Does Ocracoke Make A Great Destination for Family Beach Vacations?

January 3, 2010 by Charles Vaughn
Filed under Vacation

In the 1960\’s there was a television hit called \”The Andy Griffith Show\”. The show centered around a small town sheriff and his family and friends in the fictional town of \”Mayberry\”. It hastened back to a simpler time, when life was slower, people more caring, and everyone knew your name. While \”Mayberry\” is totally fictional, there is a place that will certainly remind you of it. Where is that place? Ocracoke Beach, which is located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It\’s a great place for family beach vacations. In this article we will be focusing on why we think Ocracoke is one of the \”Top Beaches of the World\”, and a \”must see\”. We warn you though…this place will move you in ways you will not expect.

While North Carolina has marched on in time…Ocracoke still maintains a bit of it\’s \”Ode to Days Gone By\”. Why is this? One of the major reasons could be the fact that it\’s a lot harder to get to Ocracoke. No bridges or tunnels or roads go there directly. You will either need to have a private plane or boat, or be a good swimmer (we\’re kidding…), or utilize one of the ferries that travel back and forth on a daily basis.

Even if you hate shopping on the mainland, we think you will like it in Ocracoke. The shops are all small and quaint, and just browsing in them will bring back thoughts of \”Mayberry\”. If you need to buy groceries there are only two main variety stores. They do have a post office to mail letters and postcards back to the mainland. One shop is dedicated to \”just kites\”, a wonderful way to pass time on the island. The tree-lined roadway that covers the shops in the main shopping area is another feature that we just love.

One of the main tourist attractions at Ocracoke is it\’s historic lighthouse. Built by Noah Porter, a builder from Massachusetts, in 1832, it is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in North Carolina (and the second oldest in the US). It is 75 feet tall, with a diameter ranging from 25 feet at the base to 12 feet at the top. You can see the light from the top of this lighthouse 14 miles out to sea. A US Park Ranger is on duty in the summer, and while they are there, you can enter the base of the lighthouse. No climbing of the lighthouse is ever permitted.

As we conclude our article we would like to mention what we think of Ocracoke. We love it! That about wraps it up in a nutshell. It has a feel about it that is hard to describe. It hastens back to a time when life was simpler, and problems were fewer. You will just have to go there and experience it for yourself. Make sure you come back in one piece…you might just leave your heart there…

If you are interested in Creative Family Beach Vacations, you should definitely check out the article on Ocracoke at www.Creative-Family-Beach-Vacations.com

categories: family,beach,vacation,holiday,travel,creative,arts,crafts,kites,romance