Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks NC

The Best Beaches in the United States, Ocracoke Island is one of the barrier islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Outer Banks --where pirate Blackbeard once roamed-- is a popular place for family beach vacations.

A free ferry service runs to Ocracoke Island from Hatteras Island: a 40-minute trip. (In summer, waiting lines get long.)

The village of Ocracoke is on the National Register of Historic Places and has a lighthouse, historic homes, quaint shops. Kids will like to see the "Banker Ponies" grazing, a wild herd now cared for by the National Park Service.

Best Beaches in the United States

Dr.Beach that's his nickname, by his real name Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, who is a director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research. He was known by the nickname Dr.Beach because every year researching or registering best beaches in the United States since 1991. To make the best beaches, beaches must meet 50 criteria including water and sand quality, the availability of facilities, beach cleanliness, safety and comfort, and others. This beach is designated as the best beach Dr.Beach 2010 as the best beaches in the United States: