Warm Up Your Winter in the Outer Banks
Winters in the Outer Banks of North Carolina are filled with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-50s. The Atlantic coast breezes may bring the occasional rain shower, but during the off-season winter months you can find excellent deals on places to stay. Winter is a time when you can truly have the Outer Banks all to yourself.
There is always something to do in the Outer Banks during the summer and winter offers plenty of sights and activities as well. North Carolina is home to some of the East Coast’s most beautiful nature preserves, such as the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods, and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Among the other sights is the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla, which is also home to the historic Whalehead Club. There is the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which commemorates the birthplace of flight, Jockey's Ridge State Park, home to the East Coast's tallest sand dunes, and the Elizabethan Gardens, a living memorial to the lost colonists of Roanoke.
For amazing natural drama, there are few landscapes in the Outer Banks as impressive as that of Hatteras Island, part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The peaceful, rugged beauty of Cape Hatteras is most striking during the winter, when the coastline is empty of the summer vacationers.
During the quiet winter months you can experience the warmth of the Outer Banks as you spend time enjoying the local treasures, all without the hustle, bustle, and heat of summer.
Labels: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Elizabethan Gardens, Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head Woods, Outer Banks Activities, Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, Whalehead Club, Winter
Saying Farewell to Summer and Hello to Fall in the Outer Banks
Even though the summer is winding down in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, events and activities are still in full swing entering fall. Local happenings range from musical showcases, wine festivals, plays, and cultural activities. It’s not too late to celebrate with the family in the Outer Banks – great summer savings are still available on vacation properties!
25 August – 15 October
You and your family are bound to enjoy the fun and excitement of the Outer Banks Music Showcase. “Flashback”, their all new show, plays every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. The two hour show features live music from the 50’s, the 60’s, and the 70’s, as well as classic country and beach music. The Outer Banks Musical Showcase is a musical variety experience, offering laughs in addition to the tunes with their comedy. For more information, you can call the box office at 252.261.7505 or visit the Outer Banks Music Showcase online.
25 August – 30 September
Experience what might have happened to the Wright Brothers prior to their historic first flight with the play, “The Night Before Take Off”. The short play is held Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Doors open at 6:30 PM at the Pearl restaurant, with a cash bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. The show starts: 7:30 PM and lasts just under an hour. For more information on the play, you can contact the Outer Banks Theatre by phone at 252.715.0258 or by visiting them online. You can also visit the Pearl restaurant online or you can contact them at 252.480. 3463.
31 August
Celebrate your Labor Day in the Outer Banks with the Hunt Family Fiddlers, an award-winning family of Irish step dancers, fiddlers, and singers. The Hunt Family performs a range of music including Celtic, bluegrass, inspirational, and popular music. The show is from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM in the Outdoor Pavilion. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 students. You can find out more by calling the Outdoor Pavilion at 252.4750.1500.
1 September – 30 September
Continuing every Wednesday afternoon through to the end of September is the Whalehead Club Wednesday Wine Festival. For more information, please visit the Whalehead Club online or by calling them at 252.453.9040.
8 September – 29 September
View a bit of Outer Banks culture by visiting the Art Gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Their latest exhibit, “Five Women: Studio Gallery of Elizabeth City” features the works of Mary Crutchfield, Margie Sawyer, Peggy West, Patricia Sterritt and Ricky Thornton. This group of Elizabeth City women has been painting together for the 35 years. The showing will be featuring their collection of watercolors, water media, printmaking and acrylic painting with collage elements. The show hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, with the opening reception held on September 7th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. All are welcome to take part as the reception is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 252.475.1500.
15 September – 20 September
Avast, ye mateys! It’s the attack of the Outer Banks Pirate Festival. The scurvy sea dogs of Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head will be making appearances at several local businesses from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The seafaring scalawags will have their main event on September 20th with an entire day of pirate appearances, games and stories. To find out more about where the pirates will be landing, you can find out more by visiting Kitty Hawk Kites online.
North Carolina Mini-Golf Equals Big Fun
While the sprawling greens of the Carolinas are most commonly associated with golf, there are some smaller greens that deserve the same attention. Whether you call it miniature golf, mini-golf, or by the trademarked Putt-Putt name, courses devoted to this sport abound in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Mini-golf is no longer a game that revolves around fanciful obstacles. Much like its larger counterpart, mini-golf is now a sport in its own right. As the sport has evolved, so have the courses – they replicate regulation golf’s undulations, contours, moguls, water, sand and vegetation traps on their miniaturized greens. The Outer Banks is home to several mini-golf courses, ranging from the whimsical greens we are most familiar with to actual grass courses with natural dunes. Whatever your preference, the over a dozen mini-golf courses in the Outer Banks are sure to provide a memorable experience that the whole family can enjoy.
Since the various mini-golf courses open and close at different times, and as they also operate seasonally, their schedules are weather-dependent. Here is a list of some of the mini-golf courses you can enjoy during your visit to the Outer Banks.
- The Promenade, located in Kitty Hawk – you can check their schedule by calling 252.261.4900
- Lost Treasure Golf in Kill Devil Hills – they can be reached at 252.480.0142
- The Pink Elephant Mini Golf in Nags Head – their telephone number is 252.441.5875
- Blackbeard's Miniature Golf Park, also located in Nags Head – you can call them at 252.441.4541
- Corolla Grass Course, the first natural grass course in the Outer Banks – you can get more information by calling 252.453.4198
Labels: minature golf, Outer Banks Activities, Outer Banks Golf
Close Out Your Summer Vacation in the Outer BanksIf you were impressed by the number and variety of events for the Outer Banks during June and July, just wait until you see what the islands of North Carolina have in store for August.For those interested in the times past of this beautiful stretch of Carolina coast, there are a variety of historic activities scheduled throughout August that will appeal to all ages. There are also musical showcases, pet-friendly parties, and art festivals on order. Here is a run-down of some of the great activities to be found in the Outer Banks during your coastal vacation.1 August – 18 AugustCelebrate the 71st anniversary season of “The Lost Colony” at the Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island. “The Lost Colony” is a dramatic telling of the 423 year-old mystery of the first English colony in the New World. Performances are nightly at 8:30 PM, Sunday – Friday. For tickets call 252.473.3414 or visit The Lost Colony online.1 August – 28 August
The Outer Banks hasn't forgotten about the four-legged vacationers in your family – your pets. Your pets are having a party and you’ve been invited! Experience Pawgaritaville at Puparazzi with your pampered pooch – sorry, cats, the free "pawgaritas" are for dogs only. For more information, people can call 252.473.20994 or go online to learn more about Puparazzi.1 August – 31 AugustFor the wine aficionados, the Wednesday Wine Festivals are held at Whalehead Club every Wednesday afternoon in August. You can also find music in Whalehead every Thursday evening. The Whalehead Club's Summer Concert Series on the Lawn takes place Thursdays from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. For more information on both events, please visit the Whalehead Club online or call 252.453.9040.4 August – 28 AugustAugust in the Outer Banks is also host to the fine arts. The Art Gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park is hosting a show of the works of Kill Devil Hills' own Robbie Snyder. The show, “Rob Snyder: Paintings of Pier, Surf and Sea Life”, is on display, free and open to the public. The show hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.13 – 14 August
Manteo is home to the New World Festival of The Arts, a juried exhibition of fine arts and fine crafts. The works of 80 select artists ranging from Florida to Vermont will be on display and for sale on the Manteo Waterfront. The exhibition will run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Wednesday the 13th and from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on Thursday the 14th.There are plenty more events to help close out your summer vacation. For more information on events and activities, you can visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina online.Labels: August Events, Outer Banks Activities, Outer Banks Events
