Reasons to visit the Outer Banks in the off season

The Outer Banks is visited by millions of tourists during the prime summer months from May – September. It is the busiest time of year for our beaches; roads are congested, businesses are packed and accommodation prices are steep. Some people came to love the Outer Banks because of the isolation and seclusion our island offers. And although I understand why the summer months are the most popular due to the perfect weather, warm water and sunny skies, I want it to be known that the off-season may be the better time to visit if you’re looking to escape the “everyday grind” and relax on a beach of your own.


In this article I will provide reasons why the off- season it is a great time of year to visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina!

Privacy & Seclusion. As I stated earlier, one main reason why I (and many others) have come to love the Outer Banks is because of the isolation you feel once entering the island. You are far away enough to let all your worries go, yet close enough to drive! The beaches are practically empty so if you enjoy shelling or hunting for sea glass then you’ll have better luck in the off season. If you are looking to get away from it all and enjoy a relaxing week vacation or long weekend getaway without bumping into other vacationers, then try the Outer Banks in the off season (October – April).

The weather is still nice. Some of the most beautiful days of the year are in October & November, March & April. The sunrise & sunsets are phenomenal. If you have ever seen stunning Outer Banks photography, you should know that those photos were most likely taken from October – April. Speaking of photography, if photography is a hobby of yours and you’re looking to add to your portfolio – you must take a trip here in the off season!

Affordability. Accommodation prices drop dramatically in the off season. An Oceanfront, 9 bedroom home in Corolla which rents for $11,795 in the summer, drops to only $2495 in the off season. An oceanfront, 4 bedroom home in Southern Shores which rents for $5075 in the summer, drops to only $995 in the off season! You can rent a private home with a hot tub in the off season for as low as $500/week. Click here for all off season vacation rentals.

Businesses are OPEN. It used to be that after Labor Day many businesses close their doors for the season. Now more businesses are staying open year round to serve to the off season travelers and year round residents.

Surf’s up. Many people associate the Outer Banks as the surfing Mecca of the Eastern US. The best surf on the Outer Banks usually happens in the off season. In addition to traditional surfing, kite boarding has become extremely popular in our area in the off season because of the consistent wind and sound waters. If you’re an adventure seeker looking for a new hobby, visit the Outer Banks and take up surfing or kite boarding!

Fishing. Outer Banks off season fishing is extremely popular. The fish migrate south for the winter passing through the Gulf Stream just off our coast thus allowing for great fishing of all sorts. The off season also offers a variety of fishing tournaments.

Off season events. The Outer Banks hosts many events in the off season such as the Outer Banks Marathon in November which has over 5000 participants each year. Other events include Bike Fest (October) & Bike Week (April), Christmas Parades, Fishing & Golf Tournaments, OBX Taste of the Beach (March), Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade (March) and so much more.

As you can see, the Outer Banks in the off season has a lot to offer. It may not be for everyone, but for those of you who enjoy isolated beaches, affordable accommodations, stunning scenery, fishing, surfing, kite boarding or other events, you’ll be delightfully surprised to know that we have it all – right here on the Outer Banks this off-season!

Call us today at 800.635.1559 to book your off season Outer Banks Vacation or visit http://www.beachrealtync.com/.

Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head

Jockey’s Ridge State Park is a wonderful place to visit on the Outer Banks. It is located at milepost 12 to 13 in Nags Head. It is made up of large dunes of shifting sand with little vegetation. It is the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States.

There is a marvelous story to this park being created by the State of North Carolina. In the early 1970’s, when I began visiting the Outer Banks, there were little jars with slits in the top as collection containers to “Save Our Dunes.” These could be seen at almost every local business. At that time, some of the dunes were actually being “sand mined” and carried away to be used as fill in other areas. There was a local jewelry maker named Carolista Fletcher Baum who persisted to save the dunes.

She began her campaign of collecting funds and lobbying legislators to protect this ridge of sand dunes. The state eventually purchased the ridge and created the State Park. The dunes are enjoyed by young and old alike.

Any time of year you can see kite flying and hang gliders on top of the ridge. At Christmas time there was a wonderful display of red and green lights up the kite string and outlining the kite. It was wonderful glowing against the starry night sky.

There is a museum at the entrance to Jockey’s Ridge which is free to the public. You can hike across the dunes and see the ocean and sound. In the early mornings, the wildlife tracks from foxes, deer, birds and an occasional snake are fun to identify in the sand before all the human tracks cover it up.

Any wildlife or plant life that you see on the ridge must not be disturbed or removed from the park. You may also see fulgurites on the dunes. They are hollow tubes that are formed when lighting strikes the sand. You may not remove any fulgurites from the ridge. There are samples of these in the museum.

Sunsets on the ridge are breathtaking. There are many free programs that are presented by Jockey’s Ridge State Park including the sunset watch and star gazing at night.

There are picnic tables to accommodate your lunch. There is a great sound side beach on the west side of the ridge. The water is very shallow and great for small children. Children love climbing the ridge and rolling down the soft hills in the sand. A wooden boardwalk provides handicapped accessibility with a great view at the end.

The dunes are constantly changing shape and migrating to the south. Every few years, the State of North Carolina has to have sand trucked from the south side of the ridge back over to the north side of the ridge. Recycled Christmas trees have been used on the south end of the dunes to delay this migration.

Each year that you come, you will see how the ridge has changed. Start your own photo collection from year to year to mark the migration of the dunes. You may wish to join the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge who preserve and support the park. As a member of the Friends group, you will receive discounts in the Gift Shop as well as a newsletter, The Dune Breeze.

Visit the Jockey’s Ridge State Park website at http://www.jockeysridgestatepark.com/info.html

Outer Banks Communities with Indoor Pools

If you are considering traveling to the Outer Banks for the Holidays or any off season month, you may want to stay in a community offering an indoor pool. Indoor pools are open year round - giving you the opportunity to enjoy the water even in the Outer Banks' coldest months. The Outer Banks has so much to offer in the off-season, from events such as the Outer Banks Wedding Associations' Wedding Expo in January, the "Taste of the Beach" in March or the Kelly's Annual St. Patricks Day Parade.

So pack the bags (remember the bathing suit) and jump in the car to head to the Outer Banks for an off season Outer Banks vacation.

Below are some Outer Banks communities that offer year-round indoor community pools:

Four Seasons in Duck

Four Seasons is the desired address in Duck. This sidewalk community features soundside pier and park, indoor pool, fitness center, clubhouse, lighted tennis, children's play area, volleyball courts and, of course, trolley service. As the name inplies, it's a great place to be no matter what the season!

Click here for a list of vacation homes in Four Seasons

Schooner Ridge in Duck

Schooner Ridge lies in the heart of the Village of Duck. It is located within walking distance to many of the wonderful Duck shoppes and offers a complete amenity package. Schooner Ridge has multiple swimming pools (one is indoor), hot tub, indoor recreation center with an exercise room, raquetball and tennis courts.

Click here for a list of vacation homes in Schooner Ridge

Duck Landing in Duck

Take a dip in the indoor heated pool (also heated kid's pool) anytime of the year! That is one of the many options to spend your time at Duck Landing. It offers weight/exercise rooms, tennis courts and a game room, all at the Oceanside clubhouse. The town of Duck is an easy walk, job or bike away.

Click here for a list of vacation homes in Duck Landing

Corolla Light in Corolla

This ocean to sound community features a plethora of indoor and outdoor resort amenities for the entire family. Enjoy oceanfront comforts like restaurants, a clubhouse, pools, a gazebo, a playground and more. Some of the soundside amenities include: a picnic area, two pools, a baby pool, a pier and more. The sports center has indoor rqcquetball, indoor pool, hot tub and an array of fitness equipment. The Corolla Light Trolley provides transportation to the many amenities and the beach.

Click here for a list of vacation homes in Corolla Light

Arctic Chill hits the OBX

Well it feels like Winter has finally hit the Outer Banks. Sunday night brought in chilling winds and temperatures have plummeted. Today was one of the coldest mornings of the fall, luckily no frost, temperatures remained in the high 30's. The next day or so looks to be cool with temperatures rising for the weekend. It should be a great weekend to take a trip down to the beach.

Wet Soggy Week on the OBX

For all those who wonder what has been happening in the OBX this week, one word rain. Its been a week of wet weather. The last 2 days have provided the Outer Banks with a soaking. Temperatures have risen in the last week, so at least it has been a warm rain. Looks like the rain should be clearing tomorrow morning and we're in for a beautiful November weekend. Looking for somewhere to stay? Check out a Kitty Hawk Rentals partial week stay.