This educational resource was founded in 1976 to increase the knowledge of the geology and paleontology of the coastal plains of North Carolina.  The exhibits and outreach programs as well as the field studies give students an opportunity to understand the land on which they live.

The fossil rich soils of this area are filled with the remains of ancient sharks, whales, bony fish, corals, shells and other invertebrates.  When you come to the museum bring along a garden trowel or sifter and plastic bags to help with your search for the fossils.  You can spend the day collecting "treasures" with the staff and learning all about what you have found.

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The historic landmark at this site is the 5 sided fort constructed of brick and stone which guarded the entrance to Beaufort Harbor.  The Park is surrounded on three sides by water, the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Inlet and Bogue Sound.  There are 26 vaulted rooms (also called casemates) inside the fort with the outer walls an average of 4 1/2 feet thick.

This area was often under attack by unwanted sources such as Blackbeard and other infamous pirates that were known to have passed through Beaufort Inlet at will while successive wars with Spain, France and Great Britain during the Colonial Period.  Beaufort was captured and plundered by the Spanish in 1747 and again by the British in 1782.

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The Lighthouse at Cape Hatteras is the tallest in the nation.  It is a point of pride for the state of North Carolina.  The visitor center is open to the public all year although the lighthouse itself is open from early April - mid-October.

The "Big Barber Pole" with its black and white striping is constructed of 1,250,000 bricks that were baked in kilns along the James River in Virginia and loaded on scows into Cape Creek where they were hauled by oxen the one mile to the original building site in Buxton.  The walls at the base are 14 feet of solid masonry and narrow to eight feet at the top of the lighthouse.  It weighs 6,250 tons and was built with no pilings under it, just a foundation of heart pine.  It stands a regal 196 feet from the base to the top brick and on top of that is an iron superstructure reaching 208 feet which makes it the tallest in the nation.  At the time of construction it costs $155,000.  Can you imagine what the cost of such a structure, made in the same manner would cost today?

Because of the ever-encroaching waters of the Atlantic Ocean the Cape Hatteras Light was moved from its original location in 1999.

Sitting close to the lighthouse are the framed buildings that served as quarters to the keepers of the light.  All of them are still standing although only one has been totally restored to its original condition and is now used as the visitor center and museum.  The only day this visitor center is closed is on Christmas Day.  There is a nominal admission charge to enter.

Bring along your picnic lunch and enjoy eating in the picnic area.  Then take a hike on the nature trail, winding through fresh water marshes and wooded dunes.  During the summer months the visitor center hosts an excellent program of activities ranging from history talks on storms and shipwrecks and pirates to the discussions of ecology, geology, and wildlife of the island.  There is also an opportunity to go snorkeling in the sound, enjoy bird walks, sit around a camp file or join in with the art activities for the children.

You can climb the lighthouse from the third Friday in April through Columbus Day from the hours of 9 am through 4:30 pm in the spring and fall and from 9 - 5:30 in the summer. 

There are 248 iron spiral stairs to the top which is like climbing a 12 story building so it is not for the weak or faint of heart.  The stairs have a handrail on one side only and there is a landing every 31 steps.  If you need air-conditioning then don't even think about trying this climb because there isn't any!  There is two-way traffic on the narrow stairs so be prepared to share the space.

Climbing tour tickets are $7 for adults and $3.50 for senior citizens (62 or older), children (12 and under, and at least 42" tall), and those holding a National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Access Pass. Tickets are available on a first come/first served basis and can only be purchased in-person at the site the day of the climb. There are no advance ticket sales.

Ticket sales begin at 8:15 a.m.  Climbing tours will begin at 9 a.m. and will run every 10 minutes with a limit of 30 visitors per tour. Ticket sales close at 4:30 p.m. in the spring and fall, and 5:30 p.m. June 8, 2008 through Labor Day. Ticket holders should arrive at the lighthouse gate five minutes prior to their ticketed tour time.

The lighthouse may close at any time if weather conditions are unsafe.

The following safety rules apply:

Children must be at least 42” tall and capable of climbing all steps on their own.
Children under 12 must be escorted by an adult.
No person may be lifted or carried.
Running, jumping, or stomping on stairs and landings is prohibited.
Do not eat, drink, smoke or chew tobacco.
No pets, other than service animals.
Do not arrive in heels over 1 ½ inches high or in bare feet.
Leave umbrellas in your car.
Backpacks, tripods, coolers, beach bags, surfboards, fishing poles, etc. also need to be left in your car.
Throwing of objects, including Frisbees, boomerangs, etc, off the lighthouse is unsafe and may get you in big trouble!

Did You Know?
The beaches along Cape Hatteras National Seashore sparkle at night. When you kick the sand, you disturb tiny dinoflagellates like seasparkle, magnified in the picture to the left. A chemical reaction causes them to glow with a blue-green light.

Location: Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive
Manteo, NC  27954

Phone: (252) 473-2111

Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corpse Base which is home to the II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Divios and three other major Marine commands.  The camp also has a Naval hospital.

In the area of Jacksonville Camp Lejeune has more than 400 miles of roadways, 50 miles of sidewalks, 50 miles of railroads and 6800 buildings, to support it's approximately 123,500 Marines and Sailors. It is Onslow County's largest employer with approximately 4,700 civilian employees. The base which occupies 170 square miles.  There are 14 miles of beaches which make a perfect spot for amphibious assault training.  With the base being located between two deep-water ports (Wilmington and Morehead City) the opportunity for fast deployment is superb.

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This 18th century house, with its simple Quaker styling, is the house that Alexander Dickson owned during the Civil War.  It was the headquarters for Confederate General Hampton and was where General Johnson prepared surrender papers for General Sherman in April, 1865.

Alexander Dickson had started a linen weaving factory at the beginning of the Civil War when cotton was lacking.  He had the first power looms working in the area and in 1883 the company became known as Messrs Dickson, Tillie & Company.  They produced and finished a wide range of products like bleached linens, suiting, diapers, huckabacks, towels and tea towels.

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Obviously North Carolina is not often thought of as a ski haven but there are places and times of the year that there is snow, particularly in the higher elevations.

Sapphire Valley offers a day of skiing on the gentle slopes which are an integral part of the  5,700 acre area that is great to see anytime  of the year.  Nestled in a pristine mountain valley high in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains with an average elevation of 4,300 ft you can ski in the winter, hike in the summer and enjoy nature all year round.

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Here in Jackson County you can experience some great trout fishing.  The Tuckasegee River is the largest body of water in Jackson county and offers fly anglers a terrific time trying out their skill at catching the big ones.  There are also many small streams for those great mountain fishing locations.

There are other areas in the Great Smoky Mountains offering you a great fishing get away where you can search for rainbow, brown and native brook trout, bass, bream, walleye and crappie.  Some of the other locations, besides Tuckasegee River fishing, are the North Carolina Mountain lakes in Jackson County, the Cherokee Indian Reservation and of course, the other streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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Mountain biking should be done in some of the most beautiful spots in the country and the Tsali Recreation Area is just such a spot.  Here you will be able to ride into the mountains on 40 miles of trails with four excellent loops.  The four long main trails wind along Fontana Lake and onto the wooded, steep interior ridges.  With the numerous connector trails, gravel roads and extension trials there are even more options for rides besides just the main loops.  The trails are fast, hard packed single-track and well designed for your enjoyment.  Trails alternate use between mountain bikers and horseback riders on different days; two will always be open to mountain biking.  There is a $2 charge for trail use for one day.

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There probably isn't a more beautiful way to see the Great Smoky Mountains than to take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.  The train ride will give you the opportunity to journey across fertile valleys and through river gorges of the Mountains.  Here in western North Carolina offers a widely changing view of both vegetation and fantastic landscapes.

Beginning in Bryson City the ride can be for either half a day or a full day with more to do in conjunction with the train ride.  You can take a whitewater river raft the whole length of the Nantahala River.

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