Morehead City is in the center of coastal Cataret County, NC.
In our county history series: Colonial beginnings, Civil War battles, maritime industry, fishing, tourism and coastal living among Carteret’s numerous draws.
The Corps of Engineers now says it has authority to follow the deepest natural water, or best water, in the Rollinson Channel Navigation Project linking Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.
The proposed corridor with high-shoaling areas to be dredged any time of year indicated in circles. Image: Corps/FONSI
The Old Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station is one of the most beautiful historic buildings on the Outer Banks, situated at a dramatic coastal location that would befit a movie setting.
The Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station on the southeast side of Oregon Inlet, part of the Pea island National Wildlife Refuge. Photo: Courtesy U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association
The Waterway’s path through Wrightsville Beach is a narrow congested channel, so caution must be exercised during these dark hours, especially in vicinity of spectator boats.
Popular literature and the public’s imagination have long perpetuated the notion that the notorious pirate buried his ill-gotten wealth, perhaps on Ocracoke Island.
“Blackbeard Buries His Treasure” illustrated by Howard Pyle for Harper’s Magazine, 1887.
Cruisers Net reminds you that high water events, like Hurricane Nicole, typically lift lots of debris, visible and submerged, into the navigation channels, especially in the narrow portions of the ICW. A sharp watch is required. Our thanks to Winston Fowler for these photos from the Cape Fear River.
South Harbor Village Marina guards the Waterway’s northern shoreline, a short hop west of unlighted daybeacon #8, and not far from the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Our thanks to Dave Rowe aboard m/v Stinkpot for this review.
Safe Harbor South Harbor Village is really a wonderful marina. Our experience began with dock master, Ian, expertly telling us exactly what conditions we could expect at the dock, wind, state of the current–everything. He correctly even predicted a best approach for the conditions and was spot on! We rarely accept this kind of information from “off the boat,” but he shared it with such knowing authority, that we knew we were dealing with a very experienced hand, and the trust we placed in him proved not to be unfounded!
We have never been met by a larger or more competent contingent of dock hands. No one expected prematurely tossed lines, and it was clear that they understood they were dealing with an experienced crew and treated us that way. There is no doubt in my mind that, if called to do so, they could also deal with an inexperienced crew and get them on and off the dock with ease.
As soon as we were alongside, they immediately asked for another spring line, and we were again impressed that they recognized the current there, and wanted us tied without us having to readjust hastily-tied breast lines you might get anywhere else. In fact, we rarely hand out lines at all these days. The Boatswain and Captain take care of the job after some less than stellar experiences in the past, but no need for such reticence here.
The facilities are gorgeous with new looking floating docks, slip side pump-outs, and the most advanced fire suppression system we have ever seen. Two stellar restaurants onsite in this park-like setting.
The real stars are the staff. Ian and company go way above and beyond, and this well-trained, crackerjack team are endlessly impressive with their ability to anticipate a transient boater’s every need.
The entrance channel to Carolina Beach State Park marina cuts off southward from the AICW, at the western end of Snows Cut, between markers #163 and #165. Our thanks to Dave Rowe, AboardStinkpot.com, for this review and recommendation.
For the budget conscious boater, or one who loves a natural park setting, Carolina Beach State Park Marina is for you! Miles of wooded trails and one of the only spots on earth to spot a Venus Fly Trap in the wild. $30 flat fee for dockage includes power and water. This is the perfect place to hole up and relax while waiting for a favorable current on the Cape Fear River or Snow’s Cut. Choice of grocery stores and a pharmacy under a mile and a half away.
I second everything in the article. We live nearby. A great resource for local and visiting boaters. Usually has good fuel prices compared to others in the area but check first.
A longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, historic Edenton always has an exciting calendar of events and places to visit! Edenton is at the mouth of the Chowan River on the northwest shore of Albemarle Sound.
Hello!
Have you heard about the newest exciting thing to come to Edenton?
The Herringbone is an exciting new restaurant that is breathing new life into an 1898 herring ice house, turning it into a remarkable destination restaurant.
Already, it is turning heads both in Edenton and beyond.
Today, I want to tell you a bit about it, including the background and why so many can’t wait for it to finally open.
The Herringbone is a tribute and celebration of all things Edenton, combining incredible history with breathtaking execution into a magnificent experience.
The Army Corps of Engineers says its five-year-old rule blocking local governments, marinas and private entities from using its dredged material disposal sites will remain.
Every season in Washington, NC, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, brings something new and exciting. Enjoy local festivals, area concerts, or waterfront adventure. This review is posted with permission of Stacey Guth.
North Carolina has been extremely friendly to us. They love to chat, and never seem to be in (how do I put this) a New England hurry. The dockmaster at this little city free dock changed staff overnight, and the new one was full of wonder about our lives aboard Stinkpot. As he handed me the key to the laundry room which costs a flat fee of $5 for unlimited loads, I was all smiles. “So, do you like it?” he asked.
“Here I am at the crack of dawn, chatting with a kind stranger as we get to know each other a little bit, in a beautiful place that my Captain and I are experiencing for the first time, and I woke up like a kid on Christmas with this grin because I was going to get to do laundry! All the laundry! Laundry is that exciting to me now. Yes, it’s a good life.”
Stacey Guth First Mate & Boatswain Dave Rowe Captain m/v Stinkpot
Levern Davis Parker is a descendant of George Washington Creef Sr., who developed the shad boat that was adopted in 1987 as the state boat of North Carolina.
The military has been a boon to North Carolina’s economy. It has brought in millions in government spending, thousands of jobs, and generations of families eager to live and retire where they used to serve.
This is Saturday, September 24, is National Public Lands Day, a day to show our love for the amazing natural, cultural and historic places that are protected for future generations to marvel at and enjoy.
This Public Lands Day, we are thrilled to celebrate all of these protected spaces and the natural beauty and impactful stories they preserve.
We encourage you to get out and visit your public lands – here in the Outer Banks or wherever you are – to celebrate with us! Check out our online and in-person opportunities this week to learn more about our Outer Banks national parks in particular (details below).
Did you know that biological science technicians at Cape Hatteras National Seashore carefully track, learn from and protect hundreds of sea turtle nests each summer?
One of the ways our BioTechs learn from these nests is by excavating them – digging them up to examine what’s inside – once they have hatched. In our last “Ask A BioTech” article of the season, Ben Ranelli, Seasonal Biological Science Technician on Ocracoke Island, explains the nest excavation process.
Want to see a sea turtle nest excavation in action? Tune in to our Facebook page TONIGHT at 6 p.m. (ET) when we’ll premiere a recent nest excavation on Ocracoke Island with park rangers from Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Meet Your Volunteer: Paul Hinds
Our Outer Banks VIPs (Volunteers In Parks) are essential to the thriving of our parks.
As we celebrate Public Lands Day this month, we want to introduce you to Paul Hinds, a former volunteer at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site! If you visited Fort Raleigh this summer, you likely met Paul, whose volunteer efforts not only created a fun and engaging experience for visitors, but helped improve our park for years to come.
Calling All Educators: Plan Your OBX National Park Field Trip!
If you’re an educator at a school in Currituck, Dare, Hyde or Tyrrell Counties, we want to help you get your students to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial!
Thanks to an Open OutDoors For Kids grant from the National Park Foundation, we are able to cover transportation costs for field trips for your students in kindergarten through 12th grade. To learn more about this opportunity, please email Jessica Barnes, director of Outer Banks Forever, at JessicaBarnes@OBXForever.org.
P.S.: You can also schedule remote learning field trips for your students! To learn more, email our parks at obx_interpretation@nps.gov.
Upcoming Events: Save the Dates!
Pints for Parks on Public Lands Day: Saturday, September 24
Come out and celebrate our Outer Banks national parks with our friends at Swells’a Brewing Beer Company in Kill Devil Hills on Saturday, September 24, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.! We hope to see you there!
Click here to learn how our friends at Swells’a are supporting our national parks through 1% For The Planet!
Bodie Island Lighthouse 150th Anniversary Celebration: Saturday, October 1
The Bodie Island Lighthouse will celebrate 150 years of illumination on October 1! You’re invited to join us, our park staff, our friends at the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society, and special guests for morning and evening events.
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