Shackleford Banks North Carolina

The Harkers Island Visitors Center is the ferry hub for exploring the Cape Lookout National Seashore. We were excited to look for the wild horses and collect seashells along the beach. We purchased ferry tickets and left the docks right on time at 10:00. We met an older gentleman, Glenn, on the boat. He's retired but works in the visitors center on Cape Lookout. He lives in Harker's Island and told us all about the area. He said that lots of new people were coming to the Inner Banks to retire. I asked if he minded the folks from other places moving into North Carolina. He chuckled when he said he didn't mind at all; as long as they follow Glenn's rules.

We'd looked for horses on the beach at Corolla without any luck but had walked among them on Cumberland Island in Georgia during our Great Loop adventure. The Shackleford Banks horses are believed to be Spanish ponies left behind in the 1500s. There are around 125 wild horses living on the nine by one mile barrier island so our odds of connecting with them were great and we were determined to find them and experience the exhilaration of hanging out in their environment once again. 

It was chilly on the ferry

As the ferry moved across the bay, we spotted dolphins. The Captain stopped so we could take photos then continued the 20 minute ferry ride. When we arrived at Shackelford Banks, the captain beached the ferry and lowered a gang plank so we could disembark. We followed a guy off the boat who said he likes to shell on the island and roam amongst the wild horses. We figured he would lead us to them but he lost us quickly on the sand dune trails. 

Cape Lookout Light undergoing repairs

We set out to explore, and decided to follow the fresh horse poop in search of a sighting. A mom with three teens, a girl and 2 boys, walked with us. We heard a loud whinny close by. Everyone froze and aimed our cameras toward the huge bushes where the sound came from. A beautiful stallion emerged, stopped in his tracks then staring at us before slowly moving on. Visitors are required to stay 50 feet from the horses. We were within 20 feet but not because we were disregarding the rule. The stallion moved into the area we were already in. It was amazing being so close.

Lots of horse poop on Shackelford Banks

Our first view - a beautiful stallion

He sized us up

He sniffed and huffed

He dismissed us

He went on his merry way

The mom and daughter went over the dunes to look for seashells along the beach while the two boys hiked further with us. They left when it was time to meet their mom to take the ferry back. We continued west along the beach in search of shells. We found several groups of horses and as many shells as we could carry. Shackleford Banks is known for great shelling, especially after stormy weather. It was the perfect time for us to visit. We returned to the ferry pickup point after 5.5 hours of wandering the island. We crossed paths with at least 30 horses, some running on the beach but most of them feeding on the dunes. 

There were several people on the ferry with garbage bags full of shells. We only took a few to add to our vast collection at home. We had a fabulous day! Next time, we'll visit Cape Lookout and Ocracoke. There is so much to explore!

It was warm on the dunes

Mother and child

Still wearing a winter coat

Walking along the beach

Looking healthy on Shackleford Banks

One of many groups we encountered

Feeling that ocean breeze

Another group along the dunes

Horses and beach goers

Always aware of us

Keeping watch

Solo Grazing

Dave Shackelford Banks beach
Cape Lookout Light

Sea Shell Stash 1

Sea Shell Stash 2

Shackleford Banks Beach

Horse bone on the beach

Cape Lookout Light

Shackleton Banks Cove View

Fort Macon State Park North Carolina

We drove to Fort Macon State Park on a cold and windy day. The fort is located south of Morehead City in Cartaret County, along the Bogue Banks. It was built as part of the 3rd system of US fortifications in defense of the shoreline. The purpose of the Fort, which was completed in 1834, was to protect the Beaufort Inlet and Harbor from foreign invasion. It was taken over by the Confederates at the beginning of the Civil War. A year later the Union forces recaptured the fort and held it through the civil war. During the Spanish American War in 1898, it was used as a supply depot and Prison. The State of North Carolina acquired the property in 1924. The Fort was restored by the Conservation Corp in the 1930's and reopened as a park in 1936. At the start of WWII it was taken over as a base for coastal defense against German U-boats. It was returned as a State Park after the war.

Fort Macon has a beautiful Visitor's Center. We walked through the exhibits, then made our way outside to the five sided, star shaped, brick and stone fortress called a bastion fort. The placement of each point allowed cannons to protect each other from soldier invasion. Casemates, or vaulted rooms, line the circumference of the pentagon. They are built into the earth and open to the inside of the fort. The casemates have been staged into period settings like the commanders quarters, mess hall, bunk houses and munitions storage rooms. We were able to walk through each of them and learn about what life looked like for a soldier.

Fort Macon Cannon

Cobblestone entrance

Casemates

We were lucky to stumble upon a junior high school group watching a union soldier perform a musket demonstration. The soldier did an excellent of job keeping the attention of about 60 tweens as he gave a detailed account of the steps a soldier would have to take to use a musket. 

Fort Macon Soldier

Musket Shooting Video

Fly Over at Fort Macon

Fly Over at Fort Macon Video

Casemate window 
Hand pump

Stairs to the parapet

Munitions storage

Weapons and gear

Dummy Rounds

1911 Colt Automatic Pistol

Fort corridor 

Mess Hall

Kitchen

Pantry

After spending the morning at the Fort, we hiked along the Elliott Coues Nature Trail, a beautiful but hilly course that took us through forest, salt marsh and sand dunes along the Bogue Sound. There is so much to see and learn at Fort Macon. We could return over and over and find something new each visit. 

View of the Sound from the fort

Swamp

Forest path

Salt Marsh

View of the sound from dunes