Planning Your OBX Off-Season Stay
- Emily Patton
- Nov 4, 2024
- 3 min read
If you’re looking to get away but avoid the crowds, OBX during the “Off-Season” is a great choice. October through April are still wonderful times to visit with mostly mild weather. Many of your favorite local restaurants and shops are still open and there are plenty of things to do! Here are a few tips and tricks to optimize your Off-Season OBX Stay:
1-3 Months Before:
Book your stay! Check platforms such as AIRBNB to search for off-season deals and connect with hosts. This gives you plenty of time to select the perfect home, ask questions, plan your trip and make any necessary reservations beforehand.
How close is the beach?
How close is the sound?
When is the pool open?
What size are the beds?
Is there a kids room?
Buy Tickets and Make Plans! Many places don’t require tickets beforehand, but select Christmas season experiences sell out quickly! Look into the event or experience you’re planning and grab your tickets before they’re gone.
A personal favorite spot to visit is the Whalehead Club in Corolla. Each year the Club is decorated for Christmas and tickets sell out QUICKLY! Without tickets you can still visit the grounds, but it is suggested to purchase tickets to get the full experience. Make sure to snag your tickets beforehand.
The “Ghostly Gallies of the Outer Banks” and “12 Bars of Christmas” are fairly new traditions on the Outer Banks. There aren’t tickets, but you may need to book the OBX Party Bus or make arrangements for transportation.
There are plenty of festivals and special events that take place in the off-season. Many events are hosted at the Soundside Event Space, which is about a five minute drive from ForeShore! The OBX Brewtag Festival, various Food Truck Rodeos, Car Shows, Seafood Festival, and more are hosted annually at this space.
Manteo (10-15 minute drive from Fore Shore) has concerts at the Roanoke Island Festival Park, Christmas Home Tours, vendor markets, talent shows, and tons of sightseeing downtown & beyond. Historic Fort Raleigh and the Elizabethan Gardens are great to visit! The Elizabethan Gardens also offer Christmas lights and you can purchase tickets to walk through! There are normally hot chocolate & s’mores available in the gardens during the Christmas tour.
A Few Weeks Before: If you’re like me, you want to have a plan for meals ahead of time! Even if you’ve visited the Outer Banks before, it’s a good idea to check to make sure your favorite restaurants are open. If searching for a fine dining experience like The Colington Cafe, call in and make your reservation to make sure you get your desired time! You can find a list of favorite restaurants on our website, foreshoreobx.com. While most restaurants are open during the off-season, some do close briefly after the season to allow staff to regroup and gear up for the off-season. My top-tier recommendations for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert are listed below!
Coffee - Charis Coffee Co (Manteo)
Breakfast - Grits Grill (Outer Banks Mall, walking distance from Fore Shore!), Stop Quik (locally known as Biscuits N Porn, take-out)
Lunch - PokeBox (Outer Banks Mall, walking distance from Fore Shore! Dine in or takeout),
Barefoot Bernie’s (Dine in or takeout)
Dinner - The Colington Cafe (Reservation!), South Beach Grille (takeout), Blue Moon Beach Grille (Dine in)
Dessert - Surfin’ Spoon (Frozen Yogurt, Frozen Yogurt Sammies)
The Week Before: Check the weather and pack accordingly! While OBX has mostly mild weather in the off-season, it is a good idea to bring a sweatshirt or jacket!
Check-In! Ask your host any last-minute questions and make sure you’ve got everything you need! If you’re grabbing snacks & groceries when you get there, Fore Shore is located next to the Outer Banks Mall that contains a Food Lion and Fresh Market. Publix and Harris Teeter are also on the Outer Banks, but are located further down the beach and would definitely be driving distance.
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