Fireworks update and answers to questions

UPDATE: the fireworks on July 4th will be shot off from the beach (near ramp 70) rather than near the harbor. "Why" is a long story with many boring details that you don't want to know but trust me when I say that many people worked long and hard to attempt to keep the fireworks in the village/near the harbor, to no avail. There was, briefly, a possibility that there would not be fireworks at all, so I don't want to hear any complaining... :)

A reader posted several questions pertaining to visiting the island. I thought this info. might be useful for a larger audience, so I'll try to answer the questions here.

Information about places to stay (hotels/motels/B&Bs/cottage rentals) is available here.

There are many things to do on the island. Here are just a few ideas:
- parasail
- rent a bike, scooter, or electric car and ride around the village, visiting shops and other points of interest
- rent a jetski and zip around on the surrounding waters
- enjoy the water at a slower, quieter pace in a kayak
- visit the Lighthouse, the British Cemetery, and the OPS Museum
- go fishing (surf fishing, gulf stream, sound, inlet, offshore wreck, etc.)
- go on a ghost and history walk (Tues. and Fri. nights)
- see a music show at Deepwater Theater (Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Fri. nights)
- take a pirate cruise or a sunset sail on the Schooner Windfall
- go exploring and/or shelling on nearby Portsmouth Island
- learn to surf
More info. and ideas, and links to some of the above mentioned activities are available here.

The "best" seafood is of course a personal opinion. I will say that all of the restaurants on the island serve fresh seafood, most of it caught right around here. There's a list of most of the island restaurants here.

The best attraction is also a personal opinion. My vote is for the lighthouse, or the beach itself, but you may prefer something else. Ocracoke is a great place to explore and see what you find.

The best route to catch a ferry depends on what direction you are coming from. Generally, from points south, your best option is Cedar Island. From points west, it's Swan Quarter or Hatteras; and from points north, Hatteras. A ride on either the Cedar Island or Swan Quarter ferry will cost $15 (for a regular car not towing anything), and reservations are strongly recommended (this time of year, especially). Call 1-800-BY-FERRY or visit the NC DOT Ferry website for more information.

Hope that helps. Enjoy your vacation!