Keep a little mystery in your trip planning: flip this switch on and Explorer Picture Mode shows a stylized version of every place instead of the real photo, so you can go by the description and reviews first and picture it your own way -- turn it off again any time, or reveal the real photo for just one place at a time from its own page.
Create a free account to pick your own style (Vintage, Oil Painting, Illustration, and more) and have it remembered next time you visit.
Ocracoke
Ocracokefest, held each October, is the island's main community festival, with local music, food, and crafts timed to the shoulder season after the summer crowds thin out. The village's Fourth of July celebration is also a genuine local tradition rather than a staged tourist event, centered on the harbor.