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Once out on Cape Lookout proper, it’s just a matter of choosing a calm spot. If you stay more than two nights, you can radio in and have the houseboat moved once during your stay. When the house- boat is anchored (and the Carolina Skiff tied up conveniently to its side), the pilot returns to Beaufort and your houseboat adventure begins in earnest, with abundant possibilities for adventures on and off the houseboat. Make Waves Your houseboat serves as haven and base for exploration of Cape Lookout National Seashore. This low- lying narrow ribbon of sandy islands runs from Ocracoke Inlet in the northeast to Beaufort Inlet to the southwest. The barrier islands basi- cally consist of wide and bare beaches, low dunes covered with scattered grasses, flat grasslands, and salt marshes along the sound side. For centuries, these islands served as major fishing bases, with several self-contained com- munities thriving on the nearby and abundant fishing. For instance, Ports- mouth Village was chartered in 1753 and was once home to more than 1,000 people—today, it’s uninhabited, but the partially restored village is still fascinating to explore. Heavily loaded fishing boats stayed on the deep water on the Atlantic Ocean side, while shallower draft boats plied the sound and main- tained contact with the mainland for goods and services. The sound side of all the barrier is- lands have also long served as sheltered anchorages—for boats during storms (especially North- Rental Guide 2010 23