Cottage Station - CR11

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Watch the Charter Boats Come in with Their "Catch of the Day"

The docks around Silver Lake Harbor will be brimming with the day's catch in the afternoon, when the charter boats arrive. You will see tired, sunburned (and happy) fishermen, whistling mates and captains. View a selection of the tuna, wahoo, mackerel, dolphin and other choice catches of the day. Watch the mates clean the day's catch at the fish cleaning station.

Visit the Historic British Cemetery

Located on 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 perished and eventually four of the bodies were found on shore by locals. An Ocracoke resident gave Britain a 12 by 14 foot section of land next to an island cemetery and buried the soldiers there. Today, the cemetery is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. A ceremony is performed onsite each year on the anniversary of the tragedy.

Be a Birdwatcher

Nearly 400 species of birds have been sighted within Cape Hatteras National Seashore and its surrounding waters. This impressive number is due to several factors: a location on the Eastern Flyway, varied habitats and strong winds and storms that often bring exhausted birds to our shores. Birding is always exciting on Ocracoke. Watch for migratory shorebirds at inlet tidal flats. Ocracoke is a wintering ground for tundra swans, Canadian geese and over 25 species of ducks. The National Parks Service Visitor's Center, the Ocracoke library and the Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum offer excellent resources for birders.

Fly a Kite

The Outer Banks are well-known by windsurfers and kiteboarders around the world for awesome wind. Why not take advantage of that same wind and spend an afternoon flying a kite? On most days, finding enough wind to get the kite in the air isn't a problem! The beach is a great place to fly your kite, because it is unobstructed by power lines and trees.

Take Your Four Wheel Drive Vehicle on the Beach

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. Some areas don't allow beach driving and some require permits to drive on the beach in certain seasons, 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 or stop by the National Park Service Visitors Center on Ocracoke.

Go Scuba Diving To View Underwater Shipwrecks and Sea Life

The Outer Banks is otherwise known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the more than 100 shipwrecks that have remains on the ocean floor between Corolla and Ocracoke. Wreckage from these ships is located at various depths in the ocean, and a great way to see them is by going scuba diving.

Tour the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, located in Hatteras Village, was created to preserve the maritime history and shipwrecks of the Outer Banks throughout history. The museum has a unique design with an entrance modeled after the timbers of the many shipwrecks that have happened along the treacherous Hatteras coast. For more information, contact the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum at (252) 986-2995. Conveniently located next to the Hatteras Ferry Terminal, a museum visit can be combined with other Hatteras Island attractions for a day off the island.

Enjoy an Al Fresco Waterfront Dinner

Ocracoke has a number of waterfront dining options where you can sit outdoors and enjoy a lovely breeze off the sound and maybe some live music, too! What could be better than enjoying a cool beverage and a delicious meal as you watch the boats coming in to the harbor for the evening and the watercolor sky lit up with a brilliant sunset. A walk through the heart of the village reveals several waterfront dining options along the shores of Silver Lake Harbor.

Check Out the Community Bulletin Boards

Looking for the inside "scoop" about what's happening on the island? Check local bulletin boards at the Community Store (on the harbor), The Variety Store, the Post Office, or the gas station all located on Highway 12. You will find notices about everything from dances to yard sales to potluck dinners. Catch up on local birth and birthday announcements!

Make a Friend, Talk To a Local

Strike up a conversation with a local, especially an older one, and you might be surprised how much you can learn about the island. Also known as Ocockers, the native islanders are a tight knit bunch. There is a real sense of community on Ocracoke. You're sure to notice the Ocracoke "brogue," the famous local dialect that has evolved over the past 250 years. Sit for a spell and let a real Ococker tell you about some of the historical and cultural lore of Ocracoke.