Updated for 2024!
It's hard to believe that December 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.
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 first weekend in December!
Friday, November 29:
8:00 AM - Easy Breakfast at a Local Favorite! For a tasty sit-down family breakfast, stop by Henry’s Restaurant at 3396 N. Croatan Hwy. in Kill Devil Hills between 7AM and 1PM. Open year-round, Henry’s has a menu selection that will satisfy even the pickiest palate. Try “The Captain” which offers 2 eggs cooked to your preference, grits or home fries, toast or biscuits, and your choice of protein (like country ham, pork chop, ham, sausage, and bacon!) You can also order breakfast sandwiches, omelettes, hot cakes and more! View full menu. Check out other recommended breakfast options here.
10:00 AM - Dowdy Park Holiday Farmer’s Market! 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.
11:00 AM - Lunch at “The Broken Candy Cane!” Several eateries around the Outer Banks will be changing their names to become pop-up Christmas bars to get everyone in on the holiday season! Bonzer Shack becomes The Broken Candy Cane where you can stop by for some yummy food, pop-up fun, and a positive holiday atmosphere to get you in the holiday spirit! Other participating restaurants include Mama Kawn’s → Mama Klaus’s, Lucky 12 Tavern → Jingle 12, and Goombays → Goombrrs.
12:00 PM - Hangin' with Santa! Come spread the holiday cheer with Kitty Hawk Kites and the Jockey’s Ridge Crossing crew. Free visits and pictures with Santa are just a few of the fun and festive things going on. Not to mention all the amazing holiday sales! Share all your Christmas wishes and have your picture taken with Santa at Kitty Hawk Kites at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head on Friday, November 29 from 10 AM – 2 PM. Have some fun with Santa’s elves and try out classic toys straight from the workshop on the second floor of Kitty Hawk Kites! Click here to find out more.
3:00 PM - Find Your Way Out at OB-Xscape Rooms! End the day by enjoying some family fun at OB-Xscape Rooms in Southern Shores! See who can figure it out the fastest in one of their exciting, memorable rooms like "The Blind Tiger Speakeasy," the "Rest in Peace Motel," or "Raptor Revenge." This is a great bonding experience while enjoying some indoor fun after an exciting day exploring the sites of the Wright Brothers' first flight!
5:00 PM - Pizza Night! On the way back to your vacation rental, be sure to stop by Southern Shores Pizza and pick up a pie to take back to your vacation home. Enjoy a relaxing evening of pizza, board games, and your favorite film as most of our homes offer spacious living areas with lots of room for family movie night. Rest up after tour long day and get ready for another day of exploring the best of the Outer Banks!
Saturday, November 30:
8:00 AM - Breakfast at Stack'Em High! Start off a day of sightseeing and exploring the best of the Outer Banks with a yummy breakfast of pancakes, waffles, fruit, or eggs at Stack'Em High Pancakes & So Forth! With 2 locations, one in Kitty Hawk and another in Kill Devil Hills, there's no reason not to head out and let someone else handle breakfast. Stack'Em High is an Outer Banks staple and a great place for singles, couples, and groups. View full menu.
10:00 AM - Wright Brothers National Memorial! Since you're already in the area, now is the best time to make a stop at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Come explore the exhibits and the monument to celebrate the "12 seconds that changed the world." This was the time of year that Orville and Wilbur were trying to get their flying machine up in the air, so come take a walk around the grounds and enjoy the brisk, refreshing winds of the Outer Banks in December!
12:00 PM - Lunch in Kill Devil Hills! There are so many great restaurants in Kill Devil Hills to enjoy a delicious meal. Head on over to Mama Kwans for a fantastic lunch of fresh seafood or Country Deli for fresh meats and cheeses and a laid-back atmosphere.
1:00 PM - Visit the Monument to a Century of Flight! In addition to visiting the Wright Brothers Memorial, be sure to stop by the Monument to a Century of Flight located in Kitty Hawk. Built to commemorate the 2003 Centennial of Flight, this monument features 14 stainless steel towers that are organized into an orbit of 120 feet, symbolizing the length of the historic first flight that took place just a few miles down the road. The monument also is made up of 100 markers highlighting the 100 most important events in aviation history between 1903 and 2003. Just off the highway at MP1, this monument is certainly something to behold and perfectly rounds out the history of aviation on the Outer Banks.
4:30 PM - Dinner in Nags Head or Manteo! Grab an early dinner before heading down to the Manteo Waterfront for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting event. There are plenty of amazing options for dinner in Nags Head, including Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe or Tortuga's Lie. If you'd rather not rush, or want something light to snack on, there are lots of delicious options for light and heavy meals in downtown Manteo. Walk around the waterfront and you'll see that there's a little bit of something for everyone!
6:00 PM - Kites with Lights! You won't want to miss this annual holiday light show that will brighten up the sky over the dunes of Jockey's Ridge! Come out to celebrate with an impressive display of huge 19 to 30-foot kites completely decorated for the season! Kids and adults will relish in the sight and will also enjoy the lighting of the Jockey's Ridge State Park Solar Christmas Tree! Plus, baked goods and warm beverages will be available across the street (Jockey's Ridge Crossing). Although the event is free, donations are welcome and benefit The Friends of Jockey's Ridge, a nonprofit organization created to support, maintain, and enhance the park Click here for more information.
Sunday, December 1:
8:00 AM - Breakfast in your Vacation Rental! Enjoy a calm, quiet breakfast in your beautiful vacation rental before heading down to Manteo. Many of our vacation rental properties offer multiple refrigerators and/or dishwashers, so breakfast prep and cleanup can be a breeze! Take your cup of coffee out onto the beach or find pleasure in a peaceful morning stroll by the ocean before the fun of the day begins!
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 $18 for adults, $14 for ages 6-17, and $8 for children 2 to 5. Infants under 2 get in free! Dogs can come, too, for $6. 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.
BOOK YOUR NEXT STAY NOW!
Looking for a last-minute deal on an Outer Banks vacation rental home? Click here! We're booking RIGHT NOW for the rest of the year and 2024!
Give our wonderful Guest Services Team a call today at (866) 884-0267 or take a look at our available rentals to get started planning your next historic adventure to the Outer Banks. And don't forget about our layaway plan, which makes booking your dream vacation easier than ever. So don't wait. We're booking Outer Banks vacation rentals year round and we're excited to help you create memories to last a lifetime. We're here to help make your OBX vacation fun, exciting, and hassle-free. Give us a call today! Be sure to provide accurate information and make any necessary payments.
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We’ll see you at the beach.
About the Author: Lauren is an Outer Banks local, mom, trained historian, and travel enthusiast. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with her nose in a book or cuddling with her cats.
