across. The vicious pirate was known to hide out in the inlets of the Outer Banks and attack unsuspecting ships.  Because of Blackbeard, the waters surrounding the Outer Banks have been nicknamed the graveyard of the Atlantic.

For more pirate-y fun while you’re staying at your Outer Banks rental, stop by to dine at Pamlico Jack’s Pirate Hideaway Restaurant in Nags Head for a dinner fit for even the most hungry pirate. If you have kids, take the whole family on a pirate adventure of a lifetime withPirate Adventures of the Outer Banks for a swashbuckling good time. If you’re interested in pirate lore and paraphernalia, go shopping at Teach’s Hole for your own treasure to take home before you leave the Outer Banks and your Carolina designsOuter Banks vacation rental.

Activities on the Sound

“Sounds” like fun!

If you’re planning on staying at an Outer Banks vacation rental during the upcoming spring or summer, it’s highly likely that you’re already planning on visiting the beach. And with our white, sandy, family-friendly beaches, why wouldn’t you? However, if you want to try something just a little bit different this vacation, consider spending some time out on one of the several sounds of the Outer Banks. Any nature lover or adventurer should plan on spending some time on the sound as there are tons of unique water sport activities and it is a place of great natural beauty and is home to diverse wildlife.

Our two main sounds here in the Outer Banks are the Albemarle Sound and the Pamlico Sound, although smaller portions of the two have been given their own names, such as the Roanoke Sound and the Croatan Sound. Much of the water in the Sounds is brackish or fresh, because of river water that pours into the sound. The Albemarle-Pamlico Sound is recognized as one of the nineteen great waters by the America’s Great Waters Coalition. 

When you pack your sunscreen, towel and bathing suit and head out to your beautiful Outer Banks vacation rental for the weekend, make sure that visiting the sound is on your agenda. Here is a short list of just some of the wonderful things you can do on the sound while visiting.

1) Go fishing! There is an amazing variety of fish that call the sound home including the Poppy Drum, red Drum, Speckled Trout, Flounder and Rock Fish. Occasionally you may even find a Tarpon or Spanish Mackerel. The Pamlico Sound, which may have depths of no more than 3 feet for miles and rarely gets deeper than 15 feet, may be hard to navigate for beginners. If you are a visitor staying at an Outer Banks rental, talk to a guide before heading out. Many locals have years of insight and can advise you to the best hot spots beforehand.

2) Do as the locals do and spend the day crabbing. Grab a bucket of ice, tongs, a handline and a dip net, head out the nearest low dock over the sound. Some good local favorites are the “Little Bridge” in Nags Head, the docks in Manteo or the gazebo on Sothel St. in Kill Devil Hills. Before you go, get your fishing license first. It is relatively cheap, is valid for 10 days and is good for fishing in any sound waters or off the pier in the ocean. 

3) Paddle boarding. If you love adventures and nature, paddle boarding is the perfect combination. There are plenty of places in the Outer Banks to rent a paddleboard or even try a guided tour. While it may look easy, it’s actually great exercise for your upper body—by the time you head back to your Outer Banks rental you will be ready for a relaxingnight in. 

4)If paddle boarding intimidates you at first,kayaking and canoeing are two other great sound activities that allow you to exercise all while enjoying the grandeur beauty of the sound. Among the coastal areas are numerous waterfowl nesting sites to keep an eye out for. If you’re an early riser, a leisurely morning spent paddling around and watching the sunrise on the sound is something you will never forget.

There are plenty of other great activities to do while staying at your Outer Banks rental. While most visitors to the Outer Banks head straight to the beach upon arrival, take the time during your vacation to see all that the beautiful sounds have to offer. Don’t say we didn’t warn you though; after you witness all the fun and beauty that the sound has to offer, you may never want to go back home and leave that Outer Banks rental.