The Outer Banks Winter Chill
There is something magical about visiting the beach during the winter months. Grab yourself a cup of hot cocoa, pack your sand sled, head to the east coast and cruise down highway 12 until you run out of land. Guaranteed you'll find a cool, salty breeze and a secluded beach left for you to explore.
Holidays & Festivals
More than ever, families are looking to spend their holidays on the Outer Banks. Take part this winter in beach celebrations, yuletide cheer and unbelievable holiday shopping. Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens take center stage in exemplifying the past, present and yet to come on this beautiful stretch of eastern beach. Stroll along enchanted garden paths and discover the joy of the season with holiday lights, sights and sounds transforming The Elizabethan Gardens into an illuminated winter wonderland. The radiant glow of the gardens, traditional holiday décor and fantastical displays are a true spectacle to behold. Festive trees grace the Gatehouse and Odom Hall and a crackling open-air fire warms the Great Lawn. Click here for a full list of holiday events.
Discounted Rates
January is a big reservation month for vacation rental homes, which make up about 80% of the lodging on the Outer Banks. Rental homes can see huge discounts and be rented for half the price compared to peak season dates. Experience winter’s first snowfall in an oceanfront home and escape the modern world hustle and bustle. Enjoy crisp, wintry walks on the beach as you relish life at a slower pace. Want a fire without the sand? Many vacation homes offer a fireplace ‘filter’ when selecting your perfect getaway. Fully equipped kitchens in these houses allow ease of preparation for large holiday feasts OR consume hearty meals with fast service at the flurry of restaurants that remain open through the season.
Stargazing
Humans love change and there is no transformation more beautiful than the colors of the Outer Banks in the wintry months. While the reds and yellow remain during sunrises and sunsets, blues and whites blanket the night sky. Unrefined, intensely clear nights create a pristine environment for stargazing. Search for local events that celebrate the dark skies and tapestry of the Milky Way unblemished by big city lights.
Beachcombing
Starry treasures by night, and funky beach finds by day. The less crowded beaches and change in prevailing winds increase your chances of finding the perfect seashore treasure. Beach combing is something that pretty much everyone does either by walking and picking up sea glass or sifting through the tidal remnants to see what shells washed up the night before. The one thing about sea glass on the Outer Banks that makes it special, is that there were no factories here. All our glass comes from another part of the world. Whether it’s red, blue, green or yellow, producing a particular color originates from a specific part of the world.
Shipwrecks
Awaken the sleeping stories hibernating in the Outer Banks at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. The Graveyard of the Atlantic is a region just offshore where some 3,000 shipwrecks decorate the depths from Kitty Hawk south to Ocracoke. This region of the North Carolina coast once claimed many ships and their crews, due to the treacherous shoals and underwater sandbars that are said to have never sat still for any map. Today, you can view some of these wrecks from shore or in this area fit for scuba diving. The span of crafts ranges from the first colonial ships of the 1500’s, to the Civil War and both World Wars, including the most German U-boats sunk off any state coast in America.
Vacation Rentals
Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty...
Beach Realty and Construction/Kitty Hawk Rentals, has been offering exceptional Outer Banks Vacation Rentals...
Beach Realty / Kitty Hawk Rentals
Beach Realty / Kitty Hawk Rentals offers over 400 homes from 4x4 Carova Beach, Corolla, Duck to South Nags...
Brindley Beach Vacations
Outer Banks, NC - Brindley Beach Vacations offers 500+ vacation homes. In a variety of price ranges,...
Carolina Designs Realty
Carolina Designs Realty has been a trusted source for Outer Banks vacation homes since 1988! They have won...
Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates Vacation...
Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates has provided quality vacation rental accommodations to Outer Banks visitors since...
Midgett Realty - Avon
Serving Avon and Buxton rentals. With nearly 500 Hatteras Island vacation rentals, a large selection of...
Midgett Realty - Hatteras
Serving Frisco and Hatteras rentals. With nearly 500 Hatteras Island vacation rentals, a large selection of...
Midgett Realty - Rodanthe
Serving Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo rentals. With nearly 500 Hatteras Island vacation rentals, a large selection...
Outer Banks Blue Realty Services
Premiere Outer Banks NC vacation rental homes in all of the Outer Banks premium areas are here! Choose from...
Resort Realty - Duck Office
For over 30 years, Resort Realty has been the leader in Outer Banks vacation rental, property management, and...
Winter Activities
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Enjoy the newly remodeled visitor center and the interactive activities and exhibits on aviation, historic...
The Nature Conservancy at Nags Head...
Towering oaks, hickories, and beech trees, some hundreds of years old, rise from the sand and create a canopy...
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Due to ongoing restoration efforts the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will not be available for climbing in 2023....
Bodie Island Lighthouse
Located just south of Nags Head, the Bodie Island Lighthouse as it stands today is the third such beacon built...
Outer Banks Adventures
Take a walk on the wild side & get blown away with Outer Banks Adventures Air Boat Rides, Eco & SUP Guided...
Hatteras Island Horseback Riding
We are located on Hatteras Island, part of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Beach riding is done on the Cape...
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke...
Experience a new adventure as you explore the waters in and around the Outer Banks. Exhibits educate visitors...
Kitty Hawk Kites: Nags Head
Kitty Hawk Kites Nags Head The activities are endless in Nags Head! Head to this location to book your Nags...
Island Farm
Embrace the pace! Explore Island Farm, a living history site interpreting daily life on Roanoke Island in the...