Help us get away.

October 1, 2010 6:14 AM

So the 7 months pregnant lady and I wish to travel to the Outer Banks area (specifically Ocracoke, if possible.) Looking for your experiences, recommendations, etc.

That pretty well says it. We'll have somewhere between 3-5 days to actually be there. We'd like to see as much as possible, eat as much as possible, and I'd like to try to catch some fish. (I know nothing of the Atlantic.)

We'd like to actually stay on the island, although really anywhere along that stretch is ideal. We are not big fans of dense development, shopping, or the normal tourist crud. We're hoping to spend some fairly remote, fairly romantic time together before Baby Melee comes along.

So...where to stay? Where to eat? We are budget conscious, but willing to spend some cash.

posted by TomMelee to Travel & Transportation around Ocracoke, NC (13 answers total)

Response by poster: Failed to mention: We would be going as early as two weeks from today.
posted by TomMelee at 6:25 AM on October 1, 2010

Best answer: I've only been that far out on the Outer Banks once, but I can recommend the Island Perks Cafe on Hatteras for breakfast. The cinnamon rolls are amazing.
posted by something something at 6:43 AM on October 1, 2010

Best answer: A friend of mine recently took a last minute trip to Ocracoke for a week. It was the peak of the season and she had no trouble finding a place to stay there (even had a kitchenette in it) or restaurants (she raved that despite the tiny size of the island, you can find someplace to eat at all hours). The one thing that probably wouldn't work for your wife is that my friend and her boyfriend traveled by bicycle while on the island. But I'm pretty sure you can rent a golf cart to get around in.
posted by amro at 6:57 AM on October 1, 2010

Best answer: Take a look at staying in or around Buxton (on Hatteras Island) if Ocracoke isn't available. The drive down to the Ocracoke ferry is brief, and there's a great bait/tackle/watersports shop there called the Red Drum who can get you outfitted and good to go for surf fishing, pier fishing (good fishing piers in Avon), or however you'd like to go.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 7:13 AM on October 1, 2010

Best answer: We enjoyed our stay at Edwards of Ocracoke.
posted by exogenous at 7:31 AM on October 1, 2010

Response by poster: Now I'm hearing static from friends that we should be looking at Hatteras instead, and just ride the ferry across if/when we want to go to Ocracoke.

Any opinions there?

I'm frantically googling all your responses. :)
posted by TomMelee at 7:36 AM on October 1, 2010

Best answer: Ocracoke certainly lacks the dense development and shopping. I don't think I saw a single chain store there. I've never been to Hatteras so can't compare.
posted by exogenous at 7:45 AM on October 1, 2010

Best answer: What are you looking for? Ocracoke is relaxed, fairly empty, and slow-paced, but there are certainly things to do. Hatteras Island has some nice spots but also has a strip-mall feel to it in many places. When my wife and I lived in the area, we'd go to Hatteras for day trips, but when we wanted to get away for a relaxing vacation we'd either head north to Currituck or out to Ocracoke.
posted by caution live frogs at 7:54 AM on October 1, 2010

Response by poster: She's pregnant enough at this point (she's fairly petite) that her bursts of real activity are limited to maybe 4 hours or so. She's fine to be awake and alert all day, but a lot of walking really wears her down fast. So...relaxing, eating as much food as possible. I figure she'll nap a lot. I'm hoping to take the surf rod out for a few hours.

I've found several sub $500 weekly rentals on Hatteras that look promising (sort of secluded), but that Edwards of Ocracoke looks great too (although maybe better for fishing with buddies next year...)
posted by TomMelee at 8:21 AM on October 1, 2010

Best answer: Ocracoke is more than worth the ferry trip, and I greatly prefer it over most stops on Hatteras. I highly encourage you to head there and soak up the laid-back environs, local shops, many great restaurants, and small-town atmosphere. This is practically the perfect time to go, and day-tripping won't do it justice, especially if you just want to max out on your relaxation.

Good food can be found at Thai Moon (highly recommended, a tiny take-out spot that makes some of the best Thai food I've had), Cafe Atlantic (more upscale), and Fig Tree Bakery. Howards Pub is something of a fixture on the island, and the food is surprisingly good. Ocracoke Coffee has terrific smoothies and free wi-fi.

We've gone fishing a few times with Capt John Ferrara's Fish Tale charter and always come back with a big fish dinner's worth.
posted by itstheclamsname at 10:05 AM on October 1, 2010

Best answer: Also, although most cottages on the island are week-long rentals, you can call the two main rental outfits (Ocracoke Island Realty and Blue Heron Realty) and see if they can hook you up with a cottage for a shorter stay. We had friends stay at Edwards of Ocracoke last year, and the accommodations were nice. Not deluxe, but comfy beach-cottagey and pleasant.

I've been going to Ocracoke annually for most the last 30 years, so feel free to mefi mail me if you want more info.
posted by itstheclamsname at 10:19 AM on October 1, 2010

Ocracoke is the devil's island, and I can't imagine a more terrible place. Nag's Head is worlds more pleasant and affordable, and a hell of a lot easier to get to.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 10:32 AM on October 1, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks everyone. House is rented, captain John has been emailed, looking forward to getting away for a week. The only bad part is that I didn't realize that Hatteras has fishing as good as it seems to...dammit...I know I'm not going to be able to spend as much time with a line in the water as I will want to. Surely we'll have space in the car for the 12' surf rod, no?
posted by TomMelee at 7:01 PM on October 2, 2010