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Easy Access to Great Destinations by Land and by Sea.
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Weather When commenting about Oriental's beautiful weather, one couple stated that, "it never gets below 60 degrees or above 80 degrees-and it only rains at night!" In all seriousness, the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, along with the Neuse and other large bodies of water that flow into the sounds make up an estuary over half as big as the Chesapeake Bay. This large body of water acts as a temperature moderator keeping Oriental a few degrees warmer in the winter and a few degrees cooler in the summer than the remainder of Eastern North Carolina. Winter is only about six weeks long and even then, daytime temperatures often exceed 50 degrees. According to statistics listed in Sail Magazine, Oriental has only 3% fewer sunny days than San Diego California, and a much larger area in which to sail, and more consistent wind. The fact that Oriental has 100-year-old homes on the waterfront is a pretty good testimony to how we fare hurricanes. Population The Population of Pamlico County, according to Housing and Urban Development, falls into a category of "less than rural." With fewer than 1,000 full-time residents, Oriental offers amenities that you would not expect to find in such a small place including excellent restaurants, a hardware store, auto part store, bank, book store, and of course boating supply stores and more. In fact, sailboats outnumber the people by almost 3 to 1. The per-capita deep-draft sailboats and shallow-draft kayaks makes more sense when you recognize that almost half of the county is under water or considered wetlands. The People of Oriental The people who do the sailing are truly the heart of the town. The average age of Oriental residents is 59 years old. In fact, it is not unusual to find octarians who are still active sailors. The people that come here tend to remain healthy. Many locals are older than they look and act younger than their age. Oriental is truly a melting pot of people from all walks of life the common denominator being their love of the water. A people known for their friendliness - - -except maybe on race day. Everybody waves in Oriental. If they wave and you don't return the greeting you may find yourself in mock-court the next time you're at The Bean; Oriental's coffee and ice cream store. Oriental's setting has been said to resemble "Cabot Cove" from Angela Lansbury's former TV show, Murder, She Wrote. Likewise, the Cheers slogan, "Everybody Knows Your Name" applies here. It's as close to "Mayberry" as I've seen in my lifetime. A Safe Place to Be? Someone spray-painted on a block wall and it made the front page of the local newspaper---you know that crime is low when that is considered the biggest challenge. People here leave their cars running to go inside the post office and grocery. Walking and Bicycling Pedestrian-friendly pathways line the main streets making it entirely possible to get around Oriental by either walking or biking. The flat land of the NC Coastal plain makes bicycling quite effortless. Oriental sponsored the final day of "Bike Across North Carolina." Knowing that there was a shortage in available rooms, some residents offered to house the bike riders overnight for free. Boat Slips and Launch Ramps Slips are available for sale or rent. Trailerable boats can be launched courtesy of the free Wildlife Resources Ramp located in the heart of town. There is even a special launching cradle designed for kayaks and canoes. Kayaks and Canoes Oriental is within a 40 minute drive of counties with a total of over 1200 miles of mapped paddling trails. Oriental's host county has over 300 of those mapped miles. Many describe the estuaries paddling opportunities as the Appalachian Trail for paddlers. Pristine wilderness, charming waters and easy access have borne two competing and prosperous kayak vendors in Oriental North Carolina. Pamlico County is host to one of the states largest annual paddling events, see pamlicopaddle.com. Fresh Catch Oriental is the home of many shrimping, crabbing, and fishing boats. All of which bring the freshest catches to the local area restaurants and competing sea-food markets. When asked, "Why do You Sail"? Some Residents Responded:
The Water This relaxing environment boasts almost no jet skis. In fact, on a typical day the wind-induced wave action exceeds the comfort level of most power boaters. Instead of Dog Rules - - Dogs Rule! The people of this town love their pets. In fact, this tiny town has two veterinarians. A recent petition for a leash law was countered with a much-larger petition against animal restraints. Thank goodness, like the people, the K9s are also friendly. Oriental Cup Regatta "A sleepy little drinking village with a big sailing problem!" proclaims a shirt being sold by the Dottie Gray Foundation to raise funds for emergency service equipment. Their slogan is a paradigm of our sailors. Over the decades the mid-September Oriental Cup has NEVER been cancelled. One year approximately 100 boats were signed up for this race. Though the wind was gusting over 40, seventy boats set sail; less than thirty boats finished. In the process, one sailor died, two boats dismasted and countless sails blew out. The attitude at the end of the day was "what a great day for sailing". The oldest person to cross the finish line was approximately 7 times as old as the youngest. Services Whether you need your teeth checked, your hair trimmed, your dog groomed, your pants sewn, your boat repaired, or a new sail made, there is someone in Oriental who can make it happen. There are weeks go by that residents don't have to leave town limits for anything. The quality of the work is an inverse proportion to the population. The town is so small that if someone wasn't performing quality work they wouldn't last long. Artists and Entertainment Oriental has welcomed famous performers such as Pianist, George Winston, and singers Anne Haley, Loudon Wainwright and Chris Cross to its stage. Spectators in the back row of Oriental's theatre are closer to the entertainer than they would be in the front row of most performing arts centers. Seating only 150, the theatre makes for intimate, one-of-a-kind performances. Oriental is home to internationally known artist Chuck Henman and author/artist Ben Casey. Growth Oriental, it's not just for retirement anymore. The word is out that this is a great place to live. The state is widening highway 55 to five lanes to the county seat which is only 11 miles North of Oriental. To those who work in neighboring New Bern, this highway is a godsend. For those who would like to live in Oriental, the highway is the conduit from the thriving industrial economy of Craven County to the serene village of Oriental. Festivals and Events Croakerfest, Mum fest, The Seafood Festival, The Decoy Festival, Ocracoke Festival - - - and these are just a few of the areas festivals----we've not even started naming the events without the word festival in their title. A major problem for area event planners is trying to find a weekend that doesn't contradict with another major affair. In December alone, Oriental is host to two major events; the first of which is called the Spirit of Christmas. On the second Saturday of every December, the town looks like a Christmas wonderland. It features the annual Christmas parade during the day and a beautiful display of luminaries along the major streets at night. Candle-lit pokes spaced at 20 feet increments; lining both sides of the street span a total length of approaching two miles - - -the effect is enchanting. The second December event occurs on New Year's Eve and is called the Running of The Dragon. Twice during the evening a large, magical dragon, powered by children and adults, winds its way through the streets beside Oriental harbor. Legend is petting the Dragon on the nose assures good luck for the coming year. Did You Know?
Area Businesses (partial list): Oriental Harbor Deli & Bistro: 516 S. Water St. Oriental, NC (252) 249-0550
Circle 10 Art Gallery 708 Broad Street, Oriental, NC (252) 249-0298
The Healthy Dragon Health Food Store 807 Broad St. Oriental, NC (252) 675-2526
Hodge Podge Books 602 Hodges St. Oriental, NC (252) 249-3670
Croakertown 807 Broad St. (252) 249-0990
Town'N'Country Grocery Broad St. Oriental, NC (252) 249-1371
Inland Waterway Provision Company 305 Hodges St. Oriental, NC (252) 249-1797 or (800) 249-SAIL
The Bean 304 Hodges St. Oriental, NC (252) 249-4918
Marsha's Cottage 204 Wall St. (252) 249-0334
Paddle Pamlico 300 Hodges Street Oriental, NC (252) 249-1850
Village Hardware & Marine Supply and A & A Auto Parts 804 Broad St. Oriental, NC (252) 249-1211
Village Health and Fitness 1006 Broad Street Oriental, NC (252) 249-1869
The Pet Parlour 902 First Avenue Oriental, NC (252) 249-0243
The Cartwright House Debbie and Durl Evans, Innkeepers 301 Freemason Street Oriental, NC (252) 249-1337 or (888) 726-9384
M&M's Café 205 S. Water St. Oriental, NC (252) 249-2000
Toucan Grill & Fresh Bar Hodges St. Oriental, NC (252) 249-1818
River Neuse Motel Corner of South & Mildred Sts. Oriental, NC (252) 249-1404
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