Cape Hatteras National Seashore
When visiting the Outer Banks, most people come for the dining, golf, shopping and other fun activities. While all those activities can keep you busy your entire stay, you should make time to check out the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This section of land stretches 70 miles from South Nags Head to Ocracoke Inlet, covering more than 30,000 acres.
The first designated National Seashore in the country offers more to do at a fraction of the cost of other activities. Spending a week on the seashore would not be enough time to experience it in its entirety. There is no fee to enter the park which is open everyday except for Christmas Day. Strolling the white sand beaches bird watching and enjoying the scenery is complimentary.
There are fees for some activities such as a guided lighthouse tour, reserving a campground or docking your boat. The fees are nominal and this shouldn’t stop you from enjoying all activities that the park has to offer. Activities include camping, bird watching, lighthouse tours and more. If you plan in camping you should make plans to arrive at the camp site early, as most do not take reservations. They are on a first come first serve basis. Depending on which location you choose, camp fees range from $4 per person per night, or flat rates of up to $20 per night. More information about campgrounds and fees can be found here:
http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
One of the best ways to enjoy this National Seashore is by brining your own boat. This can give you the freedom to explore at your own pace and enjoy the activities on the water that interest you most. Dock service is available at Silver Lake on Ocracoke Island. Rates are as follows:
$1.25 per boat foot/day, cap at 80 feet or $80/day
$3 per day - 110 volt electric service
$5 per day - 220 volt electric service
-Winter Rates (no electric service available):
60¢ per boat foot/day, cap at 80 feet or $40/day
Another favorite activity to enjoy is climbing the stairs of the Cape Hatteras Light House. The light house is rich in history and a great day activitiy. Fees are $3.50 for children under 12 and seniors 62 and older, $7 for adults, or $3.50 for those with a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior or Access pass.
Labels: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Lighthouses, OBX
Warm Up Your Winter in the Outer Banks
Winters in the Outer Banks of North Carolina are filled with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-50s. The Atlantic coast breezes may bring the occasional rain shower, but during the off-season winter months you can find excellent deals on places to stay. Winter is a time when you can truly have the Outer Banks all to yourself.
There is always something to do in the Outer Banks during the summer and winter offers plenty of sights and activities as well. North Carolina is home to some of the East Coast’s most beautiful nature preserves, such as the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods, and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Among the other sights is the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla, which is also home to the historic Whalehead Club. There is the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which commemorates the birthplace of flight, Jockey's Ridge State Park, home to the East Coast's tallest sand dunes, and the Elizabethan Gardens, a living memorial to the lost colonists of Roanoke.
For amazing natural drama, there are few landscapes in the Outer Banks as impressive as that of Hatteras Island, part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The peaceful, rugged beauty of Cape Hatteras is most striking during the winter, when the coastline is empty of the summer vacationers.
During the quiet winter months you can experience the warmth of the Outer Banks as you spend time enjoying the local treasures, all without the hustle, bustle, and heat of summer.
Labels: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Elizabethan Gardens, Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head Woods, Outer Banks Activities, Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, Whalehead Club, Winter
ORV Agreement Reached
The issue of Off-road vehicles on Cape Hatteras National Seashore has been a hot topic lately. Check out the
April 14th blog about it. Well, the time has come and a ruling has been handed down on the matter by Judge Terrence Boyle.
This past Wednesday, April 30, 2008, Judge Boyle ruled to accept the proposed consent decree that places limitations on ORV access and beach driving on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The consent decree was proposed to the judge by attorneys from both sides of the issue. The proposal was a compromise between the two parties.
By accepting the consent decree; the lawsuit brought forth by two environmental groups against the National Parks Service has been dropped. The decree is not a long term plan and states that a long term off-road vehicle plan must be implemented by April of 2011. The National Parks Service along with Dare and Hyde counties argued that closing the beaches will have a negative local economic impact while the 2 environmental groups argued that the National Parks Service was not doing enough to protect the birds, sea turtles, and other natural resources from the impact off ORV’s on the beach.
The interim ORV management plan calls for the National Parks Service to take prompt action to deal with the diminishing populations of nesting shorebirds and water birds, provide proper protection to the threatened piping plover and provide additional protection to the various species of sea turtles. The proposal also called for public education of beach driving and the protection of local resources while still providing the opportunity for ORV’s and pedestrian access to the beach.
It seems like this ruling found some middle ground on the issue that should help both sides to keep working together toward a more permanent solution. At least for now locals and tourists will still be able to enjoy off-roading on the beach, but will do so with more caution and restrictions. We’ll keep you updated on any pertinent information.
Labels: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, National Parks Service
