Sleep-Sweet Peaceful Sleep!!
It was nice to get to the Inn and have a nice clean room to fall asleep in.
We stayed at Edwards of Ocracoke, a quaint inn with beautiful rooms around a lovely courtyard.
Our room had two double beds and a single bed, full size refrigerator and a wonderful screened in front porch! The amenities at the property were nice as well: outdoor barbecue area, picnic tables in the courtyard, bikes for rent and many more.
Yum and I slept on the bed to the left and M.L. in the single to the right. Snookums (you know he is gonna kill me for calling him that) got a bed all to himself!
The bathroom was small but very modern and nice!
After all the things were packed up and we were all strapped in the car again-it was off for breakfast!!
We tooled around town and stopped at Ocracoke's Lighthouse
We didn't stay long here since the monster mosquito's (the size of small birds) were trying to carry us away.
We did take a minute to stop and donate to the Lighthouse
After swatting our way back to the car and then killing all of the stow aways we were off to see the Pony Pasture and the Beach!!
These ponies were smaller than the ones we saw up at Corolla, but M.L. and Yum adored them all the same. These ponies are descendants of the ponies that the long ago settlers of the island had when they first came to the island and are watched and bred carefully to ensure that they maintain their population and bloodline. There is a wonderful viewing platform and a handicapped walkway and ramp that you can utilize through the maritime forest to gaze at the other end of the pasture.
M.L. and Yum liked the walk down the path
and enjoyed the view from the platform viewing area as well.
Parking in the same parking lot also afforded us beach access just across the street. Heading over we spent time just sitting and soaking in the sun for a little while on the oceanfront viewing platform. The kids enjoyed watching the waves crash and playing on the walkway. Since it was still early in the day (and a little chilly) we had access to the whole area.
Wonderful fun in the sun!
The kids were starting to wonder if we were ever going to get to the boat and we still had a little while-so off we went to find more adventures!!
We headed back to the Ocracoke-Cedar Island Ferry side of the island and parked where the Fort Ocracoke Monument is located and spent a little bit of time looking around the area and talking with the kids about the Civil War and the fort that was here.
The kids were fascinated by the monument and the fact that you could still see some of the fort under the water off the coastline.
There was a nice museum there for you to visit, unfortunately it was closed for the day and we were unable to get inside to see all the wonderful historic goodies it had to offer. Next time though!!
We then decided to walk through the village and just see what we could see. We love all the cute shops and artisan places where you could find the coolest gifts. We also saw some of the neatest gardening ideas along the way and just got to spend time, as a family, walking and talking and laughing and skipping down the road.
Ocracoke Lighthouse from across the harbour. The Pelicans were awesome to see swooping and landing on the pillars
This is the coolest idea for an old rocking chair-a succulent garden planter!
M.L. and Snookums headed down the road toward town. After spending some time walking through town and looking at the birds and boats and all the cool things kids love to look at--you know like rocks on the side of the road and such--we headed back to the parking area to get checked in and in line for the ferry. I sent Snookums off to get us checked in and in line and took the kids over to the big buoys to play.. They were in awe at the size of the buoys and didn't believe they were the ones they saw in the water last night as we ferried from Hatteras to Ocracoke.
We still had a little while to wait for the ferry since you had to check in 30 minutes prior to your reservation or risk losing your spot, so we headed to the Ferry House and let the kids run around the grassy area. They were super excited when a nice lady walked over and gave the kids some bread to feed the ducks that were wondering around the area. We had bread in our van for lunch on the ferry, but being from the beach area I know that ducks aren't the only thing in the area that were going to come calling, I decided to not give them any. However, this lady had other ideas and of course I didn't want to seem rude by saying no, but I got the camera ready for the hilarious moments that were about to ensue. See if you can find in the following clips where the birds started to have WAY TO MUCH FUN!
the ducks waiting patiently!
the gulls joining in on the fun!
the gulls dive bombing M.L. to get her bread!!!
Like I said, WAY TO MUCH FUN!! Of course, the kids were laughing and enjoying it the whole time to.
Once all the bread was gone and it was getting closer to time we headed off to the boardwalk and headed out to watch the boat come in. The kids played and had fun with all the informational signs on the way and used the sides of the boardwalk as balance beams.
Then we saw THE BOAT!!
They jumped, and laughed and shouted for joy when they saw the ferry headed to the dock. We raced back to the Ferry House and used the restroom (because the ones on board-well-let's just say they are there) and then headed to the car to get ready to board the ferry.
We boarded the ferry and raced up to the observation deck so that we could watch them finish loading the cars and pull away.
We finally arrive at Cedar Island and make our way over to Outer Banks Riding Stables just off the ferry landing and prepare for our horseback riding adventure! We were all paired up with a wonderful horse and were led away by our guide Cindy down the beach for a fun filled ride--that is until the bottom dropped out of the looming grey clouds and we were forced to turn around and head back to the barn.
M.L. and Yum still had a wonderful time and are bound and determined to go back and do it all again--and soon!
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