Here's our second itinerary for your Outer Banks vacation during the month of December!
It's hard to believe that the holiday season is right around the corner, but we've only got a few weeks before the holidays really begin in earnest. What better way to spend these colder, winter months than with a trip to the Outer Banks? We're booking RIGHT NOW for weekends in November and December, so be sure to look at our available rentals and book your next weekend retreat or weeklong stay. Plus, right now you can take up to 20% off of remaining 2022 Outer Banks vacation rentals from Seaside Vacations! Get the deal HERE.
So over the next few weeks, we're going to be publishing awesome and fun itineraries with suggestions for you to make the most of your Outer Banks stay in December! There is so much to do and you definitely don't want to miss out. So keep reading for an exciting itinerary to get the most of your stay in the Outer Banks during the 2nd weekend in December! This is a Friday through Sunday weekend itinerary, so check-in on Thursday or Friday for the week or come for a quick, weekend getaway!
Friday, December 9:
8:00 AM - Breakfast at Home or On The Go! If you're already in your rental, enjoy a quiet morning breakfast in your pajamas before greeting the weekend to be filled with adventures. If you're heading into town, or just want someone else to cook, grab a delicious breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee from Lighthouse Bagels or First Light. And for something unique, try Corolla Breakfast & Lunch Bowls for some tasty breakfast surprises.
10:00 AM - Corolla Wild Horse Tour! Whether you checked in last night or last week, or you're waiting to get settled into your vacation rental this evening, why not spend the morning trying to get a glimpse of the famous Corolla Wild Horses by taking a Corolla Wild Horse Tour? These tours run about 2 hours and give you the opportunity to explore the 4x4 in an open-air jeep. Listen to the sound of the ocean waves and search for the descendants of the Spanish Mustangs that call these wild beaches home!
12:00 PM - Shopping and Lunch! After the tour, head on down to the Timbuck II Shopping Village for lunch and some last-minute holiday shopping. Enjoy pizza from Giant Slice or some delicious seafood at Mike Dianna's Grill Room before exploring the wide variety of specialty stores and unique boutiques. There's plenty to keep you occupied through the afternoon and don't forget about dinner before making your way up to Whalehead for the Candlelight Christmas Tour!
5:00 PM - Whalehead Candlelight Christmas Tour! Spend the evening with a tour of the Historic Whalehead Mansion will host a candlelight Christmas tour, with the embodiment of Corolla style and entertainment, circa 1920. The mansion will be decorated similarly to what one would have experienced had they celebrated Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Collings Knight when they built and occupied Whalehead. The tour will feature a new room exhibit and will include a live performance on the original Steinway piano in the home -- custom-designed for Mrs. Knight! Click here for more information. Admission is $20.00 per person and reservations are required.
8:00 PM - Check out the (almost) Full Moon! If you're checking in today, feel free to head to your house anytime after 5:00 PM, unless you purchased early check-in or received a notification that the house is ready for you! And once you're settled in, step out onto the deck of your vacation rental or head over to your closest beach access where you can take a look at the moon! Wednesday, December 7 is the “official” date of the Full Cold Moon, but you’ll still be able to enjoy its brilliant light by Friday! This is a great time to look for ghost crabs or practice your photography skills by capturing the brightness of the moon on the water! The Cold Moon is also known as the “Moon Before Yule,” celebrating the coming return of spring and the sun after the Winter Solstice.
Saturday, December 10:
8:00 AM - Outer Banks Jingle Jog! Have a light, pre-race breakfast at home before heading out to run or walk the Outer Banks Jingle Job! The OBX Running Company is hosting an oceanside run through the town of Southern Shores. There’s nothing like being out in the elements beside a beautiful winter beach to get you in the Outer Banks holiday spirit. You can choose to participate in the 10k Loop or Out & Back 5k. Your kids may even want to join in on the shivering strides through the Little Elf ¼ Mile or Jingle Jog 1 Mile. Pre-registration is required. There will be trophies for winning participants, event t-shirts and medals for all participants, photo opportunities with Santa, and refreshments. For pricing and registration, see the OBX Running Company's website.
10:00 AM - Dowdy Park Holiday Farmer’s Market! Open on December 10 from 9 AM to 12 PM, locals rave about the incredible homemade goods and fresh produce from Dowdy Park's usual farmer's markets. The holiday markets are an exceptional treat that will offer similar goods but with a wonderful holiday spin, making them much more special. Click here for more information.
12:00 PM - Lunch in Nags Head or Hatteras Island! For lunch, grab something quick on Nags Head as you make your way down to the Hatteras Village Christmas Parade or stop on the island for some delicious fare. Check out our blog on Rodanthe for some suggestions of great eateries, including some delicious seafood or a classic pizza place that's an island staple!
2:00 PM - Hatteras Village Christmas Parade! The Hatteras Village Christmas Parade is a decades-long tradition that will press forward this year to continue spreading holiday cheer! Parade participants include nonprofit organizations, the US Coast Guard, local businesses, and fire departments. Click here for more information.
4:45 PM - Colington Harbour Holiday Boat Parade! And if you find yourself back in Kill Devil Hills by sunset, be sure not to miss the Colington Harbor Boat Parade! The Colington Yacht Club hosts this annual parade of brightly decorated and festive boats as they circle the harbor for your viewing pleasure! At the dock, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies and a unique Christmas show on the water! Your applause will help pick the winner of the best-decorated boat!
6:30 PM - Dinner at Saltbox Cafe! And since you’re already in Colington for the boat parade, why not go ahead and have dinner at The Saltbox Cafe? This fantastic, cottage-style restaurant offers some of the most delicious cuisines on the beach. They focus on using fresh, local ingredients whenever they can so be sure to try their fresh, local seafood, fresh meats, and tasty produce. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended, so be sure to plan this one out in advance.
Sunday, December 11:
8:00 AM - Easy Breakfast at a Local Favorite! Depending on where you're staying, there are plenty of cozy places to settle down for breakfast on the Outer Banks. Check out recommended breakfast options here. Whether you're looking for a sit-down restaurant or some coffee and pastries on the go, you're sure to find something to make everyone in your family group happy, full, and ready to start the day!
10:00 AM - Morning at Jockey's Ridge! It's so much fun to see Jockey's Ridge State Park soon after the sun rises. Enjoy the cool winds and the sound of birds and other wildlife as you run around on the dunes, have some fun in the sand, or head on across the street to Jockey's Ridge Crossing to get some holiday shopping in!
12:00 PM - Lunch in Manteo! Whether you want to find something delicious downtown, or you're looking for a quick and easy sandwich spot, there are plenty of places to grab a bite in Manteo. Be sure to pick out your favorite spot to head back to for dinner as you spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the best of Roanoke Island.
1:00 PM - Explore the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island! No trip to the Outer Banks is complete without a trip to the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Explore the cultural history of the Outer Banks as connected to wildlife and the wetlands before visiting the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center where your kiddos can follow their own sea turtle through to rehabilitation in a fantastic simulation. Have some fun at the Touch Tank and explore the unbelievable history of the U.S.S. Monitor before taking a breather and relaxing in front of the massive tank with sharks and other fish.
3:00 PM - Visit Roanoke Island Festival Park! And when you're done at the aquarium, Roanoke Island Festival Park is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Explore this amazing museum park where you can walk through the Settlement Site or take a tour of the Elizabeth II and get an idea of what life would have been like aboard a 16th-century sailing ship. Don't forget to visit American Indian Town or the Adventure Museum for some hands-on history that you won't soon forget.
5:00 PM - Dinner! Before heading over to the Annual Winter Lights at the Elizabethan Gardens, be sure to grab a tasty dinner in Manteo or Nags Head, just across the causeway. Enjoy something yummy at Mahi Mahi's Island Grill or Miller's Waterfront Restaurant. If you're hoping to stay on the island, why not try Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar or Orega'z?
7:00 PM - Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens! The Annual Winter Lights at the Elizabethan Gardens is the biggest light display on the Outer Banks! Kids and adults of all ages will love wandering through this enchanted winter wonderland of dazzling lights and holiday decorations. Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for ages 6-17, and $8 for children 2 to 5. Infants under 2 get in free! Dogs can come, too, for $5. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. The final tickets of the night are sold at 8:15 PM and since this display is outside, it is subject to weather cancellations. Even if you’ve been in the past, this is a display that you should see year after year! Click here for more information.
Don't Miss Another Outer Banks Sunrise - Book Now!
BOOK YOUR NEXT STAY NOW!
We're booking RIGHT NOW for weekends in November and December, so be sure to look at our available rentals and book your next weekend retreat or weeklong stay. Plus, right now you can take up to 20% off of the remaining 2022 Outer Banks vacation rentals from Seaside Vacations! Get the deal HERE. Book your next hassle-free Outer Banks vacation today and we’ll see you at the beach!
About the Author: Lauren is a mom, author, and travel enthusiast. She grew up on the Outer Banks and only left for a few years to get her degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and complete a tour in the Coast Guard before making her way back to the beach in 2017. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with a book and cup of tea in hand, planning her next travel adventure.
