| Aviation enthusiasts from around the world make the | | | | beaches. With only four such beaches in more than |
| pilgrimage to Kitty | | | | 70 miles there is plenty of ocean |
| Hawk, North Carolina on Cape Hatteras to celebrate | | | | sand for your dog to roam.Cape Hatteras National |
| the birth of powered manned flight. If you go, make | | | | Seashore, designated America's first such beach in |
| sure to take the dog.Your dog is welcome at the | | | | 1953, is actually comprised of three islands |
| Wright Brothers National Memorial and she can | | | | connected by a free bridge and a free |
| walk along the rubber mats that mark the paths of | | | | ferrry. Unlike many other national seashores, Cape |
| the first four flights by Orville | | | | Hatteras permits dogs on its |
| and Wilbur Wright on December 17, 1903. there is | | | | nature trails. There is a short 3/4-mile nature trail on |
| more canine hiking back behind | | | | each of the three islands.These interpretive trails |
| the flight path on Big Kill Devil Hill where the two | | | | emphasize the harshness of the saltwater |
| Dayton, ohio bicycle | | | | environment |
| mechanics tested their experimental fliers on the | | | | and the struggle of the plants and animals that |
| high dunes with the promise of | | | | colonize the dunes. These rolling, |
| soft, sandy landings.While famous for flight, the skies | | | | wooded walks on soft sand are a shady treat for |
| over Kitty Hawk are quiet now. Not so just | | | | dogs after a day of sun and surf. |
| south of the Wright Brothers Memorial at Jockey | | | | Dogs are not allowed on the trails in the Pea Island |
| Ridge State Park. Flamboyant kites, | | | | National Wildlife Refuge on the |
| model planes and hang gliders frequently fill the skies | | | | northern end of Hatteras Island.For centuries storms, |
| here. On the ground, Jockey's | | | | shifting sands and war have visited the turbulent |
| Ridge is one giant sandbox for a playful dog.The | | | | waters |
| deep sands, steep dunes and brisk breezes can make | | | | off the coast of the Outer Banks. More than 600 |
| for invigorating | | | | ships have wrecked in the seas |
| canine hiking at Jockey's Ridge. Your dog can play | | | | offshore that have earned Cape Hatteras |
| anywhere on these dunes - some | | | | recognition as "the Graveyard of the |
| of the highest on the Atlantic Ocean - or for those | | | | Atlantic."Each of the three islands sports its own |
| who like their walking on the | | | | historic lighthouse to help steer ships |
| structured side there are two interpretive nature | | | | safely. The queen of the trio is the 208-foot |
| trails marked by posts across the | | | | Hatteras Light,the tallest brick |
| dunes.While you are in Kitty Hawk remembering | | | | lighthouse in America. The Ocracoke Lighthouse, a |
| famous firsts, travel a bit further | | | | squat 75-foot tower tucked into |
| south to Roanoke Island and the Fort Raleigh | | | | a residential neighborhood, has been in service since |
| National Historic Site. Here an | | | | 1823 and is the oldest |
| expeditionary force in the 1580s established the first | | | | operating lighthouse in North Carolina.The least |
| English settlement in America. | | | | known of the Hatteras lighthouses is the Bodie Island |
| The group was well represented by scientists, | | | | Lighthouse, the |
| merchants and other gentlemen of | | | | northernmost. Located away from shore behind a |
| prominent social standing but conspicuously missing, | | | | freshwater marsh and partially |
| however, were farmers and | | | | ringed by pine trees, the Bodie Light's beam reaches |
| craftsmen whose skills might have made the colony | | | | 19 miles out to sea from its |
| work.When a supply ship returned to the settlement | | | | 156-foot crown. You can hike with your dog on the |
| on Roanoke Island there was no | | | | grounds of all three historic |
| trace of the "Lost colony." Your dog can explore the | | | | lights.Cape Hatteras looks much different today than |
| mystery with you, including the | | | | in the days when pirates like |
| recreated earthworks of Fort Raleigh and the birth | | | | Blackbeard, who favored Ocracoke Island as a |
| site of Virginia Dare, the first | | | | hideout, cruised these shores. |
| English-speaking baby born in the New World.The | | | | Hundreds of dunes have been built along the beach |
| Thomas Hariot Nature Trail, named for a scientist on | | | | to protect the Cape. And with |
| that first voyage, is a | | | | so much for your dog to do here, you will want to |
| rollicking ramble through a maritime forest that | | | | return again and again to monitor |
| emphasizes the natural riches on | | | | the future changes.copyright 2006I am the author |
| the island that the doomed English settlers hoped to | | | | of over 20 books, including 8 on hiking with your dog, |
| exploit for riches rather than | | | | including the |
| adapt for survival. The sandy trail pops out onto | | | | widely praised The Canine Hiker's Bible. As publisher |
| peaceful Roanoke Sound for some | | | | of Cruden Bay Books, we |
| superb dog-paddling.All this to do with your dog on | | | | produce the innovative A Bark In The Park series of |
| the Outer Banks and you haven't even traveled | | | | canine hiking books found at |
| the two blocks east to one of the great ocean | | | | During the warm months I lead canine hikes as |
| beaches of the world yet - Cape | | | | tour leader for tours, leading packs of dogs and |
| Hatteras National Seashore. Dogs are allowed | | | | humans on |
| year-round on the non-swimming | | | | day and overnight trips. |