Does Ocracoke Make A Great Destination for Family Beach Vacations?

Do you remember the television show from the 1960's called "The Andy Griffith Show"? It centered around Andy, a sheriff in the small town of "Mayberry", and his family and friends and the wonderful times that they all had together. When we look at this tv show now a days we long for the "simpler time", when life was slower, and people seemed to care for each other. While this is a fictional TV show, there is a place that certainly reminds us of "Mayberry" , it's Ocracoke Beach. Located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, it's a great place for your family beach vacations. In this article we will describe some of the features of Ocracoke, and why we think it should be on your list of "great places to visit"...

Why does Ocracoke maintain this ode to "Days Gone By" when the rest of North Carolina has marched on? One reason could be the simple fact that it's much harder to get to Ocracoke. There is no direct bridge, road, or tunnel. If you don't have your own private boat or plane, the only way to get there is to either swim (we're kidding...) or take one of the public ferries that run to the island and back 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.

Ocracoke has a historic lighthouse that was built by Noah Porter (a builder from Massachusetts) in 1832. It's known as the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in North Carolina, as well as the second oldest in the US. It is 75 feet (23 m) tall, and it's diameter varies from 25 feet (8 m) at the base to 12 feet (3.7 m) at the top. The light from this lighthouse can be seen 14 miles out into the Atlantic. A United States National Park Ranger is on duty during the summer months. When a ranger is on duty you can enter the base of the lighthouse...but no climbing is permitted.

In conclusion, Ocracoke is a great place for your family beach vacations. It has a "feel" about it that is very hard to explain or describe. All we can say is that you will just have to go there and experience it for yourself. Beware though...you may leave your heart behind... :)