On The Northern Outer Banks, a change of scenery is just minutes away. Beyond Corolla’s wide-open beaches, country roads lead to farm markets and vineyards, golf courses wind through maritime landscapes and his toric sites tell stories three centuries in the making. In fall and winter, when the crowds thin and the pace slows, it’s the perfect time to explore Currituck from coast to countryside.
Uncrowded Fall Beaches
Corolla’s wide-open beaches become even more peaceful in the off-season. Fall on the beach is like a second summer. The air and water are still warm, and with far fewer people around you, there’s plenty of space to spread out. As the temperatures cool, the beach has its own brand of magic, with colorful sunrises and miles of shoreline all to yourself for long walks and beach combing. If you’re looking for a simple, quiet side of The Northern Outer Banks, fall and winter on the beach are it!
Championship Golf Along the Coast
Fall is one of the best times to golf in the area, and The Northern Outer Banks is the place to do it. There are six premier courses to choose from: The Currituck Club on the barrier island at Corolla and Kilmarlic Golf Club, Holly Ridge Golf Course, The Pointe Golf Club, The Carolina Club and Eagle Creek Golf Club on the Mainland not too far from the beaches. Enjoy championship play surrounded by maritime forests and soundfront scenery in the ideal autumn weather.
Farm Markets & Local Flavor
Discover Currituck County’s agricultural roots by visiting the Mainland markets – Morris Farm Market, Powell’s Farm Market, Grandy Greenhouse and Moyock Farm Market – where visitors will find seasonal produce, pumpkins, homemade baked goods, jams, local honey and North Carolina specialties. These Northern Outer Banks markets are not your average fruit and vegetable stands. They are destinations in their own right, where you might dance to live music, sip a beer, shop for local crafts or home goods, buy seasonal plants, take a hayride or explore a pumpkin patch. Best yet, spend a day exploring them all.
Sip & Savor the Mainland
The Northern Outer Banks Mainland is a culinary playground known for seafood, barbecue and finely crafted beverages. Let your tastebuds lead the way to tastings of the award-winning European- style wines at Sanctuary Vineyards, handcrafted cocktails and farm-to-bottle spirits at BCD Distillery, and coffee, espresso and craft beers at Blue 42’s Brewing Barn. When hunger hits, your Mainland options are plentiful, from fresh local seafood at Frog Island Seafood to eastern North Carolina barbecue at Currituck BBQ Company to casual dining by the sound at Currituck Trading Post.
Outdoor Adventure
Fall is the prime season to paddle the calm waters of the Currituck Sound with Coastal Explorations. Enjoy guided kayak and standup paddleboard tours for an up-close look at the area’s marshes, wildlife and hidden waterways. The region’s walking trails are enjoyable throughout the fall and winter, including the trails at Currituck Banks National Estuarine Reserve and Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary in Corolla and Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge on Knotts Island, all of which offer peaceful walks and a variety of birds and wildlife. In Powells Point, Currituck County Rural Center offers water access, equestrian rings, fishing, walking areas, a boardwalk and a playground.
Explore 300 Years of History
The Northern Outer Banks offers one of the richest collections of historic attractions in North Carolina. In Corolla, climb Currituck Beach Lighthouse, tour the iconic Whalehead historic house museum and discover the region’s maritime heritage at the Currituck Maritime Museum, all within walking distance of each other. On the Mainland, visit the Historic Jarvisburg Colored School to see the new Currituck Jack statue honoring Revolutionary War patriot John Jasper White.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
As the season transitions into the holidays, Christmas in Corolla transforms Historic Corolla Park with festive lights, seasonal shopping, holiday programming and the beloved Christmas Craft Village, creating one of coastal North Carolina’s most memorable holiday celebrations.
Whalehead’s Candlelight Christmas Tour
Date: Every Friday and Saturday starting after Thanksgiving through December 19
Time: 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Whalehead, 1100 Club Road, Corolla
Christmas Craft Village
Date: November 27
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Whalehead, 1100 Club Road, Corolla
Visit TheNorthernOuterBanks.com
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
