Outer Banks - North Carolina (Photo Essay)

The Outer Banks of North Carolina... specifically Nags Head. We visited here a few years ago on a family vacation after my dad came through chemo for stage four cancer and was doing much better, I wanted my boys to spend some quality time with their grandfather. The Outer Banks will always hold very special memories for me. I would like to share a few of them with you. This will be the first of a series of photo essays.

 We will travel down NC 12 from Nags Head. Along the way, we stop to take in the beautiful sand dunes. The boys had so much fun trying to climb up and over these dunes to get to the ocean.

 It was worth the climb, for on the other side is a secluded and quiet beach.

After enjoying the beach we head further south to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

 I never imagined the lighthouse being so tall! We got here late, so we didn't climb to the top. Which I am told is quite the endeavour.

It was time to travel just a bit further to the Ocracoke Ferry. Ocracoke Island is the southern most tip of the outer banks in NC and only accessible by air or boat. This was so much fun! Our first time on a ferry. I recommend it to all who travel to this area.

 Hold onto your hats though! It does get very windy, especially when you enter the area where the Atlantic Ocean joins with the Pamlico Sound.

After departing the ferry, we continue on our way down NC 12 to the "pony pen". This is the area where you can view the few remaining horses that Ocracoke Island is famous for. Most of Ocracoke's horses lived their entire lives running wild, breeding at will, only deliberately handled by humans during the annual pony pennings. The ponies would often wander into town, looking for handouts. They would intrude into gardens and devour the vegetables if the gates were left open. Occasionally a herd would stampede through town. Not much of their wild herritage is apparent today. But they were still very beautiful horses!

At the far end of the island you come to the town of Ocracoke. It is an old-world village with lots of little shops to visit. There is also another lighthouse located within the village.

This lighthouse was built in 1823 and is the oldest active lighthouse in North Carolina. If you want to visit here, you'll have to look closely for it -- it is tucked away on a side street within the village. 

After our long trip to the southern tip of the outer banks, it is time to head back. So it's back to the ferry and then another hours drive back up to Nags Head. But definitely worth the drive. This is a beautiful area and a MUST SEE!

I hope you have enjoyed this trip. Please be sure to check back soon for my next photo essay on the outer banks area. :)