While beer and wine are found in many stores across the Outer Banks, you will need to visit a state-regulated ABC Store (Alcoholic Beverage Control) to purchase liquors. ABC stores are the only stores in North Carolina licensed to sell spirituous liquors.
The 'Road Less Traveled' is a good poetic description of those living on remote Ocracoke Island. Artist Sonya Allen's path diverged to this idyllic beach and she opened up Art Ocracoke Gallery. She depicts the special qualities of village life in vivid colorful paintings of locals, beach animals, and landscapes. Her passion for the unique qualities of the outer banks and lifelong fascination with the natural world is shown in every perfectly placed paint stroke. She works in acrylics, oils, airbrush and digital art. Sonya Allen sells original paintings, prints, and other art stuff from her store on Creek Road near the Ocracoke lighthouse.
Tucked away in the heart of Ocracoke village, Bella Fiore Pottery is a delightful find for any Ocracoke visitor and art lover who is on the hunt for something wholly unique. Specializing in handcrafted pottery but offering a world of distinctive goodies for shoppers of all tastes, this charming shop is always worth a look to discover a selection of talented artists who call Ocracoke Island home.
Find a new beach read to enjoy along the Ocracoke shoreline, or pick up a few local treasures to share with friends back home at this popular island shop that has been delighting readers for more than three decades. Books To Be Red is Ocracoke Island’s local book store, and the quaint and charming shop is brimming with regional selections and national bestsellers to the delight of bookworms everywhere.
Enjoy a night on the town that is steeped in local history, culture, and miles of fun with a show at the acclaimed Deepwater Theater and Music Hall on Ocracoke Island. Serving as the venue for regular summertime concerts and shows, as well as the host of seasonal or special events, this famed local theatre has a lot of entertainment to offer for visitors of all ages.
An art gallery with two- and three-dimensional fine art and crafts.
Treat your senses and indulge in a few culinary delights with a stop at this Ocracoke shop that is literally brimming with flavor. The Moonraker Tea Shop is a relatively new addition to the Ocracoke shopping scene, but it’s a delightful destination that is filled with teas of all varieties, unique food items and specialty gifts, and so much more.
Take a break during a lengthy Ocracoke village expedition and relax with a hot or cold cup of Joe at this favorite destination that’s designed for lingering and enjoying the local scene. Ocracoke Coffee Co. has been brewing up lots of tasty beverages as well as plenty of fun since first opening their doors in 1995, and this idyllic coffee shop is a great spot to take a moment, unwind, and just enjoy the local island landscape.
Discover an easier way to explore Ocracoke Island to the fullest for an afternoon, a full day, or an entire vacation with a stop at Ocracoke Island Golf Carts. This local rental establishment that is celebrating more than 10 years in business is outfitted with all the rides that vacationers will need to easily navigate through the four-square-mile Ocracoke village in style.
No trip to Ocracoke Island can be complete without a visit to the Preservation Society’s Museum and Gift Shop. The building that houses the Museum, along with the Society and its collections are a testimony to the island’s rich historical heritage.The foursquare with a deep hip roof and deep-hipped porch is believed to have been built in the late 1800s by David Williams who served in the Coast Guard. It was moved to its present location near the current Coast Guard station and restored by Ocracoke Preservation Society in 1989.The Museum Gift Shop is a popular place to find that special keepsake of your visit to the island, with an assortment of momentoes - including locally crafted Christmas ornaments - along with music, postcards, photographs, cookbooks and other books of local and regional interest.Housed upstairs in the Museum is OPS’s unique research library - a growing number of historical, genealogical and photographic collections and other resources relevant to Ocracoke history. Here you can find just about anything you want to know about the island’s lighthouse, it’s British Cemetery, wild ponies, hurricanes and WWII Naval Base - and even how to square dance Ocracoke style. For locals and other descendants of the island’s original settlers there’s lots of resources for tracking down your ancestry. Throughout the summer, the Museum hosts weekly porch talks on local history on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. and Backyard Kids Talks, usually on Wednesdays. It also hosts exhibits by local artists. Research materials can be viewed by prior appointment. And you can shop online for many Gift Store items.
Visitors can pick up the fresh catches of the day while supporting the historic and local commercial fishing industry with a stop at the island’s own Ocracoke Seafood Co. Founded in 2006 as one of the last fish houses on Ocracoke Island, this fish market that is owned and operated by the Ocracoke Foundation, (a local 501(c)3 for the benefit of local waterwomen and watermen), does a world of good close to home while offering the freshest fare available.
An eclectic, delightful gift store on Ocracoke Island.
Pirate fans and landlubbers alike will find something unique and fun at Pirate's Chest Gift Shop, a favorite destination for kids of all ages that’s located in charming Ocracoke village. From shells to local books, and toys to beach gear, this gift store has a little something for everyone, and is a fine spot to pick up a few Ocracoke souvenirs to take back home to friends and loved ones.
From surfing lessons and kayak tours to all the gear you’ll need to stay active on the Ocracoke beaches, Ride the Wind Surf Shop has everything under the sun for island visitors who want to uncover all the on-the-water fun that the Outer Banks has to offer. Featuring beach gear, watersports equipment sales and rentals, lessons, tours, and a host of other unique items for sale, this destination is miles beyond your typical surf shop, and is a must-stop for anyone who wants to enjoy an active Ocracoke vacation to the fullest.
Coffee and creativity in one venue!
Ocracoke Island is renowned for its miles of exceptional fishing, and visiting anglers will be able to acquire all of the supplies and equipment they’ll need and then some with a visit to the Tradewinds Tackle Shop. This local landmark that’s been fostering fishing on Ocracoke Island for more than 40 years is a must-stop for anyone who wants to spend ample time on the water, and who wants to maximize their chances of reeling in catch after catch.
An eclectic art, craft and gift shop on beautiful Ocraoke Island.
You never know what treasures you’ll uncover at Village Thrift, which is the only thrift store on Ocracoke Island. Featuring an ever-rotating array of goodies that can range from beachy apparel to books, games, and other unique items, Village Thrift is a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike who love to explore and uncover an eye-catching bargain or two.
A world of great tastes and fine libations is waiting at Zillie's Island Pantry, which is a popular spot on Ocracoke Island to sample everything sweet and savory under the sun. Serving as the host of popular wine and beer tastings throughout the year, as well as a great spot to pick up those refreshing beverages for your next beach adventure, Zillie's Island Pantry has everything you need for an Ocracoke vacation that is steeped in great taste.