Get North Carolina Ferry Schedule Updates On Your Phone

Taking a ferry in North Carolina?  Now you can get information about your trip delivered right to your phone, courtesy of a new notification system developed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. 

The Ferry Information Notification System, or FINS, lets ferry riders select the route they want to receive alerts for.  Users can also choose whether to receive those alerts via text or email.  Once signed up, travelers will receive information on delays, cancellations and other necessary information.  The alerts will come directly from the ferry terminals, according to a release from the N.C. Department of Transportation.

“This is going to be a major benefit for our passengers,” Ferry Division Director Harold Thomas told Spectrum News. “Getting timely information on schedule interruptions will allow ferry riders to make informed decisions on when and where to travel.”

Many vacationers use the North Carolina ferry system to access the state's beautiful Outer Banks, but when you're counting on a ferry, you want to have all the latest information.  Some ferry routes can take more than two hours.  That means only a limited number of trips per day.  It's definitely not a time when you want to miss the boat!

Check out the complete North Carolina Ferry System schedule here.

My wife and I are beach people. We just got back from the beach and we're already looking forward to our next beach trip. If your summer plans include a beach vacation, this list might help you pick a really good one.

Scientist Stephen Leatherman, also known as "Dr. Beach," has released his 2022 list of the top U.S. beaches. Dr. Leatherman is a professor and director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University. He has been ranking America's best beaches since 1991.

According to CNN, Leatherman uses 50 criteria in evaluating 650 public beaches. He examines sand softness, water temperature and clarity, beach width, and even wildlife. A few beaches in the Carolinas, including this year's top pick, check off a lot of boxes.