4 November 2022 | Published By: Hotels OBX
By: Christine Flanagan
When you think about visiting the Outer Banks, do you picture bright, colorful summertime Outer Banks vacation homes, hot sticky days, and crowds of families? Summer vacations are essential to the Outer Banks' way of life and hospitality industry, but let's talk about how wonderful the off-season can be. Join us as we dive in and discuss the top 4 reasons to visit our oceanfront OBX hotels during the off-season.
1. Gorgeous Weather
Overall, the weather in the offseason is gorgeous. The average high temperatures in September, October, and November range from the low 80s to the upper 60s. The beautiful weather is perfect for booking wedding reception venues in the outer banks of NC. Our Comfort Inn South Oceanfront is the ideal location for having your wedding ceremony and reception all in one venue.
Enjoying local destinations like the Lighthouses around Kitty Hawk during the day will be more memorable when you aren't worried about record-high temperatures. You will appreciate cool evenings with a light sweater while enjoying the gorgeous waterfront views.
The off-season weather advantage allows visitors to check out local coffee shop favorites like the Front Porch Café. Locals rave about their fall coffee menu, including items like Salty Pumpkin and a S'mores-themed mocha. With locations in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, and Manteo, there’s one nearby each of our hotels.
2. Fewer people = More Availability
It's no surprise with kids back in school and fewer people traveling, there will be fewer people in the Outer Banks in the off-season. Fewer people equal more availability! The off-season allows for easier access and fewer wait times when booking various popular attractions. There is likely to be more availability at hotels like ours and outer banks vacation homes.
Gaining in popularity are off-season family reunions and weddings. When researching wedding reception venues in the Outer Banks of NC, our Comfort Inn On the Ocean and Comfort Inn South Oceanfront have more availability for room blocks and venue space for family gatherings. The price point for traveling is often more budget-friendly during this time of the year.
In addition, popular attractions like hang-gliding during peak times of the day will be available and are still awesome adventures in the early off-season. Trendy restaurants with long wait times or hard-to-get reservations during prime times will have more availability in the off-season.
3. More Shells
Shelling is a very popular activity in the Outer Banks. One of the key tips for finding beautiful one-of-a-kind shells on the shoreline is to look at the beaches after a hurricane or tropical storm. While we would like only to highlight the positives about the off-season, it would do us no justice to skip over the fact that it also correlates with hurricane season in this area. But remember that you can't have a rainbow without a bit of rain. You can't find the best seashells without a little current movement.
Plan a last-minute trip to the Outer Banks just after a tropical storm passes through, and take your time combing the beaches for shells. Locals will remind you to bring two bags while you seek shells. The first bag is for your shell treasures, and the second is for trash washed up on the shore, Which is a win-win situation to clean up our beautiful beaches while collecting seashells. Many outer banks vacation homes are decorated with local shells from beach shelling trips.
4. Best Time to Fish
It’s been said that the best or most popular months to fish in the Outer Banks are September and October. Charting a fishing trip is probably the easiest way to plan your excursion. Fishing in the Outer Banks provides an exciting adventure while enjoying the great outdoors and fresh air.
This time of year at Jennette's Pier, it is popular to find Bluefish, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, Puffers, Flounder, Croaker, Sea Mullet, and Spot. If you are unfamiliar with fishing, maybe now's the time to learn something new!
Learn all you need to know about getting a fishing license in North Carolina before your trip to ensure a memorable and hopefully fruitful (dare I say "fishful") journey!
Once you've taken the time to visit our oceanfront OBX hotels during the off-season, you may come to realize a secret only a few understand. The off-season is one of the best times to visit the Outer Banks. The weather is still warm but not sweltering. Out popular destination is less crowded and easier accessible. This allows you to enjoy the perks without the wait times. Discover a new hobby or reignite your love for shelling and fishing.
