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Blue Heron Vacations Blog

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

A few things about Ocracoke Island

The Ocracoke Island lifestyle somewhat defies explanation. Usual adjectives don't quite get their arms around the state of mind that is Ocracoke Island.I am not a native of the island. My family has been coming here since the 50's and has had a home here since the 70's, so I'm definitely not a tourist either. I fall somewhere in the middle: a local I guess. I was baptized on this little island in the Atlantic Ocean across from the Ocracoke Pony Pen when I was 6 months old. Old Lawton Howard gave me a dollar (Lawton was a wonderful Ocracoke native who gave each Ocracoke baby a dollar; he has since passed away). The water must have gotten in my blood - I am never happier than when I first get off the ferry. It is as if the weight of the world is lifted off my shoulders and I can finally breathe again!Now, Ocracoke is not a perfect place by any stretch of the imagination. And this is coming from someone who considers it their personal paradise. It is not meant for everyone.We have no mini golf courses here. The nearest strip mall, large grocery story, or movie theatre is at least an hour and a half away, and for the most part we could care less. Distance is distorted: it is a "long way" from Howard's Pub to my house out in Oyster Creek (distance: 1.1 miles), yet we think absolutely nothing of making an entire day or even 2 day trip up the beach or to the mainland to go grocery and essentials shopping. Big wigs and people living pay check to pay check belly up to the same bar without the slightest hesitation or recognition of their social differences.I work in an up and coming real estate office here on the island, Ocracoke’s Blue Heron Realty, so I deal with a lot of people thinking about coming to Ocracoke. I get all kinds of emails that to me seem absolutely ridiculous - this morning, I got one with a request for a 3-4 bedroom house on the beach with a pool, close to a golf course.I replied (very cordially too!) that we did not have any houses on the beach, that there were no golf courses on the island because everything that is not built on or kept privately is conserved.
For anyone who has never been to Ocracoke Island: it is a spit of land about 13 miles long on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, narrow all the way down the beach (think about a 1/2 mile or so wide) until you come to the village. The village has expanded over the years, but has reached its boundaries at approximately 1 square mile.

There are no (that’s zero!) buildings on the beach - no houses, no restaurants, no board walk. That is why we were named #1 beach in 2007 by Dr. Beach...because our beach is freaking sweet and not jammed with people who want to savor anything more than just the sand, sun and waves. Here you can’t find amusement parks only 10 feet from the Atlantic. This often seems to be a difficult point for some big city types to grasp - why, I do not know.

The beauty of the beach is that you can get on it at any point, walk for 5 minutes, and have your own personal beach.

People pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for private beaches all over the world - here; you can have one for free. Enjoy it!!

posted by Blue Heron Vacations at 5:48 PM

11 Comments:

Blogger poki said...

I visited your wonderful beach in May 2008 and can't wait to come back for a week in May 2009. I love to walk on an uncrowded beach and just watch the waves. No beach house or swimming pool needed. I want to hear, feel, touch, taste and smell the salt air, and I can't think of a better place than Ocracoke, NC

February 19, 2009 at 12:52 AM  
Blogger Joe said...

So my first visit to Okracoke was by helicopter, came in to medevac a patient by air to Pitt/Greenville Hospital. Coming on short final to "the runway", nothing but sand dunes, riding in the ambulance to the clinic, nothing but barefoot people and unassuming homes, shops, and restaurants, at the clinic, nothing but nice, nice people, especially our patient. So my second visit will be in August with my family...we can hardly wait. Thank you for keeping the island and the beach as you have.

May 26, 2009 at 2:48 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

woohoo i m excited to come..!!

last year i went to TUSCANY Italy through TUSCAN WAY ( www.tuscanway.com ). So much great food, so much amazing wine, and memories I will remember forever.

btw thanks to your blog

November 10, 2009 at 9:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anytime I read a travel piece I am ready to book a ticket. I'm such a sucker for any cultural experience. Sounds amazing! I've done Europe, much of Asia, and North Africa. Hands down my favorite trip was a food and wine tour to Tuscany. Really had the time of my life and it's like every local is there to help you enjoy. Next trip you should check it out.

November 16, 2009 at 8:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think I am going to join the ranks of the ex-pat crowd. I recently went on an amazing Tuscany wine tour and was just blown away. Imagine drinking wine in the exact vineyard that the grapes come from. All while surrounded by the freshest and most delicious Italian cooking on Earth. Now I’m back at work and every time I close my eyes I can see, smell, and taste the vineyards of Tuscany. Ciao!

November 23, 2009 at 10:39 AM  
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January 13, 2010 at 3:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anytime I read a travel piece I am ready to book a ticket. I'm such a sucker for any cultural experience. Sounds amazing! I've done Europe, much of Asia, and North Africa. Hands down my favorite trip was a food and wine tour to Tuscany. Really had the time of my life and it's like every local is there to help you enjoy. Next trip you should check it out.

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June 5, 2010 at 8:14 AM  
Blogger Blogger said...

Thanks for sharing this travel guide about Ocracoke, if you want to taj mahal in night then overnight agra tour is best tour package for you.

August 14, 2018 at 8:36 AM  
Blogger Blogger said...

Really an Amazing place to visit, there are many facts we can see in this island like To get to Ocracoke Islands, visitors must take a North Carolina state-run ferry. Visitors can arrive from the south via the Hatteras Island / Ocracoke ferry, Cheap Hotel Rooms In Agra

August 16, 2018 at 7:28 AM  

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Name: Blue Heron Vacations
Location: Ocracoke, NC, United States

I grew up on Ocracoke (Class of 1990!) and graduated from Davidson College. Jennifer, who many of you know as the owner of Blue Heron Realty, has been a great and true friend for as long as I can remember. I work as a waitress at the Cafe Atlantic, serve on the board of our community radio station (check out WOVV.org) and write an occasional column for the Island Breeze. Every time I travel I fall in love with a new place, but nothing yet trumps living near my (at times eccentric) family, swimming in the Atlantic on our world class beach, and being part of the strong, warm and inspiring community which is Ocracoke.

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