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Published: October 28th 2013
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Ocracock Lighthouse
That's a "double" keeper's cottage! So glad we got here during the off season. Parking is a bit of a problem. Frisco Woods campground on North Carolina’s Outer Banks is quite a find. We’ve learned that staying on the bay side is great for sunsets and views. The beach outside our window was a haven for surfboarders and kite wind surfers. Most of our fellow campers are in the Outer Banks for the fishing. On this trip we focused on the southern part of the Banks - Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras, and Ocracoke.
Buxton is home to a fabulous restaurant, Rusty’s Surf & Turf. Chef / Owner Rusty, a home town boy and a surfer brings a bit of Pacific Rim, Carrib, and Mexico to his menu. Wes had the BEST Shrimp & Grits; I had the BEST Fish Taco; and we both had perfect martinis. The décor is island “colorful” and the walls are awash with the work of local artists. We shopped at Conner’s Market in Buxton which is likely the largest and ONLY full service market within many miles. Island life means a bit of a reduction of services we take for granted – like supermarkets, chain pharmacies, and nail salons. The tradeoff is worth it. Commerce on the Banks consists of hospitality industry enterprises, fishing, wind
Glasses
Just love these one of a kind cocktail glasses at Frisco Art Center!
surfing and art. We passed a secondary school with a “marine arts” theme. We were here in mid-October and many of the restaurants and attractions were already closed or on off-season hours. Year round residents are few and far between.
In Frisco we did a bit of shopping at the Frisco Art Center Gift Shop & Gallery where scores of North Carolina and “Coastal” artists are represented. Our server at the Quarter Deck Restaurant was a life –long Outer Banks resident who headed up a winning team of surf fisherwomen catching “puppy drum” at a recent Nag’s Head Tournament. The seafood at the Quarter Deck was fresh and delicious – scallops for Wes and fried oysters for me.
You’ll find the softest, whitest sand and beautiful dunes planted (by Mother Nature) with tall sea oats on Outer Banks beaches. Access seems easy and parking seems free. Since we pull a Jeep, WES inquired about “4 X 4ing” on the beaches of the National Sea Shore. We didn’t go for the $50 seven day fee; but it’s a fun consideration if we planned a longer stay.
Before getting in line for the
RV Near Wind Surf
The Frisco Woods Campsite is ideal for wind surfers AND we who like to watch them. ferry at Hatteras, we visited the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” Museum! It was one of those wonderful surprises that we knew little about before our visit. The building is squarish and huge; the amazing feature is that the entrance side has a sort of a pergola that is shaped like the ribs of an old wooden ship. The collection is an amazing array of artifacts and story boards about the more than 2,000 shipwrecks that lie of the coast of the Outer Banks. Histories of heroic rescues are especially compelling. Information about pirates, related businesses like fishing and net weaving, the Civil War, and the Underground Railroad come together here. There is also one of the nicest museum gift shops- Meekins Chandlery – that we’ve ever met up with.
The ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke is free. We took it for a day trip with just the Jeep, stopping to see the wild horses of the Outer Banks, descendants of Spanish Mustangs which survived shipwrecks dating from as early as 1523. There is a working lighthouse, nice harbor, scenic marinas, many galleries, gift shops, inns and restaurants. We enjoyed steamed shrimp and raw oysters at “Topless Oysters”
We fit!
The RV fit fine on the free ferry from Hatteras to Ocracock! before heading back to Hatteras on the free ferry.
On our way off the “Banks” we took the ferry again, this time with the RV pulling the Jeep. We dry camped at a National Park Service Campground on the dunes at Ocracoke. Huge, beautiful beach, lovely dunes, and only $11.50 a night for us because we have the National Parks Senior Discount Card (half price for us at a number of National Park facilities and museums). Ocracoke National Park Camp Ground is very worthwhile despite presence of tiny little burdock prickers which cling to clothing, shoe laces, tires, and just about everything else. We’re picking them off the floor of the RV and keeping our shoes on until we get to where we can pull out the vacuum.
The only way to get to or from Ocracoke is by boat or plane. We took the 10am Ferry to Cedar Island ($45 one way) and headed for a KOA near Wilmington, NC. So glad we called KOA in the morning; we took the last site! The close to 3 hour ferry ride had us rockin’ and rollin’ a bit as we crossed Pamlico Sound. No
Pier For Sale
This formerly fun spot had an accident with one of the hurricanes!
restaurant aboard; but surprise, surprise, WIFI all the way!
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Miss Chris
Christine S
Great Ideas
I've worked in this area before but didn't take the time to visit the areas here. I'll be sure to visit the museum especially the next time. Thanks for the hints.