On the eastern edge of the state, our barrier islands are shaped and reshaped by the whims of wind and water, and people who put down roots on these changing lands continue to adapt.
ocracoke
14 Homegrown Fruit Festivals
Celebrate a bounty of berries, melons, peaches, figs, muscadines, and apples at fun North Carolina festivals from mountains to coast.
The Beach Road: A Stop-by-Stop Guide to Exploring NC Highway 12
From its northernmost point in Corolla to its southern terminus on Cedar Island, this scenic byway — bound between sound and sea — links the islands and communities of the Outer Banks.
Framing the Outer Banks
How Aycock Brown, a charismatic storyteller with an eye for detail, transformed North Carolina’s quiet barrier islands into a national destination, but preserved their local charm.
A Pirate’s Life
In North Carolina, the Atlantic’s most notorious buccaneers — from the fearsome Blackbeard to the “gentleman pirate” Stede Bonnet — left behind an aura of mystery and a spirit of daring and adventure.
Fall Festivities
Cool weather, autumn harvests, and colorful leaves: In North Carolina, there are plenty of reasons — and opportunities — to celebrate this time of year.
North Carolina’s Hidden Cemeteries
Although North Carolina is home to 175 public cemeteries, thousands of other burial grounds shelter fragments of history. Sometimes celebrated but often forgotten, their beauty and their stories wait to be discovered.
Our State Knows Best: Figs
We talked to three North Carolina fig fanatics about the fleeting fruit’s celebrated history and heritage on Ocracoke Island, how to grow your own across the state, and their favorite way to eat them — from cake to biscuits.
Home Ports: North Carolina’s Boat Towns
Our boat towns are beloved by sailors and powerboaters, cruisers and trawlers. And the best part of all: Every one of these classic boat towns is just as hospitable to folks who don’t know port from starboard. Welcome aboard.
