We made a last minute decision to ring in the New Year in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I’ve been to this beach several times during my childhood and teenage years. However, I realized that after nearly 5 years together, I’d never taken my husband to do the touristy things here (oops!) Despite it being the off-season, we had a great time! I’m actually glad we went during winter because we could still see all of the attractions without large crowds. I’m highlighting below where we stayed and all of the dog friendly places we visited.
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Where We Stayed
We stayed 2 nights at the Towneplace Suites in Kill Devil Hills and loved it! This hotel was just built in 2019 so everything was very modern and fresh. It’s located directly across the street from a public beach access. This hotel is also VERY dog friendly! There were dogs everywhere and a designated place for them to use the bathroom. I love that every room comes with a full kitchen. The hotel was very clean and had all COVID-19 precautions in place, so we felt very safe staying here!
Lighthouses
The lighthouses along the coast of the Outer Banks are one of the top attractions. We were able to visit 3 out of the 4 during our weekend getaway. Unfortunately, none of them were open for climbing. But we were still able to walk along the grounds and take pictures. Our first stop was to Bodie Island Light House. From there we took an hour drive along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to make it to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The drive was beautiful and there were several places to stop and take pictures along the dunes. From there, we made our way to the ferry terminal and took the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry to Ocracoke Island. The fare is free and the crossing time is 60 minutes. You can find the ferry schedule here. It also takes an additional 25 minutes to drive from the ferry terminal to the Ocracoke Lighthouse. I would have loved to spend more time on Ocracoke Island, but we arrived after dark. Seeing the lighthouses while in the OBX is definitely a must!
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Another historic place to visit while in the Outer Banks is the Wright Brothers Memorial. Learn about the history of Wilbur and Orville Wright and their journey to achieving the first successful airplane flight. The park is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The cost for entrance is $10 for adults and free for children under $15. Active duty and retired military receive a discount, as well as senior citizens. Sunny enjoyed walking through the grounds and trekking up to the monument. My hubby and I twinned in our Amazon Essentials jackets on this day. They are such great quality for the price! Linking mine HERE and his HERE.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
You have to visit Jockey’s Ridge State Park while in the Outer Banks! It’s breathtaking any time of year! Known for being the largest sand dune on the Atlantic, it’s perfect for flying kites, hang gliding, or just taking in the gorgeous views. Hang gliding lessons are available on site, and the dunes are handicap accessible (call 24 hours ahead to schedule a ride in their all-terrain vehicle). The park is dog friendly and free to enter.
Shopping
Another way to enjoy yoursef in the OBX during off-season is by shopping. Stop by the Tanger Outlets located in Nags Head for tons of great deals. There are many other shops that remain open during the winter months such as Kitty Hawk Kites, Parrot Bay, and Farmer’s Daughter.
Dining
Some restaurants in the OBX do close during the winter months. However, we were still able to find several dog friendly places to eat. My personal favorite was actually getting takeout from South Beach OBX. Their shrimp tacos were SO good and their menu was super diverse. Some other restaurants that were open and had dog friendly seating included Mulligan’s, Tortuga’s Lie, and Dare Devil’s Pizza. I’ve heard good things about the food at Lucky 12 Tavern, but their outdoor seating was not dog friendly.
We had such a great time ringing in the New Year in the Outer Banks! We found that we were able to do everything during the off-season that we normally would in the summer (except for swimming/sun bathing of course!) It was actually nice to visit at this time due to much smaller crowds! Plus, our hotel stay was more affordable than it will likely be during peak season. If you’re looking for a fun weekend getaway this winter, I highly recommended the OBX! Or you can see more of my travel recommendations HERE.
