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Take a Photography Adventure with Your Camera

Instead of purchasing postcards to take home with you as souvenirs of your Ocracoke vacation, take a photography adventure with your own camera. Whether you choose to photograph the lighthouse, different species of birds, sunrises and sunsets, historic homes, boats or any of the other many highlights of Ocracoke, the natural beauty is sure to come through in your photographs. You can take your original photographs home and show them to all of your friends, or frame them and hang them in your home or office so you will always have a reminder of your stay!

Get a Beach Family Portrait

The picture perfect backdrop of Ocracoke's beaches provide the ideal setting for a family portrait. The Atlantic Ocean's jeweled tones against soft, light sand with dune grasses and sea oats waving behind you ... can't you just see it? There are several Ocracoke photographers available to capture that special portrait of family or friends.

Stargaze

Did you know that Ocracoke has no traffic lights, no billboards, minimal traffic and very few public exterior lights (streets can be dark!). With minimal light pollution and very little air pollution, Ocracoke is the ideal place for stargazing. Whether you are on the beach under a clear night sky or on your deck, there will be nothing between you and the heavens. You'll be amazed at what you see. Ocracoke is a great place to bring your telescope or a star chart with you on vacation!

Send Ocracoke Postcards To Your Friends and Family

Are you the lucky one among your friends and family who got to take a trip to Ocracoke this year? Take an hour of your precious vacation time and send postcard notes to your loved ones. There are beautiful postcards sold at almost any local gift shop, gallery or grocery store and they are very affordable. Let them know you are thinking about them and that you wish they could be visiting Ocracoke with you. If they can see a postcard of how beautiful it is, maybe you can persuade them to come along with you on your next vacation!

Go Swimming in the Ocean

A favorite pastime of Ocracoke visitors is going swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. Ocracoke has one Lifeguarded Beach. It is the most popular of Ocracoke's beaches. The Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach was named the Number One Beach on Dr. Beach's annual America's Best Beaches list of 2007. This beach offers public restrooms and showers, ample parking and a wooden boardwalk leading over the dunes and onto the beach. Even experienced swimmers should check with the lifeguards for information on water conditions. Educate yourself about dangerous rip currents at www.EenaProject.com.

Build a Sandcastle

Plan an afternoon to go to the beach and build a sandcastle. You could have your own family sandcastle contest. No matter how the sandcastles turn out, you are sure to have fun! If you are staying on Ocracoke on July 4th, join the Sand Castle Contest or stop by for some inspiration.

Catch a Wave Surfing in the Outer Banks Ocean Waters

Because the Outer Banks are set farther into the ocean with deeper waters than most other coastal regions, the surf of the Outer Banks is said to have the best breaks on the East Coast. The various shipwrecks and sandbars also create unusual wave patterns for the thousands of surfers who come to the area each year to ride the waves. As with any activity in the ocean, always go with a friend and be aware of water, weather and beach conditions. Educate yourself about rip currents by visiting www.EenaProject.com.

Visit the Horses at the Ocracoke Pony Pens

Housed in a 180-acre pasture located just off Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island, the horses that live in the Ocracoke Pony Pens are a popular attraction. Maintained by the National Park Service, the once wild horses are a large part of the island's history. In the past, the herd of wild horses ranged from 200 to 500. Much like the Corolla Wild Horses, it is believed that these horses arrived on Ocracoke by swimming ashore from Spanish shipwrecks off the coast. When you make your trip to Ocracoke Island, don't forget to stop and visit the Ocracoke Pony Pens!

Go Beachcombing For Shells

Beachcombing for shells, also called shelling, on the beaches of Ocracoke is an activity enjoyed by all. The best times to look for shells are after a high tide, after a storm, in the morning and during the winter months. When picking up shells from the sand, make sure you check first to make sure nothing is still alive inside the shell. If the shell you choose is still home to a live sea creature, set it back in the sand and keep searching.

Loosen Up with a Yoga Class

Yoga means union of the body, mind and spirit. Stretching, moving and strengthening the body helps to quiet the mind and ease emotional and physical tension. All classes are located at Deepwater Theater on School Road. To unwind, call (252) 921-0182.