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Go Camping at the Ocracoke Campground

The National Park Service manages a great campground on Ocracoke Island. About twelve miles from the ferry docks and just three miles from Ocracoke Village, this oceanfront campground is in the perfect location for walking on the beach, fishing, nature walking and more! There are 136 campsites and the cost is $20 per night. To make a reservation, call (800) 365-CAMP.

Go Fishing on a Headboat Charter

If you don't want to spend the money on a private charter fishing boat, there are also several headboats available on the Outer Banks. Some of these large boats take parties into the ocean, though not as far as the Gulf Stream, while others take half-day trips to the inshore waters. Headboats normally are between 60 and 75 feet long and can accommodate up to 50 anglers. Headboats are great for the novice fisherman or for parties with children. The Crystal Dawn and the Country Girl are at the Pirate's Cove Yacht Club in Manteo at (252) 473-5577. The Miss Oregon Inlet is docked at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center on Bodie Island and can be reached at (252) 441-6301. Docking in Hatteras Village at Oden's Dock are the Miss Hatteras and Captain Clam. Half-day trips are about $30 per person, and full-day trips range from $75 to $85 per person, depending on the boat.

Ride the Free Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry

Ocracoke Island is the southernmost island of the Outer Banks and can only be reached by ferry (or boat.) The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) runs a free ferry from Hatteras Village to Ocracoke Island. The ferry ride is approximately 40 minutes long and departs from the southern tip of Hatteras Village and arrives at the northern tip of Ocracoke Island. Once the ferry docks, it is about 15 miles to the quaint village of Ocracoke. Ferries run daily between 5:00 a.m. and midnight. In the peak season, departures from each location (Hatteras and Ocracoke) are every 30 minutes; in the off season departures are every hour. In the peak season, ferry lines tend to get long, so you will want to plan ahead. Reservations are not available for the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry. For more information, you may contact the NCDOT at (800) BY-FERRY.

Visit the Historic British Cemetery

Located in Ocracoke, the British Cemetery is a memorial cemetery for the crew of the British vessel HMS Bedfordshire. On May 11, 1942, a German submarine torpedoed and sank this 170-foot British ship that had four officers and 33 enlisted soldiers on board. All men on board the ship drowned, and a few days later four of the bodies were found on shore by local U.S. Coast Guard officers. Ocracoke residents gave Britain a 12 by 14 foot section of land next to the Island's cemetery and buried the soldiers there. Today, the cemetery is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard of Ocracoke Island and a ceremony is performed at the Cemetery each year on the anniversary of the deaths of the British sailors.

Feed the Birds on the Beach

There are many species of sea birds that call the shores of the Outer Banks home. They normally eat fish, sea kelp and other interesting things that may wash onshore. One afternoon, buy a couple loaves of bread and head to the beach. There may be only a few birds in sight when you arrive, but throw some bread out to them and watch as the birds multiply in front of your eyes. If you are afraid of birds, you may not want to try this, because they LOVE food and aren't afraid to get too close to you!

Go Fishing on a Private Charter

There are a large variety of inshore and offshore charters located throughout the Outer Banks. For any of the charters, you will want to make reservations at least one month in advance. The cost of private charter day trips range from $400 to $1,300, depending on the size of your group and the boat you choose. Some of the marinas are as follows: Pirate's Cove Yacht Club in Manteo at (800) 367-4728, Thicket Thump Marina in Wanchese at (252) 473-4500, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center on Bodie Island at (800) 272-5199, Hatteras Harbor Marina at (800) 676-4939, Teach's Lair Marina at (252) 986-2460 and Ocracoke Fishing Center at (252) 928-6661.

Go Waterfowl Hunting

In the 1920s, many parts of the Outer Banks were used primarily for waterfowl hunting. Today, people visit the Outer Banks for several different reasons - family reunions, windsurfing, surfing, kiteboarding, research, reporting or simply to just get away from the city for a few days. Though waterfowl hunting is not a primary pastime in the area, some hunters do still visit the Outer Banks to hunt waterfowl. If you prefer to have a hunting guide, you may call Ken Dempsey Guide Services, which is a full-time professional outfitter who has been in the business for 16 years. For complete information on season dates, bag limits and shooting hours, call (800) 675-0263.

Take Your Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle on the Beach

Though there is some controversy over whether it should be allowed or not, you can drive on the beach in many parts of the Outer Banks in designated off-road beach access areas. You will need to have a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle to prevent getting stuck, and you may not go over 25 mph while driving on the beach. Some places don't allow beach driving and some require permits to drive on the beach, so check with the local area officials to make sure you are following the rules. For more information, contact the National Park Service at (252) 473-2111.

View the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

The newest (and smallest) lighthouse on the Outer Banks is the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse on Roanoke Island. This reconstructed lighthouse was opened in 2004 by the Town of Manteo, the North Carolina Maritime Museum and Roanoke Island Festival Park. The structure looks more like a lightkeeper's house than a lighthouse, and is located at the end of the pier on the Manteo Waterfront. The original 1857 screwpile lighthouse of the Croatan Sound was also a cottage built over the water and served as both a beacon and a residence. For more information, contact (252) 475-1500.

Spend the Afternoon at Jockey's Ridge State Park

Jockey's Ridge State Park is home to the East Coast's tallest sand dune that is 1.5 miles long, 100 feet high and consists of 420 acres and is a popular day time destination. Though the park doesn't have any overnight camping facilities, many visitors enjoy the park daily. Visitors come to this park to hike to the top of the dune and enjoy the panoramic ocean and sound views, which are even more beautiful during sunset. Sound side access in the park is a popular place for windsurfers to launch. People also enjoy hang gliding off the dune and flying their kites in this large, open park. For more information, contact the park at (252) 441-7132.