Getting here by water? Good. You’ll understand why we live on an island in the first place.

Silver Lake Harbor sits at the heart of our village like a natural town square on the water. Locals still call it “The Creek,” the name that stuck for generations before tourism marketing got involved. This clam-shaped basin offers 13 feet of consistent depth, so park your cruise ship elsewhere.

Anchorage Marina handles the full-service crowd. Vessels up to 100 feet, gas and diesel, power hookups, showers, and a pool you can use while your boat bobs at the dock. Their ship’s store stocks the basics, and SmacNally’s dockside cafe serves food where you can watch the day’s catch come in. Need a charter, boat rental, or parasailing adventure? They’ve got you covered.

National Park Service docks offer no-frills slips for boats up to 60 feet. First-come, first-served, pay through an app when you arrive. You get power and that’s about it – no fuel, no fancy amenities, no Jet Skis. It’s basic docking for people who know how to handle their own boat.

You can also anchor for free in the harbor, though recent storms have taught us that some folks need better ground tackle than they think.

Here’s what you need to know: Ocracoke Inlet connects you to the Atlantic, but it’s not for beginners. The channel shifts, the weather changes fast, and local knowledge matters. Big Foot Slough takes you to Pamlico Sound, where the water’s friendlier but still demands respect.

This isn’t some luxury marina with concierges. It’s a working harbor where fishing boats, ferries, and pleasure craft share the same water that’s been sheltering vessels since before America was America.