Exploring Dr. Beach's #1 Beach in America for 2007

As some of y'all may know, there is a gentleman on the Travel Channel, Stephen Leatherman (aka "Dr. Beach"), who ranks the top US beaches every year. Well, believe it or not, last year he ranked Ocracoke Island as the Number 1 beach in America. Wow. Quite the accomplishment for a little island with 800 year round residents and only accessible via ferry.

So, we went to go check it out ourselves; and were pleasantly surprised. It is a quaint little fishing community with an art problem. Yes, there are a bunch of little art galleries and shops that have everything from fine art to kitchy t-shirts and salt water taffy.

For us, no visit is complete to a barrier island until we check out the local lighthouse. And, after viewing Cape Lookout's tall statuesque structure, Ocracoke Light Station seemed well, stumpy. What it lacks in stature, it more than makes up for in history. In fact, the Ocracoke Light Station is the second oldest operating lighthouse in the United States. Can you guess which one is the oldest operating lighthouse in the US? Somewhere else in NC perhaps? Nope. That distinction belongs to the lighthouse in Sandy Hook, NJ (of all places).

Ocracoke Inlet didn't even grace a map until English explores wrecked a sailing ship there in 1585. Unfortunately, it took a couple of more centuries until a permanent lighthouse was established. In 1822, Massachusetts builder, Noah Porter, started construction on the Ocracoke Light Station. Finished the following year, the final structure stood only 77 feet, 5 inches high with a beam range of 14 miles. What is amazing about this structure (besides the fact that it came in way, way under budget), is that the walls are five feet thick at the base and taper to approximately two feet thick at the top. It isn't until you go into the building that you notice the thickness on the side facing the water/inlet is thicker than the island facing side. Noah was known to be a bit peculiar.

With its higher elevation and proximity to Ocracoke Village, the lighthouse often served as a refuge for local residents during hurricanes, Nor'easter and any other storms that brought about flooding. Today, the lighthouse is fully automated and the keepers quarters are a private home.

Want to know more about our trip to Ocracoke? Well, you'll just have to wait until later this week. Then, I'll talk about skeeters and 4x4'ing on the beach.