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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »