Located on North Carolina's Outer Banks, Ocracoke is a part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The National Park Service owns all of the Island except for the 1000 acres that comprise the original village. For 13 continuous miles, the island's dunes and marshlands are untouched and the pristine beaches earned the distinction of #1 on the 2007 list of Top Beaches (compiled by Stephen Leatherman, a Florida International University coastal geologist who rates beaches nationwide,www.drbeach.org/drbeach/).

Accessible only by water or air, the relative isolation has spared the development that plagues so many beach towns. You can park your car for the week and walk, bicycle or paddle everywhere you need to go. Home to about 800 year-round residents, the Ocracoke community was established in the early 1700s by people of British descent and has remained relatively isolated from the mainland.

The speed limit in the village is 20-25 mph and in some areas you will have to slow down even more. Pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles all share the road, so be considerate. Bicycles are expected to ride on the right. In the summer, there can be congestion on Highway 12, but have patience. Ocracoke traffic jams do not last long.