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Places to Visit
Ocracoke Village and Lighthouse
At the southwest end of a tiny island thrusting into the Atlantic lies the second oldest operating lighthouse in America. Its beacon winks each night every ten seconds or so over Ocracoke Village, nestled around scenic Silver Lake Harbor. Ocracoke Island is a site where life exists on the Outer Banks as it was 30, 50, even 100 years ago. Here, interspersed among the old clapboard island homes, are a school, post office, two churches, and a sprinkling of stores, motels, and restaurants.
Approximately 700 people call Ocracoke Island home. Many of the native "O"cockers" still speak with the distinctive "hoi toide" accent, a dialect reminiscent of seafaring England from earlier times when the island was isolated from mainland North Carolina. Accessible only by ferry, a day trip to Ocracoke includes southern hospitality, unique shopping and wonderful seafood in its restaurants. The Hatteras Inlet ferry ride is free and promises 45 minutes of fun, excitement, and restful contemplation.
 Ocracoke Island has a rich natural heritage. Its undeveloped seashore provides excellent beach combing and surf fishing. A nature trail meanders through maritime forest and across sand dunes to an extensive salt marsh bordering Pamlico Sound. Horseback riding, bicycling and kayaking all provide excellent means to explore out-of-the-way places flourishing with bird and marine life.
Recently declared a "National Historic District," Ocracoke is also rich with colorful history. Before the arrival of Europeans it was inhabited by Native Americans, members of the Croatan Chiefdom, who grew small gardens and harvested the bounty of the sea. Spanish explorers visited the island as early 1524, and in 1585 Sir Walter Raleigh's expedition from England to establish the first English-speaking settlement in the New World entered through Ocracoke Inlet. In 1715 the North Carolina General Assembly stationed pilots to guide ships through Ocracoke Inlet to accommodate the mainland ports of New Bern, Washington and Edenton and open up trade for North Carolina products with the world.
Pirates frequented the island during this period, the most famous of which was Edward Teach, aka "Blackbeard". He met his death in a grisly sea fight off the coast of Ocracoke at Teach's Hole in 1718. Some of Ocracoke's oldest families claim descendency from Blackbeard and his pirate crew.
 Ocracoke Island has a rich natural heritage. Its undeveloped seashore provides excellent beach combing and surf fishing. A nature trail meanders through maritime forest and across sand dunes to an extensive salt marsh bordering Pamlico Sound. Horseback riding, bicycling and kayaking all provide excellent means to explore out-of-the-way places flourishing with bird and marine life.
Ocracoke Inlet played an important role in shipping supplies during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. During World War II, German submarines targeted merchant ships along the coast.
Ocracoke's past is preserved in the Ocracoke Museum and Visitors Center, in the historic lighthouse, and in the British Cemetery, which honors British sailors who died here in World War II. A walk down the sandy lane known as Howard Street leads you under spreading live oaks beside old island homes and small, well-kept cemeteries.
If you seek isolation and privacy, Ocracoke is the place for you. Stay with us, let us provide you your base to seek adventure and discovery and to revel in the beauty that is Ocracoke Island.
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Jockey's Ridge State Park - A Testimony to the Way Things Were
Standing silhouetted against the sunset in Nags Head is a giant sand dune, the tallest pile of sand along the east coast. At one time the north banks were covered with a series of dune fields like Jockey's Ridge. Today Jockey's Ridge virtually stands alone as a testimony to the way things were when giant migrating dunes swallowed parts of the barrier islands, only to create new parts. The sunsets from the top of the ridge are glorious and the moon view from its hillside looms larger than life. Nature trails take you to the backside of the dune, to Roanoke Sound. Be sure to stop by the museum located in the visitors' center for an overview of how such a monstrous dune "arrived" on this barrier island. Get a schedule of park activities, varying from waterfowl hikes, weather seminars, aquatic life workshops to astronomy sessions.
Experience hang gliding, kite flying or just rolling in the sand in these last remnants of what the Banks used to be.
You can easily spend a day at Jockey's Ridge, and all the better after you've had a wonderful night's rest at the home of Isle Escape. We're less than an hour from the most famous sand dune in America.
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Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge - Protecting Local Wildlife
In the later part of the eighteenth century, the ducks and geese of the Outer Banks fed the diners in the restaurants of Baltimore and Paris. Commercial hunters using guns capable of killing over 50 birds a shot were utilized to provide that dining pleasure. By 1918 the migratory wildfowl of the Atlantic Seaboard was decimated. The skies that once were filled with birds that would block the sun were now empty.
The Migratory Wildfowl Act of 1918 prohibited commercial hunting and established the National Wildlife Service. Over years of careful management and study the great flyers of the past have returned. Pea Island Wildlife Refuge has saved hundreds of species from extinction. The birds have returned and sometimes the swans are so thick in the ponds of Pea Island that one can almost walk across their backs from side to side and remain dry. The geese that were almost gone, lost forever, stand by the road side feeding and raising their young.
This is a birders' paradise. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the giant V's of geese and the feeding of the swan. Come to Hatteras Island and see how nature has returned and humanity has triumphed over one of its serious mistakes.
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Cape Hatteras National Seashore - Explore the ”Hatteras Sandbanks“
Once upon a time, before there ever was a national seashore here, the "Hatteras Sandbanks" was an unassuming place where people for years lived simple lives with simple means. However, there is a treasure in almost every house telling the golden tale of courage. From Cape Henry to Cape Lookout more congressional medals of honor for lifesaving were issued from 1884 - 1918 than in the rest of the country combined. Eight of the first twelve were awarded in a single rescue 500 yards from Isle Escape. These medals today are in closets, dressers and foot lockers not displayed for public praise but captured in the hearts and spirits of the people of Hatteras Island and their ancestors. These were the brave and gallant men of the US Lifesaving Service, the forerunner of today's Coast Guard. Their bravery inspired us all and shows us what the human effort is truly capable of.
The majesty and the magnificence of these great men live on today on Hatteras Island. These men were not anymore smarter or stronger than us, they practiced every day all year long for just such an occasion - they were so practiced and drilled that they knew exactly what to do to save lives in stormy seas. Journey to the Cape Hatteras and see the places where we rose beyond ourselves, where sacrifices were commonplace, and the belief that courage extends beyond the limits of human strength and endurance all in the name of duty. Walk these beaches where the surfmen walked. The bones of the ships they rescued still extend from the sands in silent testimony of past glory. Be inspired here by brave men and women just like us. As you walk the beaches and see the waves crashing upon the shore, know that you walk on hallowed ground.
The seashore today is much the same as it was when surfmen walked the beaches in the business of savings lives. You'll feel the same salt spray and cool ocean breezes the surfmen felt. Seventy-two miles of unspoiled and uncluttered sand and wind and tide plead to you to come and rescue them. Make your Hatteras vacation your rescue from uninspired vacations. Almost the entire island is US National Park and will be preserved for generations to come. Journey here to experience the beauty and the inspiration that drove these men to our nation's highest honor. The peace of mind you save may be your own.
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The North Carolina State Aquarium - The Outer Banks Marine Population on Display
The seas around the Outer Banks teem with a large variety of marine life.
Unfortunately, many visitors never have the opportunity to witness this varied ecosystem in action. The North Carolina State Aquarium on Roanoke Island provides the opportunity to encounter sharks and sting rays, puffer fish and puppy drum, large moray eels and schools of small mackerel. It is an adventure that those of all ages may enjoy. There are touch tanks for children, interactive computer displays, and even alligators.
From your home at Isle Escape, it is less than an hour's drive to the joys of the NC State Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Don't miss this chance to view the joy of the marine life hidden beneath the surface of the waters of Hatteras Island, and don't miss the chance to rent a quality vacation home to see all the Outer Banks has to offer.
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Wright Brothers - Orville and Wilbur Wright Make History
On December 17, 1903 at 10:35 in the morning, two young brothers accomplished the impossible on the sands of Kitty Hawk.
These two bicycle builders, without a high school education between them, performed the feat that stumped the human mind for 3.5 million years: the miracle of human flight. Orville and Wilbur Wright fought skepticism, abuse, and ridicule to see the human spirit triumph and a dream realized as they lifted free from the ground to carry humanity on its voyage to the stars.
Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk is a shrine to aviation buffs - a must see while on the Outer Banks. Learn about the principles of flight, the lives of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the Outer Bankers who welcomed and assisted them and the Wright Flyer. Be sure to hike up to the top of the hill - the view is definitely worth the effort. A small fee ($4 per car) is required to enter this park; once inside all programs are free. For those traveling with children, ask about the "Flight Ranger" patch kids 13 & under can earn.
These same sands and winds survive today on the beaches of the Outer Banks. The gulls and hawks that the brothers studied in their pursuit still wheel and turn in the air above the breaking waves of the Atlantic. Share the experience and the pleasures of the Wright Brothers by visiting these spots. While the towns of Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills have changed and are filled today with modern comforts, the beaches of Hatteras Island remain pristine, just as the brothers saw them. In an oceanfront home for a week or two, experience the majesty they saw and the stories they left behind in their diaries. The Outer Banks are where dreams come true. Be inspired by the story of the Wright Brothers.
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Lighthouses - The Graveyard of the Atlantic
Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of our great nation, often sailed past the shores of Hatteras Island. In his travels he almost shipwrecked twice, and witnessed the skeletons of earlier wrecks laying about our shores. "Surely," he confided to his friends, "this place is the graveyard of the Atlantic."
His famous statement has proven true by almost 2,000 shipwrecks in a coastline area of only 150 miles. The low sandy shores of the islands of North Carolina are almost invisible from sea during stormy weather. They have claimed the lives of thousands and the bones of their wrecked ships still extend from the sands. In his concern for human life, Mr. Hamilton instituted a project of lighthouse construction to warn mariners of the dangerous waters surrounding Cape Hatteras and the Diamond Shoals.
The lighthouse system that began in his administration as our nation's Secretary of State stands today, rising majestically from the horizon for mariners. Each is unique in history and each has a character all its own. Take the time to visit all four of our lighthouses on the Outer Banks and experience the enchantment of these enduring landmarks upon our restless shores.
Ocracoke Lighthouse
Ocracoke, the first of the Outer Banks' lights, was constructed as a pilot light for the entrance to the treacherous waters of Ocracoke Inlet in 1798. Permanently illuminated in 1823, the stark white 75-foot tower is the oldest operating lighthouse on the North Carolina coast. Surrounded by the lush beauty of Ocracoke Village, the light overlooks tranquil Silver Lake. The tower is closed to the public, yet the grounds are open year-round. The National Park Service operates a visitor's center near the Cedar Island Ferry Terminal, open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 AM to 4 PM daily. (252) 928-4531.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest brick lighthouse in America, with its distinctive black and white spiral bands, towers 208 feet above the coastal shoreline and extends its warning light over 20 miles seaward. Last year, 190,000 of the curious and agile climbed the 268 steps to the top for an incredible, sweeping view of the shore line and crashing surf. Located off NC Route 12 in Buxton, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is open daily to climbers 9:30 AM to 4 PM, Easter weekend through Columbus Day. There are various summer programs, call for details. (252) 441-5711.
Bodie Island Lighthouse
The Bodie Island Light and its distinctive black and white bands was built only a few years later by the same crew that constructed the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. This 156-foot structure can be found west of NC Route 12, just north of Oregon Inlet. The tower's massive base is open to those wishing to see inside it. Restored keeper's quarters serve as a visitor's center, open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 AM to 4 PM. (252) 441-5711.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Proudly distinguishable by its deep red brick, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse was constructed exactly like the Bodie Island Light. The beacon stands 150 feet and 212 steps tall. A trip to the top delivers breathtaking views of Currituck Sound and surrounding Corolla. Open daily to the public 10 AM to 6 PM, Easter through Thanksgiving weekend. Call (252) 453-4939.
There is a fee at the Currituck Beach Lighthouse of $5.00 per person. The four guardians towering high above the Outer Banks still extend their lights, providing a warning of dangerous shores to mariners and a treat to the eyes of vacationers. Today, their presence serves as a poignant reminder of days gone by when traveling mariners braved treacherous waters of the Graveyard of the Atlantic, dependent on the guiding light and the security it assured.
Imagine yourself as the lonely keeper of these proud lighthouses, knowing full-well that thousands of seafarers depended on your duty to protect their lives. Come see how Isle Escape can be a lifesaver for you and your loved ones, too!
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