Winter vacations offer diverse opportunities for people to enjoy a family getaway or romantic escape at a fraction of the cost of peak-season visits. Vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina during the off-season provides our guests with an opportunity to explore one of the finest coastal destinations on the East Coast on a budget. Fewer guests also means a broader selection of available vacation homes!
We may be popular with the summer vacation crowd, but if you’ve never experienced the Carolina coast during the winter months and wonder what there is to do, here are a few suggestions that are popular with guests and residents alike. There’s something for everyone – from the outdoor adventurers, to the couple looking for the perfect private retreat, or the family looking for a unique barrier island destination to enjoy the holiday season! It may not be the traditional winter wonderland, but beach trumps snow, any time of year!
Day Trips To Roanoke Island
Situated just inside the Outer Banks, Roanoke Island offers family-friendly charm and small crowds in the winter months. Well-known for the Winter Lights holiday display at The Elizabethan Gardens throughout December, Roanoke Island is home to eclectic Outer Banks restaurants and eastern coastal culture all year-round. Animal and marine life lovers will appreciate the North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island, where you’ll find live animal encounters, feedings, a 285,000-gallon shark tank, interactive exhibits, films, and more.
For the history lover, the island is a landmark steeped in early American heritage, and art and history museums offer convenient daytime exploring. The Fort Raleigh National Historic Site provides an authentic glimpse into the life and activities of early settlers, while nearby nature trails offer an opportunity to bundle up and discover winter birds in their natural habitats. Experience “a new adventure in an old world” at Roanoke Island Festival Park, a 25-acre historic site depicting early settlement life on the island. Festival Park offers a stunning location with piers, nature trails, and picturesque views at every turn.
Local tip: Check out The Christmas Shop to find gifts for all the special people on your list!
Shopping and Art in the Outer Banks: Perfect Indoor Activity
First Fridays in Manteo offer a festive gathering and celebration every week from spring through December. Families and couples can enjoy this community festival, and then browse through specialty boutiques and gift shops. Art galleries also provide an array of wintertime activities for vacationers who may enjoy touring a gallery or signing up to take a class hosted by a local artist. Theaters offer a great winter respite during a vacation to the Outer Banks. Live performances at the Pioneer Theater provide an engaging form of entertainment for all.
Winters On The Beach
Winter temperatures in the Outer Banks tend to average between 50°- 60° on the higher end with water temperatures hovering in the mid 30s – mid 40s. While this may not be the ideal climate for splashing the day away, the ocean and beaches are far from shut down! Even if a cool swim is not quite what you have in mind, you can quench your thirst for coastal adventure in plenty of ways while staying dry. Take a two-hour tour with Corolla Outback Adventures to catch a glimpse of the famous wild horses of the Currituck Outer Banks – Spanish Mustangs descended from shipwrecked horses hundreds of years ago. If the unbridled majesty of the horses inspires you, perhaps you may opt to explore your own wild side with a high-flying hang gliding adventure from Kitty Hawk Kites, to get a bird’s eye view of the shores below. If the shipwreck element of the horses’ story was more up your alley, check out the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum on Hatteras Island!
For the treasure hunters in your group, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is known to be a beachcombers delight, rife with sea glass, scotch bonnets, scallops, whelks, moon snails, and dozens of varieties of seashells. Managed by the National Park Service, the park is also home to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Though both lighthouses are open to the public, they are only open seasonally, but you can still capture some breathtaking vacation photos with these historical sites! Speaking of lighthouses, The Ocracoke Light on Ocracoke Island is the shortest of the Outer Banks lighthouses, but also the second oldest operating lighthouse in the nation. Though the lighthouse is not open for climbing, the site can be visited daily. When you’re done ogling the shortest lighthouse, why not take a peek at the tallest living sand dune on the Atlantic coast at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, which also serves as a great spot for kites, sightseeing, and sunsets.
Family-Oriented Activities
Vacation activities for families are abundant during the winter season in this serene coastal region. Birdwatchers and animal lovers can take a winter walk along the shores and coastlines to take in the amazing biodiversity of our wildlife habitats. In addition to birding along the shores, consider touring nature preserves like the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rodanthe – home to more than 400 species of birds. Enjoy family fun and games at the OBX Bowling and billiards recreational center in Nags Head and an arcade in Pirate’s Quay. Culinary lovers can enjoy family or individual cooking classes while people who prefer to be pampered can retreat to their choice of luxurious spas.
Enjoy a picnic lunch with a side of American history at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk! Get a little inspiration as you experience educational programs, explore replicas, and even stand on the very spot where Wilbur and Orville Wright first took flight, then climb Big Kill Devil Hill to see the monument commemorating the brothers’ historic achievement. If you feel like taking advantage of the winds that gave the brothers their wings, why not hit the beach and fly a kite?
Outer Banks Winter Vacation Tips
One of the most appealing activities during the winter is to retreat to your Outer Banks vacation rental and curl up in a comfy couch with a flannel blanket and a warm drink. Watching the sunset over the water from the warmth of your oceanfront condo rental (or possibly, your hot tub) is an ideal way to spend a winter vacation, especially if your goal is to get refreshed and feel rejuvenated. When you’re ready to head out to explore the area, the scenery is just as breathtaking in the winter as it is in the summer, and many of our local businesses and natural adventures are available and open year-round.
Vacationing in the winter allows for lower rates, fewer crowds, and shorter lines to stand in at popular attractions. When you head out to dine with your family, consider saving money on lunch items by taking advantage of one of the area’s buffets and then indulging in a romantic fine dining experience of local seafood. Dining indoors on the water, by candlelight, is an intimate and relaxing time to share with a loved one, and a memory that will last a lifetime.
More and more people are turning their budgets to investing in trips and vacations – experiences, as opposed to purchasing “things”. Vacations help families and couples to create memories together that will create bonds, nurture relationships, and weave a common link of shared experiences. Taking advantage of a winter vacation in Outer Banks, North Carolina may be something that becomes an annual family tradition where memories can be made each year. From fun, outdoor adventures to breathtaking scenery, to intriguing art, cultural, and historic venues, you’ll have plenty of options to ensure everyone in the family finds something they love.