Cedar Island

The gateway to the Outer Banks of North Carolina begins here at Cedar Island.

Never heard of it? Well, let me tell you .....

With its untouched beaches and only 350 permanent residents, you won't find anything that resembles most beachfront vacation spots. The most striking feature is the miles and miles of deserted beach!! Where can you still find that? Imagine sunbathing on an uncrowded beach or letting your children play and swim in the water without worrying about dropoffs or undertow! You can surf fish, windsurf, and the new craze, kite boarding is very popular here or just go for a quiet stroll on the beach.

If you could find a place with perfect weather wouldn't it be worth the trip? Our weather is summer-like into November and with breeze off the water, even the hottest days of summer are bearable. Contrary to what you might have heard, Cedar Island is not affected by every hurricane that hits the coast. 1999 was the first time since 1933 that we had major flooding and everything was back to normal within a short period of time. Of course then there was Isabel Sept. 17, 2003 and Ophelia in 2005 but nothing since. So please don't let those scary images on the weather channel scare you off!

We have become known as a prime area for sea kayaking.

Every October for the last 20 years or so, we have hosted the Sails Angels group. They bring their one of a kind kayaks with sails and have a wonderful time. Newcomers are welcome.

Visit their website for kayak sails.

THE DRIFTWOOD CAMPGROUND has access to the water, just launch your kayak or small boat into Cedar Island Bay. All those that have been here to explore the area by kayak have returned time and time again and are thrilled with what the waters surrounding Cedar Island have to offer. There is public boat accesss to Pamlico Sound right next to the ferry. Access to Cedar Island Bay and Core Sound is available in the campground for guests.

Right at the ferry terminal is the lovely

DRIFTWOOD MOTEL, RESTAURANT AND GIFT SHOP

You will not find a better seafood meal anywhere on the coast! And the gift shop is really great. There is a little bit of everything and the prices are very reasonable! This is the place to stay if you are planning to travel up the Outer Banks by ferry. Avoid the mad rush trying to catch the ferry by being right there in the morning! If you'd like to see what a real live fishing village is like, this is the place. The residents of Cedar Island have not changed their way of life very much from the first settlers back in the 1700's and there has been no commercial and very little residential development. In fact there was not always a road to Cedar Island, that was built in the early 1950's. Now the vast majority of marsh and land is part of the Cedar Island wildlife refuge. Needless to say the area abounds with all kinds of birds and wildlife. If your interest is in bird watching, you're in for a treat. Anyone can appreciate the beauty and unique nature of this area. So when planning your next vacation, make sure you put this area on your route if only for a quick stop. You won't be sorry! email us! For more information on the Crystal Coast and the Outer Banks visit Insiders Guide or HomegrownHandmade For the best information on REAL ESTATE in the area please click here to email.