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.

While there are plenty of easy-access beaches throughout the state, sometimes discovering your own slice of paradise is the best way to experience sand and salt. From the northern Outer Banks to the southern tip of the state, this North Carolina beaches road trip guarantees you’ll discover some of the very best hidden beaches in North Carolina and have an outstanding adventure on the coast. Use our customizable interactive map of the route as your guide. Looking to feed your wanderlust? Click here to sign up for our Bucket List Newsletter for a weekly peek at the best U.S. destinations to inspire your next adventures. This road trip… 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 »

Tickets are now available for the authentic, one-of-a-kind Viking Experience Festival happening right here in North Carolina on March 25-26, 2023. This second-annual event will take place at The Barn at Vino, a breathtaking vineyard with rolling fields and elegant ponds, featuring talented reenactors, a Fairy Glen, food, two stages, vendors, and music in the Great Hall. Let’s take a look inside this magical experience. Walking into this long-ago kingdom is nothing less than extraordinary. Come see for yourself, and before you know it you are a part of something bigger — and something much, much older. Try on the… Read More »

Summer vacations have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean all work and no play. With cooler weather, beautiful scenery and an array of local festivals, fall is the perfect time of year for weekend getaways close to home. For travel ideas, activity suggestions and trip planning, visit www.Recreation.gov. A partnership of 12 federal agencies, including the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Archives, Recreation.gov offers advance reservations at 2,500 federal areas for more than 60,000 facilities and activities. The website’s interactive maps and searchable database make it easy to discover parks, forests,… Read More »

Invasive species are plants, animals and microbes that are introduced into a non-native ecosystem and cause, or are likely to cause, harm to the economy, environment or human health. An invasive species that colonizes a new area may gain an ecological edge since the insects, diseases, and foraging animals that naturally keep its growth in check in its native range are not present in its new habitat, according to Audubon International.             Audubon International offers these suggestions to help prevent the spread of invasive species: Find out what the most troublesome invasive species are in your local area. If you don’t… Read More »

Did you ever wonder how all of the geese that are congregating on the golf course are affecting the ecology of the ponds? How about the effect they may have on us or our animals? Considering each goose can produce 1 to 2 pounds of droppings each day, and a typical Canada goose may poop 28 times a day, it doesn’t look good for anyone. In fact, Geese are major contributors to Phosphorus and Nitrogen in ponds. These nutrients come directly from goose excrement and cause pond eutrophication. Pond eutrophication is a natural process that all bodies of water experience. It is… Read More »