Ocracoke Island Tops America’s Best Beaches List
By Catherine Kozak, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.
Jun. 8–After hovering year after year near the top, Ocracoke Island has finally made it to No. 1 on Dr. Beach’s annual America’s Best Beaches list.
It’s that gorgeous 16-mile stretch of unspoiled shoreline, unfettered by high rises in the background, or even a house, said “Dr. Beach,” who se real name is Dr. Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research.
“That’s very unusual,” Leatherman said in a telephone interview from Ocracoke. “It’s not just a wilderness. It has this quaint little village of Ocracoke. This is the greatest get away beach in the country.”
In addition to a charming fishing village filled with art galleries, shops and eateries, there are also historic attractions and recreational activities on the island, which is accessible by ferry, boat or plane.
The lull in hurricanes along the Outer Banks in recent years has allowed Ocracoke to recover nicely from the damage inflicted in September 2003 by Hurricane Isabel.
“So the beach and the dunes are in good shape,” he said. “It’s all together now.”
Located within Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the 2007 winner is specifically the sole lifeguarded beach on Ocracoke that is situated off N.C. 12 just outside Ocracoke Village. It offers public parking, rest rooms and changing areas.
Ocracoke ranked third on the list last year, second in 2005, and third in 2004 and 2003. It was only 12th in 1998. The No. 1 ranking was to be announced today.
Rankings of the nation’s 650 beaches considered for Leatherman’s list are based on 50 criteria that include sand quality, water cleanliness, the number and size of waves, presence of wildlife and pests and human use and impacts.
Ocracoke is not only the first beach in North Carolina to make the list, it is also the first winner outside of Hawaii or Florida since the Dr. Beach list began in 1991.
“I think it’s going to be great for the whole Outer Banks and for the whole coast of North Carolina,” said Wit Tuttell, public relations director for the state Division of Tourism. “Another thing that’s nice: There’s limited access and there’s limited accommodations. So it’s not going to be too much of a good thing.”
Tuttell has seen first-hand the benefit of being declared the nation’s best beach. In 2005, he was working for the county tourism bureau near St. Petersburg, Fla., when Fort De Soto Park’s North Beach won the top slot.
“We saw a tremendous response,” he said. “We had one of our best seasons after that.”
Now that Ocracoke has peaked, its name will be retired as a contender, Leatherman said. But that means neighboring Hatteras Island beaches have a better chance of moving into the top 10.
“You might see it next year,” Leatherman said.
Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711,
cate.kozak@pilotonline.com
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.
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