What's New

During the summer, it seems like everyone wants to spend a day in Ocracoke. And why not? With unspoiled beaches, cool sea breezes, a charming harborside village and plenty of places to shop, eat, and relax, Ocracoke is a perfect place to leave your worries behind. Starting next summer, you’ll be able to leave your car behind as well, as the North Carolina Ferry System establishes direct passenger ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke’s Silver Lake Harbor, right in the heart of the village itself!

The worldwide community of museums will celebrate International Museum Day on and around 18 May 2018. The theme chosen for 2018 is "Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics". 

CHARLOTTE – This summer, the largest family reunion is taking over Charlotte as Discovery Place Science presents Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family, an innovative, multimedia experience showcasing never-before-seen dinosaurs in the Tyrannosaurs family tree. This is the world’s first exhibition to display ancestors of Tyrannosaurus rex, and Charlotte will be just the second US city to meet this colossal family starting Saturday, May 26, 2018. 

The North Carolina Zoo offers several summer camp options for children of all ages (1st grade – 12th) as well as children on the autism spectrum. The Zoo’s camps provide enriching and educational camps in a fun, welcoming atmosphere and include learning about animals, science, nature and conservation.

More than 500 years ago Leonardo da Vinci dreamed of inventions that were far beyond the understanding of others. His ideas about anatomy, mechanics and flight proved he was a man of real vision. Now Discovery Place Science in Uptown Charlotte has on exhibition Da Vinci’s Machines, which features more than 75 inventions inspired by his illustrations and writings. Your students may be involved in building da Vinci’s self-supporting bridge or their own flying machines.

During 2017 the Museum reported 946,486 guests. Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach ranked as the second most visited attraction with 896,682 visitors.

This year marks the 300th anniversary of the reign of Blackbeard, the king of the pirates. After plundering the seas up and down the Carolinas coast, Blackbeard came ashore to Bath to live in the summer of 1718. He lived there only a few months before being killed in a battle on Ocracoke Island.