Another one of our can’t-miss Outer Banks traditions is a trip on the ferry over to Ocracoke Island, which neighbors Hatteras.  Again – and I know I’m a broken record on this topic – I have so many fun memories from our jaunts over to Ocracoke.  Like the year our family friends’ son talked like Goat Boy the entire trip. You had to be there.

Anyway, it’s not an OBX vacation without an evening on Ocracoke!  Off we went.

The rest of the family pulled out of the driveway while we were still tossing sunscreen in our diaper bag, and as a result they got on a ferry that left fifteen minutes earlier.  It was bad luck.  I was really sad that they missed Peanut’s first ferry ride (and Nugget’s first boat ride of any kind!).  But at least we got a money spot on the boat.

Peanut thought the ferry was pretty awesome.

Nugget was unimpressed.  Look at those cheeks!  (And that pout!  He’s going to be trouble in fifteen years.)

We looped around and around the ferry, staying in the shade as much as possible – but we did spend some time gazing out at the wake off the stern, and at the water and shoreline.

I love the ferry.  It was so much fun to ride with my little ones.

Ferry family!

Eventually, after my arms got tired of lugging Nugget around, I wised up and put him in the Ergo.  (I have the Ergo down to a science now, and I love it.  Peanut never took to it, but Nugget really likes being worn.  Especially now that he’s grown out of the infant insert – it’s so much more comfortable for both of us.)

After about an hour of ferry fun, we pulled up to the dock on Ocracoke, and then it was off to rendezvous with the rest of the family at Howard’s Pub.

We always eat at Howard’s Pub when we’re on Ocracoke.  It’s a fun place, and the food is casual but yummy.  (I didn’t do too well with ordering this time, though.  I got the fried shrimp basket and it turned out to be mostly fries – hardly any shrimp.  I should have stuck with my usual veggie burger.)

After dinner we had about an hour to wander around the island before we really had to get the ferry back so the kids could get to bed.  I was clamoring for a visit to the Ocracoke Light – my favorite of all the OBX lighthouses (of which there are quite a few) but the rest of the fam wanted to walk around the village, so that’s what we did.  The pic above was as close as I got to the lighthouse.  Next time!

We watched a bigger ferry coming into another dock…

Checked out the boats in the marina…

And then wandered into the village.

Peanut befriended a large metal rooster.  Actually, she asked if she could ride on him.  We said NO.

We named him Alan.  He looks like an Alan, don’t you think?  This wasn’t just a local art installation – it was outside a gallery, part of a metal menagerie that was on display for sale.  I was legit worried that Alan the Rooster was going to have to come home with us.  Fortunately we escaped without buying him (or any other metal animals).

We rode the ferry back to Hatteras just as the sun was setting.

Gorgeous!

Next time we visit, I’d like to spend more time on Ocracoke.  Our flying trips over there never seem like enough.  I want Peanut to see the wild ponies of Ocracoke (well, once wild – now most of them are in enclosures on the island, but they’re still a sight to see), and I want to get back to the Ocracoke Light.  And I’d love to mix up the dining; Howard’s Pub is fun, but there was a cute little flatbread pizza place in Ocracoke Village that looked like it would be a lot of fun to try.  It’s always good to leave something for next time, right?

Happy couple on our way back from Ocracoke.  Always a fun evening!

Next week, we do make it to a lighthouse!