After months of saving, planning, and packing, you're finally ready to embark on your vacation to North Carolina's beautiful Outer Banks. You have the itinerary memorized - days and day of play on the beach, with maybe an excursion to the Currituck Beach lighthouse or the Wright Brothers memorial in Kitty Hawk. The trip promises to be wonderful, but if you are a fan of the grape it could be enhanced with tours of area wineries.
Yes, wine is made in the Outer Banks. One might never expect this area to be associated with good wine, but if you plan ahead you will be able not only to enlighten your palate during a vineyard tour, but perhaps join the locals and other wine aficianados for an evening of tasting, food, and fun. Consider these additional stops on your tour of the Outer Banks.
Moonrise Bay Winery
Set against the calm waters of the bay in Knotts Island, Moonrise Bay has produced a number of tasty vintages since the turn of the century. Here visitors are offered a selection of dry reds and whites, and sweet whites from the ever popular Muscadine. Among the wines available are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Norton, Syrah, Chambourcin, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Tours run daily from noon to five, or by special appointment.
Sanctuary Vineyards
If you are visiting from out of state, best to buy your Sanctuary wine here, as they only ship to North Carolina and Virginia. Sanctuary not only offers wine from other area vineyards, but also sells unique blends under their own label. If you enjoy full-bodied blended reds with a peppery finish, or perhaps a semi-dry combination of Chardonnay and Sangiovese with a sweet finish, find sanctuary in a tour of this vineyard.
Martin Vineyards
The sandy soil of Knotts Island produces great wine, and at Martin Vineyards one will find acres of Muscadines waiting to be picked. In addition to a variety of dry and sweet table wines, guests at the vineyard may also pick seasonal fruits from the surrounding orchards. July is especially welcoming, since the vineyards hosts the annual Knotts Island Peach Festival. Bring the family for a picnic by the sea.
Mother Vineyard
Like a bit of mystery with your wine? Well, more than likely you won't find anything to sample at the Mother Vineyard, because the vines are on private property, yet visitors flock to this area near Manteo anyway if only to catch a glimpse of the oldest grapevines in North Carolina. It isn't known who planted these vines, believed to be over 400 years old, but the sheer enormity and thickness of the vines (to say nothing of the sweet Muscadine grapes growing from them) always leaves visitors in awe, and thirsty!
A vacation in the Outer Banks is wonderful, yet one enhanced by tours of area wineries adds a sweetness one is certain to savor.
Ocracoke can only be reached in two ways, by air or by sea. If you're booking Outer Banks vacation rentals there, I strongly recommend taking a ferry, as the first method is only available via private plane and is quite costly. There are three ferries available for public transportation. One of them is free and connects the island on the north side to the largest island in the Outer Banks, Hatteras Island. The other two ferries run between the island and Swan Quarter on the mainland and Cedar Island, which is not part of the Outer Banks. Highway NC 12 runs the length of the island, and the Ocracoke Island Airport is just outside of Ocracoke village. It is not a commercial facility, and is only used for small private planes to fly in and out.
Possibly one of the most fascinating features of the island is a cemetery that is the only non-embassy plot of land in the United States owned by another country's government. It's a cemetery for British sailors from WWII, and it flies the British flag 365 days per year. It is owned by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is a commission run by several governments that is located in the UK. The cemetery contains the remains of British sailors that fell victim to German submarines during World War II, particularly from the HMT Bedfordshire. The memorial park is officially a British cemetery, and as long as it remains such the land will be owned by the UK. If you're getting Outer Banks vacation rentals in Ocracoke, be sure to visit this fascinating location.
Ocracoke village is located near Silver Lake Harbor. The village is sited at the widest point of the island, with sand dunes on to the east and a marshland to the west. The average elevation of the island is only five feet above sea level. Knowing this, you'll realize why most of the buildings on the island are built up on posts instead of on ground-level foundations. North America's second oldest lighthouse, Ocracoke Lighthouse, is to be found near Silver Lake and is well worth a visit if your Outer Banks vacation rentals are close.
If you're expecting a large business center, you might want to look to another place. The commercial areas on the island subsist almost solely on tourism. The stable population is said to be around 700, with most of the island closing down in the winter. During the warm months, you'll find bars, restaurants, and lots of small shops and other businesses open. And don't expect to find your favorite chain restaurant or clothing store while you're there - every establishment is locally owned and operated.
You can expect excellent beaches when staying at Outer Banks vacation rentals. In 2007 they were ranked as America's Best Beach, and it has always hovered near the top 5.
If you're a Civil War buff, you'll be pleased to know that Fort Ocracoke is also a local feature. It was a Confederate defense built near the beginning of the war, and was deserted in August of 1861 when the Union took Hatteras Island. The island where it existed is now under water, but excavations have since recognized the remains to the southwest of the main island.
I think it's fairly easy to see that Outer Banks vacation rentals have a lot to offer in addition to just fantastic beaches and blue water. Think about what islands have features that would fit your family vacation, and reserve a rental soon.
Both Kathryn Lively & Allen Wright are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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