Ocracoke Island: Home of Blakbeard the Pirate!

I hate the fact that my favorite place in the world, is consistently rated in the top ten (and this year it was rated #1) beaches in America. Don't get me wrong; I love it for the shop and restaurant owners, who so depend on the tourist dollar. But I hate it because I love my island.

I worry about my island. I love the untouched sands and windswept dunes, the slow pace of life for the residents, who are mainly shopkeepers, and who work from April to October, and close up for the most part the rest of the year. I love sitting on the porches of the Anchorage Inn and seeing the lighthouse gleam in the distance. The horns of the ferryboats breaking the gull's cries sporadically throughout the day.

What Island, you ask?

Ocracoke Island, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

It's not easy to get there. Your options are Ferry. Unless you charter a plane. From Hatteras (North of Ocracoke) the Ferry ride is 45 minutes long or so, not too bad. But if you are heading up from the Crystal Coast from the south, you depart from Cedar Island, and are looking at a two and a half hour long ferry ride. And oddly, that's almost always my choice.

You would think a small island, and an even smaller village wouldn't have much to offer today's family. There is no McDonalds, no putt-putt, and no laser tag arena.

But there's so much more. Miles of pristine beaches, perfect for finding unique and unusual shells, and perfect for building a mammoth sandcastle. Wild Ponies you can view at the Pony Pasture, and a nature trail encircling much of the pasture. An Ice Cream shop on the corner, and bike rentals at the same place.

Serenity unknown to us mainlanders hangs heavy over Ocracoke. The air is different, your blood pressure drops as you meander your way (on foot or bike please) through the village. From Howard's Pub, where you will find the worlds best crab cakes, over to the lighthouse, which is the second oldest in the state of North Carolina, and the oldest functioning lighthouse in the state.

Trek back across Hwy 12 (still on foot, I told you, its small) and you can learn about Blackbeard who called the island home for a time, and his still hidden treasure.

History is rich on the island. In the days before Blackbeard came to settle, the original Lost Colony from England stayed here for about a month, before they headed north to Roanoke. Portsmouth Island is open to visitors during the summer and is an enchanting glimpse into what island life used to be like - just be sure to bring your bug spray, cause those skeeters are man eaters!

Bed and Breakfast's abound here, owned and hosted by the friendliest people you would ever care to meet. There's also the Pony Lodge, offering motel rooms and Bungalows, and the Anchorage Inn, my personal favorite. For there I can sit on the wide porches and stare out at the Harbor.

For the Sportsman there's plenty of Charter Fishing. And for the shopper, plenty of doors to go through! Amongst the typical T shirts and Coffee mugs though, you're likely to find a bit of unusual pottery, or a stunning necklace, or perfect painting to adorn your wall back home.

I may live inland, but my soul belongs to Ocracoke. It was there I went with my ex husband many years ago and fell in love. And we went there when we were out of love too. The island holds many memories for me, many bittersweet, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. It's a special place and it bonds people together. You discover favorite places to eat, shop and stay. Away from the typical mad rush of a vacation, you discover how relaxing a vacation can truly be.

A fun vacation does not mean every minute jam packed with activities. Its about being with those you love, truly spending time with them. Seeing them laugh at dolphins dancing in the water. It's about watching a toddler look at a wild pony for the first time, and screaming when the surf touches his little toes. It's about seeing. And breathing. And living. And enjoying.

The awards Ocracoke has won means nothing to me. The prestige and honor, of clean beaches and water, are wonderful and true, but what is most notable is the simple fun that everyone enjoys. Ocracoke won my heart when I was 18 years old. And over 10 years later, my heart is still there.