At Occano, the Sound is a gift we unwrap day after day—and share with the ones we love most. And we look forward to sharing it with you.

Things to do in Portsmouth North Carolina may not be the typical list you’d expect when planning a visit to the coast, but this unique and eerie ghost town has plenty to offer for history buffs and adventure seekers alike. Most people who visit the coast of North Carolina don’t realize there’s a modern-day ghost town on one of the state’s barrier islands. Abandoned in 1971, Portsmouth was a community located on Portsmouth Island. Today, this North Carolina ghost town is accessible by way of boat and visitors can freely explore the island. Established in 1753, the tiny town of… Read More »

Cinco De Mayo’s deeply rooted history in the Franco-Mexican War influenced Mexican-Mexican American communities in the early years of the American Civil War. In the early 1860s, as the Civil War erupted, these communities took up the banner of the Cinco De Mayo celebration as a way to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy. Today, in the United States, Americans celebrate Mexican-American heritage and pride annually on May 5th. #CincodeMayo

The National Day of Prayer is observed annually on the first Thursday in May. This day observance, designated by the United States Congress, asks people “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.”  #NationalDayOfPrayer For many, prayer is an integral part of daily life. Prayer offers a rich connection to our spiritual lives, nurturing our relationships and faith. It also provides comfort in times of crisis or need.  HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER People of many different faiths join in prayer on this day. While some will attend the church, synagogue, mosque, temple or monasteries of their choice… Read More »

The enchanting Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers three historic lighthouses; but for now, only the Bodie Island Lighthouse in Nags Head, North Carolina, is open for self-guided climbs. This seasonal activity is open between April 26 and Oct. 9, 2023, with a 219-step ascent from the ground to the balcony level. Thankfully, the lighthouse was renovated from August 2009 to March 2013, making it safe to climb. And the building is without air conditioning, so bring some water. Bodie Island is where this graceful, towering structure lives, offering the beautiful surroundings of the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound. There are three historic… Read More »

A short time ago, we told you about the upcoming emergence of the Brood X Cicada set to take place this spring in parts of North Carolina. Expect the volume to roar to an all-time high when the event occurs, as this brood is the largest in mass of all of the 15 broods that appear periodically and in 17-year increments. Well, as if the annoyance of the noise weren’t enough, it seems there is more than one reason for this year’s emergence to turn your head: copperheads! It turns out, copperheads love to snack on these crispy little creatures. And soon,… Read More »

You’ll want to make sure you have earplugs on the ready this spring when billions of cicadas will emerge in 16 eastern states, including North Carolina. This year marks the 17th year for the Brood X (that’s Brood 10) emergence, last seen topside back in the spring and summer of 2004. Brood X is the largest in mass of the 15 different broods of cicadas. If you remember the sound cicadas make, then you know how significant the largest group of them in the world will be in terms of enjoying a quiet evening this spring or early summer. Actually,… Read More »

Good news, North Carolina! The annual hummingbird migration is nearly underway and we’re ready to begin spotting the graceful Ruby-throated hummingbird in backyards around parts of the Tar Heel State! Make sure your backyard is ready by setting up one of the best hummingbird feeders possible for these oncoming beauties. Each fall, thousands of these exquisite, winged creatures migrate south from as far as Canada all the way down to Central America, Mexico, and parts of Florida – until it’s time to head north again in the spring to breed. So, if you want to see hummingbirds in North Carolina, read on… Read More »

St. Patrick’s Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green. Celebrated annually on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday known for parades, shamrocks and all things Irish. From leprechauns to the color green, find out how symbols we now associate with St. Patrick’s Day came to be, and learn about a few that are purely American inventions. The Shamrock The shamrock, which was also called the “seamroy” by the Celts, was a sacred… Read More »

Sometime between 1916 and 1918, James Barber constructed the first miniature golf course on the gardens of his Pinehurst estate “winding in and out among the shrubbery” “a kind of glorified and elongated putting green,” said part of the famous article published Saturday, Feb. 2, 1918, in “The Pinehurst Outlook.” The article’s headline, “Miniature Golf” seemed to help preserve the name of the new game. Let’s find out about the father of this popular pastime and the birth of miniature golf in North Carolina.     James Barber, who owned the Barber Steamship Lines of New York, is credited with building the first… Read More »