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Come To One of Ocracoke's Annual Events

Ocracoke has all sorts of celebrations and festivals, so schedule a visit to coincide with one of them and see what all the fun is about! Memorial Day weekend offers the Fire Department Pig Pickin, Auction and Dance. The Ocrafolk Music and Storytelling Festival has rapidly become the highlight of a spring visit. Ocracoke is also famous for its July 4th celebration. The Ocracoke Art Walk is traditionally held on the last Saturday of September, bringing all of Ocracoke's artist talent together in one place. Visit www.OcracokeGuide.com for more information.

Watch the Full Moon Rise and Look For Ghost Crabs at the Beach

Go to the beach on a balmy, summer night and wait for the full moon to come up over the ocean. On a clear night, the full moon rising up over the horizon sometimes has an orange or red tint which is the light from the setting sun filtering through particles in the Earth's atmosphere and reflecting off the moon. It's absolutely beautiful hanging in the sky above the dark ocean waves. When the moonlight floods the beach and reflects brightly off the white sea foam, you will see dozens of ghost crabs skittering about. If the clouds are over the moon, bring a flashlight and see how many ghost crabs you can find!

Make a Friend, Talk To a Local

Strike up a conversation with a local, especially an older one, and you might be surprised how much you can learn about the island. Also known as Ocockers, the native islanders are a tight knit bunch. There is a real sense of community on Ocracoke. You're sure to notice the Ocracoke "brogue," the famous local dialect that has evolved over the past 250 years. Sit for a spell and let a real Ococker tell you about some of the historical and cultural lore of Ocracoke.

Visit the Horses at the Ocracoke Pony Pens

Housed in a 180-acre pasture located just off Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island, the horses that live in the Ocracoke Pony Pens are a popular attraction. Maintained by the National Park Service, the once wild horses are a large part of the island's history. In the past, the herd of wild horses ranged from 200 to 500. Much like the Corolla Wild Horses, it is believed that these horses arrived on Ocracoke by swimming ashore from Spanish shipwrecks off the coast. When you make your trip to Ocracoke Island, don't forget to stop and visit the Ocracoke Pony Pens!

Send Ocracoke Postcards To Your Friends and Family

Are you the lucky one among your friends and family who got to take a trip to Ocracoke this year? Take an hour of your precious vacation time and send postcard notes to your loved ones. There are beautiful postcards sold at almost any local gift shop, gallery or grocery store and they are very affordable. Let them know you are thinking about them and that you wish they could be visiting Ocracoke with you. If they can see a postcard of how beautiful it is, maybe you can persuade them to come along with you on your next vacation!

Take a Scenic Flight Tour

If you think the Outer Banks are beautiful from the ground, wait until you see them from the sky! This stretch of islands and water will amaze you. Depending on where you fly, you will see things from the air such as ocean inlets, lighthouses, a deserted island, shipwrecks, even sharks swimming! Bring your camera, for these adventures provide great photo opportunities of both sea and sound shores and otherwise inaccessible wetlands.

Go Beachcombing For Shells

Beachcombing for shells, also called shelling, on the beaches of Ocracoke is an activity enjoyed by all. The best times to look for shells are after a high tide, after a storm, in the morning and during the winter months. When picking up shells from the sand, make sure you check first to make sure nothing is still alive inside the shell. If the shell you choose is still home to a live sea creature, set it back in the sand and keep searching.

Take Your Kids To Surf Camp

Ride the Wind Surf Shop on Ocracoke offers a kids surf camp in the summer. Classes emphasize water safety as well as surfing skills. They have operated the surf camp for several years and have introduced hundreds of kids to surfing and the surfing community. Check online for the surf camp schedule and reservations information at www.SurfOcracoke.com.

Build a Sandcastle

Plan an afternoon to go to the beach and build a sandcastle. You could have your own family sandcastle contest. No matter how the sandcastles turn out, you are sure to have fun! If you are staying on Ocracoke on July 4th, join the Sand Castle Contest or stop by for some inspiration.

Historic Marker of Fort Ocracoke

This marker is a little hard to find, but it's worth seeking out. It's on a grassy patch behind the National Park Service Visitor Center and next to the boat ramp. Park the car and walk out to the sound and you'll see it. The marker commemorates Fort Ocracoke, the remnants of which lie submerged in Ocracoke Inlet toward Portsmouth Island. The fort was constructed by volunteers beginning in May 1861, on the day North Carolina seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy. One side of the marker lists all the men from Ocracoke and Portsmouth islands who were killed in the Civil War. It is located at Irvin Garrish Highway, behind the National Park Service Visitor Center.