The Outer Banks in the Off-Season
North Carolina’s Outer Banks are just as incredible as you’ve heard they are, especially in those special months of the year when you have them all to yourself! There are so many things to do with your family when you’re visiting the Outer Banks in the off-season.
I grew up on the southern NC beaches & Chelsea grew up at Atlantic Beach, but we decided we wanted to explore the Outer Banks with our families and were immediately hooked. We found the best cottage RIGHT on the sound. As in, from the top deck it looks like you’re on a boat vs on the land. The sunrises and sunsets from there are among my favorite in the world.
That house is in Avon, but we’ve also stayed in Hatteras and Corolla, as well as in Atlantic Beach (where Chelsea’s parents now live), which is a southern Outer Banks beach. There is so much to share and explore in OBX, but here are a few of our favorite off-season activities with kids.
Visit a lighthouse… or 3.
Hatteras, Bodie & Currituck are all easily accessible by car, unique, and fun to visit for different reasons. I love the views of Hatteras from the beach, watching the sunset over the marsh at Bodie, and exploring Historic Corolla Village and hoping to spot a wild horse at Currituck.
Have a bonfire on the beach + pizza & smore’s (obviously).
One of our favorite things about the OBX vs other NC beaches is the ability to have a bonfire on the beach. You do have to get a permit, but it’s easy to do and totally free. We’ve made a tradition of choosing a night for a beach bonfire, grabbing takeout pizza and smore’s makings, and eating on the beach before stargazing and going crabbing. There is literally no more perfect night in the OBX.
Climb the live oak trees.
These trees are a photographer’s dream. They’re all over the coast, but our favorite spot includes bathrooms, picnic tables, and room to explore in & out of the trees (look for the Salvo Day Use area in maps!). Bonus points for the tree that doubles as a swing / see-saw.
Paddleboard or kayak on the sound.
The wind can make or break an off-season day on the water. We’ve had both insanely windy days and days where the wind & water are so calm that we’ve done the penguin plunge in the sound on New Year’s Eve. If you get a wind-free day, RUN WITH IT! Grab a kayak or a paddleboard and get out on the water! There is so much to explore – canals, wildlife, beaches with old graveyards – the possibilities are endless. Bonus points if you do the penguin plunge.
Enjoy the stargazing.
The only thing I can compare it to is being deep in the mountains away from city lights, but I think the OBX may still have the mountains beat on this one. On the beach or the deck the stars (and moon and planets!) are truly incredible. Many nights you can see the Milky Way in a way that is truly breathtaking.
Try an apple uglie.
The apple uglies at Orange Blossom Bakery & Cafe are famous for a reason. They are GIANT (like actually giant – I promise I’m not steering you wrong here) but so delicious. Apple fritters are my absolute favorite type of doughnut, and these are the best of the best.
Explore the Oregon Inlet Lifesaving station.
Similar to Jockey’s Ridge, but smaller, less crowded, and with a beautiful lifesaving station that steals the show. Bridge views, ocean views, and even a glimpse of Bodie Island Lighthouse from the dunes.
Climb the sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge.
Our kids LOVE Jockey’s Ridge. I don’t know what it is about kids and giant mounds of sand, but they can’t get enough. Yes, there will be sand in every crack and crevice you can image. Yes, you’ll jump a whole sandcastle out of shoes before they get in the car. Yes, it’s worth it.
(Did I just find sand under a booster seat in our van 2 months after visiting Jockey’s Ridge? You’ll never know for sure…)
Quick tip – a friend who lives in Kitty Hawk first told us about Waveriders coffee & bagels and it did not disappoint. Best bagel sandwiches, delicious coffee and smoothies, and plenty of space to sit and enjoy!
Soak up sunset over the sound.
Maybe my most favorite part about Avon specifically is the incredible sunsets (& sunrises) over the sound. If you get lucky you may even get to see the moon rise or set over the sound, which is such a gorgeous sight. Soak. it. in.
There are many touristy things to do in OBX, but maybe our most favorite thing we do when we visit is to take long sunset walks along the sound every day. Who knows, you may even find an abandoned graveyard with your last name on the headstone (no names mentioned, but let’s just say it wasn’t mine!).
Looking for more winter travel destinations? Check out this post from the blog…
